She is best known for her singles You Got Me her collaboration with The Roots, as well as her own songs Tyrone, Love of My Life, On & On, Bag Lady, The Healer, Honey and Soldier. Her lyrics are highly personal urban philosophy which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. She weaves unusual musical influences together creating a rich texture of sound.
Some music journalists have labeled her Nu soul, nouvelle-soul or neo soul, often comparing her to Billie Holiday in lyrical delivery and grouping her with Maxwell and D'Angelo in musical genre.
Baduizm, Badu's highly acclaimed debut album, was released in early 1997 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts. Lead single On & On reached #12 on the singles charts in both the U.S. and UK. Badu received notice for her introspective lyrics and jazzy, bass-heavy sound, and was hailed as one of the leading lights of the burgeoning neo soul genre. Her sophisticated style of singing drew many comparisons to Billie Holiday. Baduizm eventually went triple platinum and, along with On & On, won Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremonies.
During that year, Badu became involved with rapper Andrรฉ 3000 of OutKast, with whom she had a child, Seven, who was born in 1997. Their relationship ended sometime in the late 90s. Badu recorded her first live album, Live, while pregnant with Seven, and the release of the recording coincided with the birth to her child. Live reached #4 on the Billboard charts, selling double platinum, and spawned another R&B hit single in Tyrone a song chiding a selfish, cheap, and inattentive boyfriend. Badu also collaborated with The Roots (who had previously handled production duties on a number of tracks on Baduizm) on their breakthrough 1999 release, Things Fall Apart. She was featured on the song You Got Me co-written by Jill Scott, which hit the top 40 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
After taking some time off to raise her child, Badu returned in 2000 with Mama's Gun, an album more organic in sound than her previous studio album, and primarily produced by the Soulquarians and noted bassist Pino Palladino. A remix of one of the album's songs, Bag Lady was issued as the first single and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. The album was well-received, with the lyrical content winning notices from many publications who found some of her lyrics hard to decipher on her initial releases. Despite not charting as high as her first two albums, Mama's Gun was another platinum-selling success, and Bag Lady was nominated for a Grammy.
By 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellow Soulquarian Common, and Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop) was released as a collaboration between the two on the Brown Sugar soundtrack. Love of My Life hit #9 on the pop charts, topped the R&B listings, and Badu was awarded her fourth Grammy for the song in 2003.
After the release of Mama's Gun and Love of My Life, Badu went through a period of writer's block. She hit the road throughout 2002 and much of 2003 on what she dubbed the "Frustrated Artist Tour," in search of inspiration to write and perform new material. The conclusion of the tour saw Badu head back to the studio with new material, and in September of 2003, the Worldwide Underground was released. More jam-oriented than any of her prior releases, Badu was quoted as saying that the release was designed to serve as one continuous groove. Worldwide Underground reached #3 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold not long after its release, and Badu received four further Grammy nominations for the EP.
After almost four years and the birth of a daughter, Puma, it was revealed in 2007 that Badu had three albums in the works over the course of 2007 and 2008. Honey, a new single produced by 9th Wonder, was leaked online in November 2007, and the new album, titled New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), was released on February 26, 2008.
On August 23, 2008, Badu joined the rock band My Morning Jacket on stage at their show in Dallas, Texas to perform her song Tyrone. Her surprise appearance was met with an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
On February 1, 2009 Badu gave birth to her third child, a girl named Mars Merkaba with her boyfriend Jay Electronica.
Her album New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) was released on March 30, 2010.
Next Lifetime
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
First time that I saw you boy
It was a warm and sunny day
All I know is I wanted you
I really hoped you looked my way
When you smiled at me
So warm and sweet
I could not stay
You make me feel like a itty-bitty girl
What do you do to me
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
No hard feelings
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm gonna be there
Your energy, feels so damn good to me
It picks me up don't want to come down
You got me spinning all around
Yeah
You need to know
I've got that somebody
You're beautiful
But it ain't that kind-a party nowww
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
Well I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Baby we'll be butterflies
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
That sounds so divine
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I guess I will now
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Wait, wait a little while
See it ain't nothing wrong with dreaming
Boy don't get me wrong
'Cause every time (every time) I see you (every single time)
I know just how strong (every single time)
That my love is for my baby
But emotions just don't lie
Well I know I'm a lot of woman
But not enough to divide the pie
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
You know I want to stay around
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm so confused now
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Already
I'm going to be there
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm going to look for you
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Oh
Oh baby
I'm gonna be there
I'm gonna be there
The song "Next Lifetime" by Erykah Badu tells a story of unrequited love. She sings about the predicament of wanting someone who is already in a committed relationship, without wanting to disrupt that relationship. She admits that she is confused and conflicted, but ultimately decides to let go of those feelings and wait for another lifetime to be with that person. The lyrics highlight the emotional complexity of trying to navigate relationships and deal with unfulfilled desires.
The opening lines of the song convey the internal struggle that the singer is experiencing. She wants to be with the person she desires, but also acknowledges that it is not possible while she is already in a relationship. The repetition of the same lines throughout the song emphasize the difficult decision she has to make, and the somber tone of the lyrics suggest that it is not an easy choice.
The singer's decision to wait for another lifetime could be interpreted as a hopeful gesture. She suggests that if it is meant to be, they will eventually be together. However, the lyrics also suggest that she is unsure whether that will happen, and that it may not be a realistic expectation.
Overall, "Next Lifetime" is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and relationships. The lyrics express a yearning for connection and intimacy, while also acknowledging the challenges that come with those desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someones girl?
Badu expresses her conflicted feelings of wanting the man in her life but also being in a committed relationship with someone else. She is unsure of how to navigate this situation.
First time that I saw you boy
It was a warm and sunny day
All I know is I wanted you
I really hoped you looked my way
When you smiled at me
So warm and sweet
I could not stay
You make me feel like a itty-bitty girl
What do you do to me
Badu reminisces about the first time she saw the man and how she was immediately drawn to him. His smile made her feel youthful and carefree.
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
No hard feelings
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm gonna be there
Badu decides that she cannot pursue the man in this lifetime as she is already in a committed relationship. However, she hopes to see him in another lifetime when their timing might be better.
Your energy, feels so damn good to me
It picks me up don't want to come down
You got me spinning all around
Yeah
You need to know
I've got that somebody
You're beautiful
But it ain't that kind-a party nowww
Badu acknowledges that the man has an attractive energy that she enjoys being around, but she reminds herself that she is committed to someone else and that she cannot pursue him.
Well I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Baby we'll be butterflies
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
That sounds so divine
Badu imagines a future life where she and the man are free to be together and be transformed into something new, like butterflies.
See it ain't nothing wrong with dreaming
Boy don't get me wrong
'Cause every time (every time) I see you (every single time)
I know just how strong (every single time)
That my love is for my baby
But emotions just don't lie
Well I know I'm a lot of woman
But not enough to divide the pie
Badu acknowledges that she has strong feelings for the man, but she reaffirms her love for her current partner. She recognizes that emotions can be confusing, but she also knows that she cannot divide her love between two people.
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Already
I'm going to be there
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm going to look for you
Badu repeats her desire to see the man in another lifetime and confirms that she will actively seek him out.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SAMUEL J BARNES, ANTHONY S CRUZ, JEAN CLAUDE OLIVIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Afiong Ukoh
"I`ll be the moon, shine on you.
I`ll be the womb, give you food.
I`ll be heaven, love me right.
I`ll be divine, give you Light.
Come take a drink from the fountain.
Three-fourths of purity, symbol of me.
I`ll be flowers, let me grow.
If I feed you wisdom, let me know
Guess I'll see you next lifetime...."
Jacobi Harris
This is amazing.. her background singers did what needed to be done....
The F L O W Priestess
28, and this reminds me of chillin' in the basement with my dad, as a little girl... playin' Badu ...
SUCH a vibe.
Chaka Khanian
So bumpin. I really love the end when she allows her background singers to show their talents. I love the way she blended Angela and Rene's 'You Don't Have to Cry' in this rendition of Next Lifetime.
k&j
Love โค ๐
Kelsi Nicole
yassss, and the "let me knowwww" (aaliyah vibes)
Janette Murel
Darby killed !!!
Janette Murel
Cant stop playing it... the last background singer killed it!
Denise Adebiyi
I'm over the moon in love with the end ๐
C Mac
This version is absolutely incredible!!!!
Toccara Doiley
song literally gave me chills