The group's debut album, Urban Knights I, was released in 1995 on GRP and produced by Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White. Joining Lewis were several notable performers, including Grover Washington, Jr., Omar Hakim, Freddie Hubbard, and others. The album reached number five on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Urban Knights II, which followed two years later, again found Lewis working with producer White and featured guest appearances by Gerald Albright, Najee, Jonathan Butler, and more. The album reached number seven on the jazz chart.
For 2000's Urban Knights III, Lewis moved the group to Narada Records and enlisted several Chicago-area musicians, including his son, keyboardist Frayne Lewis, and the all-female vocal group the Staples, saxophonist Dave Koz, and guitarists Earl Klugh and Fareed Haque. The album peaked at number four on the jazz charts.
In 2001, Lewis and the group returned with Urban Knights IV, which featured one-time Donald Byrd protégé trumpeter Ron Haynes and guest performer guitarist Norman Brown. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
With 2002's The Chicago Project, Lewis stepped back from Urban Knights and handed leadership over to his son, keyboardist/producer Frayne Lewis. The elder Lewis returned the following year for Urban Knights V, which featured appearances by saxophonist Kenny Garrett, vocalist Michelle Williams, and trumpeter Orbert Davis.
The group released Urban Knights VI in 2005, featuring a performance by keyboardist Kevin Randolph, saxophonist Nick Bisesi, drummer Quinjuan Anderson, bassist Maurice Fitzgerald, and noted Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard jazz chart.
After an extended break, Lewis put together another Urban Knights lineup for 2019's Urban Knights VII, featuring guitarist Henry Johnson, keyboardist Tim Gant, bassist Joshua Ramos, and drummer Charles Heath, along with vocalist Dee Alexander and trumpeter Maurice Brown. The album included original songs and reworkings of classic songs by John Coltrane, Chick Corea, and the Beatles.
Alright
Urban Knights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alright, baby
Seeing that your love's true
Never I'll doubt you
My heart belongs to you
That's alright with me
Worlds could end around me
So in love that I can't see
That's alright with me
Friends come and friends may go
My friends you're real I know
True self you have shown
You're alright with me
Through thick and thick to thin
I'll love you 'til the end
You know it's true my friend
You're alright with me
Alright with me (alright with me)
Alright with me
Alright with me
Alright with me
Catch a fallin' star that shines
Make a wish clap three times
Dreams come true it's in the mind
That's alright with me
Your wish is my command
Never thought I'd fall in love again
Again with my best friend
That's alright with me
Friends come and friends may go
My friends you're real I know
True self you have shown
You're alright with me
Through thick and thick to thin
I'll love you 'til the end
You know it's true my friend
You're alright with me
Always and everlasting
This love is just not passing
We're happy as can be
Alright with me (alright with me)
Alright with me (alright with me)
Alright with me
Alright with me
It's alright, baby
It's alright
I tell you that it's alright with me
Worlds could end around me
So in love that I can't see
You and me were meant to be
That's alright with me
Alright with me
It's alright, yeah alright
Baby baby, baby babe
Baby baby, baby babe
The song "Alright" by Urban Knights is a love song that emphasizes the strength of a deep, committed relationship. The lyrics suggest that despite the ups and downs that life can bring, the love between the two people in the relationship will remain constant. The opening lines, "Baby, baby, alright, baby," express the singer's contentment and satisfaction with the relationship. The following line, "Seeing that your love's true, never I'll doubt you," indicates that the singer has complete trust in their partner.
The chorus proclaims that the relationship will endure, no matter what happens. The line "Worlds could end around me, so in love that I can't see" shows that the love between the two people is all-consuming and nothing can stand in its way. The next line, "You and me were meant to be, that's alright with me," suggests that the couple is destined to be together, and nothing can change that.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of friendship in a relationship. The line "Friends come and friends may go, my friends you're real I know" indicates that true friends are hard to come by, but the singer feels secure in their connection. The line "Through thick and thick to thin, I'll love you 'til the end" shows that the singer is committed to the relationship through both the good times and the bad.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the enduring power of love and the loyalty that comes with true friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby
Addressing the person being sung to
Alright, baby
Everything is fine or good with the person being sung to
Seeing that your love's true
Not doubting or questioning the truth of the person's love
Never I'll doubt you
The person singing won't doubt or question the other's love
My heart belongs to you
The person singing has given their heart to the other person
That's alright with me
Being okay with giving their heart to the other person
Worlds could end around me
Being so in love that everything else fades into the background
So in love that I can't see
Being completely blinded by love
You and me were meant to be
Believing that they were destined to be together
Friends come and friends may go
Acknowledging that friendships can come and go
My friends you're real I know
Valuing the realness of the person's friendship
True self you have shown
Appreciating that the person has shown their true self
Through thick and thick to thin
Sticking together through any situation
I'll love you 'til the end
Promising to love the other person forever
Catch a fallin' star that shines
Referencing the idea of making wishes
Make a wish clap three times
Continuing the theme of making wishes
Dreams come true it's in the mind
Believing that dreams can come true
Your wish is my command
Being willing to do anything for the other person
Never thought I'd fall in love again
Being surprised by falling in love again
Again with my best friend
Referring to falling in love with a close friend
Always and everlasting
Promising that the love will last forever
This love is just not passing
Stating that the love is enduring
We're happy as can be
Feeling content and fulfilled with the relationship
It's alright, baby
Continuing the affirmation that everything is okay
It's alright
Repeating that everything is okay
I tell you that it's alright with me
Reassuring the other person that everything is okay
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James III Harris, Janet Jackson, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind