P.M. Dawn is an American hip hop act, formed in 1988 by the brothers Attrel… Read Full Bio ↴P.M. Dawn is an American hip hop act, formed in 1988 by the brothers Attrell Cordes (known by his stage name Prince Be, sometimes credited as Prince Be the Nocturnal) and Jarrett Cordes (known as DJ Minutemix) in Jersey City, New Jersey. They earned significant crossover success in the early 1990s with music that merged hip hop, older soul, and more pop-oriented urban R&B.
After recording their debut single "Ode to a Forgetful Mind" in 1988, P.M. Dawn released their first album Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience in 1991 to critical acclaim. It achieved immediate commercial success because of its single "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss". Their 1993 follow-up The Bliss Album...? was also praised by critics and featured the hit singles "I'd Die Without You" and "Looking Through Patient Eyes". P.M. Dawn continued to receive strong reviews, but sold poorly with their subsequent albums Jesus Wept (1995) and Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad (1998).

The Cordes brothers' father died of pneumonia when they were children. Further family tragedy occurred when their baby brother, Duncan, drowned at the age of two. The two elder brothers were raised by their mother and their stepfather George Brown, a founding member of Kool & the Gang.

Prince Be began DJing parties and composing songs in ninth grade. Within a few years, he had determined to make a demo tape of some of those pieces with the $600 he had set aside from his after school job as a security guard at a homeless shelter. By then, he and his brother were putting in studio time as P.M. Dawn.

They first approached Tommy Boy Records, the rap music subsidiary of Warner Brothers, with their demo, but they were told that they were too much like alternative hip-hoppers De La Soul, and not hardcore or ghetto, and were turned away. Eventually, Warlock, an independent record label, issued a debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind", in 1989, but it went unnoticed.

The record label that released the single in the United Kingdom, Gee Street Records, found greater success. Gee Street mixed and marketed the song so that it earned considerable attention from music reviewers, and P.M. Dawn found themselves courted not just by Gee Street's head, Jon Baker, but also by most of the major UK record labels. Gee Street brought the brothers to London in 1990 to record tracks for an album; however, the label found itself facing bankruptcy during the recording. The entire Gee Street operation, along with P.M. Dawn's recording contract, was sold to the highest bidder, Island Records. Island issued a few more singles in the United Kingdom before releasing their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience.

Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross featured the international hit "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", which sampled the Spandau Ballet song "True", and featured a cameo by Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley in the music video of the song. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" hit #1 the week of November 30, 1991, and holds the distinction of being the first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the introduction of Nielsen SoundScan to the chart. The song also reached #3 in the United Kingdom. "Paper Doll", which was one of the early singles Island released in the United Kingdom, was released in the US as a follow-up to "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and peaked at #28 in early 1992. "Paper Doll" is said well over 100 times in the song, which makes it second only to MC Hammer's "Pray", which holds the record for the most times a title is repeated in a US Top 40 hit (147).

With the success of their debut album, the band parted company with their manager Nick Hemmings and embarked on a world tour. During this world tour, a statement Prince Be made in Details magazine led Boogie Down Productions' KRS-One and his crew to storm the stage during a P.M. Dawn concert, forcing the group off the stage and performing three BDP classics. To warrant this reaction from KRS-One, Prince B had asked, "KRS-One wants to be a teacher, but a teacher of what?" Defending his motives to USA Today's James T. Jones IV, KRS-One remarked, "I answered his question. 'A teacher of what?' I'm a teacher of respect."

In 1992, P.M. Dawn appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD Red Hot + Dance, contributing the Richie Rich Mix of "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss". The album, featuring George Michael and Madonna among others, was meant to raise money and awareness in support of the AIDS epidemic.

Before releasing their follow-up album, The Bliss Album…? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence), P.M. Dawn contributed the single "I'd Die Without You" to the 1992 Eddie Murphy comedy Boomerang and its soundtrack. This #2 pop hit was also included on The Bliss Album…?, as was the Billboard #2 pop hit "Looking Through Patient Eyes".

"Looking Through Patient Eyes" featured backing vocals by Cathy Dennis and sampled George Michael's hit "Father Figure". The music video for the song was shot in a church, and featured Christian images throughout — most notably, Prince Be wore a T-shirt with "Thank you, Jesus" written across it in black lettering.

The Bliss Album…? featured the Boy George duet "More Than Likely" and a cover of The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)". The album also included "So On and So On," which led to a 1999 sampling lawsuit. In the lawsuit Batiste v. Island Records, Inc., Paul and Michael Batiste claimed that P.M. Dawn's song "So On and So On" used unauthorized samples from David Batiste & The Gladiators' "Funky Soul". The fifth Circuit Federal Appellate Court found that the Batistes point to no evidence in the record demonstrating that consumers were confused or deceived by either the use of a digital sample of "Funky Soul" in "So On and So On", or the attribution to David Batiste as a co-author of the track. The Batistes' claim that Paul and Michael Batiste were improperly excluded from the liner notes accompanying the album also failed to suggest that consumers were confused, especially because the liner notes do credit the name of the band in which both Paul and Michael Batiste performed. Though Island Records won the lawsuit, the song was removed from subsequent releases of The Bliss Album and is no longer available for purchase in their publishing catalog.

P.M. Dawn contributed a cover of "You Got Me Floatin'" to the 1993 compilation album Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Artists ranging from Pat Metheny to Eric Clapton to Ice-T's Body Count were included.

Their 1995 album Jesus Wept was unable to attain the success of their first two albums. The album's highest charting single was "Downtown Venus", which contained a sample of Deep Purple's "Hush", and reached #48 on the Billboard chart. Also, in 1995, P.M. Dawn was credited with the remix of White Zombie's "Blood, Milk and Sky" (Miss September Mix) on the Supersexy Swingin' Sounds compilation album. In 1996, P.M. Dawn contributed "Non-Fiction Burning" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Rio produced by the Red Hot Organization. In 1998, Prince Be contributed the tracks "Perfect for You" and "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" to the Marlon Wayans and David Spade comedy Senseless, followed later in the year by P.M. Dawn's fourth album, Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad. It was less successful again, with the album's single, "Being So Not for You (I Had No Right)" being a minor chart hit.

In the same year, Jarret Cordes (DJ Minutemix) was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year old relative and was subsequently arrested in Burlington County. The girl is said to have been a "close relative".

In 2000, they released the compilation, The Best of P.M. Dawn. Through their website, they also began selling a mail-order-only album called Fucked Music on December 1, 2000. This was paired with a bonus CD, Unreleased Vol. 1, and a T-shirt.

Prince Be suffered a massive stroke in early 2005 that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Undeterred, P.M. Dawn appeared on NBC's Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, performing "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and covered Puddle of Mudd's "Blurry". Despite the fact that Prince Be was still suffering the effects of this stroke, they beat Animotion, Missing Persons, Juice Newton and Shannon to claim the $20,000 charitable prize, which they contributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as Prince Be was a diabetic.

Following their appearance on Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, Minutemix was terminated for misconduct. This led to the introduction of the Cordes brothers' paternal first cousin, Gregory Lewis Carr II, known by his stage name Doc. G (also known as 'Dr. Giggles' or 'Blissboy #2'.)

On May 15, 2010, Prince Be's 40th birthday, Doc. G performed in Manila before an audience of 50,000 people and dedicated the performance to Guru of Gang Starr and Francis M.

On June 17, 2016, Prince Be died of renal disease at the age of 46.

Doc. G continues to perform and record music under the P.M. Dawn name. On April 6, 2018, Doc.G announced K-R.O.K. as a new member of P.M. Dawn.

About Nothing
P.M. Dawn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Say, say, say, why are you looking for the was,
I find you scheming on that plane, that I'm not thinking of
Say, say, say I bet you found another love or even
Found another something not to tell me
Now I feel sorry for the things that I've said
Now I feel sorry for the ways I might have held you down
Now I feel sorry for the rest of my life.
'Cause what comes around, goes around

[Chorus]
'Cause I like the way you change your look.
I like the ways you change your style
I like the way you talk about nothing
And make it worth your while

No, no, no, I will not miss you when you're gone
I think I'll have to find another word that turns that emotion on.
You, you make it so difficult to try
If you're not dreaming when you lie
I guess you'll teach me
Now I feel sorry for the me's that are you's
Now I feel sorry for the times you tried to tell me why..
I'll kill you softly for the rest of my life
Unless you and I see eye to eye

[Chorus x2]

Why do I keep so much pressure underlined
It makes me feel for everything
That decides to pass me by.
Only you see something special in my eyes
She tells me its wrong for me to cry
About almost everything
I feel so sorry for the ones that don't care
I feel so sorry there are reasons some will never know
I guess I'll see you for the rest of my life
But that's what the sun shines for

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In "About Nothing For The Love Of Destiny" by P.M. Dawn, the singer is reflecting on a complicated relationship that has come to an end. The lyrics suggest that there has been betrayal and a lack of communication between the two parties. The singer expresses regret for the things they have said, the ways in which they might have held the other person down, and the pressure they have put on the relationship. The phrase, "what comes around, goes around" highlights the idea that actions have consequences and that the singer recognizes this.

Despite the pain, the singer still finds something to appreciate in the other person. They like the way the other person changes their look and style, and the way they can talk about nothing and make it interesting. However, the singer also acknowledges the difficulty of the relationship and the fact that the other person has made it hard for them to try. The singer wants to find a way to move on and express their emotions in a different way, but they also express that they will always have a connection to the other person. The final line, "But that's what the sun shines for," suggests that there is hope for a new beginning and a brighter future.

Line by Line Meaning

Say, say, say, why are you looking for the was,
Asking why the person is dwelling on the past

I find you scheming on that plane, that I'm not thinking of
Not understanding why the person is fixated on something that the singer is not concerned about

Say, say, say I bet you found another love or even
Suggesting that the person may have found someone or something else to occupy their attention

Found another something not to tell me
Insinuating that the person may be keeping secrets

Now I feel sorry for the things that I've said
Regretting past words that may have caused harm

Now I feel sorry for the ways I might have held you down
Feeling remorseful for any actions that may have stifled the person's growth or progress

Now I feel sorry for the rest of my life.
Expressing an everlasting feeling of regret

'Cause what comes around, goes around
Believing in the concept of karma, that negative actions will have negative consequences

'Cause I like the way you change your look.
Appreciating the person's ability to transform their appearance

I like the ways you change your style
Enjoying the person's penchant for modifying their fashion choices

I like the way you talk about nothing
Finding pleasure in the person's ability to have meaningful conversations about topics that may seem trivial

And make it worth your while
Understanding that even seemingly insignificant conversations can be fulfilling

No, no, no, I will not miss you when you're gone
Declaring that the person will not be missed when they depart

I think I'll have to find another word that turns that emotion on.
Suggesting that the person may have to look for a new word to describe their feelings

You, you make it so difficult to try
Acknowledging that the person's actions or words may be confusing or complex

If you're not dreaming when you lie
Speculating that the person may be lying or not truthful

I guess you'll teach me
Anticipating that the person will be a source of knowledge or experience

Now I feel sorry for the me's that are you's
Pitying himself for being similar to the person in some way

Now I feel sorry for the times you tried to tell me why..
Regretting not understanding or listening to the person's explanations or reasons

I'll kill you softly for the rest of my life
Using a metaphor to suggest that the hurt caused by the person will be long-lasting

Unless you and I see eye to eye
Expressing that things could be different if the person and singer have a mutual understanding

Why do I keep so much pressure underlined
Questioning why the singer keeps unnecessary stress and tension

It makes me feel for everything
Suggesting that keeping pressure inside causes empathy for other situations

That decides to pass me by.
Feeling like opportunities or experiences may be missed due to the pressure held within

Only you see something special in my eyes
Acknowledging that the person has a unique view of the singer

She tells me its wrong for me to cry
Sharing that someone else is telling the singer not to be emotional

About almost everything
Being emotional about a wide variety of things, both large and small

I feel so sorry for the ones that don't care
Expressing sadness for those who do not show concern

I feel so sorry there are reasons some will never know
Understand that some people may have motivations or experiences that cannot be understood completely

I guess I'll see you for the rest of my life
Implies that the person will be around for a long time, perhaps always

But that's what the sun shines for
Suggesting that the reason for seeing the person is due to the positivity and light in life

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ATTRELL STEPHEN JR. CORDES, Attrell Cordes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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