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.
Ye-Yo
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ye yo, ye yo
(Help me)
Ye yo, ye yo
Ye yo, ye yo
Sometimes
Sometimes I get so lonely, lonely, lonely
That's when I take a minute
To re-evaluate things all of the things I think
Are special, yeah
Oh like
When you wake up in the morning
Ah yo yo yo yo
And you see the morning sun
And you need to know the world is on your side
Who do you run to
Who can you turn to
Come on
Then the evening comes to greet you
Ah yo yo yo yo
You need someone to hold you close
And you feel you need to rest your aching mind
Who can you run to
Who can you turn to
Well see the sun's in the east and the moon reflects
Like the knowledge and wisdom I manifest
If you want to go to heaven lay up on my breast
I'm ye yo, you're ye yo
I say the sun's in the east and the moon reflects
Like the knowledge and wisdom, I manifest
If you want to go to heaven lay up on my breast
I'm ye yo, you're ye yo
Ye yo, ye yo
Ye yo, ye yo (Come on now)
Ye yo (Oh), ye yo (Ye yo)
Ye yo, ye yo (Oh oh oh)
Oh, ye yo
The lyrics of Erykah Badu's song Ye Yo convey a sense of loneliness and a yearning for human connection. The repeated refrain of "ye yo" is an African term that essentially means "I am calling you," which speaks to the desire for companionship and communication. Badu sings about feeling alone and needing someone to hold her close, and asks the question of who one can run to or turn to when they are feeling this way. She then talks about the morning sun and the sense of security it brings, as well as the moon and the knowledge and wisdom it represents. Badu then offers herself up as a source of comfort and reassurance, saying that if someone wants to go to heaven they should lay on her breast.
The song Ye Yo is ultimately about the human need for connection and the search for meaning and comfort in a sometimes confusing and difficult world. Badu's lyrics showcase her abilities as a storyteller, as well as her poetic and musical talents.
Line by Line Meaning
Ye yo, ye yo
Erykah Badu repeats the titular phrase 'ye yo' multiple times throughout the song, serving as a sort of chorus and potentially as a placeholder for the sound of a chant or a call for help.
(Help me)
The addition of the parenthetical phrase 'help me' provides context to the repeated calls of 'ye yo' - the singer is reaching out for assistance and guidance.
Sometimes
Erykah Badu begins the first verse by acknowledging that loneliness sometimes creeps up on her, and that she struggles with feeling isolated.
Sometimes I get so lonely, lonely, lonely
Repeating the word 'lonely' emphasizes how deeply the singer feels the discomfort of being alone.
I feel all by myself up here
The singer paints a picture of being aloft or isolated, making it clear that the emotions she's grappling with aren't due to physical solitude alone but a feeling of detachment from others.
That's when I take a minute
Erykah Badu indicates that when she's feeling alone, she tries to take a step back and assess the situation and her feelings in order to understand and potentially overcome them.
To re-evaluate things all of the things I think
By re-evaluating or revisiting her own thought processes, the singer is trying to gain a greater understanding of the root cause of her loneliness and how to work through it.
Are special, yeah
By reassessing the things that she considers special or important, the singer may be able to re-center herself and put things into perspective, gaining a renewed sense of hope or purpose.
Oh like
The inclusion of the interjection 'oh' and the phrase 'like' indicates that the following lines serve as a specific example of something the singer finds meaningful or important.
When you wake up in the morning
The first part of Erykah Badu's example focuses on a common and universally relatable experience - waking up in the morning.
And you see the morning sun
The singer speaks to the beauty of seeing the sun rise at the start of a new day, possibly symbolizing the promise of hope or positive change.
And you need to know the world is on your side
By highlighting the importance of feeling supported and empowered, the singer emphasizes the need for an ally or someone to lean on when things get tough.
Who do you run to
By posing the question of who someone in need should turn to for support, the singer illustrates the importance of having someone to rely on in tough times.
Then the evening comes to greet you
Shifting from the morning to the evening, Erykah Badu acknowledges that the passage of time can bring its own difficulties or challenges.
You need someone to hold you close
By highlighting the need for close physical contact as a source of comfort during difficult times, the singer emphasizes the importance of not only having emotional support, but physical support as well.
And you feel you need to rest your aching mind
In this line, the singer touches on the idea that mental health is a vital component of overall wellness, and one that sometimes needs care and nurturing in addition to physical health.
Who can you run to
By repeating the refrain of asking who one can turn to for support, Erykah Badu emphasizes the importance of having someone to rely on.
Well see the sun's in the east and the moon reflects
In this section, the singer uses celestial bodies as a metaphor for knowledge and wisdom, indicating that these are things that are constant and irrefutable, like the position of celestial bodies.
If you want to go to heaven lay up on my breast
Using religious imagery, Erykah Badu indicates that she is someone who can provide comfort and guidance as a sort of spiritual leader or mentor.
I'm ye yo, you're ye yo
Repeating the titular phrase again, Erykah Badu ties the different aspects of the song together, indicating that she herself is both in need of help, and capable of extending help to others.
Oh, ye yo
Repeating the chorus yet again at the end of the song reinforces the idea of reaching out for help and relying on others in times of need.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Erica Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyeshahart3875
My daughter passed away this year on March 3rd. My entire community got hit by a F4 tornado and sadly she passed away. She was 8. I’m still grieving. I played this song for her and my two children a few months before the storm hit . Today is my first time hearing it since the storm and I can’t stop the tears from falling😪💔. She was my first born, my “ye yo” 😔😪😪
@celenamodeste3930
May every word she sing has a special meaning for to heal your hurting heart mind and soul. If you read my store I to have a personal connection to this song for my own personal reasons. Instead of listening with a un-heal-able hurt open your wounded heart and listen to it with your soul and count less tears that have yet to be cried. In time it lightens but never over came. Stay blessed and prayed up 🙏🙏🙏🕊🕊💞
@shawntelsingletary4515
🙏🙏🙏🙏
@christinaboswell7424
😞🦋
@samarrablizz6446
🙏🏽🦋👼🏽
@monicawilliams6884
Praying for u, from one mother to another!❤️
@weirdo_with_a_paintbrush
Listening to her music is like being spiritually cleansed
@troiames1758
Facts.... Thank God for using her, especially in this day and time.. musicmytherapy
@2570783062190
There's something just so beautiful about the black woman
@keefebaby
Greedy-Grove Tx you’ve never met my ex then