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.
Where I Wanna Be
Donell Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saying I won't be coming home
I'd rather be alone
She doesn't fully understand me
That I'd rather leave than to cheat
If she give me some time
I can be the man she needs
But there's a lot of lust inside of me
I really don't mean to hurt her but I need some time
To be alone
But when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
Oh how I feel so sad
Now that I want to leave
She's crying her heart to me
How could you let this be?
I just need time to see
Where I want to be
Where I want to be
Sweet little do-dee-do-dee
I don't mean to hurt you baby, oh no
Never did I imagine
That you would play a major part
In a decision that's so hard
Do I leave, do I stay, do I go
I think about my life and what matters to me the most
Girl the love that we share is real
But in time your heart will heal
I'm not saying I'm gone
But I have to find what life is like
Without you
But when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
Oh how I feel so sad
Now that I want to leave
She's crying her heart to me
How could you let this be?
I just need time to see
Where I want to be
Where I want to be
Sweet little do-dee-do-dee
I don't mean to hurt you baby
See when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
Oh how I feel so sad
Now that I want to leave
She's crying her heart to me
How could you let this be?
I just need time to see
Where I want to be
See when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
Oh how I feel so sad
Now that I want to leave
She's crying her heart to me
How could you let this be?
I just need time to see
Where I want to be
See when you love someone
You just don't treat them bad
Oh how I feel so sad
Now that I want to leave
She's crying her heart to me
How could you let this be?
I just need time to see
Where I want to be
Where I want to be
I'm sorry baby
The lyrics to Donell Jones's song Where I Wanna Be tell the story of a man struggling with a very difficult decision. He has been with his partner since they were teenagers, but he is now feeling conflicted and believes he needs some time alone. He has left her a message telling her he won't be coming home and while he doesn't want to hurt her, he needs to figure out what he wants for his own life. He is torn between his love for her and the temptation he feels to be with other women.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his love for his partner but also acknowledges that he has desires that he can't ignore. He is honest with her about his intentions and does not want to cheat on her, but he also knows that he needs to be alone to figure out what he really wants. At the same time, he understands how deeply his partner loves him and how much he is hurting her, so he feels sad and guilty about his decision.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and relationships. It speaks to the importance of honesty and communication within a partnership, even when those conversations are difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
I said I left my baby girl a message
I informed my significant other through a message that I won't be coming back home
Saying I won't be coming home
I communicated that I do not intend to return home
I'd rather be alone
I prefer solitude and isolation to being in a relationship currently
She doesn't fully understand me
My partner struggles to comprehend me fully
That I'd rather leave than to cheat
I would rather break off the relationship than stray from my partner
If she give me some time
If my partner allows me some time
I can be the man she needs
I can shape up to be the person whom my partner desires
But there's a lot of lust inside of me
However, I am struggling as a result of the strong desire I have for something else
And we've been together since our teenage years
My partner and I have been in a relationship since our adolescent years
I really don't mean to hurt her but I need some time
I have no intention to cause my partner any pain, but I require some time to figure out things for myself
But when you love someone
However, when you genuinely love somebody
You just don't treat them bad
The way you act towards them can't be cruel
Oh how I feel so sad
I currently carry an immense sense of sadness
Now that I want to leave
Now that I have the desire to move on
She's crying her heart to me
My partner weeps intensely in front of me
How could you let this be?
She inquires how I could allow things to arrive at this point
I just need time to see
I require a certain period of time to figure out my situation
Where I want to be
Where I stand and where I need to go from here
Sweet little do-dee-do-dee
A phrase that lacks a clear intention
I don't mean to hurt you baby, oh no
I hold no intention to cause harm to my partner
Never did I imagine
I never foresaw
That you would play a major part
That my partner would play such a significant role
In a decision that's so hard
In such a challenging decision-making process
Do I leave, do I stay, do I go
Shall I remain, depart, or travel somewhere else?
I think about my life and what matters to me the most
I contemplate my existence and its most valuable aspects to me
Girl the love that we share is real
The attachment that we share is authentic
But in time your heart will heal
But the heartache will eventually soothe with time
I'm not saying I'm gone
I'm not stating that I'm permanently leaving
But I have to find what life is like without you
But I must discover what living without you feels like
See when you love someone
Observably, when you love somebody
You just don't treat them bad
It's unacceptable to mistreat them
Oh how I feel so sad
How I comprehend the extent of my sadness
Now that I want to leave
Now that I have made the decision to depart
She's crying her heart to me
My partner sobs in front of me
How could you let this be?
How did you let things escalate to this point?
I just need time to see
I need a while to comprehend certain things
Where I want to be
Where I am heading and where I believe I belong
See when you love someone
Observably, when you love somebody
You just don't treat them bad
It's unacceptable to mistreat them
Oh how I feel so sad
How I comprehend the extent of my sadness
Now that I want to leave
Now that I have made the decision to depart
She's crying her heart to me
My partner sobs in front of me
How could you let this be?
How did you let things escalate to this point?
I just need time to see
I need a while to comprehend certain things
Where I want to be
Where I am heading and where I believe I belong
See when you love someone
Observably, when you love somebody
You just don't treat them bad
It's unacceptable to mistreat them
Oh how I feel so sad
How I comprehend the extent of my sadness
Now that I want to leave
Now that I have made the decision to depart
She's crying her heart to me
My partner sobs in front of me
How could you let this be?
How did you let things escalate to this point?
I just need time to see
I need a while to comprehend certain things
Where I want to be
Where I am heading and where I believe I belong
Where I want to be
Where I am heading and where I believe I belong
I'm sorry baby
An apology to my significant other
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Donnell Jones, Kyle West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@latishacherry6474
The message: when you love someone you just don’t treat them bad. End the relationship BEFORE cheating
@KimberlyBowman-cb2ig
I mean it’s not that hard a woman will definitely have so much more respect for you if you just keep it real 🎯💯💯💯💯❤
@lelele3
There!!!
@Ronald-ks2iy
Romantic love is a two way street and love can get complicated as we do lose ourselves. Still I wonder how many women would appreciate this cold honesty? “Bade, I not sure I feel the way I did about our relationship, I think I need some space to “explore.” I don’t want to lie to and disrespect you so I’m letting go and you should too.”
@michaelhood1291
43 year old white dude from Seattle, who grew up in the grunge scene… and this album changed my life! 90’s R&B is FIYER!!!
@Vocalz76
Man, I miss being home. I'm from Seattle also.
@jacquettanichols5801
Said he'd rather LEAVE than to CHEAT!!!! Now THAT'S A MAN....A REAL ONE!!! WHEN U LUV SOMEONE, U JUST DON'T TREAT THEM BAD....A man who TRULY KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS THE MEANING OF LOVE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SEXY TO ME!!!!!
@guiltyuntilproveninnocent.
Somebody gotta be with me in 2024
@ruffcrowdkennels9529
👍🏾‼️
@LaToyaMcVay
I’m right here February 2024 ❤❤