The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
...And I Need To Be With Someone Tonight
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lead me to your home
Lower your sights
Put away your comb
Though black babies are starving
And cows fed for the carving
All I know is I'm lonely
And I need to be with someone tonight
Lift up your chin
Let me see your eyes
Words are not my yen
My tongue is often tied
Though apartheid's a greater issue
I long to hear "I miss you"
All I know is I'm lonely
And I need to be with someone tonight
'Till men stop being intimidated
By women who have made it
All I know is I'm lonely
And I need to be with someone tonight
The lyrics of Terence Trent D'Arby's song "And I Need to Be With Someone Tonight" seem to be addressing different issues and conflicting thoughts. The first verse describes the singer's desire for a companion, someone to lead him home and who he can be with tonight, despite the bigger problems in the world. He acknowledges that there are more pressing issues such as the starvation of black babies and the inhumane treatment of cows, yet his loneliness and need for companionship prevails.
In the second verse, the singer asks his companion to lower her sights and put away her comb, suggesting that he appreciates her just as she is, without any adornment or grandiose expectations. Even though there are greater issues like apartheid, the singer is fixated on the desire to hear someone say "I miss you."
The last verse seems to be addressing sexism and male insecurity in women's success. The line "Till men stop being intimidated, by women who have made it" speaks to the fact that women who have achieved a certain level of success are often subjected to discrimination and made to feel guilty for choosing their careers over relationships. The song ends with the same message of loneliness and the need for companionship, despite the bigger issues that may surround us.
Overall, the song seems to be highlighting the deeply ingrained need for companionship and love that transcends any other issues that may surround us. It also brings to light the fact that even though we may be aware of the larger issues in the world, we still crave personal connections and intimacy with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Shine on your light
Please guide me with your brightness
Lead me to your home
Take me to your abode
Lower your sights
Stop being so high and mighty
Put away your comb
Stop being vain
Though black babies are starving
Even though there are hungry infants who are black
And cows fed for the carving
Even when animals are being slaughtered for food
All I know is I'm lonely
I only know that I am feeling lonely
And I need to be with someone tonight
And I require companionship this evening
Lift up your chin
Please raise your head
Let me see your eyes
Permit me to gaze into your eyes
Words are not my yen
Verbal communication is not my forte
My tongue is often tied
I frequently feel tongue-tied
Though apartheid's a greater issue
Even though racial segregation is a bigger problem
I long to hear "I miss you"
I aspire to hear the words "I miss you"
Till men stop being intimidated
Until men are no longer unnerved
By women who have made it
By women who have succeeded
All I know is I'm lonely
I only know that I am feeling lonely
And I need to be with someone tonight
And I require companionship this evening
Contributed by Violet L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.