UK number one pop song lyrics: Where is the love (Black Eyed Peas) & others

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< Up	Britain / Music / Lyrics / 2003 Q3
"Number 1" pop singles in the UK (quarter 3, 2003)


Sections:	Introduction
	Where is the love? (Black Eyed Peas)
	Are you ready for love? (Elton John)
	Breathe (Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul)
	Never gonna leave your side (Daniel Bedingfield)
	Crazy in love (Beyoncé)
	Links

Related pages:	Britain/Music/Lyrics (number 1 singles on other dates)
	British/Music/Pop (British pop music)

INTRODUCTION

Lyrics and background notes to songs which first reached number 1 in the UK singles chart between July and September 2003.

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WHERE IS THE LOVE?

Number 1 on: 7 September 2003, 14 September 2003, 21 September 2003, 28 September 2003, 5 October 2003, 12 October 2003

Type of song:

Where is the love (CD single)
Artist: Black Eyed Peas, featuring Justin Timberlake
Label: Arista
Release date: 1 September, 2003

Elephunk (CD album)
Artist: Black Eyed Peas
Label: Polydor
Date: September 2003

Black Eyed Peas is an American group from Los Angeles ("black eyed peas" are associated with good luck - they are often eaten in southern states of the USA as part of the meal on New Year's Day). The catchy chorus is sung by Justin Timberlake, who also wrote that part of the song. The group Black Eyes Peas has a mixture of black and white members, and this song calls for people to respect each other whatever the colour of their skin ("to discriminate only generates hate"). It criticises the violence in the world ("people killing, people dying; children hurt and you hear them crying"). It criticises the way that people are driven by a desire for money ("most of us only care about money-making", "only visions of dividends"). It criticises the media for concentrating on violence ("negative images is the criteria", "kids want to act like what they see in the cinema"). It calls for people to pursue love and peace, and has a religious message too ("Father, Father, Father help us - send some guidance from above"; "Father" means God, and "from above" means from heaven).

For more details about the Black Eyed Peas, see the official website: http://www.blackeyedpeas.com.

Where is the love?
Black Eyed Peas (featuring Justin Timberlake)

What's wrong with the world, mama?
People living like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here living
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate (yeah)
Badness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how a nigger works and operates
Nigger, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killing, people dying
Children hurt and you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love? (Love)

Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love?
The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane?
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong?
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering as the youth die young
So ask yourself: is the loving really gone?
So I could ask myself: really what is going wrong?
In this world that we living in people keep on giving in
Making wrong decisions, only visions of the dividends
Not respecting each other, deny thy brother
A war is going on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on? (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on? (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all?

People killing, people dying
Children hurt and you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love? (Love)

Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love?
The love, the love

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money-making
Selfishness got us following our own direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids want to act like what they see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity?
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality?
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

People killing, people dying
Children hurt and you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love? (Love)

Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)

Vocabulary:

The Bloods and The Crips - two violent black gangs, based in Los Angeles
KKK - the Klu Klux Klan - a US group of white people who opposed violently moves to give equal rights to black people and other "foreigners" (for the history, see: here)
irate - angry
nigger - a slang word for a black person, considered to be extremely offensive unless it is said by a black person, as in this case (this word is sometimes removed from the song when it is played on the radio)
turn the other cheek - ignore someone else's unkindness or violence against you (imagine that someone hits one side of your face - instead of fighting back, you offer the other side of your face to your attacker)
animosity - hate
ain't (haven't), y'all (you all), gotta (got to, must), yeah (yes), 'cause (because, sometimes written 'cos)

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ARE YOU READY FOR LOVE?

Number 1 on: 24 August 2003

Type of song:

Are you ready for love (CD single)
Artist: Elton John
Label: Southern Fried
Release date: 25 August, 2003

Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (2 CD album)
Artist: Elton John
Label: Mercury
Date: November 2002

This is Sir Elton John's sixth number one record in the UK. The previous UK number ones were: Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee), Sacrifice, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (with George Michael), Candle in the Wind (the world's biggest-selling single), Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (with Blue). The song was originally recorded in 1979 - this version has been remixed by Fatboy Slim.

The singer of this song is in love with someone and is asking that person to "let me love you". The song is full of traditional romantic images - stars and angels, mountains and valleys, music and paintings.

Are you ready for love?
Elton John

Catch a star if you can
Wish for something special
Let it be me, my love is free
Sing a song to yourself
Think of someone listening
One melody, you're all for me

I'll write a symphony just for you and me
If you let me love you, I'll paint a masterpiece
Just for you to see
If you let me love you, let me love you

Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am
Are you, are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am
Are you, are you ready, are you ready for love?

You're the one like the sun
Shine your love around me
You'll always be the one for me

Say the word and I'll be there
Loving you forever
Don't let me go
Just say it's so

We'll hear the music ring from the mountain tops
To the valley below us
We'll serenade the world
With a lullaby so the angels will know us
Angels will know us

BREATHE

Number 1 on: 3 August 2003, 10 August 2003, 17 August 2003

Type of song:

Breathe (CD single)
Artist: Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul
Label: Arista
Release date: 14 July, 2003

Bittersweet (CD album)
Artist: Blu Cantrell
Label: Arista
Date: July 2003

In the lyrics below, the female part (sung by Blu Cantrell) is shown in ordinary type. The male part (sung by Sean Paul) is shown in bold.

Breathe
Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul

Sean Paul and Blu Cantrell
Remix that gonna make ya head swell yo
yo hey yo yo hey yo

So what's that supposed to be about baby?
Gall free up ya vibe and stop actin' crazy
Reminisce upon all the good times daily
Why you try pull that got me actin' shady

What's that supposed to be about baby?
Gall free up ya vibe and stop actin' crazy
Sean-a-Paul you'll give ya the good lovin' daily
Now you try and pull that got me actin' shady

You say you love, say you love me
But you’re never there for me, yeah, mmm...hmm...
You’ll be cryin’, slowly dyin’
When I decide to leave, oh, oh

All we do is make up
Then break up
Why don’t we wake up
And see

When love hurts
It won’t work
Maybe we need some time alone
We need to let it breathe

Breathe breathe breathe

So what's that supposed to be about baby?
Gall free up ya vibe and stop actin' crazy
Reminisce upon all the good times daily
Why you try pull that got me actin' shady?

You’re only lonely when your homey
Ain’t got a ride or no loot, yeah, uh-huh
Then comes the drama
Some other girl is claimin’ she’s goin’ out with you,

Hmm...hmm...

All we do is make up
Then break up
Why don’t we wake up
And see

When love hurts
It won’t work
Maybe we need some time alone
We need to let it breathe

Breathe breathe breathe
Breathe (Uh...huh...)
Breathe

So what's that supposed to be about, baby?
Ya'll free up ya mind and stop actin' crazy
Shady shady shady shady

Not again
My girl for the fourth time
Let me make it very clear to you
You're very dear to me
And honour of me
Share to you
Me not unfair to you
Who would u want
For real you make me know and
I will be there for you
But me know im not a fear to you
Stand up like a man and not be there 'cos I care for you
Long time tellin' you
No other girl can compare to you
And if I live without
I'm gonna share my life and there for you
Say you want to breathe
I'm still not, I'm exhalin'
Say you want to leave 'cos this relationship failin'
Ain't nobody say that it would be smooth sailin'
Girl, I wanna know why you're bailin'

So what's that supposed to be about baby?
Ya'll free up ya mind and stop actin' crazy
Reminisce about all the good times daily
Why you try pull that got me actin' shady shady baby baby?

Maybe we need some time alone
So we can just breathe
Let it breathe
Breathe breathe
Let it breathe
Breathe breathe
Breathe breathe
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Let it breathe yeah
Oh oh time to breathe yall...

NEVER GONNA LEAVE YOUR SIDE

Number 1 on: 27 July 2003

Type of song:

Never Gonna Leave Your Side (CD single)
Artist: Daniel Bedingfield
Label: Polydor
Release date: 21 July, 2003

Gotta Get Thru This (CD album)
Artist: Daniel Bedingfield
Label: Polydor
Date: 31 March, 2003

Daniel Bedingfield was born in New Zealand but grew up in South London. His previous number 1 singles were "If you're not the one" in December 2002 (see: Britain/Music/Lyrics/2002Q4) and "Gotta Get Thru This" in December 2001

This song is about a man who loves a girl, but they are not together now (Daniel has said that it is about the same girl as "If you're not the one"). He doesn't feel that his life is complete without her (he feels like "a song without the words", "a bird without its wings" etc). He misses her and hopes she will come back to him ("I miss you every day"). He keeps thinking about the time when the two split up ("living in the pain; recalling times gone by - the crying in the rain"). He wants to wake up with her next to him (to be "lying in your arms" and to "lean my head against your heart"). Even though she has left, she remains in his heart and he is promising himself that if she comes back to him he will not make the same mistakes again ("I'm never gonna leave your side ... again" - "gonna" is slang for "going to").

For more information about Daniel, see his official website: http://www.danielbedingfield.com.

Never Gonna Leave Your Side
Daniel Bedingfield

I feel like a song without the words
A man without a soul
A bird without its wings
A heart without a home
I feel like a knight without a sword
The sky without the sun
'Cos you are the one

I feel like a ship beneath the waves
A child that's lost its way
A door without a key
A face without a name
I feel like a breath without the air
And every day's the same
Since you've gone away

I've gotta have a reason to wake up in the morning
You used to be the one that put a smile on my face
There are no words that could describe how I miss you
And I miss you every day
Yeah

And I'm never gonna leave your side
And I'm never gonna leave your side ... again
Still holding on, girl
I won't let you go
'Cos when I'm lying in your arms
I know I'm home

They tell me that a man can lose his mind
Living in the pain
Recalling times gone by
The crying in the rain
You know I've wasted half the time
And I'm on my knees again
Till you come to me

I've gotta have a reason to wake up in the morning
You used to be the one that put a smile on my face
There are no words that could describe how I miss you
And I miss you every day
Yeah

And I'm never gonna leave your side
And I'm never gonna leave your side ... again
Still holding on, girl
I won't let you go
I lay my head against your heart
I know I'm home

And I'm never gonna leave your side
And I'm never gonna leave your side ... again
Still holding on, girl
I won't let you go
'Cos when I'm lying in your arms
I know I'm home

CRAZY IN LOVE

Number 1 on: 6 July 2003, 13 July 2003, 20 July 2003

Type of song:

Crazy in Love (CD single) (version 1)
Artist: Beyoncé, featuring Jay-Z
Label: Epic
Release date: 30 June, 2003
CD single version 2 ; DVD single

Dangerously in Love (CD album)
Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia
Release date: 23 June, 2003

Beyoncé Knowles is an American female singer from Houston, Texas. She is a member of the group Destiny's Child.

Beyoncé is singing about being very much in love with a man she has met (sung by Jay-Z). The word "crazy" is used describe how she appears to other people when she is in love (there are phrases like "to be madly in love with someone" or "to be crazy about someone"). She can't wait to be close to him again (to feel "your love" and "your touch"), but doesn't know why he makes her feel so strongly ("but I still don't understand, just how the love you're doing no one else can"). She doesn't care about attracting other men now ("tennis shoes: don't even need to buy a new dress; if you ain't there, ain't nobody else to impress"). She is hoping he will call her ("got me hoping you'll page me right now").

You may find the words sung by Jay-Z difficult to understand - much of it is rap slang. These are explanations of some of the expressions he uses:
Hova / Hov - a nickname for Jay-Z
loco - crazy (Spanish word)
Bee - a nickname for Beyoncé (from the first letter of her name)
Tony Soprano - head of a New Jersey gangster family in a US television series called "The Sopranos".
Van Axel - the name of a top US basketball player
chinchilla - a small animal from South America whose soft fur is highly valued

In the lyrics below, the female part (sung by Beyoncé) is shown in ordinary type. The male part (sung by Jay-Z) is shown in bold.

Crazy in love
Beyoncé

Yes!
It's so crazy right now!
Most incredibly, it's ya girl, Bee,
It's ya boy, young.

You ready?
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no

Say yeah, history in the making,
Part 2, it's so crazy right now

I like to stare so deep in your eyes,
I touch on you more and more every time,
When you leave I'm begging you not to go,
Call your name two, three times in a row,
Such a funny thing for me to try to explain,
How I'm feeling and my pride is the one to blame.
'Cos I know I don't understand,
Just how the love you're doing no one else can.

Got me looking so crazy right now
Your love's got me looking so crazy right now
Got me looking so crazy right now
Your touch got me looking so crazy right now
Got me hoping you'll page me right now
Your kiss got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy
Your love's got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.

Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no

When I talk to my friends so quietly,
"Who he think he is?" Look at what you did to me,
Tennis shoes, don't even need to buy a new dress,
If you ain't there, ain't nobody else to impress,
The way that you know what I thought I knew,
It's the beat that my heart skips when I'm with you,
But I still don't understand,
Just how the love you're doing no one else can.

Got me looking so crazy right now,
Your love's got me looking so crazy right now,
Got me looking so crazy right now,
Your touch got me looking so crazy right now
Got me hoping you'll page me right now,
Your kiss got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy
Your love's got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.
I'm looking so crazy
Your love's got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.

Young Hov, y'all know when the flow is loco,
Young Bee and the R-O-C, uh oh,
Ol' G, big homie, the one and only,
Stick bony, but the pocket is fat like Tony
Soprano, the ROC handle like Van Axel,
I shake phoneys, man, you can't get next to
The genuine article, I do not sing though,
I sling though, if anything I bling yo,
A star like Ringo, war like the Green Beret,
Crazy, bring ya whole set,
Jay-Z in the range, crazy and deranged,
They can't figure him out
They, like, "Hey, is he insane?"
Yes sir I'm cut from a different cloth,
My texture is the best fur, of chinchilla.
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no)
Been dealing with chain smokers,
But how you think I got the name Hova?
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no)
I been realer, the game's over,
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no)
Fall back young, ever since the label changed over
(Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no)
to platinum, the game's been wrap, One!

Got me looking, so crazy, my baby
I'm not myself, lately I'm foolish, I don't do this,
I've been playing myself, baby I don't care
'Cos your love's got the best of me,
And baby you're making a fool of me,
You got me sprung, and I don't care who sees,
'Cos baby you got me, you got me, so crazy baby
Hey!

Got me looking so crazy right now
Your love's got me looking so crazy right now
Got me looking so crazy right now
Your touch got me looking so crazy right now
Got me hoping you'll page me right now
Your kiss got me hoping you'll save me right now
I'm looking so crazy
Your love's got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.

Got me looking so crazy right now
Your love's got me looking so crazy right now
Got me looking so crazy right now
Your touch got me looking so crazy right now
Got me hoping you'll page me right now
Your kiss got me hoping you'll save me right now
I'm looking so crazy
Your love's got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.

LINKS

Number 1 singles on other dates: Britain/Music/Lyrics
British pop music: Britain/Music/Pop
Listen to British radio stations: English/Listening
London pop/classical concerts: Life/Entertainment/London

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