It took the group three years, five months and two days to be offered a record deal. Hence the name of the first album was 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..., which produced several hit tracks. These included "Tennessee", "People Everyday", and "Mr. Wendal", which hit the top ten. The group won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and Best New Artist, and were also Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. Their 1994 follow-up Zingalamaduni, which did very well with some critics but was panned by many others, sold poorly. After the group broke up in 1996, Speech released a solo album, but sales were poor. The group reunited in 2000 (sans Headliner) and has been touring and releasing records via Speech's Vagabond Productions and Speech Music. While Arrested Development has struggled to regain a following in the U.S., they have met moderate, consistent success in Japan.
Although she was never an official member of the band (and frequently clashed with Speech), the haunting voice behind "Tennessee", Dionne Farris, released a successful solo album in 1994, Wild Seed-Wild Flower. The album spawned the hit single, "I Know".
In November 2003, the group sued the FOX network over their TV show Arrested Development. The suit is referenced in the Arrested Development episode "Motherboy XXX."
In June 2005, the group won the first round of NBC's television series contest Hit Me Baby One More Time, performing "Tennessee" and covering Los Lonely Boys' "Heaven."
Baba Oje died in October 2018, aged 87.
U
Arrested Development Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can do it baby
Don't you let this world drive you Crazy, no
You will not drown, no
Although there's ups and downs, yup
Our friendships everything
Its the same
Same
In your hardest of times, you know
I won't let you down
I'm staring in the Mirror
Man, This life's bout Endurance
And I'm thinking bout my Children
I want them to have Insurance
Demons making an Appearance
I keep Running Interference
As I'm praying
I delay em
When I spray em
With these bullets
Health problems being Bullish
But I'm repping to the Fullest
Either way yeah everyday still gotta make it to that Goodness
Cuz I shouldn't be discouraged to the point being malnourished
There must a door that's open
I just have to keep on poking
Every single door handle
Ignore the score of scandals
Fighting from the sky is Terrence
Be more and more for my parents
My sins are so apparent
My short comings are Glaring
The blue print is Tearing
Arrrgh
I am in listening mode
I am insisting on flow
I am resisting the no's
I am consulting with pros
I am enlisting my bros
I have been fishing for growth
I'm been singing loads of freedom
But Missing some notes
You can do it, hey
You can do it baby
Don't you let this world drive you Crazy, no
You will not drown, no
Although there's ups and downs, yup
Our friendships everything
Its the same
Same
Right now
In your hardest of times, you know
I won't let you down
People need a father figure
Someone who's purpose is bigger
Someone wholeads with intention
A person that's holding the fence in
It can't just all be dissension
Life is so many Dimensions
Mother and father, daughter & brother
And family extensions
I'm speaking humans and science
Interconnected reliance
Some call my thinking jurrasic
I call it Walking with Giants
Ancient with wisdom and Mayans
Spiritual stance & Defiance
African systems commandments
They just see jungles and lions
I'm seeing griots & movements
Elders that's teaching the students
We need some sounds that are Soothing
Arrrgh
Failing to win for the Losing
Flailing from winds of deception
Choosing from meaningless choices
Searching for surface perfection
Music in upper vibrations
Djembes and bongos
Shekere's coming from Lagos
Unity out to the Congo
Dakar to Dubai
I'm inspired to fly
High
Indigenous infinite cultural lives gotta thrive
You can do it, hey
You can do it baby
Don't you let this world drive you Crazy, no
You will not drown, no
Although there's ups and downs, yup
Our friendships everything
Its the same
Same
Right now
In your hardest of times, you know
I won't let you down
I won't let you down
I won't let you down
I won't let you
I won't let
I won't let
I won't let you down
The song "U" by Arrested Development is a lyrical depiction of the journey to find companionship and build a family. The song is brimming with raw emotion and speaks about the search for a partner in life. The lyrics talk about the complex cycle of loneliness that the singer goes through every day. The singer is searching for his U, which is metaphorically represented by the 21st letter in the alphabet. U is surrounded by a better image of the perfect partner; someone who is overdue for marriage. The singer laments the fact that he hasn't found his partner yet, but he knows that he wants and not needs a companion, to feed the knowledge he had gained throughout his life.
The singer speaks of the importance of marriage and the discipline that it requires. However, he resists the traditional American culture where marriage is seen as more of a societal pressure than a choice. He wishes to find a partner who can become a strong foundation for building a family while he becomes a great coach for them, warning them about the pitfalls of life. He wants a marriage partner who is willing to build a legacy based on strong values and principles. The singer, however, does not want a partner for sex, and companionship but, rather a companion who can build and mold a relationship that can last for eternity.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely, Lonely, Oh Woe Is Me
I feel alone and hopeless
Oh Owe is me I say
I owe something to myself
The complex cycle I go through almost everyday
I have a complicated routine that I follow daily
To my dismay, I imagine being in this set
I am disappointed to be in this situation
Me holdin' the 21st letter in the alphabet
I represent the letter 'U'
All my life I've been searchin' as if it's my obligation
I've felt like it's my duty to search for U
To find who?
To find my ideal partner
You but my patience grows thin
I'm losing patience trying to find you
'Cause U is just a letter surrounded by a better image
You are more than just a letter, you are a complete person
Of a sister who's new but overdue for marriage
You are a single woman who is overdue for marriage
Marriage takes disipline,
Marriage requires discipline
A problem that exist within' The American culture I resist against
I disagree with the way that American culture approaches marriage
But I must recall and I trust that all I've learned thru life is givin' way to a wife yaw'll
I know that my experiences will help me be a good husband
'Cause I want, not need a companion to feed The knowledge I read and the lovin' I've received
I want to be with someone who shares my interests and values, not just out of necessity
Through moms and my palms read a long life
I have been given guidance throughout my life
So hey I pray for the day I have a strong wife
I hope to have a wife who is confident and capable
And a strong son or daughter or strong both
I want to have children who are strong and independent
Give them a foundation of values
I want my children to have a strong foundation of morals and beliefs
I think I'll make a great coach for them
I believe I can be a good mentor to my children
And warn 'em of sin and maybe by then they can nip it in the bud Before it begins
I want to teach my children about harmful behaviors so they can avoid them
So hey, if you're listening and yo wishin For a U like me that you have in store
If you're looking for someone like me, then maybe we can be together
Maybe I could be the U for U And U could be the U for me too
Maybe we could be each other's ideal partners
I know you're there I just haven't found U yet
I believe that there is someone out there for me, but I haven't found them yet
Gonna getcha five cent I'll bet
I'm determined to find my ideal partner
If I lose it's five cents, if I win it's fice decades or more
If I fail to find my ideal partner, it will only cost me a small amount of money, but if I succeed, it will bring me a lifetime of happiness
Of a life with a new wife an 2 or 3 kids My parents want grandkids wiht big heads like mine
My parents want me to have children, and preferably grandchildren who look like me
Runnin' and jumpin' on the bed with my brownish eyes
I imagine playing with my children on the bed with our shared physical trait: brown eyes
There's sort of a pressure to be married and chilled
I feel societal pressure to get married and settle down
With terry gone emotional gaps need to be filled
I am missing emotional support since the person I used to rely on is gone
So I'm sort of searchin' but only in my spare time
I am looking for a partner, but it's not my top priority
Most of the time I'm busy workin' on a beat or rhyme
I am focused on my music career most of the time
I don't want a sex partner, a female friend or buddy To be played with like silly puddy
I am looking for a real relationship, not just a casual fling or friendship
I want to be played with like clay on a spindle Wet it, mold it, bend it, hard it, never dwindle
I want a partner who is flexible and can grow and change with me over time
That's called longevity, different than what U read and see On T.V.
A real long-lasting relationship is different from what is portrayed in the media
I could be the U for U, U could be the U for me too
We could be each other's ideal partners
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Todd Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Talib-Todd Hill-Muhammad
For some strange reason I can not get through this song without shedding tears. So many powerful references to family and resilience. Love it.
Cold GenuineDraft
No other group like this and you have really gotta appreciate it.
munya mubaiwa
I agree. They made music an art not just a song churning machine. Cohesive album. This and Lauryn Hill and Dead Prez and Fugees.
THAT UNDERGROUND FLAVOR!: Rare & Obscure Hip-Hop
Hip-hop heads weren’t ready for this group and just dismissed it as pop music when they first dropped this album. Lots of gems on here.
Anne Marie
Be the U for U... Most definitely 💜
Love this full album... So relevant for today..
UWSGRRRL
I wish there was a video of them singing, playing & dancing to this.
Anne Marie
Me too. I think this is my number one favorite on this album. Love every song but this one is kickin'...
soulinthefrijol
Undeterred song and group 🙌🏾
Matt Crouch
The U surrounded line, that's about TV right?
These guys slap, rhythmically and philosophically. That's not easy.
Al Guien
Thx for posting! For years I had a licence plate that said BTHEU4U based on a girl liked with this song. No one understood the licence plate, they were always like 'be there for you'? *sigh - finally I just got rid of it. Memories...