Born in Chicago, Illinois, Jones' upbringing was rough. He struggled between wanting to be a musician and to be a member of a street gang. After a brush with death, Jones left the gang and focused on a music career forming the group Porscha. However, Jones was gaining notice as a writer penning songs for established R&B acts such as Usher, producing the singer's 1995 hit, "Think of You", 702's "Get It Together" and also wrote for groups such as Brownstone and Silk.
In 1996, he signed with LaFace Records and released his debut album, My Heart, which included his hit cover of Stevie Wonder's 1976 ballad "Knocks Me Off My Feet". It wasn't until 1999 however that Jones began to establish himself as a R&B hit maker with the album, Where I Wanna Be. The album yielded the number-one hits such as "U Know What's Up", which featured TLC member Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes and the title track. Other hits included "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" and "This Luv".
In 2002, Jones released the gold-selling Life Goes On album, which featured the hits, "You Know That I Love You" and "Put Me Down" featuring Styles P.. Four years later, he released his fourth album, Journey of a Gemini, which featured the Tim & Bob hit, "I'm Gonna Be", which became a big hit on Urban AC. Jones is currently writing songs for Usher, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey on their upcoming albums.
Better Start Talking
Donell Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you can feel it rock back and forth
He's so sincere with it
We just want you to know if you can feel it rock back and forth
I'm so sincere with it I just want you to know
If you can feel it rock back and forth
We so sincere with it we just want you to know
If you can't feel it rock back and forth
Settle down thinking that I can let ya talk to me that way
Making that move, the one that could be creeping and taking your place
You don't even know
Where I be, when we argue now
You goin' be here lonely yeah
'cause she knows what I need at night
[Chorus]
Can't you, see she wants to (take your place)
She wanna give me everything that you don't
Don't let her just walk in
Don't make a (big mistake)
Thinking I'm so caught up I can't let go
You better start (talking)
Tell me why should I
Be here tonight
See you don't wanna
Hurt me but we both know this thing just ain't right
When I go (and I go)
It's gonna be a little too late
To try get back again
When I don't have this feeling no more
Now we're ain't gonna be talking no more (no more)
She's gonna be the reason I leave you alone
And I feel (some day you'll see when I'm gone)
So right now
You better speak
And give me a reason
Girl can't you see
She wants to (take your place)
She wanna give me everything that you don't
Don't let her just walk in
Don't make a (big mistake)
Thinking I'm so caught up I can't let go
You better start (talking)
This shit is over (you betta' start talking)
Shoulda ended long ago (you better start talking)
But I stayed around thinking that something in your head 'd start clicking
But I can see that I was all wrong (you betta' start talking)
I can't be a fool no more (you betta' start talking)
She wants to be that one to give me that love you ain't ready for
You better start talking, girl
I go to the club strictly to party and find something to twork with
I'm the dude that all the girls wanna flirt with
Jump up in the booth show me just how they work it
So shortly your window is small to work with
I see it in your eyes but you ain't saying nothing
Your girl doing everything trying to push my buttons
Symbolizing us leaving and me cutting
Easy like Tiga' on the green when he puttin'
You betta' start talking
Shorty wanna do something
Do something too live crew man man
Shorty wanna move something
And you front like it ain't what it is
Bout to lose all this 'cause you ain't handle yo bizz
After two shots of the three
She was all on me
And you seen it but try to play it like a PIMP
Now I respect that
But sometimes that's a set back
And I really can't see you setting back lettin' that
Be the reason we ain't breezin' through the city
Girl you better start talking
Can't you see she wants to (take your place)
She wanna give me everything that you don't
Don't let her just walk in
Don't make a (big mistake)
Thinking I'm so caught up I can't let go
You better start (talking)
She wants to (take your place)
She's wanna give me everything that you don't
Don't let her just walk in
Don't make a (big mistake)
Thinking I'm so caught up I can't let go
You better start (talking)
I'm so sincere with it I just want you to know
If you can feel it rock back and forth
He's so sincere with it
We just want you to know
If you can feel it rock back and forth
I'm so sincere with it
If you can feel it rock back and forth
He's so sincere with it
If you can feel it rock back and forth
The song "Better Start Talking" by Donell Jones Ft. Jermaine Dupri talks about a man who is being pursued by another woman who wants to take the place of his current partner. He tells his partner to stop settling for less and start talking to him about their issues before it's too late. He emphasizes that the other woman understands his needs and she can give him everything that his partner can't. The lyrics encourage communication and honesty in the relationship before it's too late.
The chorus, "She wants to take your place, she wanna give me everything that you don't, don't let her just walk in, don't make a big mistake" highlights the importance of recognizing the value in the relationship and not taking it for granted. The song suggests that if one partner is not fulfilling the needs of the other, communication and effort is necessary to prevent that partnership from being at risk.
In conclusion, "Better Start Talking" by Donell Jones Ft. Jermaine Dupri is a love song that emphasizes the importance of communication and honesty in relationships. If both partners can understand the value of the relationship and work to fulfill each other's needs, they can avoid losing each other to outside influences.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so sincere with it I just want you to know
I am honest and genuine about my feelings and I want you to understand that.
If you can feel it rock back and forth
If you can relate to what I am saying then let's move to the beat together.
He's so sincere with it
He is also being honest and genuine about his feelings.
We just want you to know if you can feel it rock back and forth
The both of us want you to understand our honesty and if you feel the same way then let's dance together.
We so sincere with it we just want you to know
We both are very honest and genuine about our feelings and we want you to understand that clearly.
If you can't feel it rock back and forth
If you don't understand our feelings and can't relate to us, then let's move on to something else.
Settle down thinking that I can let ya talk to me that way
I used to tolerate your disrespectful behavior and thought I could handle it.
Making that move, the one that could be creeping and taking your place
I am seeing someone else who could potentially take your place in my life.
You don't even know
You are unaware of my intentions and actions.
Where I be, when we argue now
I am no longer present during our arguments and have mentally checked out of the relationship.
You goin' be here lonely yeah
If you continue with your behavior, you will be alone in this relationship.
'cause she knows what I need at night
The other woman in my life knows what satisfies me.
Can't you, see she wants to (take your place)
The other woman is interested in taking your place as my partner.
She wanna give me everything that you don't
The other woman can provide me with things that you cannot.
Don't let her just walk in
Don't allow the other woman to enter our relationship easily.
Don't make a (big mistake)
Don't make a grave mistake by ignoring our problems and letting the other woman take your place.
Thinking I'm so caught up I can't let go
You think I am deeply involved with you and cannot let go, but that is not true.
You better start (talking)
You need to start communicating with me about our issues and addressing them.
Tell me why should I
Explain to me why I should stay in this relationship.
Be here tonight
Continue being in this relationship with you tonight.
See you don't wanna
You don't want to hurt me.
Hurt me but we both know this thing just ain't right
We both know that this relationship is not working out.
When I go (and I go)
When I leave you (which I will).
It's gonna be a little too late
It will be too late by the time you realize your mistakes.
To try get back again
To try to get back in my life again.
When I don't have this feeling no more
When I no longer have feelings for you.
Now we're ain't gonna be talking no more (no more)
We will no longer be communicating with each other anymore.
She's gonna be the reason I leave you alone
The other woman will be the main reason I leave this relationship.
And I feel (some day you'll see when I'm gone)
I believe that one day you will realize your mistakes when I am no longer around.
So right now
At this moment.
You better speak
You need to speak up and communicate with me.
And give me a reason
Give me a valid reason to continue being in this relationship.
I go to the club strictly to party and find something to twork with
I go to the club just to dance and have fun.
I'm the dude that all the girls wanna flirt with
I am the guy that girls want to flirt with in the club.
Jump up in the booth show me just how they work it
Girls get in the DJ booth to dance and show off their moves to me.
So shortly your window is small to work with
You don't have much time to work on our relationship.
I see it in your eyes but you ain't saying nothing
I can tell that you are upset but you are not communicating with me.
Your girl doing everything trying to push my buttons
The other woman is deliberately trying to provoke me and make me react.
Symbolizing us leaving and me cutting
Her actions represent our inevitable breakup.
Easy like Tiga' on the green when he puttin'
Referring to a golfer making a shot look easy.
Shorty wanna do something
The other woman wants to do something with me.
Do something too live crew man man
Referring to the explicit lyrics of the rap group 2 Live Crew.
Shorty wanna move something
The other woman wants to move and dance with me.
And you front like it ain't what it is
You act like you don't know what's going on.
Bout to lose all this 'cause you ain't handle yo bizz
You are about to lose our relationship because you are not taking care of your responsibilities.
After two shots of the three
After drinking two shots of alcohol.
She was all on me
The other woman was all over me.
And you seen it but try to play it like a PIMP
You noticed her actions but you try to act like a player and ignore it.
Now I respect that
I respect your lifestyle and choices.
But sometimes that's a set back
But sometimes that mentality is a disadvantage.
And I really can't see you setting back lettin' that
And I can't see you just sitting back and letting that happen.
Be the reason we ain't breezin' through the city
Be the reason why our relationship isn't going smoothly anymore.
This shit is over (you betta' start talking)
Our relationship is about to end and you need to communicate with me.
Shoulda ended long ago (you better start talking)
Our relationship should have ended a long time ago and you need to start talking to me now.
But I stayed around thinking that something in your head 'd start clicking
I stayed in this relationship hoping that you would change your behavior and attitude.
But I can see that I was all wrong (you betta' start talking)
But I realize now that I was wrong and you need to start communicating with me.
I can't be a fool no more (you betta' start talking)
I can no longer allow myself to be a fool and you need to start talking to me.
She wants to be that one to give me that love you ain't ready for
The other woman is ready to provide me with the love and commitment that you are not ready for.
You better start talking, girl
You need to start communicating with me or else our relationship will end.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERMAINE DUPRI, RYAN LESLIE, SEAN GARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ToneRetroGaming
This is one of my favorite R&B albums ever because it is one of the very few presented from a true male's perspective. No begging, no crying. Just a man standing on his two feet voicing his stance on love and life.
@bennisford1712
Facts🎯🎯🎯 still bumping it... CD format 😂🤷🏽♂️
@correyell
This joint still bangs!!!
@chidouzoegbo7997
Man after all these years...this is the most ALPHA RnB song I've ever heard....A man knowing his own worth!!!
"I see it in your eyes ,but you ain't saying nothing,your girl doing everything trying to push my buttons.."
@Daybreakhasme
Bruh..💯👊🏾✌🏾
@dyzvervS
Hot jam. All the love from Mexico, been a fan of r&b since 2006
@TTSantiago821
This was a damn cut! can't believe it didn't get more love when it dropped, still stays in rotation for me!
@toreytownsend4705
Same here!!! #GoodDay/Night
@rickey4591
Is that so
@jayaustin1939
JD killed this one. Straight fire 🔥. DJ you’re always the man 👍🏾