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 André 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.
Searching
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Can you see what I see
Everybody's crying out
And yet we have no unity
My friends always ask me
Mary? tell me why do you weep
'Cause I'm trying to get over
All the negativity
That's why I'm searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
We are living in a world
Of "who has what?" and "who is who?"
But I'm telling you my friend
The answer's right in front of you
We are searching for a peace
Piece of mind is what we need
We are searching for the love
That comes with the unity
Oh ooh oh (oh)
Oh ooh oh (everyday)
Oh ooh oh (it rains)
Oh ooh oh (can you stand the pain?)
Oh ooh oh (why do we live the way we choose to live?)
Oh ooh oh
Oh (I'm telling you my brother right now that we got to be)
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Oh ooh oh (oh)
Oh ooh oh (why are we still searching)
Oh ooh oh (when the answer's right in front of you)
Oh
Oh ooh oh (I'm telling you)
Oh ooh oh
Oh ooh oh (you better look straight a head of your path)
Oh (because the love is always there)
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
I don't wanna fuss n' fight
I just wanna make it right
What can we do to be strong
If we try to get along
I'm not trying to preach to you
But I am still searching too, yeah
Me and you can do it, oh
I don't ever wanna be stressed out
I just wanna live my life
The way I feel that I should be
'Cause I wanna be happy, happy
What about you and me
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
Searching searching
The song "Searching" by Erykah Badu is a powerful expression of a desire for peace, love, and unity in a world that is torn apart by negativity. The lyrics suggest a deep longing for something more than what is currently being experienced, and the repetition of the word "searching" throughout the song emphasizes the constant seeking that the singer is engaged in. The first verse of the song asks if others can hear and see what the singer is experiencing. The idea of crying out for unity but not finding it is a common theme, as it seems that everyone is struggling with negativity that needs to be overcome. The second verse states that the answer to the search is "right in front of you," and suggests that it is time to stop obsessing over material possessions and focus on unity and love. The chorus repeats the main message of the song, which is the constant search for something better, something that will bring inner peace and happiness.
The lyrics of "Searching" are poignant and powerful, reflecting an underlying sense of longing that is palpable. Erykah Badu's voice is filled with emotion, and her delivery of the lyrics is both passionate and urgent. The song's overall message is one of hope and determination, suggesting that there is always a way to find what you are looking for if you keep searching. This message is particularly relevant in today's world, where there is so much division and negativity, and it serves as a reminder that we can all do better if we work together.
Line by Line Meaning
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Do you hear what I hear
The singer is asking if the listener is aware of their surroundings.
Can you see what I see
The singer wants to know if the listener can perceive what's happening around them.
Everybody's crying out
There is a lot of emotional turmoil happening.
And yet we have no unity
Despite the shared emotions, there is no sense of togetherness.
My friends always ask me
The singer's friends often approach her with questions.
Mary? tell me why do you weep
Her friends ask why she is sad.
'Cause I'm trying to get over
She is trying to overcome
All the negativity
The negative emotions that are affecting everyone.
That's why I'm searching
She continues to search for something that will help her overcome this negativity.
We are living in a world
The singer is describing the current state of the world.
Of "who has what?" and "who is who?"
The world is focused on material possessions and social status.
But I'm telling you my friend
The singer is sharing her insight with her audience.
The answer's right in front of you
The answer to what people are searching for is easily accessible.
We are searching for a peace
People are searching for peace.
Piece of mind is what we need
The peace that people are searching for will bring them peace of mind.
We are searching for the love
People are searching for love.
That comes with the unity
The love they're searching for comes with togetherness.
Oh ooh oh (oh)
Background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (everyday)
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (it rains)
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (can you stand the pain?)
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (why do we live the way we choose to live?)
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh
More background vocals.
Oh (I'm telling you my brother right now that we got to be)
The singer is urging her listeners to do something.
Oh ooh oh (why are we still searching)
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (when the answer's right in front of you)
More background vocals.
Oh
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (I'm telling you)
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh
More background vocals.
Oh ooh oh (you better look straight a head of your path)
More background vocals.
Oh (because the love is always there)
More background vocals.
I don't wanna fuss n' fight
The singer doesn't want any arguments.
I just wanna make it right
She wants to make things right.
What can we do to be strong
The singer is asking what they can do to be resilient in the face of adversity.
If we try to get along
Trying to get along with each other will make them stronger.
I'm not trying to preach to you
The singer doesn't want to come across as preachy.
But I am still searching too, yeah
Despite her insight, she is still searching for the same thing.
Me and you can do it, oh
The singer and her audience can achieve something together.
I don't ever wanna be stressed out
The singer doesn't want to be stressed.
I just wanna live my life
She wants to live her life.
The way I feel that I should be
She wants to live her life on her own terms.
'Cause I wanna be happy, happy
She wants to be happy.
What about you and me
She wants to know if the listener wants the same thing.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Searching searching
The singer is repeatedly searching for something.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROY AYERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind