If I Ain't Got You
A.I.P Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game

Some people think that the physical things define what′s within
And I've been there before, and that life′s a bore
So full of the superficial

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain′t got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain′t got you, yeah

Some people search for a fountain
That promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them

Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me

Some people want it all
But I don′t want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain′t got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you

Some people want it all
But I don′t want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain′t got you, yeah

If I ain′t got you with me baby




So nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain′t got you with me baby

Overall Meaning

A.I.P's song "If I Ain't Got You" is a love ballad that highlights the importance of true love and emotional connection over material possessions. The song speaks against superficiality and materialistic attitudes that some people hold onto, as the singer emphasizes that having everything in the world means nothing if the love of their life is not by their side. The song portrays how most people are easily drawn by materialistic behaviors such as fortune, fame, and power. However, these things can not compare to the satisfaction that comes with having love and emotional connection. The singer also states that he has been down that road before and realizes that a life of materialistic focus is a bore and so full of the superficial.


The song is a reminder that there are things that are more important than material goods. It encourages people to focus on the things that matter because what they have does not matter unless the person they love is beside them. It speaks to the heart of the human soul that no amount of material things can replace the joy and importance of authentic love. The last line emphasizes how the world is meaningless if the person they love is not in it.


Line by Line Meaning

Some people live for the fortune
There are people who are driven by the desire to accumulate wealth.


Some people live just for the fame
There are individuals who seek attention and recognition from others as their primary goal.


Some people live for the power, yeah
There are people who crave authority and influence over others.


Some people live just to play the game
There are those who view life as a competition or challenge to be conquered.


Some people think that the physical things define what's within
There are individuals who believe that material possessions are an indicator of their worth or inner qualities.


And I've been there before, and that life's a bore
The singer has experienced the emptiness of a life focused solely on material success and found it unfulfilling.


So full of the superficial
The singer views this type of lifestyle as shallow and lacking in substance.


If it ain't you baby
The artist values their relationship with their significant other above all else.


If I ain't got you baby
The artist believes that without their partner, they would not be content with any other accomplishments or possessions.


Some people want diamond rings
There are those who associate wealth and luxury with the ultimate expression of love.


Some just want everything
Others seek to acquire as much as possible, believing that this will bring them happiness.


But everything means nothing
The artist feels that no matter how much they may accumulate, it is all insignificant if they don't have their partner by their side.


If I ain't got you, yeah
The singer is emphasizing that their partner is truly the only thing that matters to them.


Some people search for a fountain
There are people who seek out the secrets of eternal youth or immortality.


That promises forever young
They believe that by discovering such a fountain, they can avoid the limitations of aging and mortality.


Some people need three dozen roses
There are individuals who associate grand gestures and lavish displays of affection with genuine love.


And that's the only way to prove you love them
They believe that love must be demonstrated through acts of materialistic extravagance.


Hand me the world on a silver platter
The singer is expressing that they don't desire wealth or resources, even if it were offered to them on a platter made of silver.


And what good would it be
The singer believes that any material possessions, even if they were given everything, would be meaningless without their partner.


With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me
The artist values their partner as the only person who truly understands them and cares for them.


If I ain't got you with me baby
The artist emphasizes that their partner is the most important thing in their life.


So nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
Without their partner, the artist feels that none of the wealth, fame, or power in the world would bring them any satisfaction.




Writer(s): Alicia J Augello-cook

Contributed by Logan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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