Hello Dear Everyone!!!
I hope that you had a nice week!
I was watching a show called "Power" produced by 50 cent, about a Kinpin in NYC that has a double life, with a mistress, and have to live a life of secret, the first thing that came to my mind was John Legend's song "She Don't Have To Know".
I listen to it from time to time, the tune still holds up, it's a song from the John Legend's album, "Let's Get Lifted".
The song is really written as a story and works as a standalone song, however each songs of the album is played in a chronological order and part of a bigger story, the protagonist meets a girl, then have an affair, promise then not to do it again, and there's of course an ending.
In that song, the character is trying to have a double life, also realizing the person he is cheating on is also cheating on him 😄.
Another song having the same topic, was "Part Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder, with also the same twist at the end.
I've watched a few versions of the song live played by John Legend, and found once released 13 years ago, with a loose tempo, and a Latin rhythm, that I took as an inspiration.
In that version, he skipped the bridge and changes the ending for some reason, I realized that the bridge wasn't necessary in the song, and took it off also, I do that in my own songs sometimes, changing the lyrics, taking something away, adding something up. Songs evolve.
It's a pity, because I am not entirely happy with the performance, it's often the case, you're relaxed before doing the take, and then you press the button, all the muscles are tensed, you start sweating haha, I also made one or two tempo mistake, that I would normally NEVER do; to the point that I thought maybe I should redo it again. I eventually decided to keep it.
Oh stealing moments just to be with you
Though its wrong its hard to tell the truth, oh no
She don't have to know she don't have to know
When I meet 'cha, I got my shades on to cover up my eyes
I'm hoping that nobody sees me passing by
Through my disguise I still know you recognize
But you I know you got a little secret of your own
Sneaking out with me while your mans at home
You know your wrong but its so strong still carrying on
I go to the other side of town and so I
Never risk the chance will catch her eye
Oh no, she don't have to know, she don't have to know
Oh girl I know your doing the same thing too
But I won't tell your man the things we do
Oh no, he don't have to know, he don't have to know
Someone's watching we got to be careful next time or we're through
But damn it's so stressful doing that dirt we do
So sad but true, and I know one day I'm gonna pay
Then he ask me to sneak out of town for just a day or three
Go to DC and hold hands publicly all through the streets
'Cause they don't know you and they don't know me
And oh I'll feel sorry for mistake we've made
There's no reason that we should tell her today
She don't have to know, she don't have to know
Girl oh, though you give a lot of love to me
Girl I know I'm not the only one you see
But he don't have to know, he don't have to know
