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.
Life Goes On
Donell Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus]
Girl I know that you been creeping
Can't believe it, but I'm locked up in here
Don't get no letters or no money or no visits
Its like I don't exist
And if it wasn't for my daughters
But I've come to realize that life goes on
Since the day that I got locked up
My life's been different, oh yeah,
cause she was my soul, my heart, my love, my best friend
I can't understand why,
She won't accept my phone calls
Should of knew something was wrong
When mama said "baby its time for you to move on"
Now that everything I had, is gone
[Chorus]
See I never thought that you would
Leave me dry and all alone
'cause part of the reason I sit where I am
I was tryin to provide a home
Now I know that I'm not going to be there
Like I used to
But your promise to me
Was that you never would leave
And that remains to be seen
I guess everything I had is lost and gone
[Chorus]
See I had it all,
When I was on the streets
I gave you everything
(Everything that you could want)
Now that I'm locked away
With no where to turn
Now you want to up and run
(How could you do me wrong?)
All those precious times
That we used to share
Been thrown away
(As far as I can see)
See I gave my heart and soul
And now you turn away from me
[Chorus]
The song 'Life Goes On' by Donell Jones is a narrative about a man who was "locked up" in prison and how his life has changed ever since. In the beginning, the singer laments that he had everything before he got locked up. However, life took an unexpected turn, and the person he thought was his "soul, heart, love, and best friend" had left him. He can't understand why she won't accept his phone calls, and his mother had to tell him that it was time to move on. He acknowledges that if it wasn't for his daughters, he wouldn't have any reason to live, but he also realizes that "life goes on."
The chorus shows the singer's despair at not hearing from his loved one and feeling invisible since no one writes or visits him. The second verse talks about how he never thought that she would leave him alone since he only wanted to provide a home for her. The promise she made to him still remains to be seen, but it looks like he has lost everything he had. In the last verse, he reflects on how valuable the time they shared was and how it's all gone now. He gave his heart and soul to her, but she turned away.
Line by Line Meaning
Damn man, I had it all before I got up in here
I was at the peak of my life before I got incarcerated and lost everything.
Girl I know that you been creeping
I know that you have been cheating on me.
Can't believe it, but I'm locked up in here
I find it hard to accept that I am stuck in here.
Don't get no letters or no money or no visits
I receive no letters or money or visitors in prison.
Its like I don't exist
I feel like I mean nothing to anyone.
And if it wasn't for my daughters
My daughters are the only reason I have to live.
Then I wouldn't have no reason to live
If I didn't have my daughters, I would have no purpose in life.
But I've come to realize that life goes on
I understand that life doesn't stop for anyone, it just goes on.
Since the day that I got locked up
Ever since I got locked up,
My life's been different, oh yeah,
My life has been going through major changes.
cause she was my soul, my heart, my love, my best friend
You were my soulmate, my heart, my love, my everything.
I can't understand why,
I cannot comprehend why.
She won't accept my phone calls
You refuse to take my phone calls.
Should of knew something was wrong
I should have realized that something was amiss.
When mama said "baby its time for you to move on"
When my mother told me that it's time to let go.
Now that everything I had, is gone
All that I had has been taken away from me.
See I never thought that you would
I never expected you to
Leave me dry and all alone
Abandon me and leave me completely isolated
'cause part of the reason I sit where I am
Because part of the reason I am in this situation
I was tryin to provide a home
Was that I was trying to make a home for us.
Now I know that I'm not going to be there
I am aware that I won't be there for you anymore.
Like I used to
As I used to be before.
But your promise to me
However, you assured me that you
Was that you never would leave
Would never leave me.
And that remains to be seen
I'm not sure if you will keep your promise.
I guess everything I had is lost and gone
I assume everything I had is gone forever.
See I had it all,
I used to have everything
When I was on the streets
When I was out there freely.
I gave you everything
I offered you everything I had,
(Everything that you could want)
Which was everything you wished for.
Now that I'm locked away
Now that I am imprisoned,
With no where to turn
With nowhere to go.
Now you want to up and run
Now you want to leave me
(How could you do me wrong?)
(How could you betray me like this?)
All those precious times
All the special moments
That we used to share
That we spent together
Been thrown away
Are now gone.
(As far as I can see)
(At least, from my point of view).
See I gave my heart and soul
I gave you all of me,
And now you turn away from me
Yet, you are leaving me behind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STACY JONES, RONNIE GUGLIELMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tiffany Moesby
on BABY IT'S YOU
I'm not satisfied with out an apology over one song. Mysteriously I don't want it anymore.