The group was founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 when current director Gary Hines took leadership over the ensemble, and the group name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness.
The chief lead singer of the group was Ann Nesby until 1995 when Nesby left the group to pursue a solo career. The group continues to perform internationally. The group performed the original songs for the 1999 Disney animated short John Henry (based on the folklore character) as part of Disney's American Legends, the short was re-released in 2015 as part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection. The original songs were written by Gary Hines and Billy Steele, with a score by Stephen James Taylor
The group has received three Grammy Awards, four Stellar Awards, one Emmy nomination, the International Time for Peace Award, the International Dance Music Award, five NAACP Image Award nominations and 1 NAACP Image Award.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
Everything Is Gonna Be Alright
Sounds Of Blackness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
person knock on my door uhn uhn uhn
she give me loving before uhn uhn uhn
now she's back to give more uhn uhn uhn
cos everything is everything shodamo
person don wait for me uhn uhn uhn
she give me loving for free uhn uhn uhn
she be up in a stool uhn uhn uhn
girl will always disarm me
and she know how to rescue me
cos i was all up and nearly tori
cos everything is everything
everything is everything
all i want and all i need
my house is a molue mogbe hey hey hey
you're a blessing amidst my ** hey hey hey
ewon balode na just to carry go
what a beautiful thing mofe ti na me oh
*****
*****
moni won wami
amo eron lani
if you know where i be i don bell it with my ladies
so as i wake up in the morning (home alone)
before i set off on a journey (home alone)
say a little prayer for me (home alone)
everything is everything
all i want and all i need
see i want blessing
and i want joy
i want grace
if they can get this
we can all live in one house together
you see why i love them
cos once i love them
i dont need money
to make me happy
some say money is everything
but as for me i say
cos everything is everything
person knock on my door uhn uhn uhn
she give me loving before uhn uhn uhn
now she's back to give more uhn uhn uhn
cos everything is everything shodamo
person don wait for me uhn uhn uhn
she give me loving for free uhn uhn uhn
she be up in a stool uhn uhn uhn
cos everything is everything
everything is everything
all i want and all i need
The lyrics to “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright” by Sounds of Blackness are about a person who has experienced love from someone and is now back in their life to give more of it. The chorus “Everything is everything” is a reminder that even though life may have its ups and downs, everything will be okay in the end. The verse “Girl will always disarm me and she knows how to rescue me” refers to the person’s partner being a constant support in their life, helping them through difficult times.
The lines “My house is a molue mogbe” and “ewon balode na just to carry go” indicate that the person is living a simple life, possibly in a shared living space like a bus. However, they still feel grateful for their blessings, as shown in the lines “You’re a blessing amidst my **” and “What a beautiful thing mofe ti na me oh”. The person also values the company of their friends and the love they receive from them, as evidenced by the lines “If you know where I be, I don bell it with my ladies” and “Once I love them, I don’t need money to make me happy”.
Line by Line Meaning
person knock on my door uhn uhn uhn
Someone is knocking on my door with an urgent call for attention
she give me loving before uhn uhn uhn
She has shown me love in the past
now she's back to give more uhn uhn uhn
She has returned to show me more love
cos everything is everything shodamo
All things are complete and in order
person don wait for me uhn uhn uhn
Someone has been waiting for me patiently
she give me loving for free uhn uhn uhn
She has shown me love without expecting anything in return
she be up in a stool uhn uhn uhn
She is seated elegantly on a chair
girl will always disarm me
She has the ability to take away my fears
and she know how to rescue me
She has the knowledge of how to save me from harm
cos i was all up and nearly tori
Because I was deeply worried and troubled
everything is everything
All things are complete and in order
all i want and all i need
Everything that's important to me is complete
my house is a molue mogbe hey hey hey
My home is a means of transportation that's often overcrowded
you're a blessing amidst my ** hey hey hey
You're a blessing in the midst of all my troubles
ewon balode na just to carry go
The people around me are just here to move along
what a beautiful thing mofe ti na me oh
I feel so grateful for all the wonderful things around me
moni won wami
I have many people with me
amo eron lani
They all have different issues and problems
if you know where i be i don bell it with my ladies
If you knew what I'm going through, you'd understand why I'm confiding in my female friends
so as i wake up in the morning (home alone)
As I wake up alone in my house in the morning
before i set off on a journey (home alone)
Before I embark on any journey alone
say a little prayer for me (home alone)
I pray for God's protection before setting off
everything is everything
All things are complete and in order
all i want and all i need
Everything that's important to me is complete
see i want blessing
I desire to be blessed
and i want joy
I want to experience happiness
i want grace
I need God's favor and grace
if they can get this
If I can receive these things
we can all live in one house together
We could all live in harmony in the same house
you see why i love them
You see why I love the people around me
cos once i love them
Because I unconditionally love them
i dont need money
Money isn't the most important thing in life
to make me happy
I can find happiness in other things
some say money is everything
Many people believe money is the most important thing in life
but as for me i say
But I personally believe
Contributed by Jordyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HSSU Camera Club
on Black Butterfly
Black Butterfly by Sounds of Blackness
Chorus
Black Butterfly, you can do most anything your heart desires
Freedom comes with understanding who you are
Its time to reclaim your place among the stars
Spread your wings and fly
Awakening the genius has been asleep too long
A people with a beauty rich and strong
A heritage that rates second to none
Original, your qualities, don’t change them to fit in
Now that you’re on top just keep rising
Experience new life, be born again.
Chorus
What’s going on?
To not reveal unless we choose to see
Has generations lost in history
To hide our culture and identity
Keep your pride
You can’t be another color butterfly
So when you shine, let everybody see your light
Cuz you know out of sight means out of mind