The ups and downs of romance don’t weaken the singer’s commitment to work things out (“Stay With You,” “Ordinary People”). On “Refuge (When It’s Cold Outside)” a good woman’s love is constant in an uncertain world. “It Don’t Have to Change” is a gospel-style paean to family life that recalls sweet childhood memories and mourns the loss of simpler times. A desperate man prone to poor choices tells his girl “I Can Change” and seems sincere. However …
A pair of profanities get in the way. After too many drinks, the singer ogles another man’s date (“Alright”). “She Don’t Have to Know” and “Number One” excuse betrayal. The latter argues that hiding an affair is an act of love and says, “My heart don’t have nothin’ to do with my penis” before making a crass reference to masturbation.
Legend is a talented singer and piano player but fails to maintain his moral focus. It doesn’t take much profanity, infidelity and sexual inappropriateness to sink an otherwise decent effort.
