In 1991, at the age of eleven, Monica was discovered by music producer Dallas Austin at the Center Stage auditorium in Atlanta performing Whitney Houston 1986's Greatest Love of All. Amazed by her voice, Dallas offered her a record deal with his Arista Records-distributed label Rowdy Records and consulted rapper Queen Latifah to work as Monica's first manager. Shortly afterwards Dallas and then staff producers Tim & Bob entered the studio with Monica to start writing and producing her debut Miss Thang which was eventually released in July 1995 and scored number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number seven on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies and produced three top ten singles, including debut single Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) and Before You Walk out of My Life both of which made Monica the youngest artist ever to have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. Miss Thang subsequently won Monica a Billboard Music Award and garnered her an American Music Award nomination in the Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist category.
After a label change to Clive Davis's Arista Records, Monica mainstream success was boosted, when Diane Warren-written For You I Will, from the Space Jam soundtrack, became her next top ten pop hit. The following year she was asked to team up with singer Brandy and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins to record The Boy Is Mine, the first single from both of their second albums. Released in May 1998, surrounding highly publicized rumors about a real-life catfight between both singers, the duet became both the biggest hit of the summer and the biggest hit of 1998 in general in America, spending record-breaking thirteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It earned the pair a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and garnered multi-platinum sales (to date, it remains as one of the top twenty most successful American singles in history based on Billboard chart success).
Jermaine Dupri, David Foster and Austin consulted on the album The Boy Is Mine, which was released later that year and eventually became Monica’s biggest-selling album, becoming certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies. It yielded another two U.S. number-one hits with The First Night and Angel of Mine, a cover of Eternal's 1997 single, as well as a remake of Richard Marx' Right Here Waiting. Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed it as "closer to soul's source... hearking back past hip-hop songbirds like Mary J. Blige and adult-contemporary sirens like Toni Braxton," while Allmusic called the album an "irresistible sounding [and] immaculately crafted musical backdrop [...] as good as mainstream urban R&B gets in 1998."
In 2000, Monica contributed chorus vocals for I've Got to Have It, a collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and rapper Nas. Released as the Big Momma's House theme song, the song saw minor success in the United States only. The following year, she released the Ric Wake production track Just Another Girl, recorded for the Down to Earth soundtrack, as a single.
A year later, Arnold channeled much of her heavily media-discussed experiences into the production of her third studio album, All Eyez on Me, her first release on mentor Clive Davis newly-founded J Records label. "I just wanted to give the people back something that had personal passion, instead of just, 'Oh, let's dance to this record'," she said about the issues worked into the tracks. The first single All Eyez on Me a Rodney Jerkins-produced R&B-dance track, saw minor to moderate success on the international charts but failed to enter the higher half of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. A follow-up song, Too Hood, also got a lukewarm response and as a result, the album's tentative release was pushed back several times. "I don't think people wanted to hear a big fun record from me, after knowing all the things that I had personally experienced," Monica second-guessed her new material which saw both early and heavy bootlegging via internet at that time.
After the Japan-wide release of All Eyez on Me Monica was asked to substantially reconstruct the record with a host of new producers, and as a result the singer re-entered recording studios to start work with songwriters Kanye West, Jazze Pha, Andre "mrDEYO" Deyo, Bam & Ryan and Dupri-replacing executive producer Missy Elliott. Finally released in June 2003, After the Storm debuted at number one on Billboard`s Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and on top of the official Billboard 200, with sales of 186,000 copies emerging as Monica's first and only number-one album to date. It eventually received a gold certification, and has sold over one million copies domestically. Media reception of the CD was generally enthusiastic, with the Allmusic saying the album "has all the assuredness and smart developments that should keep Monica's younger longtime followers behind her — all the while holding the ability to appeal to a wider spectrum of R&B and hip-hop fans." The album's lead single, Elliott-penned So Gone, was one of Monica's biggest commercial successes in years, becoming her first top ten single since 1999's Angel of Mine. In addition, it reached the top position of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks and Hot Dance Club Play charts. Subsequently, After the Storm spawned another three singles, with final single U Should've Known Better reaching number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2005, Monica appeared on the Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack. The track was one of Monica's last production by Dallas Austin.
Returning from yet another musical hiatus, Arnold's fourth studio album The Makings of Me was released in October 2006. Titled after Curtis Mayfield's 1970 recording The Makings of You, the album saw her particularly reuniting with producers Elliott, Dupri, and Bryan Michael Cox, all of whom had previously contributed to After the Storm (2003). The Makings of Me received a positive reception from most professional music critics, with Allmusic calling it a "concise and mostly sweet set of songs," and Entertainment Weekly declaring it "a solid addition" to Monica's discography. While it debuted at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and at number eight on the official Billboard 200, it received a domestic sales total of 328,000 copies, it widely failed to revive the success of its predecessors and became the singer's lowest-selling effort to date. Singles such as snap-influenced Everytime Tha Beat Drop featuring Atlanta hip hop group Dem Franchize Boyz and Elliott-produced A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) failed to reach the top forty of the regular pop charts.
In 2009, Arnold lent her voice to the ballad Trust a duet with Keyshia Cole, that peaked in the top five on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The recording of Arnold's sixth studio album Still Standing was chronicled by her BET reality series of the same name. Featuring production by Stargate, Ne-Yo, and Polow da Don, it was released in March 2010 and garnered a generally positive response by critics, who perceived its sound as "a return to the mid-'1990s heyday" of contemporary R&B, The album debuted atop on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 184,000 copies, becoming the singer's second highest-charting debut since 2003's After the Storm. The leading single Everything to Me scored Monica her biggest chart success since 2003's So Gone, reaching the top position of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks charts for seven weeks. The album was certified gold by the RIAA with domestic shipments of 500,000 copies within a single month. With it success, the album and Everything to Me was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011. In August 2010, Arnold joined Trey Songz on his Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour, her first North American concert tour in ten years.
The New Life (Intro) Songfacts reports that New Life was Monica's debut release with RCA, following the disbandment of her former label, J Records in October 2011. The album was dropped on April 10, 2012 in the US. She explained the meaning of its title on Twitter: "A good word goes a long way. Life is hard enough. Me and my followers believe in God, love, strength, family, unity and growth [...] Don't be afraid of new things, new people, new opportunities or new love. It just may give you a New Life."
For You I Will
Monica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you feel your world just ain't right
Call on me, I will be waiting
Count on me, I will be there
Anytime the times get too tough
Anytime your best ain't enough
I'll be the one to make it better
I'll be there to protect you, see you through
I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time, promise you
For you I will, yes
I will shield your heart from the rain
I won't let no harm come your way
Oh, these arms will be your shelter
No, these arms won't let you down
If there is a mountain to move
I will move that mountain for you
I'm here for you, I'm here forever
I will be your fortress, tall and strong
I'll keep you safe, I'll stand beside you right or wrong
I will cross the ocean for you (I will cross the ocean)
I will go and bring you the moon (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need
(And I will be) I will be the sun in your sky (the sun)
I will light your way for all time, promise you
For you I will, yeah-yeah
For you I will lay my life on the line
For you I will fight, oh
For you I will die
With every breath, with all my soul
I'll give my word, I'll give it all
Put your faith in me, put your faith in me
And I'll do anything oh
I will cross the ocean for you (I will cross the ocean)
I will go and bring you the moon (ocean)
I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need (oh, I can be your hero)
(I will be) I will be the sun in your sky (oh)
I will light your way for all time, promise you (promise you)
For you I will
I will, I will, I will
I will cross the ocean for you (ooh)
I will go and bring you the moon (I-I'm gonna cross, yeah)
I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need (let me be your hero)
I will be the sun in your sky (baby, yeah, baby-yeah)
I will light your way for all time, promise you (I promise you)
For you I will, I will
Promise you (promise), for you I will (whoa-oh)
I promise you, for you I will
Monica's song "For You I Will" is a beautiful expression of unconditional love and dedication to someone special. The song is about being there for someone who is feeling lost or struggling, and offering a helping hand to make things better. The singer promises to be the support system the person needs, no matter what challenges they may face.
The lyrics illustrate the depth of her love and commitment, as she vows to go to great lengths to make her loved one happy. She is willing to go to the ends of the earth for them, cross the ocean or even bring them the moon. She describes herself as a hero and their strength, willing to take on anything for their sake. She will be their shelter in the storm, their fortress in times of trouble, and always have their back, whether right or wrong.
The song also hints at the idea of sacrifice, as she says she would lay down her life and fight for them with every breath and all her soul. She asks them to put their faith in her, promising to do anything to make them happy. The overall message is one of unwavering love and support, of being selfless and present for the one you love, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're feeling lost in the night
If you feel like there's no way out, I'll be there to help you find your way.
When you feel your world just ain't right
If your life feels like it's going in the wrong direction, I'll be there to guide you back.
Call on me, I will be waiting
Whenever you need me, I'll be ready to come to your aid.
Count on me, I will be there
You can trust that I'll always be there for you, no matter what.
Anytime the times get too tough
No matter how hard things get, you can always rely on me to help you through.
Anytime your best ain't enough
If you feel like you've done everything you can, but it's still not enough, I'll be there to pick up the slack.
I'll be the one to make it better
I'll do everything in my power to improve your situation, whatever that may be.
I'll be there to protect you, see you through
I'll be your guardian and guide, helping you navigate whatever challenges come your way.
I'll be there, and there is nothing, I won't do
There's nothing I won't do to support and care for you. You can always rely on me.
I will cross the ocean for you
I'm willing to go to great lengths and do whatever it takes to support and care for you, no matter the distance.
I will go and bring you the moon
I'll make seemingly impossible things happen for you — for you, I'll accomplish anything.
I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need
You can count on me to be the source of your strength and your protector, providing whatever you need.
I will be the sun in your sky
Just like the sun provides light and warmth to the world, I'll bring light and positivity to your life.
I will light your way for all time, promise you
I'll provide guidance and support to you for as long as you need it. I'm always here for you.
For you I will, yes yeah, yeah
I'll do anything and everything for you, because that's how much you mean to me.
I will shield your heart from the rain
I'll protect you from emotional pain and hurt, and keep you safe from harm.
I won't let no harm come your way
You can trust that I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe and protected.
Oh, these arms will be your shelter
When you need comfort and protection, I'll be here with open arms to provide it for you.
No, these arms won't let you down
You can always count on me to be there for you and provide the support you need.
If there is a mountain to move
Even when the odds seem insurmountable, I'll be there to help you move forward and overcome challenges.
I will move that mountain for you
No matter how huge the obstacle, I will put in all the hard work and effort it takes to overcome it.
I'm here for you, I'm here forever
You can always rely on me, no matter what. I'm committed to being there for you for as long as you need me.
I will be your fortress tall and strong
Like a fortress, I'll be your source of strength and protection, keeping you safe from any harm or danger.
I'll keep you safe, I'll stand beside you right or wrong
No matter what, I'll be standing right beside you, supporting you, and keeping you safe.
For you I will lay my life on the line, for you I will fight, oh
I love you so much that I'm willing to put everything on the line to protect and care for you.
For you I will die, with every breath, with all my soul
I will love and care for you every second of every day, for as long as I'm alive.
I'll give my word, I'll give it all
You can trust me to keep my promises, and to go above and beyond when it comes to caring for you.
Put your faith in me, put your faith in me
You can trust me with your hopes, dreams, and needs. I'll be here to support and care for you, always.
And I'll do anything oh
Whatever you need, I'm here to provide it for you. You can always count on me to go the extra mile.
Promise you, for you I will
I promise to always be here for you, no matter what. You can trust in my love and support, always.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Realsongs
Written by: Diane Eve Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kasey
"I will shield your heart from the rain
I won't let no harm come your way
Oh, these arms will be your shelter
No, these arms won't let you down
If there is a mountain to move
I will move that mountain for you
I'm here for you, I'm here forever
I will be your fortress tall and strong
I'll keep you safe, I'll stand beside you right or wrong"😎😘
Amoy Balfour
I sang this song for my baby everyday when i was pregnant. Now he is 4 and sings everything all day everyday. ❤
Michael Moore
my mom dedicated this song to me and my sister...
my sister passed in 2012, and now its almost a year since my mom passed away.
whenever I listen to this song, it makes me feel they're still here with me..
Nadine Fraser
My deepest condolences. Be strong
Antonio Allen
That is a beautiful song she chose for the two of you. My heart goes out to you.
Butterfly🦋 kisses💋
I DEDICATED TO MY 3BABIES...
luisa tigarea
Love u huna
Anita Scott
I sang this song to my children when they were babies and they never forgot it, whenever they here it, that memory comes back to them❤❤
Alasia Peartree
God speaks to me through this song. Whew!🙏🏽🔥
MJ P
I am very irritated that Monica has not been recognized for her extremely beautiful work! Love her, her voice, her emotion, her ability reach our hearts and souls❤❤
MJ P
@Guillotin Alipate no shit ….. hence my comment. 4 Eva she’s been successful and recording. Why is your response so rude?