Donell Jones (born May 22, 1973) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and … Read Full Bio ↴Donell Jones (born May 22, 1973) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer, most notable for the hits "U Know What's Up", "Where I Wanna Be" and his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet".

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 You Are Part 2
Donell Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm saying I'm sorry for leaving you
But I wanted to start my life brand new
I was going through changes and could not see
That with you is where I wanna be

Nothing compares to you
And I hurt from the pain that I put you through
Baby, I need you desperately

Cuz I gotta be

Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are

Where you are, uh huh, oh

Being apart got the best of me
And I know that in life there's no guarantees
Please say that you still got love for me
Cuz I'm missing home

I'm never gonna leave
And I say it because you're all I need
For better or worse, to the end of time
I gotta be

Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are

Where you are, and where you are
Where you are, oh

I am sorry for all the things I put ya through
Baby, you are my world
I can't live my life without you

Can I come back home where I belong
Cuz I'm so alone
Baby girl, I'm on my knees, beggin' please
Cuz with you is where I wanna be

Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are
Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Where you are

I just wanna be where you are baby

Overall Meaning

In this song, Donell Jones is expressing his regret for leaving his partner and wanting to come back home because he realizes that being away from her got the best of him. He apologizes for hurting her and acknowledges that nothing compares to her. He is desperately seeking to be with her and needs her love because with her is where he belongs. He admits that life has no guarantees but asks her if she still loves him and if he can come back home where he belongs. He begs her to take him back because he cannot live his life without her and just wants to be where she is.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm saying I'm sorry for leaving you
I apologize for abandoning you

But I wanted to start my life brand new
However, I wanted to begin afresh

I was going through changes and could not see
I was experiencing some alterations in my life which I couldn't comprehend

That with you is where I wanna be
I realized later that I want to be with you

Nothing compares to you
I can't find anyone else like you

And I hurt from the pain that I put you through
I feel pained because of the things I subjected you to

Baby, I need you desperately
My soul craves you desperately

Cuz I gotta be, where you are
Because I must be, right where you are

Anywhere you are, it don't matter how far
Wherever you are, distance is insignificant

Being apart got the best of me
Not being together had significant effects on me

And I know that in life there's no guarantees
I understand that life's certainties are not complete