Wanting to stray away sonically from her previous albums, Clarkson’s main objective was to record her vocal performances as it is heard in her live sets, and used as little auto-tune processing as possible. The album also marked the first release by Clarkson that did not cause a conflict with RCA; her previous records, most notably My December, were released amidst conflict and controversy. The record is predominantly a pop rock album, with several music critics noting the predominant R&B and country influences Clarkson explored in Thankful and All I Ever Wanted, as well as dance-pop themes which she had recently developed.
The album’s lyrical content mainly explores themes about heartbreak, vengeance, forgiveness, and empowerment through metaphors about Clarkson’s relationships around people. Clarkson began writing new material for the album in November 2009 while touring and finished recording in February 2011. Despite its original intent to be released in late 2010, the release date of the album was pushed back several times. Upon its release, Stronger received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised Clarkson’s vocal performance.
In the United States, Stronger debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and became her first record to be certified platinum in five years by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) since My December. The album produced three singles. “Mr. Know It All” topped the charts in Australia and South Korea and attained top-ten positions in four countries, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” became the album’s most successful release and Clarkson’s most successful single overall. It topped the charts in the United States, Poland, Denmark, and Slovakia and attained top-ten positions in over twenty countries around the world. The final single, “Dark Side”, was released to moderate success, attaining top-ten positions in three countries. Clarkson promoted Stronger in two concert tours, the Stronger Tour and the 2012 Summer Tour with American alternative rock band, The Fray. Stronger received four nominations at the 55th Grammy Awards: It won Best Pop Vocal Album and was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)".
Mr. Know It All
Kelly Clarkson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well ya think you know it all
But ya don't know a thing at all
Ain't it something y'all
When somebody tells you something bout you
Think that they know you more than you do
So you take it down another pill to swallow
Mr bring me down
Well ya like to bring me down don't ya
But I ain't laying down, baby
I ain't going down
Can't nobody tell me how it's gonna be
Nobody gonna make a fool out of me
Baby you should know that I lead not follow
Oh you think that you know me, know me
That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely
'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
You ain't got the right to tell me
When and where to go, no right to tell me
Acting like you own me lately
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
Mr Play Your Games
Only got yourself to blame
When you want me back again
But I ain't falling back again
'Cause I'm living my truth without your lies
Let's be clear baby this is goodbye
I ain't coming back tomorrow
Oh you think that you know me, know me
That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely
'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
You ain't got the right to tell me
When and where to go, no right to tell me
Acting like you own me lately
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
So what, you've got the world at your feet
And you know everything about everything
But you don't
You still think I'm coming back but baby you'll see
Oh you think that you know me, know me
That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely
'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
You ain't got the right to tell me
When and where to go, no right to tell me
Acting like you own me lately
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
Mr Know It All
Well ya think you know it all
But ya don't know a thing at all
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me
"Mr. Know It All" is a song about an overconfident person who thinks they know everything about someone else. The song is sung by Kelly Clarkson, who is addressing this person and telling them that they don't really know her. She's pushing back against their attempts to control her and to define who she is.
The first verse highlights how frustrating it is to have someone think they know more about you than you do. It's especially frustrating when that person is always trying to tell you what to do or think. The chorus reiterates this point, emphasizing that this person "don't know a thing about me" and that they have no right to try to control her.
The second verse takes a more aggressive tone, telling the person that they can't make her go back to them. She's done with their lies and manipulation, and is living her life on her own terms. The bridge mocks this person's overconfidence, suggesting that they think they know everything but are actually clueless. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, underscoring the message that nobody has the right to tell someone else who they are or what to do.
Line by Line Meaning
Well ya think you know it all
You believe that you have complete knowledge or understanding.
But ya don't know a thing at all
However, you actually have little or no knowledge or understanding.
Ain't it something y'all
Isn't it surprising or interesting, everyone?
When somebody tells you something bout you
When someone says something about you.
Think that they know you more than you do
Believe that they understand you better than you do yourself.
So you take it down another pill to swallow
So you have to accept or deal with another unpleasant or difficult fact.
Mr bring me down
You are the person who brings me down or makes me feel bad.
Well ya like to bring me down don't ya
You seem to enjoy making me feel bad or unhappy.
But I ain't laying down, baby
But I am not giving up or giving in, my dear.
I ain't going down
I will not be defeated or weakened by your actions or words.
Can't nobody tell me how it's gonna be
No one can predict or control the future for me.
Nobody gonna make a fool out of me
No one is going to humiliate or take advantage of me.
Baby you should know that I lead not follow
You should understand that I am a leader, not a follower.
Oh you think that you know me, know me
You think that you fully understand and know me.
That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely
That's why I am breaking up with you and leaving you alone.
'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me
Because, my dear, you have no knowledge or understanding of who I really am.
You don't know a thing about me
You have no information, understanding, or insight about me whatsoever.
You ain't got the right to tell me
You do not have the authority or permission to dictate to me.
When and where to go, no right to tell me
You have no right to decide or control where I go or when I go there.
Acting like you own me lately
You have been behaving as if you have complete ownership or control over me recently.
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
Yes, my dear, you truly do not have any knowledge or understanding of who I am.
Mr Play Your Games
You are the person who likes to play games or manipulate people.
Only got yourself to blame
You are the only one responsible for the negative outcomes of your actions.
When you want me back again
When you want to reconcile or reunite with me in the future.
But I ain't falling back again
But I am not going to relapse or return to you again.
'Cause I'm living my truth without your lies
Because I am living in honesty and integrity without your deceptive or false words or actions.
Let's be clear baby this is goodbye
Let's be completely certain and firm, my dear, that this is a permanent farewell.
I ain't coming back tomorrow
I am not planning or intending to return to you in the future.
So what, you've got the world at your feet
So what if you have everything you could want or desire in life.
And you know everything about everything
And you believe that you have comprehensive knowledge or understanding about everything.
But you don't
But, in reality, you are not all-knowing or all-understanding.
You still think I'm coming back but baby you'll see
You still have the mistaken belief that I will return to you, my dear, but you will eventually realize the truth.
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
Yes, my dear, you definitely have no comprehensive understanding or knowledge about who I really am.
You don't know a thing about me
You are completely ignorant or uninformed about any details or facts regarding me.
Mr Know It All
You are the person who believes that you know everything and cannot be wrong or incorrect.
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
Yes, my dear, you really do not have any factual knowledge or understanding of who I truly am.
You don't know a thing about me
You do not have any relevant, accurate, or meaningful information about me in any way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BRETT JAMES, ESTER DEAN, DANTE JONES, BRIAN SEALS, BRIAN KENNEDY SEALS, DANTE LAMIRE JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BlizzardBeaches
on Since U Been Gone
This song resonates with me the most right now since as recent as last Sunday, I was set free from a relationship with a man like this.
Here's the thing, we started out friends
It was cool but IT WAS ALL PRETEND [on HIS part]
HOW COME I'D NEVER HEAR YOU SAY
"I just wanna be with you"?
Guess YOU never felt that way [(But HE expected me to feel that way)]
Such an amazing song!
Ricky
on Broken & Beautiful (from the movie UGLYDOLLS)
What do they mean with the words:
We're walking on the ocean, turning water into wine
*reference to?*
Ricky
on Broken & Beautiful (from the movie UGLYDOLLS)
We're walking on the ocean, turning water into wine. *what is the meaning of this line?