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.
More to Do
Stephen Simmonds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish that I could talk to your soul
But I've come to see I could never be meant for your heart
Makebelieving will get us far in nowhere
Even though the writing was on the wall
I never thought we'd end up this way
But eventually some reality knocked on the door
But even though the vows have been broken
And I've been inside my grief
I know there's still life in me
My heads above the water I'm floating
I still got a chance to proove
That I've got much more to do
I'm tired of the way sadness comes to me
And I'm tired of the tears in my eyes
Though I can't deny, you're still inside and I love you
But my heartache don't make the rules in my life
It's hard for me to see through my future eyes
Living day by day is my plan
And if destiny is still with me I will survive
And my spirit will get me by as I am
It's gonna be alright my brother don't you cry my brother
It's gonna be alright my sister, don't you cry my sister
The day overcomes the night?
The lyrics to Stephen Simmonds's song More to Do convey a message of pain, acceptance, and determination. The singer expresses a longing to understand someone on a deep level, to connect with them on a soulful level, and enter into their thoughts. The singer recognizes that, despite their affection for this person, they will never be able to occupy a place in their heart. The singer acknowledges that all their efforts to create a future together were in vain, as reality could not be denied, and their relationship came to a bitter end.
The song communicates the singer's recognition of the pain they have experiences, but also the knowledge that they need to get up and continue with life; they refuse to let their broken dreams hold them down. Although the experience has left them in grief, they acknowledge that they must move forward and continue living; believing that they have more to contribute to the world. The singer rejects living in sadness, tears, and rule over their lives as they seek to survive and keep their spirit alive.
In summary, More to Do is a song about painful heartbreak and the resilience and strength that comes from moving forward. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever experienced a broken relationship, or a loss, and a reminder to strive on, to live, to succeed, to be determined, and to fulfill life's purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish that I could walk through your mind one day
I wish to understand your thoughts and emotions.
I wish that I could talk to your soul
I wish to communicate with the essence of your being.
But I've come to see I could never be meant for your heart
I understand that we don't share the same feelings.
Makebelieving will get us far in nowhere
Pretending won't lead us anywhere.
Even though the writing was on the wall
Despite the signs of our relationship's decline.
I never thought we'd end up this way
I never expected our relationship to end like this.
But eventually some reality knocked on the door
Eventually, the truth of the situation was apparent.
And all the things we'd been fighting for went away
Our struggles were in vain.
But even though the vows have been broken
Despite the end of promises we made to each other.
And I've been inside my grief
I have experienced deep sorrow.
I know there's still life in me
I know I still have reason to live.
My heads above the water I'm floating
I'm barely holding on, but I'm surviving.
I still got a chance to proove
I still have a chance to show what I'm capable of.
That I've got much more to do
That I have many goals left to accomplish.
I'm tired of the way sadness comes to me
I'm exhausted by the way sadness affects me.
And I'm tired of the tears in my eyes
I'm drained by my constant crying.
Though I can't deny, you're still inside and I love you
I cannot ignore that I still have feelings of love for you.
But my heartache don't make the rules in my life
My emotional pain won't determine the course of my life.
It's hard for me to see through my future eyes
It's difficult to envision my future positively.
Living day by day is my plan
My goal is to take each day as it comes.
And if destiny is still with me I will survive
If fate is on my side, I will persevere.
And my spirit will get me by as I am
My inner strength will guide me through.
It's gonna be alright my brother don't you cry my brother
Things will improve, my friend, don't feel sad.
It's gonna be alright my sister, don't you cry my sister
Things will get better, my friend, don't cry.
The day overcomes the night?
The future will be brighter than the present.
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.