There are 2 bands with the name Straight Ahead.

1. Straight Ahead fo… Read Full Bio ↴There are 2 bands with the name Straight Ahead.

1. Straight Ahead formed in New York City in 1986 from the ashes of NYC Mayhem. They recorded what some consider the best New York Hardcore record ever - the Breakaway 12" on IRisk Records in 1987. They also appear on the End The Warzone compilation with Larm and Attitude Adjustment. The 12" has been bootlegged countless times as a 7" EP, and another bootleg appeared in 2002 as a split LP with NYC Mayhem.

2. An all African-American female jazz band from Detroit. Members include Cynthia Dewberry (lead vocals/flute), Gayelynn Mckinney (Drums/Background vocals), Eilleen Orr (Piano/Synths/Background vocals), and Marion Hayden-Banfield (Bass/Background vocals) and formerly award-winning violinist Regina Carter. McKinney is the scion of Detroit's "first family of bop" the daughter of legendary jazz pianist Harold Mckinney. Their albums include Body and Soul, Look Straight Ahead (Atlantic Records) and Dance of the Forest Rain.

From Wikipedia: ", Branford Marsalis was quoted as saying, "They truly swing.” They released a trio of albums on the Atlantic Jazz label including their self-titled debut, Body and Soul, and Look Straight Ahead. Carter went solo before the release of their third album Dance of the Forest Rain and began an impressive run, establishing herself as a force in the jazz world on the violin. In 1991, she left the band and moved to New York City.".

Not Afraid
Straight Ahead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul

I spend my days in longing
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it

I'm all for you body and soul

I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

My life a wreck you're making

You know I'm yours for the very taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

Overall Meaning

The song "Body and Soul" by Straight Ahead is a mournful expression of unrequited love. The lyrics reveal the singer's sadness and longing for someone who has not reciprocated their feelings. The first stanza sets the tone with "My heart is sad and lonely, for you I sigh, for you dear only, why haven't you seen it, I'm all for you body and soul." The singer is pining for the object of their affection, expressing their dedication entirely to that person's physical and emotional being. However, despite their efforts, their love remains unrequited, as expressed in the following stanza where the singer says, "I spend my days in longing and wondering why it's me you're wronging, I tell you I mean it, I'm all for you body and soul."

The singer cannot fathom why their love is not returned, and they question if the object of their affection is pretending or if their romance has come to an end. The final stanza is a plea for one more chance to prove their love: "It looks like the ending, unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear." The song ends with the singer surrendering themselves to the object of their affection, despite being hurt and heartbroken by their unrequited love.

Line by Line Meaning

My heart is sad and lonely
I am feeling isolated and sorrowful

For you I sigh, for you dear only
You are the only one I long for

Why haven't you seen it
I am wondering why you haven't noticed my love for you

I'm all for you body and soul
I am devoted to you both physically and emotionally

I spend my days in longing
I am consumed with yearning

And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I am questioning why I am the one being mistreated

I tell you I mean it
I am sincere in my affection for you

I'm all for you body and soul
I am devoted to you both physically and emotionally

I can't believe it
I am having difficulty accepting it

It's hard to conceive it
It's difficult for me to understand

That you'd turn away romance
I am surprised you would reject the idea of romance with me

Are you pretending
I am questioning if you are being insincere

It looks like the ending
It appears that our relationship is coming to an end

Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear
I am hoping for another opportunity to demonstrate my love for you

My life a wreck you're making
You are causing chaos and damage in my life

You know I'm yours for just the taking
I am willingly yours to do with as you please

I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul
I am willing to give up everything for you, both physically and emotionally

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PAUL MICHAEL BARRY, PHIL SIMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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