Whenever
Sting feat. Mary J.Blige Lyrics
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Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Whenever your memory feeds my soul, whatever got broken becomes whole
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I put my head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
Whenever those dark clouds hide the moon
Whenever this world has gotten so strange
I know that something's gonna change
Something's gonna change
Whenever I say your name,
Whenever I say your name,
I'm already praying, I'm already praying
I'm already filled with a joy that I can't explain
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever this world has got me down, whenever I shed a tear
Whenever the TV makes me mad, whenever I'm paralyzed with fear
Whenever those dark clouds fill the sky, whenever I lose the reason why
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Whenever the sun refuse to shine, whenever the skies are pouring rain
Whatever I lost I thought was mine whenever I close my eyes in pain
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name
Whenever this dark begins to fall
Whenever I'm vulnerable and small
Whenever I feel like I could die
Whenever I'm holding back the tears that I cry
Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
I'm already praying
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I'm forced to lie awake and have to weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever I say your name,
No matter how long it takes,
One day we'll be together
Whenever I say your name,
Let there be no mistake
That day will last forever
Whenever I say your name,
No matter how long it takes,
One day we'll be together
The lyrics of Whenever I Say Your Name by Sting featuring Mary J. Blige portray a deep longing for a loved one. The song speaks of the way that memories of that person fill every aspect of the singer's life, from the taste of food and drink to the moments of doubt and fear. It is clear that this person is the center of the singer's world, as they call out their name in moments of vulnerability, pain, and hope. The chorus of the song serves as a prayer to be reunited with this person, no matter how long it takes.
The verses of the song portray different scenarios where the singer calls out the loved one's name. Whether it is when the world seems dark and strange, when there is fear and doubt, or when they are on their knees in prayer, the presence of the person they long for is felt. The repetition of the chorus, "Whenever I Say Your Name," emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of this love that fills every moment of the singer's life. The song ends with a promise that one day, the singer and their loved one will be together.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
Every time I mention your name or think of your face
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
No matter what I am eating or drinking
Whenever your memory feeds my soul, whatever got broken becomes whole
When I think of you, my soul is nourished and healed
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Whenever I feel unsure about our future together
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I put my head to sleep
Anywhere I am sleeping or resting
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I am experiencing emotional or physical pain and crying
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
Every time I pray or need guidance
I'm calling out your name
I am calling out to you
Whenever those dark clouds hide the moon
Whenever I am in a dark place and cannot see the light
Whenever this world has gotten so strange
Whenever the world seems unusual or confusing
I know that something's gonna change
I believe that things will get better
Whenever I say your name,
Every time I mention your name
I'm already praying, I'm already praying
I am already talking to you in prayer
I'm already filled with a joy that I can't explain
I am already filled with inexplicable happiness
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whenever I am lying down
Whatever it was that I believed before
No matter what I believed previously
Whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever I say your name out loud, I am already praying to you
Whenever this world has got me down, whenever I shed a tear
When I am feeling sad and overwhelmed, and cry
Whenever the TV makes me mad, whenever I'm paralyzed with fear
Whenever the TV angers me or when I am very scared
Whenever those dark clouds fill the sky, whenever I lose the reason why
Whenever I am confused and can no longer see the way
Whenever the sun refuse to shine, whenever the skies are pouring rain
Whenever it is dark and rainy outside
Whatever I lost I thought was mine whenever I close my eyes in pain
Anything I may have lost that I thought was mine, especially when I am in pain
Whenever this dark begins to fall
Whenever it starts to become dark
Whenever I'm vulnerable and small
When I am feeling weak and small
Whenever I feel like I could die
Whenever I am feeling as if I am about to die
Whenever I'm holding back the tears that I cry
Whenever I am trying not to cry
Whenever I say your name,
Every time I mention your name
No matter how long it takes,
Regardless of how long it may take
One day we'll be together
We will be together someday
Let there be no mistake
Do not misunderstand
That day will last forever
We will be together forever on that day
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theloniouscoltrane3778
"Whenever I Say Your Name"
Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Whenever your memory feeds my soul, whatever got broken becomes whole
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I put my head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name
Whenever those dark clouds hide the moon
Whenever this world has gotten so strange
I know that something's gonna change
Something's gonna change
Whenever I say your name, Whenever I say your name, I'm already praying, I'm already praying
I'm already filled with a joy that I can't explain
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever this world has got me down, whenever I shed a tear
Whenever the TV makes me mad, whenever I'm paralyzed with fear
Whenever those dark clouds fill the sky, whenever I lose the reason why
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Whenever the sun refuse to shine, whenever the skies are pouring rain
Whatever I lost I thought was mine whenever I close my eyes in pain
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name
Whenever this dark begins to fall
Whenever I'm vulnerable and small
Whenever I feel like I could die
Whenever I'm holding back the tears that I cry
Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
I'm already praying
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I'm forced to lie awake and have to weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever I say your name,
No matter how long it takes,
One day we'll be together
Whenever I say your name,
let there be no mistake
that day will last forever
@ikarchava
Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Whenever your memory feeds my soul, whatever got broken becomes whole
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I put my head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name
Whenever those dark clouds hide the moon
Whenever this world has gotten so strange
I know that something's gonna change
Something's gonna change
Whenever I say your name, Whenever I say your name
I'm already praying, I'm already praying
I'm already filled with a joy that I can't explain
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever this world has got me down, whenever I shed a tear
Whenever the TV makes me mad, whenever I'm paralyzed with fear
Whenever those dark clouds fill the sky, whenever I lose the reason why
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together
Whenever the sun refuse to shine, whenever the skies are pouring rain
Whatever I lost I thought was mine whenever I close my eyes in pain
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name
Whenever this dark begins to fall
Whenever I'm vulnerable and small
Whenever I feel like I could die
Whenever I'm holding back the tears that I cry
Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
I'm already praying
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I'm forced to lie awake and have to weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying
Whenever I say your name,
No matter how long it takes,
One day we'll be together
Whenever I say your name,
let there be no mistake
that day will last forever
@jamali8578
Sting wrote this song specifically for Mary J. Blige after the two performed together at the My VH1 Music Awards a few years before. He told Grammy Magazine: "Mary J. Blige was the right singer to sing this duet. The song is about finding solace in the world through love, through finding that one person. 'Whenever I say your name, I'm already praying.' That's not just romantic gobbledygook, it's real. If you really love somebody, it's a religious experience when you're with them, when you think of them and when you speak to them. Certainly the only connection I have with religion apart from music is this sense of love with someone else. So Mary and I are playing these roles, a relationship that was co-dependent and necessary. And she is just so passionate that it brought passion out in me. I'm not the most passionate person - I'm English! We find it very difficult to express passion, so we need some help."
@Rachel_Rabel
For those who are interested, Sting sampled JS Bach (little prelude in C, 924) and you can hear it in the piece. Bach composed the prelude for his son, to help him tune a piano. The mordents'/trills (fancy notes played a specific way) would indicate the next note which would be a perfect 5th above the previous note, and continue on until you finished the pattern, a la "Circle of 5ths"!
It's harder to detect the prelude in this song but that's because Sting left out the ornaments and his version is in A major (I think) not C major.
@petrus666love
Mary J one of the finest singers looking so fine too , love this beautiful song .
@jodiba328
Sting can do no wrong with music! amazing
@stefanoguglielmi1984
In Italian: Sting non può sbagliare con la musica!
sorprendente
@Big_Island_Boi
You're joking, right? This song is literally ALL wrong. :)
@Stefinitaaa
i always thought this song was about love between a man and a woman but now i realise it is about spirituality... after watching the images... and really hearing the words about kneeling. calling out your name. whenever i say your name, im already praying.. it just hit me with tears in my eyes.. Sting.. so beautiful
@SuperAlias11
I just realised this just this moment... And it's beautiful.
@camerondavis8356
Sacred Love “all the days of my life, I will walk with you”
@RosieSotomayorDelacruz629
Exactly! It's as if we could reach people's hearts if we call out their names.