Music Friday: ‘Late Show’ Bandleader Jon Batiste Compares Girlfriend’s Love to a Goldmine

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Jon Batiste compares his girlfriend's love to a goldmine in his jubilant, jazzy 2021 anthem, "I Need You."

In this tune he co-wrote with Autumn Rowe, we learn that Jon met the love of his life when he was a "lil' country boy" and that they fell in love on the boulevard. He adores everything about her, especially how she's so genuine.

In the first verse, he sings, "We done a lot of living / We're working overtime / Don't need another million / You got that goldmine / I love the way you're livin' / 'Cause you're so genuine / You got that something special / Didn't you know? / I just need you, you, oh yeah."

Best known as the longtime bandleader and musical director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the multitalented artist shows off his wide range of skills in the second single from his fifth solo album, We Are, which was released in mid-March.

In addition to its romantic theme, the song delivers a universal message of unity, hope and empathy.

He told Forbes magazine in 2019 that music has always been a form of community that brought people together and gave them a common purpose.

"That common purpose was to connect to something that couldn't be expressed in any other way: not with words or gestures, but just something that almost transcends reality," he said. "That's really what music is, and it still is doing that today."

Jonathan Michael Batiste was born in Metairie, LA, in 1986. While his parents earned a living operating a grocery store and a hardware store, other members of the Batiste family were forging their reputations as members of a New Orleans musical dynasty. At age 8, Jon played percussion with the Batiste Brothers Band. Three years later, he switched to piano and took classical music lessons.

Later, he attended The Juilliard School in New York City, where he earned a Master's degree in Music in 2013. Barely two years later, Batiste would earn his spot as the leader of Stay Human, the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Please check out the video of Batiste performing "I Need You" at The Red Room in Chicago. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"I Need You"
Written by Jon Batiste and Autumn Rowe. Performed by Jon Batiste.

We done a lot of living
We're working overtime
Don't need another million
You got that goldmine
I love the way you're livin'
'Cause you're so genuine
You got that something special
Didn't you know?
I just need you, you, oh yeah

Met you when I was a lil' nappy head boy
And I never put down my alto saxophone
Buckjumpin' down on the boulevard
I couldn't wait to blow my own horn
It ain't wrong for you to sing along
Singing this song 'til you die

In this world with a lot of problems
All we need is a little loving
Thank you, thank you
Oh, you make me thank you
Thank you for your love

We've done a lot of living
We're workin' overtime
Don't need another million
You got that goldmine
I love the way you're livin'
'Cause you're so genuine
You got that something special
Didn't you know?
I just need you, you, oh yeah

Met you when I was a lil' country boy
And I never put down that pork chop and salt
Then we fell in love on the boulevard
If you was Jenny, I guess I was Forrest
Nah, it ain't wrong for you to sing along
Singing this song 'til you die

In this world with a lot of problems
All we need is a little lovin'
Thank you, thank you, oh, you make me
Thank you, thank you for your love

We done a lot of living
We working overtime

Don't need another million
You got that goldmine
I love the way you're livin'
'Cause you're so genuine
You got that something special
Didn't you know?

I just need you, you, oh yeah

I just need you, you, you, you, you, you, youuuuuuu

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube.com/Jon Batiste.

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