Vonda Shepard was born in New York but her family relocated to California when she was fairly young. She played piano from an early age. Her father is Richmond Shepard, a mime and improv actor. Vonda has three sisters: Rosetta, Luana, and Brianna. Her mother left the family when Vonda was ten, and her father raised the four girls by himself.
After performing as a backing singer for many years she was eventually given her own recording contract. Shepard's first chart appearance was in 1987 when she recorded a duet with Dan Hill entitled 'Can't We Try'. She released her first self-titled album in 1989 with little fanfare. The album did yield one chart single, Don't Cry Ilene, a mid-tempo, piano-driven jazz-RnB flavored song dealing with the break-up of a relationship between a black woman and a white man, arising from adult peer pressure. The track is sung from the perspective of the woman's white female friend, who harbors a desire to have the man for herself, but keeps her distance out of respect for her friend. The song peaked at 17 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks.
After her third album, Shepard was signed up to appear on Ally McBeal after being spotted by the show's creator David E Kelley. While on the show she recorded two full soundtrack albums and was featured on two other Ally McBeal compilations. The songs Shepard recorded for Ally McBeal soundtrack albums were mainly covers of old songs with lyrics that paralleled what was happening in the title character's life onscreen. Since appearing in the show, Shepard has released two more studio albums and a live album.
Shepard is married to music producer Mitchell Froom and they had their first child, Jack Froom, on 15 April 2006.
Baby
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
just slip a sable under the tree
for me
been an awful good girl
Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa baby,
light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check off my Christmas list
Santa Honey,
One little thing I really need
the deed
to platinum mine
Santa honey,
so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa baby,
forgot to mention one little thing
a ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Hurry down the chimney tonight
The lyrics of Vonda Shepard & Emily Saliers's song "Baby Don't You Break My Heart" is about a relationship that is on the verge of breaking apart due to lies and deceit. The singer talks about how they liked the way their partner used to love and hold them when things were good, but when things started getting rocky, they needed more reassurance. The singer is questioning if their partner really means what they say about the relationship lasting forever.
The singer is torn between staying in a relationship where they are being lied to and leaving to find the truth. The chorus talks about how they would rather their partner be mean and truthful than loving and deceptive. The singer wants to know the truth, even if it means ending the relationship. They don't want their heart to break slowly, they would rather take a blow and find the truth.
The lyrics portray the confusion and disappointment of a relationship that is not based on honesty and trust. The singer wants to know where they stand in their partner's life and doesn't want to be led on forever. The song's message is to value the truth, even if it's painful, rather than staying in a relationship that is built on lies.
Line by Line Meaning
I like the way you wanted me
I appreciate the desire you have consistently shown towards me
Every night for so long baby
You have persisted in your pursuit of me every night for a significant period
I like the way you needed me
Just as much as I appreciate how you have longed for me, I appreciate how you have consistently expressed a need for me as well
Every time things got rocky
Your need for me was most evident during the difficult moments we faced
I was believing in you
I had faith in your sincerity and the commitment you professed to maintain towards me
Am I mistaken do you say,
However, I am now doubtful of the genuineness of your words and actions
Do you say what you mean
Are you truly expressing your honest thoughts and feelings towards me?
I want our love to last forever
Despite my doubts, I still hold on to the hope that our love can endure perpetually
But I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I would rather you be brutally honest even if it means hurting me, than continuing to love me insincerely
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
Even if the truth means we can no longer be together, I would prefer that to the falsehood of an untrue love
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
I would prefer the hard truth over a more comfortable deception, as then at least I can be certain of the reality of our situation
But baby don't you break my heart slow
Even if you must hurt me, please do it quickly rather than gradually, in order to spare me prolonged pain
You would run around and lead me on forever
I fear that you have not been completely faithful to me and have been misleading me for a long time
While I wait at home thinking that we're together
Meanwhile, I have been patiently waiting at home, unwavering in my belief that we are still a couple
I wanted our love to last forever
My desire for a lasting and genuine love with you has remained steadfast
Lyrics © DistroKid, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, TAMIR MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ditia R. Agustina
I like the way you wanted me
Every night for so long baby
I like the way you needed me
Every time things got rocky
I was believing in you
Am I mistaken do you say,
Do you say what you mean
I want our love to last forever
But I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
I like the way you'd hold me
Every night for so long baby
And I like the way you'd say my name
In the middle of the night
While you were sleeping
I was believing in you
Was I mistaken
Do you mean, mean what you say
When you say our love could last forever
Well I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
You would run around and lead me on forever
While I wait at home thinking that we're together
I wanted our love to last forever
Well I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
Lalaine Galarpe
I like the way you wanted me
Every night for so long baby
I like the way you needed me
Every time things got rocky
I was believing in you
Was I mistaken do you say,
Do you say what you mean
I want our love to last forever
But I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
I like the way you'd hold me
Every night for so long baby
And I like the way you'd say my name
In the middle of the night
While you were sleeping
I was believing in you
Was I mistaken
Do you mean,do mean what you say
When you say our love could last forever
Well I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
You would run around and lead me on forever
While I wait at home thinking that were together
I wanted our love to last forever
I was believing in you...
Id rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
jjff
This song has come along with me for 20 years, during my ups and downs. Remember when I was having tough nights sleeping, I repeated it over and over and it soothed my heart. It will stay in my heart forever.
maika320
2019 and I'm still listening to this song 🎶
Lana Sutandi
August 2022
Eleonora Orkisz
2022 January Still listeninig!
buy790615
2021
RAUL G.
Its 2020 and i listen this great song ¡¡¡ I LOVE VONDA SHEPARD'S SONGS¡¡¡¡
reckozahm
i know this song is classic, but i never get tired of listening to it over and over again. it never gets old..
Gringo Fernandez
true
Charlee Vaughan
So, I like both versions of this song a LOT. The song itself is AMAZING-so heartfelt and honest. Particularly, the piano here is sweet. There's just something about Taylor's I like a little better for this song, though. Because she sounds younger, there's an innocence about her version-you can feel like it's her first heartbreak and she really really means it. The way her version is more simple and slowed down is beautiful, and adds more meaning. I just think Taylor's suites the song better.
Sandy Battles
I love this song! Ally McBeal had some of the best songs