He came to prominence after being featured on Guru's tour de force, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1, which saw release in 1993. He was also one of the artists whose recordings are featured on Stolen Moments — a compilation album released in 1994 to benefit the Red Hot Organization.
Ever since the release of 1992's Antidote, recordings from Jordan have been a mainstay on a variety of Billboard charts. He has also been the recipient of a slew of awards, including The MOBO Best Jazz Act Award as well as Gibson Guitar Best Jazz Guitarist Award. His 2000 release, A Brighter Day, was nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category.
After Hours
Ronny Jordan Lyrics
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Standing on the corner
All alone
So you and me, streetlight
We'll paint the town gray
Oh, we are so many lamps
Who have lost our way
Say goodnight, America
And all the gang has gone home
And I'm standing on a corner
All alone
The lyrics to Ronny Jordan's "After Hours (The Antidote)" tell the story of a moment in which the singer is left alone on the streets after a night with friends. As the last of the gang goes home, he stands alone on the corner, illuminated by a streetlight. The lyrics speak to the sense of melancholy and loneliness that can come with being alone after being surrounded by people, and the singer describes himself and others like him as lost lamps looking for their way. The song also reflects on the power of dreams and the way that they can unite people from all over the world.
The lyrics to this song are powerful and evocative, capturing a sense of loss and longing with just a few lines. They paint a picture of a lonely street corner, illuminated by a single light, and the singer's voice is filled with emotion as he describes the emptiness of the world around him. The song is a tribute to the power of dreams, and it speaks to the way that they can inspire and bring people together, even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
All the gang has gone home
The group has dispersed, and everyone has gone back to their places of comfort.
Standing on the corner
The persona is stranded and feels out of place, desolately standing on the street corner.
All alone
The persona is all by himself without any company or companionship.
So you and me, streetlight
The only company the persona has is the streetlight, which becomes a symbol of a beacon of light in the darkness.
We'll paint the town gray
Instead of being festive, the persona describes his celebration as fades and lackluster due to the sadness of his loneliness.
Oh, we are so many lamps
The persona sees himself as one of many street lamps, all shedding light on dark aspects of life which contrast and symbolize his current condition.
Who have lost our way
The persona, as well as the lonely street lamps, have become overshadowed and forgotten in the after-hours of the night.
Say goodnight, America
The persona is numb and frustrated by the American dream, and declares the failed attempts of the dreamers to express their creativity.
Whole world still loves a dreamer
Despite the persona's dismissal of the American dream, he acknowledges that being a dreamer is still appreciated worldwide.
And all the gang has gone home
The persona is reminiscing about the solidarity of the group and how everyone went back to their happy places.
And I'm standing on a corner
The persona is still stranded and feels like he's stuck in a rut.
All alone
The persona ends with this phrase emphasizing his lonesome existence and lack of company.
Writer(s): Richard Loris Jones, Rickie Lee Jones
Contributed by Isaiah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.