India Arie - Acoustic Soul Lyrics
Intro
This is in remembrance of our ancestors
Sam Cooke and
Marvin Gaye and
Donny Hathaway
And all that came before
You opened up a door
Cause of you
A change gon' come...
Writer: INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Video
Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wed blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul
I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria
When I look in the mirror the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes I'm lovin' what I see
I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria
Am I less of a lady If I don't wear panty hoes?
My mama said ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion, it's all and illusion confusions the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change
Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share wit ya'll
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Free your mind, nows the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go head and love yourself
Cuz everything's gonna be all right
I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria
Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your Caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your krystyle and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of Crystal
Don't need your silly comb I can find my own
What God gave me is just fine
I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria
Writer: Carlos Broady, Roy Hammond, Shannon Sanders, India Arie Simpson
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Promises
When I think about the turn my life has taken
I know it's because of you, that I receive so many blessings
I had a home but no privacy, I didn't know a thing about my legacy
When I realized you were there for me, I called on your name and you came
And you did, just what you said, for that I'll love you forever
You kept, your word to me, for that I'll love you forever
[Chorus]
A promise, is a promise in my eyes
Can't say you're gonna just to compromise
The very thing that keeps two hearts intertwined
A promise is a promise you can't deny, there's no way
I think of when there was a young boy, not even two years old
Blessed with a mother who loved him so, she abandoned her dreams to nourish his own
It wasn't easy for the two of them, but she knew she had to give him a chance
At a better life, it was only right, so she worked and she prayed
And she did, just what she say, for that he'll love her forever
She kept her word to him, for that he'll love her forever
[Chorus]
A promise is a promise, in my eyes
Can't say you're gonna just to compromise
The very thing that keeps two hearts intertwined
A promise is a promise you can't deny, there's no way
A man's only as good as his word
[Instrumental break]
Her wedding day and she's thinking 'bout the way he won her affection
She was so cynical about love 'cause she didn't want to be heart broken again
He looked her in her eye with sincerity, said he only wanted to protect her so she
Took a chance on him and she's glad she did because he came for real
And he did, just what he said, for that she'll love him forever
He kept his word to her, for that she'll love him forever
[Chorus]
A promise is a promise, in my eyes
Can't say you're gonna just to compromise
The very thing that keeps two hearts intertwined
A promise is a promise you can't deny, there's no way
No way, there ain't no way
A man's only as good as his word
Writer: INDIA ARIE, PAIGE LACKEY
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Brown Skin
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then:oh hey:
Where are your people from? Maybe Mississippi or an Island
Apparently your skin has been kissed by the sun
You make me want a Hershey's kiss, your licorice
Every time I see your lips, it makes me think of honey-coated chocolate
Your kisses are worth more than gold to me
I'll be your almond joy, you'll be my sugar daddy
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then:oh hey:
Every time you come around, something magnetic pulls me and I cant get out
Disoriented, I cant tell my up from down
All I know is that I wanna lay you down
Every time I let you in, abracadabra magic happens as we swim
Higher and higher finally we reach heaven
Come back to earth and then we do it all again
Yeah:..
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then:oh hey:
Skin so brown, lips so round
Baby how can I be down?
Beautiful mahogany, you make me feel like a queen
Tell me what's that thing you do that makes me wanna get next to you, yeah
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then:oh hey:
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then:oh hey:
Writer: INDIA ARIE, SHANNON SANDERS, MARK BATSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Strength, Courage & Wisdom
Ahem
Here we go
Oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh
Inside my head, there lives a dream
That I wanna see in the sun
Behind my eyes, there lives a me
That I've been hiding for much too long
'Cause I've been too afraid to let it show
'Cause I'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith
I've gotta show my face
It's been elusive for so long
But freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith
It's time to show my face
Procrastination had me down
Look what I have found, I found
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Behind my pride, there lives a me
That knows humility
Inside my voice, there is a soul
And in my soul, there is a voice
But I've been too afraid to make a choice
'Cause I'm scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop to listen
It's time to step out on faith
I've gotta show my face
It's been elusive for so long
Freedom is mine today
Step out on faith
It's time to show my face
Procrastination had me down
Look what I have found, I found
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh-oh, oh-oh
I close my eyes and I think of all the things
That I wanna see
'Cause I know now that I've opened up my heart, I know that
Anything I want can be
So let it be (So let it be)
So let it be (So let it be)
So let it be (So let it be)
So let it be (So let it be)
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along, now every day I'm praying for
Strength, courage, and wisdom
To find, yeah, yeah, oh-oh
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I found it in me and I found it finally (And I found it)
And I'm sure to keep it 'cause I like it, so I say thank you
I found it, oh, oh
I found it, hey, hey
I found it
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
Nature
I know
Oh, Oh Yeah
[Verse]
Hey baby
Why you rushing
Let's sit back and watch the flowers grow
Why you want
To swim against the tide
Let's lay and watch the river flow
Here in god's creation
There is always a reason
I know, that love is there for us
Yeah
[Chorus]
Where we'll go, baby I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Where we'll go, baby I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
[Verse]
I don't wanna watch no movie
Let's sit and watch the stars put on a show
If you want to win my favor
Be creative, and show me your flavor
Cause here in god's creation
For everything there is a session
Let go Let life
Let love let god
[Chorus]
Where we'll go, baby I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Where we'll go, baby I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
[Bridge]
Like the sun shines and
The wind blows
Like the birds fly
And the moon glows
If I am meant for you and
You are meant for me
Then we will flow together
Everlastly
[Chorus x2]
Where we'll go, baby I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Where we'll go, baby I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Out
Baby we should sit, watch the flowers grow
Baby we should sit, back and watch the moon glow
Baby, we should feel the wind blow
First you plant a seed
And then it grows and
Then it blooms
And it dies
That the cycle of life
Same goo's for you and I
Maybe this time we'll get it right
Go with the flow
Maybe we'll get it right..
Writer: INDIA ARIE, JOYCE SIMPSON, MARK BATSON, MELVIN GLOVER, ALBERT JOHNSON, SYLVIA (USA) ROBINSON, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Back To The Middle
She is, twenty five, spent over half of her life
So afraid to speak her mind, it's such a shame
'Cause what a brilliant mind she has
[Chorus]
And now she's been introduced to confidence
She doesn't see, that she is bordering on arrogance
When will she learn, to come back to the middle
He is, a young black man, grew up without his father
And now it falls into his hands, to protect his mother
'Cause if he doesn't, well then who will, his older brother lives in fear
Of everything, especially, trying to fill his father's shoes
[Chorus]
Respectively, they go to extremes, of masculine and feminine
Chasing dreams, but they keep on falling
'Cause they don't know no balance
When will they learn, to come back to the middle
[Bridge]
You must take the good with the bad, and you might hit the wall
Sometimes you'll fly and sometimes you'll fall
There isn't any way, to avoid the pain
But it's getting burned, that's how you will learn
To come back to the middle
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
Needing to protect your self now that is just a part of life
If you let your fears keep you from flying, you will never reach your height
To get to the top you must come back to the middle
When will we learn, to come back to the middle
Come back to the middle, Come back to the middle
Don't make no mind about falling down
'Cause it's when you're in that valley
You can see both sides more clearly
Come back to the middle
Writer: BLUE MILLER, INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Ready For Love
I am ready for love
Why are you hiding from me
I'd quickly give my freedom
To be held in your captivity
I am ready for love
All of the joy and the pain
And all the time that it takes
Just to stay in your good grace
Lately I've been thinking
Maybe you're not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for
Cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow
I'll say the same thing
I am ready for love
Would you please lend me your ear?
I promise I won't complain
I just need you to acknowledge I am here
If you give me half a chance
I'll prove this to you
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music
A man who loves art
Respect's the spirit world
And thinks with his heart
I am ready for love
If you'll take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can
I am ready for love
Here with a offering of
My voice
My Eyes
My soul
My mind
Tell me what is enough
To prove I am ready for love
I am ready
Writer: BLUE MILLER, INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Interlude
John Coltrane And Miles Davis
Dizzie Gilispie This Is A Song For You
Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn,
And Robert Johnson And Charlie Patton
The List Goes On And On And On...
Mile Rainy, Betsy Smith And Memphis Many
And Many Repherds, And Sista Puma
Cathy Terrell And Karen Carpenter...
Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Jerra Von
Your Memory Still Lives On In Me...
Writer: MATHEW SARGEANT, JAMES BOURNE, CHARLES ROBERT SIMPSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Always In My Head
You're like a cool breeze, on a summer's day
You are a river running through the desert plain
You are my shelter, from the pouring rain
You were my comfort, even before the pain
I can hear the sound of five drummers in the wind
The leaves blowing in the breeze, ring out like guitars
A tin can rolls across the gravel like a tambourine
I am but a vessel, so I sing, because you are
[Chorus]
In my head, you're always in my head
In my dreams, you're always in my head
In my pain, you're always in my head
In my peace, you're always in my head
A rainbow of rhythm stretches across the sky
An airplane in the distance, plays a beautiful cello line
It's no coincidence; it's in tune with the music in my head
If you were a shoulder you're where I would rest, but I am your vessel so I hear, you
[Chorus]
In my head,you're always in my head
In my fears,you're always in my head
In my joy,you're always in my head
In my tears, you're always in my head
You're like a cool breeze, on a summer's day
You are a river, running through a desert plain
You've been my shelter, from the pouring rain
You were my comfort, even before the pain:'cause I hear you
[Chorus]
In my head, you're always in my head
In my dreams, you're always in my head
In my pain, you're always in my head
In my peace, you're always in my head
[Chorus]
In my head,you're always in my head
In my fears, you're always in my head
In my joy, you're always in my head
In my tears, you're always in my head
Writer: BLUE MILLER, INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
I See God In You
Every day that you pass my way, I wonder, I wonder about your life
What is your age, are you connected if so, does she treat you right
Now please, excuse me for being so forward
Bur I couldn't let this chance go by without lettin' you know I
[Chorus]
I wonder, I wonder if you really knew, that I see God in you
And I wonder if you can see, how much you mean to me
I know you cannot read my mind, but I hope you feel my vibe
I think it's time I let you know that, I see the God in you
Every time that I see your face, I wonder, what lies beneath your smile
What are your dreams, what are your fears, what does your heart hold dear
I know, that you don't know me at all
But if you know yourself, well then you know me very well
[Chorus]
I wonder, I wonder if you really knew, that I see God in you
And I wonder if you can see, how much you mean to me
I know you cannot read my mind, but I hope you feel my vibe
I think it's time I let you know that, I see the God in you
[Chorus]
I wonder, I wonder if you really knew, that I see God in you
And I wonder if you can see, how much you mean to me
I know you cannot read my mind, but I hope you feel my vibe
I think it's time I let you know that, I see the God in you
Writer: ARIE, BROADY
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Simple
Now that you're right here,
Let me whisper in your ear
Now that you're listening,
Let me tell you how I feel
I've been trying to formulate
The perfect words the perfect way
I can't hold it back no more
I gotta let you know today
Its
[Chorus]
Simple (What more can I say)
So Simple
I Love you (What more can I say)
Simple (What more can I say)
So Simple
I Love you (What more can I say)
Now that you're listening let me tell you what I need
Now that your holding me let me show you what I mean
I've been trying to analyze
just what it is I fill inside my heart
But now I realize it don't have to be so hard
Cause it's
[Chorus]
Simple (What more can I say)
So Simple
I Love you (What more can I say)
Simple (What more can I say)
So Simple
I Love you (What more can I say)
[Bridge]
Once the power is for real
And I gonna say it again
And again
I Love you
I Love you
I Love you
I Love you
I Love you
I Love you
Now you know how I feel
Tell me what are you gonna do
Now that I've said the words
Tell me what do you have to lose
I know that you feel it to
I can see it when I look into your eyes
You're scared, but you don't have to be
It's alright cause it's
[Chorus]
Simple (What more can I say)
So Simple
I Love you (What more can I say)
Simple (What more can I say)
So Simple
I Love you (What more can I say)
Writer: MARK CHRISTOPHER BATSON, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON, KEVIN CANNON, DUANE COVERT, DANIEL WILLIAM JACKSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Part of My Life
Can you be a part of my life?
Can you be a part of my life?
Oh it's easy to find some one to play with
And almost anyone will do to fill your idle time
But that very special someone,
You can share all your dreams with is so hard to find
And it use to be like me to settle for the physical
But these days it ain't too easy to make up my mind
Cause apparently you body just to temporally to take up my precious time
See I've got to know that
That I can be free with you and
You've got to show that
That you're worthy of my time
Can you stimulate my mind?
And I know that it looks good,
But can you be a part of my life
And I'm sure that it feels good
But can you be a part of my life
And it probably even taste good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
I still appreciate the beauty of a man
But there's more to what I need now than what meets the eye
And if beauty's only skin deep,
Then your pretty skin won't send me to my highest high
Oh it's been along time come for maturity
And I believe that it's truly what it has to be
Cause as much as I admire you
My sexual desire, ain't controlling me
See I've got to know that
That I can be free with you and
You've got to show that
That you're worthy of my time
Can you stimulate my mind?
And I know that it looks good,
But can you be a part of my life
And I'm sure that it feels good
But can you be a part of my life
And it probably even taste good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
And I know that it looks good,
But can you be a part of my life
And I'm sure that it feels good
But can you be a part of my life
And it probably even taste good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that??.
Writer: ANTHONY DAVID HARRINGTON
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Beautiful
The time is right
I'm gonna pack my bags
And take that journey down the road
Cause over the mountain I see the bright sun shinning
And I want to live inside the glow
Yeah
I wanna go to place where I am nothing and everything
That exists between here and nowhere
I wanna got to a place time as no consequence oh yeah
The sky opens to my prayers
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Please understand that it not that I don't care
But right know these wall are closing in on me
I love you more than I love life itself
But I need to find a place were I can breathe
I can breathe
I wanna go to place were I can hold the intangible
And let of the pain with all my might
I wanna go to a place where I am suspended in ecstasy
Some where between dark and light
Where wrong becomes right
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
I wanna go to beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Writer: BLUE MILLER, INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON, KERISHA HICKS
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Outro
Grandma Lousie
Uncle Joe
Aunt Joanne
Uncle para
And to all of the names
That I do not know
But whose blood runs through my veins
This is a song for you
Writer: INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON
Copyright: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Songtrust Ave
Wonderful (Stevie Wonder Dedication)
You are the sunshine of my life another Shakespeare of your time
Your like a ribbon in the sky you are a poet's endless rhyme
You take me to a higher ground then you knock me off my feet
Lately I been thinking 'bout you, cause you been creeping in my dreams
You inspire me the way you make me feel inside is amazing
Your honesty your artistry is engaging
You are everything I hope to be
You have touch my soul I want you to know you are my hero
You got so much soul to put it plain and simple you are wonderful
I am the woman in red, I am girl blue, I am the black or I am a golden lady too
You bring the music of your mind to elevate human kind
That's why I share my emotions with inner visions I explode
You inspire me the way you make me feel inside is amazing
Your honesty your artistry is engaging
You are everything I want to be
You have touch my soul I want you to know you are my hero
You got so much soul to put it plain and simple you are wonderful
[Bridge]
You so beautiful
Yeah
You are wonderful
You are beautiful
You are powerful
You have touch soul
And I just want to say
You have touch my soul
In such a special way
Stevie Wonderful
Stevie Wonderful
Stevie Wonderful
You have touch my soul, you're so divine, you're so sublime
You're wonderful
YOU have touch my soul, to put it plain and simple you are wonderful
You have touch my soul, you're so devine, you're so sublime
You're wonderful
Writer: SIDNEY BARNES
Copyright: Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group