John Legend

Released: October 28, 2008

Songwriter: John Legend Fin Greenall Rick Nowels

Producer: Rick Nowels

Late in the evening
City sleeping
All through the night
This feeling’s creeping on me
So ready

Soul is waiting
Body’s aching
Caught and imprisoned
My own making
I’m so, so ready
I’m so gone, come get me
Won’t you come?

Set me free
Make me yours again
(Free)
In your arms again
(Free)
Won’t you come and dance with me

Throw out the lifeline
I’ve been sinking
Going out of my mind
I’ve been thinking
If I could hold her
Make this storm blow over

Give me a taste of satisfaction
Oh, I need to learn her
I need her faster
I’m so wide open
Won’t you come right over?
Won’t you come?

Set me free
Make me yours again
(Free)
In your arms again
(Free)
Won’t you come and dance with me

I’ve been looking for a light
Let it shine
Let it shine
You’ve been running through my mind
All this time
All this time

Set me free
Free…
I feel like…
Oh, to be free…

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

Evolver

From the album

Evolver (2008)

John Legend popular songs

Set Me FreeJohn Legend

John Legend

Evolver