John Legend

Released: November 11, 2008

Featuring: Barack Obama

Songwriter: Bono The Edge (Guitarist) Larry Mullen Jr Adam Clayton

[Intro: John Legend]
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

[Verse 1: John Legend]
One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come, he justify
One man to overthrow

[Chorus: John Legend]
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?

[Verse 2: John Legend]
One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss

[Chorus: John Legend]
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?

[Post-Chorus: John Legend]
Ohh
Oh-oh-oh-oh

[Verse 3: John Legend]
Late afternoon, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

[Chorus: John Legend]
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)

[Outro: Barack Obama]
Dr King once said that the art of the whole universe is long, but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here's the thing. It does not bend on its own

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

Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement

From the album

Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement (2008)

John Legend popular songs

Pride, In the Name of LoveJohn Legend

John Legend

Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement