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.
I Thought
Brandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you'd cared for me (no, you didn't)
You said you'd do for me (no, you didn't)
You said you'd stay with me (no, you didn't)
But did you love me? (No, you didn't)
And did you hold me? (No, you didn't)
Try to console me? (No, you didn't)
Meet any of my needs? (No, you didn't)
Even when you took me through (yes, I did)
Always respected you (yes, I did)
Called you my baby boo (yes, I did)
Did I protect you (yes, I did)
When they were after you? (Yes, I did)
Gave my all for you (yes, I did)
Turned my back on those for you (yes, I did)
Baby (yes, I really did)
I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
And I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
Thought you were mine (yes, I really did)
Baby, I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
And I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
Thought you were mine
You proved your love for me (no, you didn't)
Took care of all my needs (no, you didn't)
You fulfilled my every dream (no, you didn't)
Gave me your everything (no, you didn't)
Kept the promises made (no, you didn't)
Even said you'd stay (no, you didn't)
Threw your past away (no, you didn't)
Even said you'd change (no, you didn't)
Gave my heart to you (yes, I did)
'Cause I thought love was true (yes, I did)
Always felt that we (yes, I did)
Would love endlessly (yes, I did)
I gave you the best of me (yes, I did)
And I gave you all of me (yes, I did)
With all the hopes that you (yes, I did)
Would give a love so true (yes, I did)
Baby (yes, I really did)
I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
And I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
Thought you were mine (yes, I really did)
Baby, I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
And now you're sorry baby, yeah (can't believe it)
Thought you were mine (I thought you were mine)
It's not like you cared 'bout me
Seems like I didn't mean a thing
Should have been convinced to leave
But I told you I'm here for you (I should've left you)
Then you started playin' me
Didn't know that I would leave
You pushed me too far
Made me give up on you
I don't want you (give up)
Baby (yes, I really did)
I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
Everything that I wanted in my dreams (but you made a fool of me) (yes, you really did)
And I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
That you were playing me (yes, I really did)
Thought that you were mine (baby) (yes, I really did)
I thought that we could be (you said you loved me, you said you need me)
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
Even when you broke my heart, and I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
And I stayed with you, I did
And I gave you all of me (thought you were mine)
Baby (yes, I really did)
I thought that we could be (thought that we could be)(yes, I really did)
But you made a fool out of me (yes, you really did)
And I cannot believe
(Can't believe I did) (said I don't really believe that I let you make a fool of me)
Thought you were mine (yes, I really did)
Baby, I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
But you made a fool of me (I really did, yeah)
But now I know
And I cannot believe (I had to let you go)
I don't need you no more
Thought you were mine (thought you were mine)
The lyrics to Brandy's song "I Thought" portray the story of a woman who believed in a love that did not exist. The song's narrative is about a woman who is questioning her partner's love and commitment towards her. Through these lyrics, she expresses how she had given everything to the relationship and expected the same from her partner. However, her partner failed to keep up his word and make her feel loved and protected. She ends up getting hurt as she realizes that her partner did not reciprocate her love.
The chorus "Baby, I thought that we could be/But you made a fool of me/And I cannot believe" highlights the feelings of disappointment and hurt. The singer believed in a perfect relationship, but her partner's behavior contradicted his claims of love, causing her to feel foolish for believing in a lie. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that her partner failed to fulfill any promises he made, and he ended up playing with her emotions. She apologizes to herself for not leaving the relationship earlier when it was evident from his actions that he would not be a trustworthy partner.
Overall, the song conveys the message that love requires trust and loyalty. If one partner fails to reciprocate the love given by the other partner, the relationship may crumble. It's essential to realize one's worth and let go of a toxic relationship for the sake of one's mental and emotional well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
You claimed you loved me (no, you didn't)
You said that you loved me, but you never really did.
You said you'd cared for me (no, you didn't)
You said that you cared for me, but you never really did.
You said you'd do for me (no, you didn't)
You promised to do things for me, but you never really did.
You said you'd stay with me (no, you didn't)
You said that you would stay with me, but you never really did.
But did you love me? (No, you didn't)
You never really loved me, even though you claimed that you did.
And did you hold me? (No, you didn't)
You never held me, despite promising that you would.
Try to console me? (No, you didn't)
You never bothered to console me, even when I needed it.
Meet any of my needs? (No, you didn't)
You never met any of my needs, despite promising that you would.
But still I stuck by you (yes, I did)
Despite your failure to fulfill your promises, I stayed by your side.
Even when you took me through (yes, I did)
Even when you caused me difficult times, I still supported you.
Always respected you (yes, I did)
I always respected you, despite your shortcomings.
Called you my baby boo (yes, I did)
I affectionately referred to you as my baby boo.
Did I protect you (yes, I did)
I protected you from those who wished to harm you.
When they were after you? (Yes, I did)
I stood by you and protected you when others were after you.
Gave my all for you (yes, I did)
I gave my all for you, even when you didn't deserve it.
Turned my back on those for you (yes, I did)
I turned my back on those who cared for me, in order to support you.
Baby, (yes, I really did)
Addressing the person she was with and acknowledging her intentions.
I thought that we could be (yes, I really did)
I genuinely thought that we could have a future together.
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
You deceived me and made me look foolish for trusting you.
And I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
I can't believe that I fell for your lies and allowed myself to be hurt.
I thought you were mine (yes, I really did)
I believed that you were mine and that we had a special connection.
You proved your love for me (no, you didn't)
You failed to prove your love for me, despite your promises.
Took care of all my needs (no, you didn't)
You neglected to take care of my needs, even when you said you would.
You fulfilled my every dream (no, you didn't)
You didn't fulfill any of my dreams, despite what you said.
Gave me your everything (no, you didn't)
You didn't give me your all, despite claiming that you did.
Kept the promises made (no, you didn't)
You didn't keep any of the promises that you made to me.
Even said you'd stay (no, you didn't)
You said you would stay, but you didn't.
Threw your past away (no, you didn't)
You didn't let go of your past and move on, despite what you said.
Even said you'd change (no, you didn't)
You promised to change for the better, but you never did.
Gave my heart to you (yes, I did)
I gave you my heart and trusted you with it.
'Cause I thought love was true (yes, I did)
I believed that our love was genuine and true.
Always felt that we (yes, I did)
I always believed that we had a strong connection and a future together.
Would love endlessly (yes, I did)
I believed that our love was strong enough to endure any obstacle.
I gave you the best of me (yes, I did)
I gave you my all and my best self.
I gave you all of me (yes, I did)
I gave you everything that I had to give.
With all the hopes that you (yes, I did)
I hoped that you would reciprocate my love and commitment.
Would give a love so true (yes, I did)
I hoped that you would show me a love that was real and true.
It's not like you cared 'bout me
Acknowledging that the other person didn't really care about her.
Seems like I didn't mean a thing
Feeling unimportant and undervalued.
Should have been convinced to leave
Realizing that she should have left the relationship sooner.
But I told you I'm here for you
Assuring the other person that she was committed to the relationship.
I should've left you
Regretting not leaving the relationship sooner.
Then you started playin' me
Realizing that the other person was being deceitful and manipulative.
Didn't know that I would leave
Surprised by her own ability to leave the relationship.
You pushed me too far
Feeling like the other person went too far and crossed a line.
Made me give up on you
Realizing that the other person's actions caused her to lose faith in the relationship.
I don't want you
Expressing that she no longer has feelings for the other person.
Everything that I wanted in my dreams (but you made a fool of me) (yes, you really did)
Acknowledging that the other person ruined her dreams and potential future with them.
Well you broke my heart, and I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
Feeling heartbroken and unable to believe that she fell for the other person's lies.
And I stayed with you, I did
Acknowledging that she stayed in the relationship, despite the other person's actions.
And now you're sorry baby, yeah (can't believe it)
Reacting to the other person's apology and struggling to believe it.
But now I know
Realizing the truth about the other person and the relationship.
I had to let you go (can't believe I did)
Acknowledging that she had to end the relationship and move on.
I don't need you no more
Expressing that she is ready to move on from the relationship and doesn't need the other person anymore.
Thought that we could be
Reflecting on her past hopes and dreams for the relationship.
You said you loved me, you said you need me
Remembering the other person's promises and affectionate words.
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
Reiterating that the other person deceived her and made her look foolish.
And I cannot believe
Expressing disbelief and disappointment in the other person's actions.
Well you broke my heart, and I cannot believe (can't believe I did)
Feeling heartbroken and foolish for trusting the other person.
Thought you were mine baby (yes, I really did)
Believing that she had a special connection and relationship with the other person.
Thought that we could be
Remembering her past hopes and dreams for the relationship.
But you made a fool of me (yes, you really did)
Realizing that the other person deceived her and made her look foolish.
And I cannot believe
Expressing disbelief and disappointment in the other person's actions.
Thought you were mine
Feeling hurt and betrayed by the other person's actions and lies.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred Jerkins III, Lashawn Ameen Daniels, Rodney Jerkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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