After completing a high-school education at the Stockholm music school Södra Latin, Swedish producer Peter Cartriers heard of Stephens talent in 1995 and invited him to his studio in Stockholm where they made a demo that first attracted the attention of a Swedish indie label and then secured a record deal with the UK major label Parlophone/EMI Music as well as Priority Records in the US. Stephen wrote and Peter produced Stephens first critically acclaimed and 5 times Grammy nominated album "Alone" (the album was re-mixed and re-named "Spirit Tales" for his UK and US release) and Stephen Simmonds had his breakthrough in 1997 with the hit "Tears Never Dry" a duet with Swedish superstar Lisa Nilsson that quickly became the most played track on radio that year.
Since then his talent has brought him to the US and the UK where he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Raphael Saadiq, Masters At Work and Mica Paris. His US release "Spirit Tales" was highly recommended by Prince and the New Power Generation on their official website.
He has performed for Stevie Wonder and Amnesty and he is the only Swedish artist who has been reviewed in the Quincy Jones founded Soul and R&B bible Vibe Magazine.
Stephen is now 31 years of age and for the release of his third album "This Must Be Ground" he has started his own label For Father Recordings and through a leading distributor got the album out in Scandinavia during 2004/early 2005.
"This Must Be Ground" is a strong album lyrically and musically. With songs such as "Goodwill", "Mother Mary" and "Killing & Religion" the goal was to blend Stephens strong world conscious lyrics and music with creative and genre transcending production by Sweden's finest.
To achieve this Stephen has worked with the young, up and coming Swedish producer Alex Papakonstantinou as well as childhood friend Arnthor Birgisson ( Alongside Max Martin and Rami he is one of Sweden's and the worlds top producers and he has worked with Westlife, J Lo, Celine Dion and Ricky Martin among others.)
"This Must Be Ground" is an album unique with its blend of daringly personal ballads and furiously dance driven up tempo tracks.
For You
Stephen Simmonds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world is filled with lies, evil never ment.
My soul is turned in pain, my winning that knows hell.
When I see you smile, I know that I'll prevail!
I live for you and I, you keep me alive.
Girl you keep me alive!
You keep me alive
You keep me alive, girl you keep me alive.
It's all I ever knew, and so I turn to you
Keep me from the cold, that's all you have to do
You're my only shield, but sorrow makes me feel
As if there is no hope, but i just need to be.
So if you just give me time, I swear to you that i
Will treat you like a queen, forever by your side
So be patient with me, every body makes mistakes
But to be no more than a,
If you're not there where are you
I live for you and I, you keep me alive.
Girl you keep me alive!
You keep me alive
Bring my hord and i'll die
You keep me alive, girl you keep me alive.
--- Bridge ---
I live for you and I, you keep me alive.
Girl you keep me alive!
You keep me alive
Bring my hord and i'll die
You keep me alive, girl you keep me alive.
I live for you and I
So please keep me alive! (12x repeat!)
Keep me alive!
The lyrics of the song "For You" by Stephen Simmonds seem to express a deep longing for companionship and love. The words reflect a sense of loneliness and pain that the singer feels, but they also convey hope and a belief that with the right person by his side, he can overcome anything. The opening line, "I'm looking for a friend, so take me as I am," sets the tone for the rest of the song, suggesting that the singer is seeking someone with whom he can be himself and who will accept him for who he is.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more focused on the role that the other person plays in the singer's life. He talks about how they keep him alive and give him a reason to live. He also acknowledges that they are his only shield against the coldness of the world and the pain that he feels inside. The singer seems to be expressing a need for emotional support and comfort, and he appears to find that in the person he is singing to.
The final lines of the song, "So please keep me alive," are a plea to the other person to continue being there for him and to help him stay strong. Overall, the lyrics of "For You" are a powerful expression of the human need for connection and love, and they convey a sense of vulnerability and hopefulness that is both poignant and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking for a friend, so take me as I am.
I am in search of a friend who would accept me as who I am.
The world is filled with lies, evil never meant.
The world is full of lies, and evil is just a consequence of those lies.
My soul is turned in pain, my winning that knows hell.
My soul is constantly tormented by pain and I have experienced the depths of hell during my moments of victory.
When I see you smile, I know that I'll prevail!
Your smile gives me strength and helps me overcome any obstacle.
It's all I ever knew, and so I turn to you
I have always relied on you for support and guidance.
Keep me from the cold, that's all you have to do
All I need from you is to protect me from the coldness and harshness of the world.
You're my only shield, but sorrow makes me feel
You are my only protector, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by sadness.
As if there is no hope, but i just need to be.
Sometimes I feel like there's no hope left, but I just need your presence to give me hope.
So if you just give me time, I swear to you that i
If you can give me time, I promise to treat you like royalty and be by your side forever.
Will treat you like a queen, forever by your side
I promise to treat you with respect and be there for you always like a true companion.
So be patient with me, every body makes mistakes
Please be patient with me, because everyone is bound to make mistakes.
But to be no more than a,
But I don't want to be just a...
If you're not there where are you
If you're not by my side, then where else would you be?
I live for you and I, you keep me alive.
My life revolves around you and you alone keep me going.
Girl you keep me alive!
You are the only one who can keep me alive.
Bring my hord and i'll die
Without you, I am nothing and I will perish.
Keep me alive!
I need you to keep me alive and to stay by my side through thick and thin.
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fabio C. Lopes
I'm looking for a friend, so take me as I am
The world is filled with lies, evil never ment
My soul is turned in pain, my winning that knows hell
When I see you smile, I know that I'll prevail!
I live for you and I, you keep me alive
Girl you keep me alive!
You keep me alive
Bring my hord and i'll die
You keep me alive, girl you keep me alive
It's all I ever knew, and so I turn to you
Keep me from the cold, that's all you have to do
You're my only shield, but sorrow makes me feel
As if there is no hope, but i just need to be
So if you just give me time, I swear to you that i
Will treat you like a queen, forever by your side
So be patient with me, every body makes mistakes
But to be no more than a
If you're not there where are you
I live for you and I, you keep me alive
Girl you keep me alive!
You keep me alive
Bring my hord and i'll die
You keep me alive, girl you keep me alive
--- Bridge ---
I live for you and I, you keep me alive
Girl you keep me alive!
You keep me alive
Bring my hord and i'll die
You keep me alive, girl you keep me alive
I live for you and I
So please keep me alive! (12x repeat!)
Keep me alive!
LeJuan Dean
this has alwayssss been a ballad dear to my heart. I love this and kept it on repeat for a long time... this song and alone is my favorite. I wish he give us more...
Quartermane Titus
They dont make music like this no more!!💯💯💯
Gerard McMillan
I love this song! Still sounds as good today, 5-27-2021, as it did when it first came out. Had to buy this cd twice. The whole cd was nice!!! ❤
AlexPalmie
I'm so glad I found this song. I loved it when it first came out! WHUR (Washington DC/Howard University Radio) gave this so much play when it originally came out. :-)
LeJuan Dean
AlexPalmie I'm a D.C. native and it was my discovery to this gem too. I have loved it every since... The adult mix and the quiet storm kept this in heavy rotation.
Nelly B
Thats where I first heard it!!!!!! It was like the number 1 requested song around noon and 4pm lol. Crazy....thats when I fell in love with it and I promise its a classic!
JoAnn Carter
WHUR always plays wonderful music!
JB Moore
An all time great song.....from his harmonies, to his lyrics.
Music like this keeps us all alive....wow...
Angies Place
I love this song . His voice is amazing.
bfan82
Always loved that chord used in the hook. One of my favorite harmonies.