John Legend

Released: December 2, 2016

Songwriter: Tobias Jesso Jr. Blake Mills John Legend

Producer: Blake Mills

[Verse 1]
What can you buy with the ultimate sacrifice
If you don't believe in the afterlife?
Oh I still grieve rememberin' what you were like
Now what good is a dream when the dreamer dies?

[Pre-Chorus]
Some are better than good
Greater than great
Some are misunderstood
And they get told to wait by

[Chorus]
All of the greatest
The greatest of all
We're chasing their fading star
Who'll be the latest
The latest to fall?
We're marching into the dark

[Verse 2]
What if your life was just in the day to day
And after you're gone the world stays the same?
Why should you love what you're gonna lose anyway?
Oh I've imagined one hundred ways

[Pre-Chorus]
Some are just no good
Some will let it just fade
Some are misunderstood
We'll just have to wait, 'cause

[Chorus]
All of the greatest
The greatest of all
We're chasing their fading star
Who'll be the latest
The latest to fall?
We're marching into the dark

[Bridge]
Oh Heaven knows where we are
Chasing the fading stars
Heaven knows where we are
Motioning to the dark

[Pre-Chorus]
Some are better than good
And greater than great
Some are misunderstood
They get told to wait
Some are just no good
Some will let it just fade
Some are misunderstood
We'll just have to wait, 'cause

[Chorus]
All of the greatest
The greatest of all
Were chasing their fading star
Wanna know who
Who'll be the latest
The latest to fall?
We're marching into the dark
I wanna go marching into the dark
All of the greatest
The greatest of all
Were chasing their fading star
Were chasing their fading star
Who'll be the latest
Latest to fall?
Marching into the dark

John Legend was born in 1978 in Ohio. He became an in-demand session musician and songwriter, working with such artists as Alicia Keys, Twista and Janet Jackson. He was soon introduced to up-and-coming hip-hop artist Kanye West, and the two musicians collaborated on one another’s demos.

J. Ivy claims credit for bestowing the “Legend” moniker upon John Stephens (with an assist from Kanye West). Via

Kanye was like, ‘Have you heard of this singer called John Stephens?’ He played me this song from him, that I think will.i.am produced. It was so refreshing and soulful. An hour later, John Stephens comes into the studio. I told him, ‘I heard your music. It’s so amazing. It sounds old school. Man, you sound like one of the legends. You’re a legend. Matter of fact, that’s what I am going to call you from now The Legend. A couple days later, we were in the lounge of the studio (Record Plant) and John Stephens walks in and everyone shouts him out. I was like, ‘John Legend!’ Kanye then said, ‘You’re John Legend from now on. That’s your name!’”

more tracks from the album

Darkness and Light

From the album

Darkness and Light (2016)

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Marching Into the DarkJohn Legend

John Legend

Darkness and Light