India.arie - Acoustic Soul

INDIA.ARIE

ACOUSTIC SOUL (2001)

  1. Intro
  2. Video
  3. Promises
  4. Brown Skin
  5. Strength, Courage & Wisdom
  6. Nature
  7. Back To The Middle
  8. Ready For Love
  9. Interlude
10. Always In My Head
11. I See God In You
12. Simple
13. Part Of My Life
14. Beautiful
15. Outro
     Bonus Track
16. Wonderful

INDIA.ARIE

ACOUSTIC SOUL

1. 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
Change gonna come.

2. VIDEO

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend of how the wind 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.Arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I'm loving 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.Arie

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear a panty hose
My momma said a lady ain't what she wears but what she knows
But I've drawn the conclusion, it's all an illusion
Confusion's the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's got to change

Now don't be offended, this is all my opinion
Ain't nothing that I'm saying law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in when you fit in
Go on and shine
Clear your mind
Now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
'Cause everything's gonna be alright

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 can always be
India.Arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive cars and your caviar
All I need is my guitar

Keep your crystal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need you silicone, I prefer 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.Arie

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.

3. 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

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'd say
For that he'll love her forever
She kept her word to him
For that he'll love her forever

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

Check this out

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

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
No, there ain't no way
A man's only as good as his word.

4. BROWN SKIN

Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I can't tell where yours begins
I can't tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some ev'ry 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 can't 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 can't get out
Disoriented, I can't 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 can't tell where yours begins
I can't tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then, oh yeah

Skin so brown, lips so round
Baby, how can I be down
Beautiful mahogany, you make me feel like a queen
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 can't tell where yours begins
I can't tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then
Every now and then

Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I can't tell where yours begins
I can't tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then, oh hey.

5. STRENGTH, COURAGE & WISDOM

Here we go

Inside my head there lives a dream
That I want to 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 faith
It's been illusive for so long
Freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith
It's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down
But 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 and listen

It's time to step out on faith
I've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long
Freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith
It's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down
But 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

I close my eyes and I
Think of all the things that I want to 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, everyday I'm praying for

Strength, courage and wisdom
To find, yeah
Strength, courage and wisdom
Inside of me

I found it in me, I found it finally
I found it
And I'm sure to keep it' cause I like it
I say thank you
I found it
I found it.

6. NATURE

I know
Oh, oh yeah

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

Where we'll go, baby, I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Where we'll go, babe, I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show

I don't wanna watch no movie
Let's sit and watch the stars put on a show
If you wanna win my favor
Be creative and show me your flavor
'Cause here in God's creation
For everything there is a season
Let go, let life
Let love, let God

Where we'll go, baby, I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Where we'll go, babe, I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show

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

Where we'll go, baby, I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show
Where we'll go, babe, I don't know
Maybe we should just let nature run the show

Baby, we should just sit and watch the flowers grow
Baby, we should sit back and watch the moon glow
Baby, we should just and feel the wind blow
Baby, baby, baby

First you plant a seed
And then it grows and
Then it blooms
And it dies
That's the cycle of life
Same goes for you and I
Maybe this time we'll get it right
Get it right

Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Maybe we'll get it right
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Maybe we'll get it right
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow
Go with the flow.

7. 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 oh, what a brilliant mind she has

And now that's 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
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

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

You must take the good with the bad
And you might hit the wall
Sometimes you'll fly and sometimes you will fall
There ain't no way to avoid the pain
But it's getting burned
That's how you will learn
To come back to the middle
Come back to the middle

Needing to protect yourself
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
When will we learn

Come back to the middle
Come back
Come back to the middle
Come back
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

Back to the middle
Come back
Back to the middle
Come back
Back to the middle
Come back to the middle

Come back to the middle
Come back to the middle
Come back
Come back
Come back to the middle.

8. 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
Respects 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 an 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.

9. INTERLUDE

John Coltrane
And Miles Davis
Dizzy Gillespie
This is a song for you
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughn
And Robert Johnson
And Charlie Patton
The list goes on and on

Miles Davis
Bessy Smith
And Memphis Manny
Minnie Ripperton
Sister Poorman
Tammy Terrell and
Karen Carpenter

Billy Holliday
Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughn
Your memory still
Lives on
In me.

10. ALWAYS IN MY HEAD

You're like a cool breeze on a summer's day
You're always in my head
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 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
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

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 ears
If you were a shoulder you're where I would rest
But I am your vessel so I hear you 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 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 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
You're always in my head
In my head
How could I live a day without you
You're always in my head
How could I live a day without you
In my fears
How could I live a day without you
You're always in my head
You're always around
In my joy
How could I live a day without you
You're always in my head
How could I live a day without you
How could I live a day without you
In my tears
You're always in my head
You're always around

How could I live a day without music
How could I live one day without you
How could I live a day without music
You're always in my head

You are, you are, love
You are, you are, like
You are, you are, joy
You are, you are, peace
You are peace
You're always in my head.

11. I SEE GOD IN YOU

Oh yeah

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
But I couldn't let this chance go by
Without lettin' you know I

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 the vibe
I think it's time I let you know that
I see the God in you

Oh yeah, oh yeah

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

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 the vibe
I think it's time I let you know that
I see the God in you

Oh yeah

Yeah, 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 know you feel the vibe
I think it's time I let you know that
I see the God in you

Oh yeah.

12. 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
It's 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 you're 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 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

Once the power is for real
And I'm gonna say it again
And 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 too
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 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.

13. 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 someone 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 used to be like me to settle for the physical
But these days it ain't too easy to make up my mind
'Cause apparently your body just too 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 tastes good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
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
It's been a long time coming 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

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 tastes good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
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 tastes good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
I've got to know
I've got to know
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
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.

14. 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 shining
And I want to live inside the glow
Yeah

I wanna go to a place where I am nothing and everything
That exists between Arie and nowhere
I wanna go to a place time has no consequences, 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

Please understand that it's not that I don't care
But right now 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 a place were I can hold the intangible
And let go of the pain with all my might

I wanna go to a place where I am suspended in ecstasy
Somewhere 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
Beautiful.

15. OUTRO

Grandma Louise
Uncle Joe
Aunt Joanne
Uncle Para
And to all of those names
That I do not know
But whose blood runs through my veins
This is a song for you

'Cause of you
A change gonna come.

16. BONUSTRACK: WONDERFUL

You are the sunshine of my life
Another Shakespeare of your time
You're like a ribbon in the sky
You are a poet's endless rhyme
You take me to a higher ground
And 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 touched 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 your woman in red
Woman in red
I have girl blue
Girl blue
I have the black or I am a golden lady too
You bring the music of your mind
To elevate human kind
That's why I'm sharing my emotions
Your inner visions I explore

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 touched 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

You're so beautiful
Yeah

You are wonderful
You are beautiful
You are powerful
You are beautiful
You are wonderful
You have touched soul
And I just want to say thank you
You are beautiful
You have touch my soul
In such a special way
You are wonderful
You are beautiful

Stevie beautiful
You are
Stevie powerful
Powerful
Stevie spiritual
You are
Stevie wonderful
You are
Stevie wonderful
You are wonderful

You have touched my soul
You're so divine
You're so sublime
You're wonderful

You have touched my soul
To put it plain and simple
You are wonderful
You are
Beautiful
You have touched my soul
You're so divine
You're so sublime
You're wonderful
You are
Beautiful

You are wonderful
You are beautiful
You are powerful
You are
You are wonderful
You are beautiful.

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