Career
She was discovered by George Clinton, who incorporated her as a background vocalist in 1977 for The Brides of Funkenstein, one of the many acts in his Funkadelic stable (she was the only original Brides Maid member to continue through Brides' career). Young appeared on the first single released on Atlantic Records' "Disco To Go". In 1980, she recorded background vocals on the Roy Ayers/Wayne Henderson LP, "Prime Time". Young became a background vocalist for The Gap Band the same year, where she was featured on the funk classic hit "I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)". She recorded five albums with the group and also toured with them.
It wasn’t until she met Rick James that she became popular. James promoted her as the "Black Marilyn Monroe" and brought Young to the attention of Berry Gordy, who signed her to Motown Records on James' recommendation. James produced her debut album "Seduction", released in 1985, which included the hit singles "Mind Games" and the title track "Seduction", as well as "A Piece of My Heart" and "If You Should Ever Be Lonely", which were successful follow-ups in 1986. ("In My House", which was written for and originally recorded by Val Young, didn't make the final cut for the album, but was given to the Mary Jane Girls instead and became a bona fide hit.)
Rick James ran into serious conflict with Motown over the status of his spin-off acts and Young subsequently left the label, signing to Amherst Records, a Buffalo, New York-based label, releasing her second album Private Conversations in 1987. It was not as successful as her debut album, failing to chart and yielding no charting singles.
Recent Times
As well as recently joining the Mary Jane Girls and taking over lead vocals for JoJo, Val Young is currently recording her new album The Voice Beyond with producers Larry "LD" Darrell and Thin C (slated for release mid-2007).
She was also friends with Tupac Shakur and the Outlawz. She appeared on "To Live & Die in LA" on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory and "Never Forget", a tribute dedicated to Shakur.
Waiting For You
Val Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Momma you my everything, you taught me how to be this way
Devil is a liar so I'ma walk the Jesus way
You taught me how to lead so I'ma take the stand and lead today
I thank you for everything that you've given me
More precious than jewelry and you could read it in my eulogy
Every day you pray for me and keep them demons away from me
I love you dearly, sincerely, yeah faithfully
Momma, thank you for having me
Could've gave me up, instead you raised a family
I wanna thank you momma, thank you for having me
Could've gave me up but you did it like a G
Momma, thank you for having me
Could've gave me up but you raised a family
I wanna thank you momma, thank you for having me (Mother)
Could've gave me up (Mother) but you did it like a G (Momma)
What can I say? What can I do?
I'll sit back and admire you
Oh what a beauty you are to me
(Woah momma)
This song to you I dedicate
The sacrifices that you made
And today's your special day, oh
Surrounded by your family and your friends
We want you to know you're a special lady
And you are appreciated, oh (Momma)
You were always there for me (Momma)
What an awesome legacy (whoa oh oh)
Momma, thank you for having me (Thank you)
Thank you for having me
Could've gave me up (Could've gave me up)
Instead you raised a family
I wanna thank you momma
Thank you for having me (Oh momma, oh momma)
(Oh momma, oh momma)
Could've gave me up (Gave me up)
But you did it like a G
Momma, thank you for having me (Thank you momma)
Could've gave me up but you raised a family
I wanna thank you momma, thank you for having me (Mother)
Could've gave me up, but you did it like a G (Momma)
How 'bout a musical for the beautiful
We should do something out the usual
Go pack a bag and we could hit the road momma
I know she not the momma, get your own
Woah momma
All of my life you was the backbone
You taught me life lookin' at blacker tones
And you know poppa was a rolling stone, woah momma
(M-O-T-H-E-R)
I wanna wish you happy mother's day
I hate the fights, I love the way we play
Taught me ain't nothing like the family
My sister and brother (M-O-T-H-E-R)
We wouldn't even have no birthdays
If you ain't love us in the first place
Snoop Mali music vibin' hits, let the world sing
(M-O-T-H-E-R)
The song "Waiting for You" by Val Young is a tribute to mothers and the love and sacrifices they make for their children. It is a collaboration between Val Young, Snoop Dogg, and Mali Music. The lyrics express gratitude and appreciation for the singer's mother, specifically thanking her for bringing him into the world and raising him with love and strength. The chorus repeats the line "Momma, thank you for having me" as a way of emphasizing this sentiment.
The song also touches on themes of faith and spirituality, with references to Jesus and the devil. The singer acknowledges that his mother taught him to walk in the "Jesus way" and to resist the temptations of the devil. There is a sense of gratitude and reverence towards his mother's guidance and love, acknowledging that it has helped him become the person he is today.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt tribute to all mothers, and the countless ways they impact their children's lives. It highlights the unique bond between a mother and child and the everlasting gratitude that children often feel for their mother's love and support.
Line by Line Meaning
If I never told you this let me say this to you properly
I want to express my gratitude to you with the proper words.
Momma you my everything, you taught me how to be this way
You are everything to me, you taught me everything I know.
Devil is a liar so I'ma walk the Jesus way
I will follow the path of righteousness and not be misled by negativity.
You taught me how to lead so I'ma take the stand and lead today
I will use the knowledge you have given me to become a leader.
I thank you for everything that you've given me
I cannot express how grateful I am for all that you have done for me.
More precious than jewelry and you could read it in my eulogy
Your love and guidance are invaluable and will forever be cherished in my life story.
Every day you pray for me and keep them demons away from me
Your constant prayers act as a shield against negative influences in my life.
I love you dearly, sincerely, yeah faithfully
My love for you is unwavering, genuine, and true.
Momma, thank you for having me
I am grateful for my existence because of you.
Could've gave me up, instead you raised a family
You had the option to abandon me, but you chose to raise a family that I am a part of.
I wanna thank you momma, thank you for having me
I want to express my gratitude to you for bringing me into this world.
Could've gave me up but you did it like a G
You faced the challenge of raising a family on your own like a true gangster.
What can I say? What can I do?
I am at a loss for words to describe how amazing you are.
I'll sit back and admire you
I will simply watch in awe of your greatness.
Oh what a beauty you are to me
You are a beautiful person inside and out to me.
This song to you I dedicate
I am dedicating this song to you.
The sacrifices that you made
I am grateful for the sacrifices you have made for our family.
And today's your special day, oh
Today is a day dedicated to celebrating you.
Surrounded by your family and your friends
You are surrounded by those who love and appreciate you.
We want you to know you're a special lady
You are a truly special person and we acknowledge that.
You were always there for me
You have always been there for me and I appreciate that deeply.
What an awesome legacy
You have left behind an amazing legacy that I am proud to be a part of.
How 'bout a musical for the beautiful
Let's make a special song for you, who is beautiful in every way.
We should do something out the usual
Let's do something unconventional and special for you.
Go pack a bag and we could hit the road momma
Let's take a trip together and make new memories.
I know she not the momma, get your own
You are not my only mother figure, but you are special to me in your own way.
All of my life you was the backbone
You have been the support system for our family since the beginning of time.
You taught me life lookin' at blacker tones
You taught me how to navigate life even when faced with adversity.
And you know poppa was a rolling stone, woah momma
Even with Dad's absence, you were able to raise us with love and grace.
I wanna wish you happy mother's day
I want to wish you a happy Mother's Day because you deserve it.
I hate the fights, I love the way we play
I do not like when we argue, but I love the way we interact when we're happy.
Taught me ain't nothing like the family
You have taught me the importance of family and how much they mean to me.
We wouldn't even have no birthdays
If it weren't for you, we would not even exist to celebrate our birthdays.
If you ain't love us in the first place
If you didn't love us from the beginning, we would not be here today.
Snoop Mali music vibin' hits, let the world sing
Let's enjoy some good music together and share it with the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr., Kortney Jamaal Pollard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind