New Orleans marks the Cash Money imprintโs first step toward broadening its already wide appeal, thanks to a hit-making and award-winning roster that includes founder Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj. And thereโs no better ambassador to musically personify that message than Morton, whose self described โsoulful popโ seamlessly spans multiple genres from gospel and R&B/funk to pop and rock.
โIโve always pushed boundaries,โ says Morton, โbut I always remain true to who I am musically. New Orleans is a natural progression of who I am. I canโt explain it except through my music. That proves it better than anything I can say.โ
Building that case is โOnly Oneโ featuring Stevie Wonder. Quickly garnering strong reaction following its January premiere on Billboard.com, the song is the lead single from New Orleans. Armed with an infectious hook and a head-boppinโ groove, the up-tempo number showcases Mortonโs velvety tenor, songwriting skills and musicianship, accented by Wonderโs distinctive harmonica.
โStevie joining me on the track is the ultimate start. Itโs my dream come true,โ says Morton of teaming with Wonder. โI want to continue the legacy he represents: musicianship and positivity.โ
New Orleans itself stems from Mortonโs acclaimed 2012 EP, Following My First Mind, featuring guest cameos from Maroon 5โs Adam Levine, Lil Wayne and Jazmine Sullivan. A nod to Mortonโs hometown and musical roots, the forthcoming New Orleans finds Morton at the keyboard playing with a full backing band complete with horns and strings. The result is a lush, melodic yet organic 10-track set that grabs listeners right from the opening title track.
โNew Orleans is where I learned how to play music,โ recalls Morton. โItโs the physical and mind space I was in when I fell in love with music. It wasnโt about marketing, radio and publicity. It was just about making music because I loved it. It made me feel good. Young Money wanted me creatively as I am. Thatโs why Iโm excited about this next chapter.โ
Also featuring rapper Busta Rhymes, New Orleans comes packed with a diverse slate of musical influences. Thereโs the reggae-infused โHard Enough,โ which explores relationship issues. โIโm looking for a love unconditional / Not one that goes wherever the wind blows,โ declares Morton as the song opens.
The self-described โDr. Loveโ traverses the same landscape on the mid-tempo โWork It Out.โ Set off by a touch of synth and a hypnotic drumbeat, the song once again spotlights Mortonโs tantalizing tenor. Also noteworthy is โHeavy,โ a song revamped from Mortonโs 2012 EP and featuring Adam Levine. Sporting a funk/rock track reminiscent of Sly Stone and Prince, the songโs lyrics were inspired by Mortonโs frustration at one point with his indie career.
โIt was at a point where I was trying to figure out what the next step was,โ says Morton, who hadnโt yet connected with pop hitmakers Maroon 5. โThis was me getting those feelings out. Since that frustration, Iโve had one of the biggest years in my career. Itโs crazy.โ
Influenced by acts ranging from the Beatles and James Taylor to Wonder and Donny Hathaway, the New Orleans native is the son of gospel singer Paul S. Morton. His formal foray into the industry was as a member of the band Freestyle Nation, which debuted in the early 2000s. But it was as a songwriter/ producer that Morton left his first indelible impression. He won a Grammy Award for his songwriting/ production of India.Arieโs โInterestedโ from her 2002 album Voyage to India.
That opened the door to more collaborations (Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Monica, Musiq Soulchild, Trinitee 5:7) and additional accolades (Dove and Stellar Awards) for his work with gospel singer DeWayne Woods. Woodsโ โLet Go, Let Godโ spent a record 70 weeks on the gospel chart. Along the way, Morton released several acclaimed indie solo albums. He also attracted the attention of Academy Award-winning producer AR Rahman (โSlumdog Millionaireโ), who asked Morton to contribute a song (โSajnaโ) to the soundtrack for the Vince Vaughn comedy โCouples Retreat.โ
Mortonโs next big break occurred three years ago, when he was asked to audition by friend and Maroon
5 music director Adam Blackstone for a spot in the band as its keyboardist/vocalist. Soon after, childhood friend and Young Money Entertainment president Mack Maine championed Mortonโs music and vision to Cash Money co-CEOโs Roland โSlimโ Williams and Bryan โBirdmanโ Williams. With Lil Wayne co-signing his approval as well, Morton is ready to bring his journey full circle with New Orleans.
โMy indie years and working with various artists, including Maroon 5, have helped me understand who I am as both an individual and an artist,โ says Morton. โIt has allowed me to create a fan base that will forever be with me. Now Iโm being given the opportunity to do on steroids what Iโve been doing for years.โ
Built For Love
PJ Morton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I haven't been perfect for you
But before you say we're through
I think you should think a little while
'Cause this is just a bump in the road
We'll get over this
Just like the last one that we did
And now we're closer because of it
Oh, what we have is worth it (yeah)
And we just can't desert it
We gotta keep goin' strong (keep goin' strong)
It's not worth keepin' if it's not worth fightin' for
No matter how long it takes (no matter, no matter)
I'm willin' to wait (we can't lose today)
We can't lose today (oh no, no)
'Cause we were built for love
Baby, it ain't easy lovin' you
When the lights shut off and the rent is due
But somehow we always make it through
That's what I call love (yeah, that's love)
So even when I fail to take a plane
Baby you know and I know I ain't goin' nowhere
I'll stay right here
That's what I call love
(What we)
Oh, what we have is worth it (yeah)
And we just can't desert it (love)
We gotta keep goin' strong (ayy, it's not worth keepin')
It's not worth keepin' if it's not worth fightin' for
No matter how long it takes (no matter how long)
I'm willin' to wait
We can't lose today (we can't lose today)
'Cause we were built for love
Yes, we're built for love
Baby (baby, it's you and me)
We're built for love
Oh (forever, it'll always be)
Oh, we're built for love
Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (no matter how hard it gets)
Oh, we're built for love
Yes we're built for love
We'll always pass the test
What we have is worth it (it's worth it, yeah)
And we just can't desert it (what we have, we can't desert it)
We gotta keep goin' strong (oh no)
It's not worth keepin' if it's not worth fightin' for
Oh, no matter how long it takes (no matter how long it takes)
I'm willin' to wait (baby, I'll wait for you)
We can't lose today (please wait for me, oh)
'Cause we were built for love (we were built for love)
'Cause we were built for love, yes
We were built for love (ooh)
We were built for love
The song "Built For Love" by PJ Morton is a beautiful ode to long-lasting and enduring love. The lyrics of the song are a message from the singer to his lover, assuring her of his undying love for her, even in the face of difficulties, and encouraging her to have faith in their relationship. He acknowledges that he has not always been perfect, and they have faced challenges in the past, but they have gotten through them together and come out stronger on the other side. The singer emphasizes that what they have is worth fighting for and that their love is something special that they were both "built for".
The chorus of the song drives home the central message of the song - that their love is stronger than any obstacle they may face. The singer declares that they are built for love and that they will always pass the test. The song's lyrics convey a deep sense of commitment to one another and a bond that nothing can break. The song's melody is soulful and groovy, accentuating the passion and fervor in the singer's voice.
In conclusion, "Built For Love" is a beautiful and uplifting song about the enduring nature of love. PJ Morton's powerful voice and soulful instrumentation make it a stirring and emotionally resonant tune that is sure to touch the hearts of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, baby girl
I know I haven't been perfect for you
But before you say we're through
I think you should think a little while
'Cause this is just a bump in the road
We'll get over this
Just like the last one that we did
And now we're closer because of it
Acknowledging his imperfections and past mistakes, the singer urges his partner to not end things yet, but to consider that their current difficulty is temporary and they've overcome similar problems before, ultimately strengthening their bond.
Oh, what we have is worth it (yeah)
And we just can't desert it
We gotta keep goin' strong (keep goin' strong)
It's not worth keepin' if it's not worth fightin' for
No matter how long it takes (no matter, no matter)
I'm willin' to wait (we can't lose today)
We can't lose today (oh no, no)
'Cause we were built for love
Highlighting the importance of their relationship, the singer emphasizes the need to not give up on something valuable, to keep fighting for it, no matter how long it takes, because together they were made to conquer any challenges and cannot afford to lose each other.
Baby, it ain't easy lovin' you
When the lights shut off and the rent is due
But somehow we always make it through
That's what I call love (yeah, that's love)
So even when I fail to take a plane
Baby you know and I know I ain't goin' nowhere
I'll stay right here
That's what I call love
Admitting the difficulties of their situation, the singer emphasizes how their ability to make it through tough times is the epitome of what true love is, and even if distance may come, he is committed to staying and making it work because that is what love means to him.
(What we)
Oh, what we have is worth it (yeah)
And we just can't desert it (love)
We gotta keep goin' strong (ayy, it's not worth keepin')
It's not worth keepin' if it's not worth fightin' for
No matter how long it takes (no matter how long)
I'm willin' to wait
We can't lose today (we can't lose today)
'Cause we were built for love
Reiterating that their relationship is worth the effort and commitment, the artist emphasizes the importance of not giving up, no matter how hard it gets, because they were meant for each other and cannot afford to let go.
Yes, we're built for love
Baby (baby, it's you and me)
We're built for love
Oh (forever, it'll always be)
Oh, we're built for love
Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (no matter how hard it gets)
Oh, we're built for love
Yes we're built for love
We'll always pass the test
Emphatically concluding that they were built for love, the artist underscores the unbreakable bond that they share, ensuring that they will always make it through the difficulties they face, no matter how challenging they are, because they were designed for love.
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Morton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brooklynnfayexoxo6034
โโ
Baby girl, I know I havent been perfect for you
But before you say were through
I think you should think a little while
Cause this is just a bump in the road
Well get over this
Just like the last one that we did
And now were closer because of this Oh what we have is worth it
And we cant just desert it
We gotta keep going strong
Its not worth keeping if its not fighting for
No matter how long it takes
Im willing to wait, we cant lose to hate
Cause we were built for love Baby it aint easy loving you
When the lights shut off and the rent is due
But somehow we always make it through
Thats what I call love
So even when I fuss and complain
Baby you know, I know, I aint going nowhere
Im staying right here, that's what I call love Oh what we have is worth it And we cant just desert it
We gotta keep going strong
Its not worth keeping if its not fighting for
No matter how long it takes
Im willing to wait, we cant lose to hate
Cause we were built for love Yes we're built for love (baby, baby it's you and me)
Were built for love (baby we'll always be)
Were built for love, yeah, yeah, yeah
Built for love
Yes were built for love
Well always pa** the test Oh what we have is worth it
And we cant just desert it
We gotta keep going strong
Its not worth keeping if its not fighting for
No matter how long it takes
Im willing to wait, we cant lose to hate
Cause we were built for love
we were built for love
we were built for love
we were built for love.
@naturalfitgirl80
Yes to this.. yes to Jazmine S., Yes to love...I'm getting married next month and this will be played -periodt!
@NikkiThee1nOnly
Congratulations๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
@LoveliGigi
Congratulations!!!! ๐๐๐
@melbel10333
Congrats!
@miriamjouini6013
Congratulations โค๐๐๐๐
@deborahlewis4876
Congratulations!
@ladymacan7874
He released this about 10yrs ago, but I donโt think that it was ever part of an album. I still love this song.
@EricG-bv2ui
exactly so happy he heard my wish to put it on an album.
@nebbielalaz
Really? I love his music. I have never heard of him until he sang with yebba.
@jsullivanfan
Jazmine Sullivan is a beast you hear me? name one song she's been on that she didn't eat? ๐๐๐๐