She has won 7 Grammy Awards. The RIAA named Braxton as one of the top selling R&B artists of all time.
She first burst onto the scene in 1992 on the Boomerang soundtrack, after Anita Baker turned down the opportunity. In 1993 Toni released her self-titled debut album, which stayed at the top of the charts for a year and was a critically acclaimed album.
Toni released her sophomore effort, Secrets in 1996 which also did very well on both R&B and Pop charts. From that album Toni got two #1 hits; "You're Making Me High "and "Unbreak My Heart", which spent 14 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard top 100, and was a worldwide hit. After 5 Grammy awards and a little break, Toni Braxton came back strong with her 2000 album The Heat. Though not as successful as her first two albums, The Heat went on to sell 4 million copies and spawned the huge hits "He Wasn't Man Enough"and "Just Be A Man About It".
Toni has released two further albums, 2002's More Than a Woman and 2005's Libra. Toni's sixth studio album Pulse was released in May 2010 via Atlantic Records. The singles "Yesterday" and "Hands Tied" were the biggest hits. Subsequent singles to be released from "Pulse" include "Make My Heart" and "Woman."
In January 2011, the WE Television Network confirmed that it had signed Toni and the rest of the Braxton family for a reality series, Braxton Family Values, which will be marketed as one of the network's flagship shows. The series debuted April 12, 2011, and looks at the relationship between Toni, her mother, and her four sisters; Trina, Tamar, Traci and Towanda — all aspiring singers themselves — along with the interpersonal relationships of each family member. The show also looked at Braxton's heavily publicized separation from estranged husband, singer Keri Lewis. Toni parted ways with her long time manager Vincent Herbert (who was also the husband of sister Tamar Braxton at the time), and signed a new management deal with Los Angeles-based entertainment/production company 'The Collective'.
In 2014, Toni released a collaborative album with Babyface entitled Love, Marriage & Divorce; primarily inspired by their individual divorces (Toni with Keri, and Babyface with Tracey Edmonds). The album was supported by the singles "Hurt You", "Where Did We Go Wrong" and "Roller Coaster"; and won Best R&B Album in the 57th Annual Grammy Awards (2015).
Toni's long-awaited eighth album Sex & Cigarettes was released on Def Jam in March 2018, which was supported by the singles "Deadwood", "Long as I Live" and "FOH". The album also featured a sole guest appearance from singer Colbie Caillat, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album in the 61st awards ceremony (2019).
Signing to Island Records in 2020, Toni released her ninth album Spell My Name in August 2020, featuring collaborations with H.E.R. & Missy Elliott. The album was released to positive reception, but was her lowest-charting album yet, peaking at #163 on the Billboard 200.
And I Love You
Toni Braxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I even try?
Will I just be hearing the same old lines?
Baby
See, it doesn't matter
What you say this time
'Cause our whole relationship
Is built on one lie
But still you can't come straight with me
How can you think that you're in love
When you don't know the meaning of?
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
Last night
Gotta hand it to ya
You had me there for a while
I was so in love with you
I couldn't see past your smile
Now, I smell the coffee
I, I got a wake up call
And you left a message
That you just don't care at all
You can't expect me to believe
That she does not mean anything
You say that you love only me
Your kinda lovin', my darling
I just don't need
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then you woulda been sincere (then love woulda brought you to me last night)
And I wouldn't be in tears
And love woulda brought you to me last night
Oh, baby why?
Why do men think that love's just for the moment?
Not over time
Please tell me why
Why should I think that
You're gonna be sincere
Are you deservin'
Don't blame me if I just don't believe it
Just don't believe
That you'll always be here
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
Love shoulda brought you
Brought you home last night
You shoulda been with me
Shoulda been right by my side
Baby
If you cared anything for me
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
In Toni Braxton's "Love Shoulda Brought You Home," she sings about a relationship that is falling apart due to lies and infidelity. She questions whether she should even listen to her partner's excuses or if it's just the same old lines. She can't believe that he could be in love with her when he doesn't understand what love really means. The chorus emphasizes the idea that love should have brought him home to her last night, but instead, he was somewhere else.
The verses reveal that Toni Braxton has been fooled by her partner's lies for a while, but now she can see the truth. She realizes that their whole relationship is built on one lie, and her partner can't even be straight with her. She can't believe that he thinks he's in love with her when he's been unfaithful. She tells him that he should have been with her last night if he really cared about her, and she questions whether he's deserving of her love.
Overall, the song is a powerful message about the importance of honesty and communication in a relationship. Toni Braxton sings about the hurt and disappointment that comes with being lied to and cheated on, and she emphasizes that love should be the driving force behind any relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I even listen?
I am questioning whether I should listen to you.
Should I even try?
I am wondering if it's even worth trying with you.
Will I just be hearing the same old lines?
I am worried that you will keep repeating yourself.
Baby
An affectionate way of addressing you, but does not change my skepticism.
See, it doesn't matter
It's irrelevant what you say or do this time.
What you say this time
I'm not convinced by your words this time around.
'Cause our whole relationship
The foundation of our relationship has been built on deceit.
Is built on one lie
There's only one fundamental lie that has affected our entire relationship.
You say things aren't the way they seem
You claim that things are different than they appear to be.
But still you can't come straight with me
You're still not being honest and straightforward with me.
How can you think that you're in love
I do not understand how you believe you're in love.
When you don't know the meaning of?
You do not possess a genuine understanding of love.
Love shoulda brought you
If you really loved me, it would have driven you to me.
Brought you home last night
If you were sincere, you would have been at my side by now.
You shoulda been with me
You were obligated to be with me.
Shoulda been right by my side
You should have remained by my side.
If you cared anything for me
If you truly had any feelings for me.
Then love woulda brought you to me last night
Love would have brought you to me already.
Gotta hand it to ya
I have to admit, you had me fooled for a while.
You had me there for a while
You deceived me for a duration of time.
I was so in love with you
I loved you wholeheartedly.
I couldn't see past your smile
Your charm blinded me from seeing the truth.
Now, I smell the coffee
Now, I see how things truly are.
I, I got a wake up call
I had an awakening.
And you left a message
You conveyed a message to me.
That you just don't care at all
Your words indicate that you don't care about me at all.
You can't expect me to believe
It's unrealistic to think that I will believe you.
That she does not mean anything
I find it hard to believe that someone you were with meant nothing to you.
You say that you love only me
You claim that you love me exclusively.
Your kinda lovin', my darling
But your type of love, my dear, I do not need.
I just don't need
I do not want your affection or attention.
Then you woulda been sincere (then love woulda brought you to me last night)
If you had been truthful, you would have already sought me out.
And I wouldn't be in tears
I wouldn't be concerned or crying.
Oh, baby why?
I am questioning you, my dear.
Why do men think that love's just for the moment?
Why do men believe love is only temporary?
Not over time
It cannot stand the test of time.
Please tell me why
I beg of you to enlighten me as to why.
Why should I think that
Why should I believe that.
You're gonna be sincere
You will suddenly become sincere.
Are you deservin'
Are you deserving of this, deserving of my love and attention.
Don't blame me if I just don't believe it
Do not discredit me if I don't believe you.
Just don't believe
I am not convinced.
That you'll always be here
I am not convinced you will be here for the long haul.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenneth Edmonds, Boaz Watson, Daryl Simmons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind