Doesn't Mean Anything
Alicia Keys Lyrics


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Used to dream of being a millionaire, without a care
But if I'm seeing my dreams and you aren't there
'Cause it's over
That just won't be fair
Darling
Rather be a poor woman living on the street
No food to eat
'Cause I don't want no pie if I have to cry
'Cause it's over
When you said goodbye

All at once
I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Now that you're gone
From afar, seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Since you're gone

Now I see myself through different eyes
It's no surprise
Being alone would make you realize
When it's over
All in love is fair, I shoulda been there
I shoulda been there, I shoulda, shoulda

All at once
I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Now that you're gone
From afar, seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Since you're gone

I know I pushed you away
What can I do that will save our love?
Take these material things
They don't mean nothing
It's you that I want

All at once
I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Now that you're gone
From afar
Seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Since you're gone, I shoulda been there
I shoulda been there, I shoulda, I shoulda

All at once
See, I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything
Now that you're gone
From afar
Seems I had it all




But it doesn't mean anything
Since you're gone

Overall Meaning

Alicia Keys's "Doesn't Mean Anything" is about losing love and realizing that material wealth and success do not hold the same value without that person in your life. The first verse speaks of the singer's dreams of becoming a millionaire without "a care," implying that they thought money would bring them happiness, but now they see that their dreams mean nothing without their loved one. The second verse is more of an acceptance of reality as the singer sings about seeing themselves through "different eyes" now that their love is gone. They realize that being alone makes them realize that love is the most important thing.


The chorus echoes this theme of material things holding no value without love. The line, "All at once, I had it all, but it doesn't mean anything now that you're gone" shows that the singer had everything they thought they wanted, but it lost its luster after losing their love. The bridge, on the other hand, is the singer admitting to their mistakes in the relationship and wishing they could have done things differently.


Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the importance of love over material things, and how losing it can change one's perspective on what really matters.


Line by Line Meaning

Used to dream of being a millionaire, without a care
I used to aspire to be financially successful without worrying about anything, including my relationship with you.


But if I'm seeing my dreams and you aren't there
But if I achieve my dreams without you by my side, it won't feel complete or fair.


'Cause it's over
Our relationship has ended.


That just wont be fair
It wouldn't be fair for me to achieve my dreams without you after our relationship ended.


Darling
Term of endearment for the person the singer is addressing.


Rather be a poor woman living on the street
The singer would rather live a life of poverty than have material success without the person they love.


No food to eat
They are willing to endure hardships, such as not having enough food, if it means they can be with their loved one.


'Cause I don't want no pie if I have to cry
The singer doesn't want superficial or material things if they have to endure the pain of losing their loved one.


When you said goodbye!
The moment the person they love ended their relationship by saying goodbye.


All at once
Suddenly, all of the fame and success the singer had achieved is meaningless without the person they love.


I had it all
The singer had everything they wanted, including material success, but it didn't matter without their loved one.


But it doesn't mean anything
The love and connection with their loved one is more important than all the material successes they had achieved.


Now that you're gone
After their loved one is gone, everything they had achieved feels empty and meaningless.


From afar, seems I had it all
To those looking from the outside, it may appear as if the singer had everything they wanted, but they didn't without their loved one.


Since you're gone
Everything the singer had achieved feels pointless now that their loved one is no longer with them.


Now I see myself through different eyes
After losing their loved one, the singer sees themselves and their priorities differently.


It's no surprise!
The realization that love and a genuine connection is more important than material success and possessions shouldn't come as a surprise.


Being alone will make you realize
Having to be alone without their loved one has made the singer come to this realization.


All in love is fair I shoulda been there
The singer acknowledges that everything is fair in love and they should have been there for their loved one.


I shoulda been there, I shoulda shoulda
The singer wishes they had been there for their loved one and regrets not being there.


I know I pushed you away
The singer acknowledges that they had pushed their loved one away.


What can I do that would save our love
The singer is willing to do anything to save their relationship and keep their loved one in their life.


Take these material things
The singer is willing to give up all of their material possessions if it means they can keep their relationship with their loved one.


They don't mean nothing
Material possessions mean nothing compared to the love and connection the singer has with their loved one.


It's you that I want
The singer is expressing their desire for their loved one and stating that they are the only thing they want in their life.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alicia Augello-Cook, Kerry Brothers, Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@danieltothmusic

Used to dream of being a millionaire without a care
But if I'm seeing my dreams and you aren't there
Cause it's over, that just won't be fair, darling
Rather be a poor woman living on the street, no food to eat
Cause I don't want no pie if I have to cry
Cause it's over when you said goodbye

All at once, I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything now that you're gone
From above, seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything since you're gone

Now I see myself through different eyes, it's no surprise
Being alone would make you realize
When it's over, all in love is fair
I should've been there, I should've been there, I should've should've

All at once, I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything now that you're gone
From above, seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything since you're gone

I know I push you away
What can I do that will say how I love?
Take these material things
They don't mean nothing
It's you that I want

All at once, I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything now that you're gone
From above, seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything since you're gone
(I should've been there, I should been there, I should've should've)

All at once, I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything now that you're gone
From above, seems I had it all
But it doesn't mean anything since you're gone

Thank you for reading. I record covers from different popular songs. I appreciate it if you listen to my channel! 😊



All comments from YouTube:

@goitsemodimomooki2455

2023 and this song is still beautiful, memory reminder❤️😭

@fredmeers24

Oh yes 😢

@jamespitts4303

Be beautiful. Be healthy be safe 😊

@patrickbelen699

😊

@lintam9201

I love that feeling when you find a song that you forgot and you just sing the lyrics like your younger self would. It's so good and nostalgic. A bittersweet feeling.

@jeremyfoster8820

You keep it all inside let eat you Susan if keep hurt just fine

@lxcia9038

omg ikr i used to listen to this song so much with my sisters and my mum like 2 years ago and now all the lyrics are coming back

@darrenthomas7847

Ikr

@Sweetpagal_

@@lxcia9038 2 years ago lol? You late bruh

@jazzmanspriggs6415

Yesss✅

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