Taking an interest in music from the age of 6, joining gospel groups and attending Young Musicians Program at Berklee during middle school, Saadiq got the chance phone call of a lifetime, when Sheila E. called one day looking for touring musicians to join Prince on his Parade tour. Saadiq spent two years on the road, a time he called "My University".
Saadiq made a name for himself as the lead vocalist in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Toni! Toné!. He went by his birth name during the beginning of Tony! Toni! Toné!, where he was joined by his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian. He adopted the name of Raphael Saadiq in the mid-1990s.
After the 1996 Tony! Toni! Toné! album, House of Music, (when he performed under his current name) Saadiq started his solo career. He produced a few solo tracks, but Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). This group only lasted for one album. His solo album Instant Vintage, released in 2002, also earned 5 Grammy nominations.
Saadiq released his third solo album, The Way I See It, on September 16 2008, featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone. Saadiq acknowledges the album's old school soul sound, which he says includes nods to Gladys Knight & The Pips, Al Green, The Four Tops, The Delfonics and The Stylistics.
Various artists have tapped Saadiq to produce their work through the years. Some of Saadiq's most notable work has been with D'Angelo. The 2000 collaboration "Untitled" won D'Angelo a Grammy award for Best R&B Album. In 2007, Saadiq was called on to produce the whole third album from UK Soul singer Joss Stone. Other artists he has collaborated with include The Roots, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Kelis, Q-Tip and Young Bellz.
In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. Among the artists on the label are Joi and Truth Hurts.
http://vimeo.com/3020000
-Good Man
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ready willing and able check your name
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
I'm monogamous, never did time but maybe just once, check your name
And I puts it down, wanna see it twice, brother puts it down, check
How could you ever walk away, after all I've done for you
I feel like there's a knife in my back, babe
Good man, I'm a good man, food's on the table, working two jobs
Ready willing and able check your name, good man
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
Good man, I'm monogamous never did time but maybe just once, check your name
And I puts it down, wanna see it twice, brother puts it down, check
You watched them hand cuff me lady, and walk me to my room
I never been so humiliated, I don't think that I deserve it for you
Good man, I'm a good man, food's on the table, working two jobs
Ready willing and able check your name, good man
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
I'm monogamous never did time but maybe just once, check your name
And I puts it down, wanna say it twice, but I puts it down, check
Right now I'm better, better than ever, so much better than ever
My life is better, my love is pretty, so much better, now
Without you, I never had so
Without you, whenever inside
(I'm a good man) How could you just walk away
When the things got rough you quickly ran into, somebody say
There's one thing I know so I'm a tell you that I'm a good man, back to you, a good man
Good man, good man, good man, good man
In the song Good Man by Raphael Saadiq, the singer describes himself as a good man who works hard to provide for his family, loves and serves God, and is faithful to his partner. He lists his virtues and accomplishments, such as having no children out of wedlock, never having been to prison except perhaps once, and being sexually skilled. Despite his self-proclaimed goodness, the woman he loves has left him and he feels betrayed and hurt. He describes his sense of humiliation and abandonment when he was handcuffed and taken away, presumably by the police. The song ends with the singer asserting that he is now better and happier without the woman who walked away from him.
The song presents an interesting contrast between the singer's description of himself as a good man and his experience of being rejected by the woman he loves. It suggests that goodness alone may not be enough to keep a relationship together and that even a good man can be hurt and vulnerable. The reference to being handcuffed and taken away introduces an element of ambiguity and mystery to the song, leaving listeners to speculate about what might have happened and why the woman left. Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of regret, disappointment, but also resilience and hope that the singer will be able to move on and find happiness again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a good man, food's on the table, working two jobs
I am a responsible and hardworking man who provides for my family by working multiple jobs and putting food on the table.
Ready willing and able check your name
I am always prepared and eager to assist my loved ones in any way I can, and I challenge you to find fault in my actions.
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
I am happy with my life, I have no children to tie me down, and I have a strong devotion to God that guides my actions.
I'm monogamous, never did time but maybe just once, check your name
I have always been faithful to my partner and have never been in serious legal trouble, though I may have made minor mistakes in the past.
And I puts it down, wanna see it twice, brother puts it down, check
I am confident in my abilities, and I am willing to prove that I am exceptional at what I do.
How could you ever walk away, after all I've done for you
I am hurt and confused by your decision to leave me, despite all the things I have done to support and care for you.
I feel like there's a knife in my back, babe
Your actions have caused me emotional pain and betrayal, akin to being stabbed in the back by someone I trusted.
You might as well pull it all the way through
Your decision to leave me has already caused me significant pain, and it would be better for you to end things completely than to leave me hanging on by a thread.
You watched them hand cuff me lady, and walk me to my room
You were present when I was arrested and taken to jail, and your lack of support during that traumatic experience further illustrates your betrayal and disloyalty.
I never been so humiliated, I don't think that I deserve it for you
Being arrested and treated like a criminal has been a deeply humiliating experience for me, and I do not believe that I deserved such treatment, especially from someone who claimed to love me.
Right now I'm better, better than ever, so much better than ever
Despite the pain and suffering caused by your actions, I have come out of this experience as a stronger, more resilient person than ever before.
My life is better, my love is pretty, so much better, now
Since leaving you behind, my life has improved greatly, and my love for myself is more evident than it has ever been.
Without you, I never had so
Without you in my life, I have never felt so free and shouldered with less burden.
Without you, whenever inside
Now that you have left, I no longer carry the emotional baggage and pain that being in a relationship with you entailed.
(I'm a good man) How could you just walk away
Despite being a good person who has done nothing but provide for you and try to keep the relationship strong, you still chose to leave with no explanation or justification.
When the things got rough you quickly ran into, somebody say
As soon as the relationship became difficult, you chose to escape the situation entirely, rather than working through it with me or trying to find a solution.
There's one thing I know so I'm a tell you that I'm a good man, back to you, a good man
Despite your betrayal and abandonment, I know within myself that I am a good man who deserves respect and love, and I will not let your actions affect my self-worth.
Good man, good man, good man, good man
Repeatedly affirming that I am a good man reinforces my confidence and serves as a reminder to never let anyone else's actions change my perception of myself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TAURA STINSON, RAPHAEL SAADIQ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@noobtuber9625
I'm a good man, food on the table
Working two jobs, ready, willing and able, check
Good man, up having fun
Got no kids and I love the Lord, check
Good man, I'm monogamous
Never did time well, maybe just once, check
Good man and I puts it down
Wanna say it twice but I puts it down, check
[Verse 1]
How could you ever walk away
After all I've done for you?
I feel like there's a knife in my back, babe
You might as well put it all the way through
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
You watched them handcuff me lady
And walk me through my own home
I never been so humiliated
I don't think that I deserved this from you, good man
[Hook]
[Hook 2]
Right now I'm better, better than ever
So much better now
My life is better, my love is greater
So much better now that I'm without you
I never felt so good inside, without you
I never felt so good inside, I'm a good man
How could you just get up and walk away?
See but when things got rough
You quickly ran to me, somebody save me
I'm a good man, there's one thing I know
So I'm gonna tell you that I'm a good man
Thanks to you
Good man, good man
@za-radyvine8216
Lyrics
Good man, I'm a good man, food's on the table, working two jobs,
Ready willing and able check your name
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
I'm a... never did time but maybe just once, check your name
And I puts it down, wanna see it twice, brother puts it down, check
How could you ever walk away, after all I've done for you
I feel like there's a knife in my back, babe
You might as well pull it all the way through
Good man, I'm a good man, food's on the table, working two jobs,
Ready willing and able check your name, good man
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
I'm a... never did time but maybe just once, check your name
And I puts it down, wanna see it twice, brother puts it down, check
You watched them hand cuff me lady, and walk me to my room
I never been so humiliated, I don't think that I deserve it for you
Good man, I'm a good man, food's on the table, working two jobs,
Ready willing and able check your name, good man
I'm having fun, got no kids and I love the Lord, check your name
I'm a... never did time but maybe just once, check your name
And I puts it down, wanna see it twice, brother puts it down, check
I never been, I never been so much pain, never
My life is better, my love is pretty, so much better, now
Without you, I never had so... without you, whenever... inside
How could you... just... walk away
When the things go rough you quickly ran into... somebody say, I've been there
There's one thing I know so I'm a tell you that I'm a good man, back to you, a good man
Good man, good man, good man, good man.
@dreamerwakes8679
This song is masterfully composed , as is the man who sings it.
@hughfuller8416
William Wilson agreed
@theinternetssavior
William Wilson YESS
@andybobandy7848
Why
@ericshaw1737
i dont get the video help me understand it
@johndukes5303
Well said sir!🙏🏾
@hunzren
This is such a powerful video. I have to say I disagree with other assessments here in the comments. I think that he tracked her down and gave her money not out of spite or any other negative emotion. The entire point of the song is about a man who takes his responsibilities to his family seriously. Dude walked up and gave her that money because he made a promise to take care of her, and despite who and what she turned out to be, she is still his obligation. She may not have taken her vows seriously, but he did. That act of selflessness made her fully realize the man she had, and what she had done to him. This is something that resonates with me very much right now.
@macdurden412
Brian Rewis I don’t know who could have a differing option but... 💯
@flxnhrd
Nailed It!
@prettyboydlove02
Smh its mess up how some women do this and think they going to have a good or bless life...