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.
It's In His Kiss
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
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I want to know
How can I tell if he loves me so?
(Is it in his eyes?) Oh no,
You'll be deceived
(Is it in his eyes?) Oh no,
He'll make believe
If you want to know
It's in his kiss
(Or is it in his face?) Oh, no
It's just his charm
(In his warm embrace?) Oh, no
That's just his arms
If you want to know
If he loves you so
It's in his kiss
Kiss him and squeeze him tight
And find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is
It's there in his kiss
(About the way he acts?) Oh, no
That's not the way
And you're not listening to all that I say
If you want to know
If he loves you so
It's in his kiss
The lyrics to Vonda Shepard's song "It's In His Kiss" speak to the age-old question of how to tell if someone truly loves you. The singer of the song is in a state of confusion, wondering if the man she desires loves her back. She asks whether she can tell if he loves her through his eyes or his face, but the answer is no. The man might deceive her with those tools. However, if she wants to know if he loves her so, she has to kiss him and find out what she wants to know. If it's love, if it really is, it's there in his kiss. The song is an ode to the idea that actions speak louder than words.
In many ways, the lyrics represent a universal experience. Love is a complicated emotion that is challenging to accurately articulate, mainly when the relationship is new. However, the physical gestures people express, such as a kiss, might tell you everything you want to know about how the person feels. The song affirms that some things cannot be put into words, and it is the kiss that reveals the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Does he love me
The singer is questioning whether the subject of the song loves her or not.
I want to know
The singer desires to know the answer to the previous question.
How can I tell if he loves me so?
The singer is seeking advice on how to determine if the subject of the song loves her.
(Is it in his eyes?) Oh no,
Eyes are not a reliable indicator of love.
(Is it in his eyes?) Oh no,
The artist is repeating that the eyes are not a reliable indicator of love.
He'll make believe
The subject of the song may pretend to love the singer even though he doesn't.
If you want to know
The singer is trying to advise the listener on how to determine if someone loves them.
If he loves you so
The artist is referencing the previous question on whether the subject of the song loves the artist.
It's in his kiss
The answer to whether someone loves the artist can be determined by the way they kiss.
(Or is it in his face?) Oh, no
Facial expressions are not a reliable indicator of love.
It's just his charm
The attention and flattery given to the singer may not necessarily indicate love, but rather just the subject's charm.
(In his warm embrace?) Oh, no
Physical touch is not necessarily an indicator of love.
That's just his arms
The hug the subject gives may not indicate love, but rather just his arms around the singer.
Kiss him and squeeze him tight
The singer is advising the listener to kiss and hug the subject tightly to try and determine if he loves them.
And find out what you want to know
The previous action of kissing and hugging the subject will provide the listener with the answer they desire.
If it's love, if it really is
If the subject of the song does love the artist, it will be evident through the kiss and hug.
It's there in his kiss
The answer to whether someone loves the artist can be determined by the way they kiss.
(About the way he acts?) Oh, no
The subject's behavior and actions may not necessarily indicate love.
That's not the way
The singer is dismissing the previous idea that the subject's behavior indicates love.
And you're not listening to all that I say
The listener is not taking the artist's advice to heart.
If you want to know
The artist is reiterating her advice to the listener.
If he loves you so
The artist is referencing the previous question on whether the subject of the song loves the artist.
It's in his kiss
The answer to whether someone loves the singer can be determined by the way they kiss.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rudy Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind