In 2005, Amerie burst back onto the music scene with her fourth single "1 Thing", which was used as the theme song for the Will Smith movie "Hitch". "1 Thing" went to the top of the charts in various international markets, including the US, UK and others around the world. It earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (the album "Touch" was also nominated for the "Best Contemporary R&B Album" Grammy ). The album sold an estimated 800,000 copies worldwide and went gold in the US and silver in the UK.
Amerie's third album 'Because I Love It' was released in the UK , Europe and Asia in 2007. The single "Take Control" was released in October 2006, and it enjoyed international success. The second single "Gotta Work" did not fare as well in the charts, despite receiving heavy airplay on UK and European music video channels. The album has sold a combined total of 310,000 copies worldwide and is her most critically acclaimed album.
In late 2007, was reported that Amerie had left her label Columbia Records, and signed with the Island Def Jam Music Group.
Amerie revealed the album title to be changed from 'Breakups To Makeups' to 'In Love & War'. Amerie also announced that her first single off the album will be titled "Why R U?" produced by The Buchanans. The single premiered online in the week of May 11th and received fairly mixed reviews. The track itself is even compared to Mary J. Blige's "What's The 411?" and "My Life" album, because of the old school feel.
Amerie changed her artist name to Ameriie (extra I) in 2010. She said that it gave her more positive energy as an artist. She changed her artist name back to Amerie (without the extra I) with the double EP releases '4AM Mulholland' and 'After 4AM' in 2018.
Right now her main focus is on books, youtube channel and her son and husband.
Dear John
Amerie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right now you are probably wondering
Where I am who I'm with and why you are reading this
But before I go into..
What I'm up to let me confess
Dear sweetheart
I know about you're secret
Where you've been, who you with, I saw you out with her
How I got a good thing and I can't do better
Do you remember what you told me?
Cause I remember it well (how could I forget)
Do you remember how you said no one could want me
And I said time will tell
that's why I'm so sorry
That I couldn't be there
To see the look up on your face
And I'm so sorry that it took me so long
So long to put you an your place
I'm writin you this letter
Just to let you know that
That I still love you
But I won't be comin back
You had me at hello
Now I gotta say goodbye
Cause one too many times you made me cry
dear john
I'm hopin that this find you well..
Dear john
But you put me through a living hell
Dear john
You left me with nothin to do
Dear john
Dear john
I'm leaving you
I'm leaving you
dear john
By now you're probably see my clothes are gone
Keys are gone and I ain't lovin
So don't even bother
To call my number
Cause I got it changed
Why john
Couldn't just see
I gave my heart, gave my time
And I got nothin
So it shouldn't be surprising
This letter I'm writin
That you there by yourself
Do you remember what you told me?
Cause I remember it well (how could I forget)
Do you remember how you said no one would want me
And I said time will tell
that's why I'm so sorry
That I couldn't be there
To see the look up on your face
And I'm so sorry that it took me so long
So long to put you an your place
I'm writin you this letter
Just to let you know that
That I still love you
But I won't be comin back
You had me at hello
Now I gotta say goodbye
Cause one too many times you made me cry
dear john
I'm hopin that this find you well
Dear john
But you put me through a living hell
Dear john
You left me with nothin to do
Dear john
Dear john
I'm leaving you
but I can end this with those saying
Thank you for everything you put me through
I've come so far alone
I'm leaving I'm leaving I'm leaving
I'm movin on
And now I'm so much wiser
Cause the pain that you gave me
Never ever put me down
You're only made me strong
I'm leavin I'm leavin I'm leavin
John, I'm gone
I'm writin you this letter
Just to let you know that
That I still love you
But I won't be comin back
You had me at hello
Now I gotta say goodbye
Cause one too many times you made me cry
dear john
I'm hopin that this find you well
Dear john
But you put me through a livin hell
Dear john
You left me with nothin to do
Dear john
Dear john
I'm leaving you
The song "Dear John" by Amerie is essentially about a woman who has had enough of a toxic relationship with her partner, John. The song has a conversational tone, as if the woman is talking directly to John. The first verse implies that John has been cheating on the woman, and he has tried to convince her that she can't do better than him. The chorus is the woman's breaking point, in which she affirms that she still loves him but is moving on, leaving him with nothing to do but reflect on his mistakes. The second verse is similar to the first, but this time, the woman is gone, and John is left alone with the pain that he caused her. The bridge is the woman's final goodbye and assertion that the pain that John gave her made her stronger.
Overall, the song is about empowerment and moving on from a tumultuous relationship. The woman decides to leave John, despite still having feelings for him because he continually hurt her. She recognizes that the pain he gave her made her stronger, and she is better off without him. The song touches on themes of forgiveness and self-love.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear john
The start of the letter to her cheating ex-boyfriend.
Right now you are probably wondering
A statement acknowledging the reader's assumption that the ex-boyfriend is curious about her whereabouts.
Where I am who I'm with and why you are reading this
Addressing the reader's curiosity about the letter's purpose and her current whereabouts.
But before I go into..
Introduces a confession before she explains what she is up to.
What I'm up to let me confess
Reiterates that a confession is coming.
Dear sweetheart
A term of endearment for the ex-boyfriend.
I know about you're secret
She knows about the ex-boyfriend's infidelity.
Where you've been, who you with, I saw you out with her
Specifying that she has knowledge of his infidelity and has seen him with another woman.
And yet you always try to maintain
Even in the face of evidence, he tries to convince her that she won't find someone better.
How I got a good thing and I can't do better
He is attempting to make her feel like she doesn't have other options or that he is the best she can get.
Do you remember what you told me?
Asking if he remembers his past statements.
Cause I remember it well (how could I forget)
She remembers their conversation that challenged her self-worth.
Do you remember how you said no one could want me
Recalling what he said to hurt her self-esteem.
And I said time will tell
She told him that she would prove him wrong about her worth over time.
That's why I'm so sorry
She is apologizing to him for not being present when he read the letter.
That I couldn't be there
Acknowledging her absence when he received the letter.
To see the look up on your face
Implying that he would have a reaction to hearing what she has to say in person.
And I'm so sorry that it took me so long
She apologizes for taking so long to move on and ending things with him.
So long to put you an your place
Acknowledging her efforts to assert herself and her worth in the relationship.
I'm writin you this letter
Clarifying that she is writing this letter to him, expressing her feelings and intentions of leaving.
Just to let you know that
Informing him that she still loves him, but things need to change or end.
That I still love you
Reaffirming her love for him despite the hurt he's caused her.
But I won't be comin back
Making it clear that the relationship is over and she won't be returning.
You had me at hello
Implying that she was smitten with him from the beginning of their relationship.
Now I gotta say goodbye
Stating her need to end things with her unfaithful partner.
Cause one too many times you made me cry
Citing his behavior that hurt her over and over again.
Dear john
Repeating the letter's opening.
I'm hopin that this find you well..
Wishing him the best despite their rocky relationship.
But you put me through a living hell
Directly addressing how he treated her in their relationship.
You left me with nothin to do
Feeling helpless in their relationship caused by his infidelity.
I'm leaving you
Making it clear that she is leaving him as a result of his actions.
By now you're probably see my clothes are gone
Acknowledging her noticeable absence when he would return to a now-empty place.
Keys are gone and I ain't lovin
Futher affirming that she has left the relationship behind.
So don't even bother
Telling him not to waste his time trying to reach her after she's made up her mind.
To call my number
Being direct with him and asking him not to try to call her for reconciliation.
Cause I got it changed
Informing him that she took steps to change her number to avoid his attempts to make contact.
Why john
A rhetorical question aimed at the ex-boyfriend, asking him to reflect on why their relationship ended.
Couldn't just see
Hinting that there were signals or signs of distress in their relationship that he missed.
I gave my heart, gave my time
Emphasizing the love and time that she gave to the relationship.
And I got nothin
Calling attention to a lack of reciprocation from him in the relationship.
So it shouldn't be surprising
Explaining that her action of leaving the relationship shouldn't come as a surprise to him.
This letter I'm writin
Reiterating the purpose of this letter and its importance in ending their relationship.
That you there by yourself
Imagining him alone and contemplating their relationship now that it has come to an end.
I'm movin on
Directly stating that she is now moving on with her life after their break up.
And now I'm so much wiser
Suggesting that she learned from the experience and grew as a person.
Cause the pain that you gave me
The relationship caused her pain
Never ever put me down
Despite experiencing difficulty, she never let herself be brought down by the relationship.
You're only made me strong
Implying that the difficult relationship made her a stronger person.
John, I'm gone
A clear declaration that she has left the relationship and him behind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Daniel De Bourg, Daniel Richards, Sean Rumsey, Amerie Mi Marie Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind