The duo gained further prominence after releasing their debut album "The Kids Are Alright" (2018), for which they earned two Grammy Award nominations including 'Best New Artist' and 'Best Urban Contemporary Album'. In 2020, they released their second studio album "Ungodly Hour" to critical acclaim, earning them another three Grammy Award nominations including 'Best Progressive R&B Album', 'Best R&B Song' for "Do It" and 'Best Traditional R&B Performance' for "Wonder What She Thinks of Me". The album's lead single "Do It" became the duo's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 63.
Simple
Chloe x Halle Lyrics
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Oh you know, your stuff is just to complex for the average to get it
Maybe you should just be simple
Ah? That doesn't make any sense, then, so today we are writing this song called simple
And it is gonna be simple, so lets start from the beginning
X equals y, never mind
You're still at grade three, so would you excuse me?
Is this simple enough for you?
Does your brain not know what to do?
Is this simple enough for you?
A, B, C, 1, 2, 3
Pacify the baby
Is this simple enough for you? (oh, oh,)
(Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Oh, yeah oh, yeah
Oh, yeah oh, yeah
I'll be your teacher for the day
But we speak different languages
Je se va su quand not fo, fo?
Je no comprend pour la bo, bo
Bo, bo, bo, bo
Is this simple enough for you?
(Is this simple enough for you? Yeah yeah)
Is this simple enough for you?
A, B, C (A, B, C)
1, 2, 3 (1, 2, 3)
Pacify the baby, (pacify the baby) (Oh, oh,)
Is this simple enough for you?
Is this simple enough for you?
I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you
I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you-you-you
So you understand I don't wanna be deluded
Ay no I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you-you-you
I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you
I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you-you-you
So you understand I don't wanna be deluded
Ay no I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you-you-you
The lyrics of Chloe x Halle's song "Simple" touch upon the idea of people criticizing and dismissing their music for being too complex for the average listener to understand. The opening lines imply that there are individuals who suggest they should simplify their music, but the artists find this notion nonsensical. In response, they decide to write a deliberately simple song called "Simple."
They sarcastically ask if this new song is simple enough for those who couldn't comprehend their previous work. The repetition of the question, "Is this simple enough for you?" emphasizes their frustration and defiance. They playfully use the example of basic knowledge such as the alphabet (A, B, C) and counting (1, 2, 3) to further simplify their message.
The lyrics also touch upon the frustration of dealing with language barriers. They playfully incorporate fragmented phrases in different languages, suggesting that even with language differences, simplicity and understanding can still be achieved.
The chorus reveals their determination to not dumb down their music for anyone. They refuse to compromise their creativity and intellectual depth to cater to those who may not appreciate or understand their artistry. The repetition of the phrase "I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you" reinforces their commitment to staying true to themselves.
Overall, "Simple" serves as an anthem for artists who refuse to conform to mainstream expectations and are dedicated to expressing themselves authentically, even if it means confronting criticism and misunderstanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I am not calling out anybody, its just people telling us
I am not specifically criticizing anyone, it's just that people have been telling us
Oh you know, your stuff is just to complex for the average to get it
Oh, you are aware that our work is too intricate for most people to understand
Maybe you should just be simple
Perhaps you should consider being more straightforward
Ah? That doesn't make any sense, then, so today we are writing this song called simple
Huh? That idea doesn't hold any logic, so today we are creating this song called 'simple'
And it is gonna be simple, so lets start from the beginning
And this song will indeed be straightforward, so let's begin from the start
X equals y, never mind
Forget about the equation 'X equals y'
You're still at grade three, so would you excuse me?
You still have a basic understanding, so please excuse me
Is this simple enough for you?
Is this uncomplicated version satisfactory for you?
Does your brain not know what to do?
Is your brain unsure of how to process this?
A, B, C, 1, 2, 3
Basic alphabet and number sequence
Pacify the baby
Calm down the baby
I'll be your teacher for the day
I will play the role of your teacher for today
But we speak different languages
However, we communicate in different ways
Je se va su quand not fo, fo?
Do you understand when I'm saying 'not fo, fo'?
Je no comprend pour la bo, bo
I don't understand 'pour la bo, bo'
A, B, C
Basic alphabet
1, 2, 3
Basic number sequence
Pacify the baby
Calm down the baby
I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you
I refuse to intellectualize my thoughts for your sake
So you understand I don't wanna be deluded
So you comprehend that I don't wish to be misled
Ay no I'm not gonna dumb down my mind for you-you-you
No, I will not simplify my mind for you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chloe Elizabeth Bailey, Halle Lynn Bailey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind