She first gained recognition at the age of 10, when she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. She released her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number the album sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry.
Aaliyah worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million, which sold three million copies in the United States and more than eight million copies worldwide. In 2000, Aaliyah appeared in her first film, Romeo Must Die. She contributed to the film's soundtrack, which spawned the single "Try Again". The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on airplay, making Aaliyah the first artist in Billboard history to achieve this goal. After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah filmed her role in Queen of the Damned, and released, in 2001, her self-titled third and final studio album, which topped the Billboard 200. Unfortunately, the 22 year old singer's life was tragically cut short in a 2001 plane crash after filming her video for "Rock The Boat" in The Bahamas.
Aaliyah became famous in her own right during the mid-1990s with several hit records from the songwriting/production team of Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and their associate Steve "Static" Garrett. Notable for recording several hit singles, including "One in A Million" and "Try Again", Aaliyah has sold over 32 million records total worldwide, including posthumous releases. Two posthumous albums have been released since Haughton's death: I Care 4 U in December 2002, and Ultimate Aaliyah in April 2005, the latter of which was released as a box set that included her greatest hits and a documentary on her life. Haughton also ventured outside of music, modeling for Tommy Hilfiger and starring in two motion pictures (Romeo Must Die & Queen of The Damned) before her untimely death.
4 Page Letter
Aaliyah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up some more, up some more
Up a little bit more
Mama always told me to be careful who I love
And daddy always told me make sure he's right
I always had my eyes on this one particular guy
I was too shy so I decided to write
I'm sending him a four page letter
And I enclosed it with a kiss
And when I write him he better get it on time
I'm sending him a four page letter (oh yeah)
And I enclosed it with a kiss
And when I write him he better get it on time
People always say that I've played myself for you
They say that you don't even notice me
(Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me)
Baby, when I get the nerve to come to you
Promise me that you won't diss me
I'm sending him a four page (four page) letter (letter)
And I enclosed it with a kiss (a kiss)
And when I write him he better (oh yeah) get it on time (he better)
I'm sending him a four page letter (oh, yes I am)
And I enclosed it with a kiss
And when I write him he better (he better) get it on time
(Oh, I'm writin' you)
I'm writing you a love letter tonight
You better keep watch 'cause the mailman's coming
(Oh, yes he is, oh, I)
I'm writing you (writing you) a love letter tonight (tonight)
You better keep watch 'cause the mailman's coming (I'm)
I'm sending him a four page letter
And I enclosed it with a kiss
And when I write him he better (he better) get it on time
And get it on time, baby
I'm sending him a four page letter
And I enclosed it with a kiss (a sweet)
And when I write him (kiss) he better
Get it on time (oh, my baby)
I'm sending him (oh yeah) a four page letter
And I enclosed it with a kiss (a kiss)
And when I write him he better get it on time
Get it on time, oh yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah, oh, ooh
Oh, yeah, yeah
Aaliyah's "4 Page Letter" portrays the young singer's struggle with expressing her feelings to a guy she has always liked. Her mother advised her to be cautious about who she loves, and her dad told her to ensure that the person is the right one. She has continuously shown interest in this particular individual but has been too shy to approach him directly. The solution she arrives at is writing a four-page letter and sending it to him with a kiss enclosed. She is emphasizing that he reads it as soon as he receives it. There are those who criticize her decision, claiming she is playing herself for the guy, who may not even have any interest in her. However, she takes the chance and hopes that he won't reject her.
The song displays Aaliyah's vulnerability as she attempts to express her feelings to her crush. She appears conflicted, debating whether or not to take the chance of revealing her emotions. The four-page letter she writes represents her desire to make her feelings known. It is a common predicament where someone falls for another person, but the other party has no idea. Hence, Aaliyah's song accurately captures the feelings of anyone who has experienced a similar situation. She wrote about what many could only think of with her smooth and effortless voice.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, turn my music up
Turn the music up louder
Up some more, up some more
Turn the music up even louder than before
Up a little bit more
Turn the music up just a tiny bit more
Mama always told me to be careful who I love
Mother always warned me to choose my love interest carefully
And daddy always told me make sure he's right
Father always advised me to make sure he is the right person for me
I always had my eyes on this one particular guy
I have been interested in one specific guy all along
I was too shy so I decided to write
I was too shy to talk to him so I composed a letter
I'm sending him a four page letter
I am mailing him a four-page letter
And I enclosed it with a kiss
I kissed the letter before sealing it
And when I write him he better get it on time
He better receive and read my letter on time
People always say that I've played myself for you
People always say that I've humiliated myself for you
They say that you don't even notice me (me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me)
They say you do not even acknowledge my presence
Baby, when I get the nerve to come to you
If I gain the courage to speak to you
Promise me that you won't diss me
Promise me that you won't disrespect, mock, or reject me
I'm writing you a love letter tonight
I am writing a love letter to you tonight
You better keep watch 'cause the mailman's coming
You better keep a lookout because the postman will arrive soon
I'm sending him a four page letter (oh yeah)
I am sending him a four-page letter
And get it on time, baby
And receive it on time, my beloved
Oh, yeah, yeah, oh, ooh
Expressing joy and satisfaction
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Melissa A Elliott, Timothy Z Mosley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind