Her breakout came with her debut single, "Pieces of Me", which was released in 2004, became a top-five hit in the United States, and topped the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart based on radio airplay. The success of the single and her reality show helped propel her debut album, Autobiography, also released in 2004, to the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart. The project sold over five million copies worldwide, making it her most successful album to date. Simpson had a leading role in the film Undiscovered (2005), which became a critical and commercial flop. The failure of the film, along with multiple critically panned performances, led to media scrutiny. Despite that, Simpson's second studio album, I Am Me (2005), debuted atop the Billboard 200, becoming her second album to do so. The album went on to receive a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Following her appearance as Roxie Hart in the West End production of Chicago, Simpson announced that she had begun working on her third studio album. The album differed from the pop-rock sound of her previous efforts, featuring a dance-pop and 1980s-themed sound. Bittersweet World was released in 2008 with positive critical reception, but it saw a decline in sales. The effort reached number 4 on the Billboard 200. The following year, Simpson joined the main cast of the Melrose Place revamp, which was met with harsh critical reception. Later that year, she made her Broadway debut reprising her role as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway.
Simpson announced a fourth studio album that same year. She independently released the single "Bat for a Heart", though it failed to have success. Simpson eventually scrapped the album and focused on her child. Simpson reprised her role as Roxie Hart for the third time in a 2-dates special production in Hollywood Bowl in July 2013 directed by Brooke Shields. In October, Simpson and her husband Evan Ross released their debut EP by Ashlee + Evan through Access Records, which was supported by a tour in select cities across North America, and their TV reality show.
She was married to musician Pete Wentz from 2008 to 2011. The couple's son, Bronx Mowgli Wentz, was born on November 20, 2008. She appeared as Violet Foster, a small-town girl in The CW's 2009 Melrose Place, a revamp of the '90s drama of the same name.
Dancing Alone
Ashlee Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's Friday night
And I feel all right
Nobody's gonna bring me down
It's my life
And I'm doing fine
Don't you know I wanna play
So take me on a holiday
Looking pretty for you
They come and go
So many faces it's no use
So I'm dancing alone
Dreaming solo
Cause your love's the one worth waiting for
It's just like heaven
Nobody's gonna break my heart
And hurt me like they did before
No one can even get that part
Not until I know it's deep
Can't you come and take me away
Take me to another place
So here I am
Looking pretty for you
They come and go
So many faces it's no use
So I'm dancing alone
Dreaming solo
Cause your love's the one worth waiting for
It's just like heaven
Can you hurry up
Can you feel my love
I'm burning up
I'm so hot
I'm so hot
I'm so hot
Dancing alone
Dreaming alone
So here I am
Looking pretty for you
They come and go
So many faces it's no use
So I'm dancing alone
Dreaming solo
Cause your love's the one worth waiting for
It's just like heaven
In Ashlee Simpson's "Dancing Alone," the singer conveys a message about her independence and strength while looking for love. The song is a celebration of Friday night and living her life to the fullest. Simpson sings "Nothing's gonna hold me back; It's Friday night, and I feel all right," expressing her excitement and energy to enjoy herself. She feels invincible and is determined to seize the night without anyone holding her down.
Simpson wants to find love, but she cannot trust anyone easily because of past hurts. She says "Nobody's gonna break my heart, and hurt me like they did before," expressing her fear of getting hurt again. Simpson is waiting for the right person, someone with whom she can share her love entirely. The lyrics "Cause your love's the one worth waiting for. It's just like heaven" portray her desire to find true love, someone who will make her feel like she is in heaven.
The lyrics "So I'm dancing alone, Dreaming solo" show her independence and strength while searching for love. Despite her desire to find someone, she is not willing to settle for anyone. She is looking for true love and is willing to be alone until she finds it. The repetition of "I'm so hot" shows her confidence in herself and how much she is enjoying herself. The song's overall message is that Simpson is living her life independently and waiting for the right person to come along, someone who will make her feel like she is in heaven.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing's gonna hold me back
I am confident and nothing can stop me from doing what I want.
It's Friday night
It's the start of the weekend and I am ready to have fun.
And I feel all right
I am in a good mood and everything feels just fine.
Nobody's gonna bring me down
There is nobody who can ruin my night or stop me from being happy.
It's my life
I am in control of my own life and decisions.
And I'm doing fine
I am doing well and am content with my life so far.
Don't you know I wanna play
I want to have fun and enjoy myself tonight.
So take me on a holiday
I want to escape from my routine and go on an adventure.
So here I am
I am here ready to have an exciting night.
Looking pretty for you
I am dressed up and looking my best for someone special.
They come and go
People I have dated in the past are just transient and weren't meant to last.
So many faces it's no use
I have met a lot of people, but it doesn't matter because they weren't meant to stay.
So I'm dancing alone
I am enjoying myself without a partner and having a good time by myself.
Dreaming solo
I am dreaming of finding someone special, but until that happens I am content on my own.
Cause your love's the one worth waiting for
I am waiting for that perfect person who will make me feel valued, loved and appreciated.
It's just like heaven
Being with the right person will make me feel like heaven.
Nobody's gonna break my heart
I will not let anyone hurt me or break my heart again.
And hurt me like they did before
I have been hurt in the past and I don't want that pain again.
No one can even get that part
I will not let anyone close enough to hurt me again.
Not until I know it's deep
I will only let someone close to me if I know their feelings are genuine and true.
Can't you come and take me away
I am looking for someone who will sweep me off my feet and take me on an adventure.
Take me to another place
I want to escape from my current routine and go somewhere new and exciting.
Can you hurry up
I am excited and cannot wait much longer for someone to come into my life.
Can you feel my love
I have a lot of love to give and cannot wait to share it with the right person.
I'm burning up
I am feeling passion and intensity for finding that special person.
I'm so hot
I am feeling attractive and confident tonight.
Dancing alone
I am enjoying myself and having fun on my own tonight.
Dreaming alone
I am hopeful for the future and dreaming of finding love, even if it means waiting on my own for a little while longer.
Cause your love's the one worth waiting for
I am willing to wait to find the right person and will not settle for less than what I deserve.
It's just like heaven
Being with that special someone will make me feel like I'm in heaven.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SHELLY PEIKEN, KARA E. DIOGUARDI, JOHN SHANKS, ASHLEE NICOLLE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind