Tony Rich got his start in the music industry as a staff writer at LaFace Records. While there, Rich penned hits for Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, TLC and Toni Braxton.
While living in Detroit, Rich started playing in jazz fusion and soul bands and worked with local Detroit songwriters. It was at this time that John Salley, Detroit Pistons player and record producer, encouraged Rich to work with his artists and to even make his own tracks.
Meeting with R&B singer Pebbles, Tony Rich was introduced to her then-husband L.A. Reid. As co-founder of LaFace Records, Reid convinced Rich to move to Atlanta and to begin writing and producing for established acts. One of Rich's first projects was a session with Elton John and Sounds of Blackness for a Curtis Mayfield tribute LP. He then expanded his portfolio to include work with the previously mentioned stars.
In early 1996, Rich made his solo debut with the cd Words and the hit single Nobody Knows, which made it to number 2 on the top 100. Both the album and single went platinum and in 1997, Tony Rich won the Grammy for Best Male R&B album. The album featured two Grammy-nominated singles, Like A Woman and Nobody Knows.
The album was followed up in 1998 by Birdseye which, while critically praised, failed to generate much commercial success. Rich seemingly disappeared from the music world for several years after his album's release.
In 2003, Rich came back on the scene with the album Resurrected. Carrying a very different style this time around, the album featured Rich rocking out on the guitar as well as singing smooth ballads.
In 2006, Rich released a fourth album, Pictures. The album contains snapshots of a relationship, and is far more in the veins of his earlier works.
In 2008, he released his fifth album, Exist through Hidden Beach Recordings. Originally it was set for release on September 16, however it was pushed back to September 23, 2008. The album features download-only single, Part the Waves.
2 Waters
The Tony Rich Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a line in the river where 2 waters become free
Walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a mark in the river where 2 waters become free
Underneath my eyelids there are vivid pictures
Of a face I have not seen, yet a spirit so clear to me
A strong current that of a river joined by the seas
Let's walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a line in the river where 2 waters become free
Walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a line in the river where 2 water become free
Above my lips, there is a scent of a kiss
That I have not tasted, no time has been wasted
And the flavor of a kindred soul, blended in the mist
Where two angels become one soul, there's truth in this
Let's walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a line in the river where 2 waters become free
Walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a line in the river where 2 water become free
Taken by every word that leaves your fingers
I dream of your hips, the dancing of your body expressing your gift
And as deep as a flood I'm in to my knees
Twisted in the bliss of the obvious, for every drop of rain
Reminding me of the tears you gave
And as sure as the day, I love you in many ways
Let's walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a line in the river where 2 waters become free
Walk by the ocean, swim in the sea
There's a line in the river where 2 water become free
The lyrics of The Tony Rich Project's song "2 Waters" explore the concept of two different bodies of water coming together and becoming free, paralleling the idea of how two individuals can unite and become one. The first verse describes walking by the ocean and swimming in the seas, but there is a line in the river where two waters become free. The verse's repetition emphasizes this idea, highlighting the importance of these two bodies of water coming together. The second verse continues with the idea of two things becoming one, as the singer thinks about a face he has not seen, but a spirit that is clear to him. He compares this spirit to a strong current where two rivers join with the seas, further emphasizing the idea of unity.
The chorus repeats the earlier verses but adds an element of hope and joy as the singer instructs the listener to walk by the ocean and swim in the sea. This instruction serves as a metaphor for embracing the idea of two becoming one, and it is further reinforced as the chorus states that where two waters become free, there is a line in the river.
In the third and final verse, the singer is deeply moved by the words of his love interest, imagining their body as a gift to be expressed through dance. He is in so deep that he is reminded of the tears his love has given him, but even still, he loves her in many ways. This verse emphasizes the power of deep love and how it can be overwhelming, but ultimately lead to unity.
Overall, "2 Waters" is a beautiful and poetic exploration of the idea of two things becoming one, playing with the metaphor of water to communicate a sense of unity and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk by the ocean, swim in the seas
Let's go to the beach and enjoy the water
There's a line in the river where 2 waters become free
There's a point in the river where two separate bodies of water join together
Underneath my eyelids there are vivid pictures
In my mind, I can see someone very clearly
Of a face I have not seen, yet a spirit so clear to me
Even though I haven't met this person, I feel like I already know their soul
A strong current that of a river joined by the seas
The intensity of the connection between two people is like the power of a river meeting the sea
Where two waters become together, two waters become free
When two individuals come together, they become something new and free
Above my lips, there is a scent of a kiss
I can almost imagine what it would be like to kiss this person
That I have not tasted, no time has been wasted
Even though we haven't kissed yet, it doesn't feel like we've lost any time
And the flavor of a kindred soul, blended in the mist
When two like-minded people come together, it's like a beautiful blend of flavors
Where two angels become one soul, there's truth in this
When two special people unite, it feels like it's truly meant to be
Taken by every word that leaves your fingers
I'm captivated by everything you say
I dream of your hips, the dancing of your body expressing your gift
I imagine you moving and dancing, expressing your unique talents
And as deep as a flood I'm in to my knees
My feelings for you run very deep
Twisted in the bliss of the obvious, for every drop of rain
It's clear to me that we belong together, like the rain always belongs to the earth
Reminding me of the tears you gave
Thinking of you brings tears to my eyes
And as sure as the day, I love you in many ways
I am confident and certain that I love you in so many different ways
Contributed by Scarlett L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.