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.
Grass Is Green
The Tony Rich Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walkin' around lookin' for someone
To be my victim to lay my
Troubles on
Maybe a leader someone that'll
Teach me
The ways of the road
The way to survive this hellhole
When the grass is green
[Chorus]
When the grass is green
I'll be swimmin' in a zone
I just dread to be alone
Cause I'm afraid of me
Well, well, well
And ain't nobody here when I'm
Goin' through
I can't trust what I'll do to me
Cause I have lonely dreams
When your grass is green
Down on the river contemplating
Maybe suicide
Or maybe I'll take somebody
Else's life
I didn't touch your purse for fun
I had a gun, I needed the funds
So don't you condemn me if you
Don't know me
Cause I'll be feenin' when your
Grass is green
[Chorus]
Said I be down in the gutter
Lookin' for food
Lookin' for mental satisfaction
And physical reaction
Cause ain't no fairy in these tales
It's all about talkin' what you want
And makin' ball
And hopin' yo momma love you still
Cause this grass ain't nothin' but
A mirror
The lyrics to "Grass Is Green" by The Tony Rich Project are about the struggles of finding oneself in a tough environment. The singer speaks of being in the city, searching for someone to teach him the "ways of the road" for survival. He is afraid of being alone with his thoughts, as he is unsure of how he will react. He contemplates suicide and even stealing.
The chorus repeats the phrase "When the grass is green" and speaks of swimming in a zone but also being afraid of oneself. The final verse speaks of the singer being in the gutter, looking for food and mental satisfaction. He talks about how life is not fair and how success is not guaranteed in a tough environment. The grass that he sees is not a symbol of greener pastures, but rather, a mirror to the struggles and realities of his life.
Overall, the song is a poignant and powerful reflection on life in difficult circumstances, and how one can struggle to find hope and meaning in such an environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Said I be down in the city
I find myself in the city
Walkin' around lookin' for someone
Searching for someone to talk to
To be my victim to lay my troubles on
To talk about my problems and use that person as a soundboard
Maybe a leader someone that'll teach me
Someone who's knowledgeable and can guide me
The ways of the road
The ways of life
The way to survive this hellhole
The way to get through difficult times
When the grass is green
When life is good
[Chorus]
The main theme of the song
I'll be swimmin' in a zone
I'll be living my best life
I just dread to be alone
I fear being by myself
Cause I'm afraid of me
I'm afraid of my own thoughts and feelings
Well, well, well
An expression of surprise or realization
And ain't nobody here when I'm goin' through
Nobody is there for me when I'm struggling
I can't trust what I'll do to me
I don't trust myself
Cause I have lonely dreams
Because I have aspirations that I can't fulfill alone
When your grass is green
When someone else's life is good
Down on the river contemplating
Thinking about life by the river
Maybe suicide
Maybe ending my life
Or maybe I'll take somebody else's life
Or maybe harming someone else
I didn't touch your purse for fun
I didn't steal from you for fun
I had a gun, I needed the funds
I stole because I needed the money, and I had a weapon
So don't you condemn me if you don't know me
Don't judge me if you don't understand my situation
Cause I'll be feenin' when your grass is green
Because I'll be jealous when someone else's life is good
[Chorus]
The main theme of the song
Said I be down in the gutter
I find myself in a bad situation
Lookin' for food
Searching for basic necessities
Lookin' for mental satisfaction
Searching for peace of mind
And physical reaction
And physical comfort
Cause ain't no fairy in these tales
Because there's no happy ending
It's all about talkin' what you want
It's about expressing your desires
And makin' ball
And making the most of what you have
And hopin' yo momma love you still
And hoping your mother will still love you despite your mistakes
Cause this grass ain't nothin' but a mirror
Because life is just a reflection of yourself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANTONIO JEFFRIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christinaashley1094
Just watched New York Undercover and it had this song playing... ❤️ I STILL have this CD
@darranblack4561
Don’t understand why this man wasn’t more mainstream! Found his music, by accident. Thought it was baby face, at first!
@user-mb1sy9uz6z
Nothing like chillin' with Tony's music whilest recovering from the flu during the holidays!❤❤❤❤
@rodsimpson518
I used to listen to Tony Rich a lot in the 90's. Great song.
@cynfos8710
Anybody listening to Tony Rich:in 2020
@bryantbrueckner7310
The best album of the 90s totally underrated he was a genius
@robynbrown9075
This dude is so talented. Love this song and the rest of this album!
@1979247
Thought he was the next Al Green after hearing this album in 1997.
@jeffchack3224
great jam from one of the truely gifted
@bh2ochill664
phenomenal album