The time is now for one of the industry’s best-kept secrets: PJ Morton. The… Read Full Bio ↴The time is now for one of the industry’s best-kept secrets: PJ Morton. The Maroon 5 keyboardist/ backing vocalist makes his major label debut on May 14 with New Orleans, his first album for Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records. One listen to Morton’s anticipated project quickly reveals why the multi-talent became a favorite on the indie R&B circuit and an in-demand songwriter/producer and also why the limitless talent will be a game changer for the Lil Wayne-founded Young Money.

New Orleans marks the Cash Money imprint’s 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 there’s no better ambassador to musically personify that message than Morton, whose self described “soulful pop” seamlessly spans multiple genres from gospel and R&B/funk to pop and rock.

“I’ve always pushed boundaries,” says Morton, “but I always remain true to who I am musically. New Orleans is a natural progression of who I am. I can’t explain it except through my music. That proves it better than anything I can say.”

Building that case is “Only One” 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-boppin’ groove, the up-tempo number showcases Morton’s velvety tenor, songwriting skills and musicianship, accented by Wonder’s distinctive harmonica.

“Stevie joining me on the track is the ultimate start. It’s my dream come true,” says Morton of teaming with Wonder. “I want to continue the legacy he represents: musicianship and positivity.”

New Orleans itself stems from Morton’s acclaimed 2012 EP, Following My First Mind, featuring guest cameos from Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Lil Wayne and Jazmine Sullivan. A nod to Morton’s 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.

“New Orleans is where I learned how to play music,” recalls Morton. “It’s the physical and mind space I was in when I fell in love with music. It wasn’t 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. That’s why I’m excited about this next chapter.”

Also featuring rapper Busta Rhymes, New Orleans comes packed with a diverse slate of musical influences. There’s the reggae-infused “Hard Enough,” which explores relationship issues. “I’m looking for a love unconditional / Not one that goes wherever the wind blows,” declares Morton as the song opens.

The self-described “Dr. Love” traverses the same landscape on the mid-tempo “Work It Out.” Set off by a touch of synth and a hypnotic drumbeat, the song once again spotlights Morton’s tantalizing tenor. Also noteworthy is “Heavy,” a song revamped from Morton’s 2012 EP and featuring Adam Levine. Sporting a funk/rock track reminiscent of Sly Stone and Prince, the song’s lyrics were inspired by Morton’s frustration at one point with his indie career.

“It was at a point where I was trying to figure out what the next step was,” says Morton, who hadn’t yet connected with pop hitmakers Maroon 5. “This was me getting those feelings out. Since that frustration, I’ve had one of the biggest years in my career. It’s crazy.”

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.Arie’s “Interested” 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. Woods’ “Let Go, Let God” 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 (“Slumdog Millionaire”), who asked Morton to contribute a song (“Sajna”) to the soundtrack for the Vince Vaughn comedy “Couples Retreat.”

Morton’s 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 Morton’s music and vision to Cash Money co-CEO’s Roland “Slim” Williams and Bryan “Birdman” Williams. With Lil Wayne co-signing his approval as well, Morton is ready to bring his journey full circle with New Orleans.

“My indie years and working with various artists, including Maroon 5, have helped me understand who I am as both an individual and an artist,” says Morton. “It has allowed me to create a fan base that will forever be with me. Now I’m being given the opportunity to do on steroids what I’ve been doing for years.”

Hard Enough
PJ Morton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am looking for a love unconditional
Not one that goes wherever the wind blows
So don't go changing on me as the seasons fade
And if that's too much to ask then you don't have to stay

(Pre-)
Because life is just too short to be unhappy
And I don't know what's become of you and me

You can go, just be free

()
'Cause as it is
It's hard enough, hard enough
Living this life alone
I don't need you I can do bad on my own
It's hard enough, hard enough
Know you's hanging all wrong
I don't want you if you gonna bring me down
Gonna bring me down

()
Let me be clear so we're seeing eye to eye
I want this forever and forever you and I
But if you can't promise you'll be there through good and bad
Then I rather be by myself instead

(Pre-)
Because life is just too short to be unhappy
And I don't know what's become of you and me
You can go, just be free

()
'Cause as it is
It's hard enough, hard enough
Living this life alone
I don't need you I can do bad on my own
It's hard enough, hard enough
Know you's hanging all wrong
I don't want you if you gonna bring me down

(Bridge)
See, there's no use in fighting
Let's talk about it
To see just where we stand
And if we disagree and this is the ending
Just know that I understand

()
'Cause as it is
It's hard enough, hard enough
Living this life alone
I don't need you I can do bad on my own
It's hard enough, hard enough
Know you's hanging all wrong
I don't want you if you gonna bring me down
Gonna bring me down

If you gonna bring me down...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of PJ Morton's song "Hard Enough" speak to a desire for a love that is unconditional and lasting. The singer is not interested in a love that is fickle and changes with the seasons. They want someone who will stick around through good times and bad, and they make it clear that they would rather be alone than settle for less. The chorus emphasizes the difficulty of going through life alone, but also suggests that it is better than being with someone who will bring the singer down.

The song seems to be about the realization that a relationship is not working out and the difficult decision to end things. The singer emphasizes that life is too short to be unhappy and that they don't see a future with the other person if they can't promise to be there through everything. The bridge suggests that the singer is open to communication and compromise, but ultimately, if they can't agree on what they want from the relationship, it's time to move on.

Overall, the lyrics of "Hard Enough" express a strong desire for a love that is committed, genuine, and true. The singer knows their worth and is unwilling to settle for anything less than what they deserve. The song captures the emotional complexity of a difficult decision and the struggle to find happiness and fulfillment in life.

Line by Line Meaning

I am looking for a love unconditional
I want a love that is not based on changing circumstances or external factors.

Not one that goes wherever the wind blows
I don't want a love that is easily swayed or influenced by external factors like the wind.

So don't go changing on me as the seasons fade
I don't want my partner to change or become different over time as the seasons pass.

And if that's too much to ask then you don't have to stay
If my partner can't meet my expectations for a stable and enduring love, then they are free to leave.

'Cause life is just too short to be unhappy
Life is too short to stay in an unhappy relationship.

And I don't know what's become of you and me
I'm not sure where our relationship stands or if it's going to work out.

You can go, just be free
You are free to leave if our relationship is not fulfilling for you.

'Cause as it is
Currently, in the current state of our relationship

It's hard enough, hard enough
My life is already difficult enough without adding relationship troubles.

Living this life alone
I am already dealing with the challenges of life on my own.

I don't need you I can do bad on my own
I don't need someone in my life who will make things worse; I can handle that on my own.

Know you's hanging all wrong
I know that our relationship is not working out or headed in the right direction.

I don't want you if you gonna bring me down
If being with you is going to make my life harder or more unhappy, then I don't want to be with you.

Let me be clear so we're seeing eye to eye
I want to make sure that we understand each other clearly and completely.

I want this forever and forever you and I
I want our relationship to last forever.

But if you can't promise you'll be there through good and bad
If you can't commit to being there for me through all the ups and downs of life, then I don't want to be with you.

Then I rather be by myself instead
If you can't be the partner I need, then I would rather be alone.

See, there's no use in fighting
There's no point in arguing or being at odds.

Let's talk about it
Let's have an open and honest conversation about our relationship.

To see just where we stand
To clarify our current relationship status.

And if we disagree and this is the ending
If we can't come to an agreement and this marks the end of our relationship,

Just know that I understand
Know that I have thought things through and understand that this may be for the best.

If you gonna bring me down...
If being with you is going to cause me more harm than good...

Contributed by Jack P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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