Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American s… Read Full Bio ↴Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model. She is known for her distinctive sound, characterized by her peculiar timbre, voice-layering, and intricate riffs, which has earned her the title of "the Vocal Bible". As of August 2020, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide, with approximately 8.62 million albums sold in the United States alone. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.

Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, Brandy, the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996–2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous other roles, such as the titular character in the television film Cinderella (1997) and Karla Wilson in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her musical breakthrough came with the wildly successful single "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), a duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, which went on to become one of the best selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success.

Norwood served as a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent before being involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial failure. In 2010, she returned to television as a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in the reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. She was a series regular in the BET series The Game (2012–2015) and released her sixth album Two Eleven (2012) thereafter, both earning her critical praise. In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. She starred in and executive produced a sitcom titled Zoe Ever After on BET which premiered in January 2016. In July 2020, Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7, also her first project as an independent artist, to critical acclaim. In 2021, Norwood starred alongside Naturi Naughton, Eve and Nadine Velazquez in American Broadcasting Company's music drama series Queens to critical acclaim.

In June 2022, Norwood announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records under which she is expected to preprare her eighth studio album.

Apart
Brandy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I never do anything that pleases you
So maybe we are better off apart
I don't wanna argue anymore
So maybe we are better off apart
(Ah, yeah, what?)

You used to spend time with me
You would never leave

But now the time you used to give
You spend with your friends
Lately, I've been feelin' like you're takin' me for granted
You do not appreciate anything I do

That is why I'm leavin' you (leavin' you)
Sorry, cannot fix it (sorry)
You'll regret everything (everything)
You'll be looking for me (for me)
You never listen to me (you never listen to me)
You never really loved me (you never loved me)
I've done everything I could (done everything I could)
You did not meet me halfway, why?

I never do anything that pleases you
So maybe we are better off apart
I don't wanna argue anymore (I don't want no more)
So maybe we are better off apart
(Ah, uh-huh, what?)

You always have something to say
You're always complaining
When things do not go your way
Then you want to leave
Well, I've had more than enough
I am sick of talkin'
You do not appreciate anything I do

That is why I'm leavin' you
Sorry, cannot fix it (sorry, cannot fix it)
You'll regret everything (oh, yes you will)
You'll be looking for me (you'll be looking for me)
You never listen to me (you never listen to me)
You never really loved me (you never really loved me)
I've done everything I could (done everything I could)
You did not meet me halfway, why? (I try so hard)

And I tried, and I tried, and I tried, and I tried

I never do anything that pleases you (never do, that pleases you)
So maybe we are better off apart
I don't wanna argue anymore (anymore, so)
So maybe we are better off apart (maybe we are better off apart, 'cause I)
I never do anything that pleases you
So maybe we are better off apart (ooh, better off this way)
I don't wanna argue anymore (don't wanna argue anymore)
So maybe we are better off apart (maybe we)

And I tried, and I tried
While you lied and I cried
So I'm sayin' goodbye
No more, no more
And I tried, and I tried (I tried)
While you lied, I cried
So I'm sayin' goodbye
No more, no more

I never do anything that pleases you (I never do anything)
So maybe we are better off apart (don't need you in my life no more)
I don't wanna argue anymore (and I'm tired of arguing)
So maybe we are better off apart (oh, oh)

(I never do anything, uh-huh)
I never do anything that pleases you, so (oh, maybe we)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Brandy's song "Apart" depict the story of a woman who is fed up with her romantic relationship. Despite her attempts to please her partner, he does not appreciate her and takes her for granted. He no longer spends time with her and prioritizes his friends over her. The woman has reached her breaking point and decides to leave the relationship because she feels as though the man never really loved her or met her halfway. Although she expresses regret, she understands that being apart may be the best solution to end their frequent arguments.

Brandy's delivery is emotive, and the lyrics express her frustrations eloquently, as the chorus is catchy and easily remembered. This song could speak to many individuals who are experiencing the same relationship problems in their life. It's not always possible to fix things between two people, and sometimes the best decision is to part ways. The lyrics illustrate how a person can feel and how it's ok to choose oneself when their needs are not met. The song ends with a clear message that the woman is done with the relationship and will not tolerate it anymore.

Line by Line Meaning

I never do anything that pleases you
The author is acknowledging they cannot satisfy their partner despite making numerous efforts

So maybe we are better off apart
The author believes that separation is necessary due to the inability to fulfill each other's needs

I don't want to argue anymore
The author is tired of constant disagreements and conflict in the relationship

You used to spend time with me
The author is recalling the good times in the relationship when their partner would prioritize them

You would never leave
The author is referencing a time when their partner had a deeper commitment to the relationship

But now the time you used to give
The author has noticed a significant decline in the amount of time their partner allocates to the relationship

You spend with your friends
The author observes that their partner dedicates more time to their social circle instead of the relationship

Lately I've been feeling like you're taking me for granted
The author feels unappreciated in the relationship and senses their partner does not value their presence

You do not appreciate anything I do
The author views their efforts as unacknowledged and unreciprocated

That is why I'm leaving you
The author has decided to end the relationship due to the numerous conflicts and unfulfilled needs

Sorry cannot fix it
The author asserts that it is too late for apologies as the relationship has endured too much damage

You'll regret everything
The author believes their partner will realize the magnitude of their missteps in the relationship

You'll be looking for me
The author anticipates that their partner will seek reconciliation after their departure

You never listen to me
The author is dissatisfied with their partner's attentiveness and feels unheard

You never really loved me
The author concludes that their partner did not genuinely love them despite the duration of the relationship

I've done everything I could
The author believes that they made significant efforts to satisfy their partner's needs in the relationship

You did not meet me halfway, why
The author feels that their partner did not reciprocate their efforts and meet them halfway in the relationship

You always have something to say
The author is frustrated with their partner's constant negative comments and nitpicking

You're always complaining
The author is exasperated with their partner's continual dissatisfaction with the relationship

When things do not go your way
The author is highlighting their partner's tendency to abandon the relationship when they don't get what they want

Then you want to leave
The author is referencing the times when their partner threatened to leave when things don't go their way

Well I have had more than enough
The author is indicating that they have reached their limit with the relationship and are ready to move on

I am sick of talkin'
The author is weary of the constant arguing and conflict in the relationship

You do not appreciate
The author reasserts their feeling of being undervalued and overlooked in the relationship

Anything I do, no
The author concludes that their partner does not recognize the effort they put into the relationship

Well, I tried and I tried
The author acknowledges their significant attempts at mending the relationship

While you lied, I cried
The author is lamenting the times their partner was dishonest and deceptive, resulting in emotional turmoil

So I'm saying goodbye
The author is expressing their final decision to end the relationship and leave their partner

No more, no more
The author is resolute in their decision to end the relationship and move on from their partner

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Keith E. Crouch, Kenisha La Carol Pratt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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