Headley began playing the music of her native country at a young age, including calypso, reggae and soca. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at the age of fifteen when her father was offered a job as pastor of McKee Street Church of God (in Anderson, Indiana).
After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University to study communications and musical theatre. In 1997, she played Nala in The Lion King, the Broadway musical. Headley's performance was well-received and she then originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Aida, earning the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1999.
Headley released her debut album, This Is Who I Am, in October 2002 on RCA Records. Although its first single, "He Is", was not very successful, the second single, "I Wish I Wasn't", achieved moderate success and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Headley was also nominated for Best New Artist.
On September 6, 2003, Headley married Brian Musso, formerly of the New York Jets. Her second album, In My Mind, was delayed due to the various executive shake-ups associated with RCA parent BMG's merger with Sony, and Headley joked that it should have been called Caught Up instead. Under BMG North America chairman/CEO Clive Davis for the first time, Headley released the album in January 2006. The title track was released as the first single; it was produced by India.Arie collaborator Shannon Sanders, and its music video was directed by Diane Martel. The song reached number-one on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
Always Been Your Girl
Heather Headley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even if it's gonna make me cry
Say what you mean
Even if it hurts me deep inside
We've been good friends for years
And I hold that dear
But you cannot end this night
Without giving me a chance to tell ya
So you're seeing her
What's this the, third or second date?
Is it serious?
If it is your making a big mistake
Can you be truthful when
your alone with her and look into her eyes
If you tell me that you don't think of me it would come as a surprise
[Chorus]
Can you tell me that I'm not her
Say I'm not the one who completes your world
Who should share your name
Who should wear your ring
When I've always been your girl
Can you tell me I'm not the one
To be the mother of your unborn son
May not have the tie but there's no denyin that you feel the same
Cause I've always been your girl
Oh Listen to me
And don't you dare say it's too late
Now honestly
You know she's only a passing face
I am your meant to be
Your eternity
Shouldn't settle for anything less
She may have your body But I own your heart
To ignore this you'll regret
[Chorus]
Girl, Girl, Your girl!
I am your meant to be
Your eternity
Shouldn't settle for anything less
She may have your body But I own your heart
To ignore it you'll regret
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics to Heather Headley's "Always Been Your Girl" explore the unspoken feelings of a woman who has been friends with a man for years but has always wanted something more. In the first verse, she asks the man to be honest with her, even if it hurts her deeply, because she needs to know where she stands. She mentions that they've been good friends for years, but that he can't end the night without giving her a chance to express how she feels. The second verse shifts to a more direct confrontation, as the woman questions the man about his new relationship. She asks if it's serious and warns him that he's making a mistake if it is. She also challenges him to be truthful with himself and her, acknowledging that if he tells her he doesn't think of her, it will come as a surprise.
The chorus contains the core message of the song, as the woman asks the man to tell her that she's not the one for him. She challenges him to say that she's not the person who completes his world or should share his name, even though she's always been his girl. She further asks him to acknowledge that she's not the person who should be the mother of his future children. By the end of the song, the woman is demanding that the man stop ignoring their connection and acknowledge that they belong together.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't lie to me
Please tell me the truth, even if it might be hard to hear.
Even if it's gonna make me cry
I'd prefer an honest answer, even if it brings me to tears.
Say what you mean
I'm asking you to be straightforward and clear in your communication.
Even if it hurts me deep inside
I'd rather hear the truth and feel hurt than be misled and feel even more hurt later.
We've been good friends for years
We have a long-standing and valuable friendship that I cherish.
And I hold that dear
I treasure our friendship and don't want to do anything to compromise it.
But you cannot end this night
Before this night ends, I need to express something important to you.
Without giving me a chance to tell ya
I want to share my true feelings with you and hope you'll listen.
How I feel inside
I want to reveal my emotions and thoughts to you.
So you're seeing her
I'm aware that you're dating someone else.
What's this the, third or second date?
I'm curious about the state of your current relationship.
Is it serious?
I want to know if you're considering a long-term commitment with her.
If it is your making a big mistake
I believe you're making an error in judgment if you choose her over me.
Can you be truthful when your alone with her and look into her eyes
I'm asking if you're capable of being honest with her, especially when you're alone.
If you tell me that you don't think of me it would come as a surprise
I suspect you have feelings for me, so it'd be a shock if you denied it.
Can you tell me that I'm not her
I hope you can confirm that I'm not inferior to her in any way.
Say I'm not the one who completes your world
I don't want to feel like a secondary choice or less important than her in your life.
Who should share your name
I want to be your life partner and share your last name.
Who should wear your ring
I desire to be proposed to and wear your engagement ring.
When I've always been your girl
I've been the one who's always been there for you and loved you.
Can you tell me I'm not the one
I need to hear from you that I don't have to worry about being replaced by someone else.
To be the mother of your unborn son
I envision that I'm the woman who will give birth to your child, and I hope you feel the same.
May not have the tie but there's no denyin that you feel the same
Even though we're not officially committed, it's undeniable that we have a strong connection and share mutual feelings.
Cause I've always been your girl
Since the beginning, I've been the girl who's been there for you, loves you, and supports you.
Oh Listen to me
I'm asking you to give me your full and undivided attention.
And don't you dare say it's too late
I'm not giving up hope, and I want to make sure you know it.
Now honestly
Please speak truthfully to me.
You know she's only a passing face
I believe that your current girlfriend isn't going to be in your life long-term.
I am your meant to be
I'm confident that I'm the one you're truly meant to be with.
Your eternity
I want to be with you forever and don't want anything less.
Shouldn't settle for anything less
I hope that you won't settle for a relationship that isn't fulfilling or meaningful.
She may have your body But I own your heart
Even if your girlfriend has your physical presence, it's me who has your love and affection.
To ignore this you'll regret
Ignoring our connection and feelings could lead to deep regret and missed opportunities.
Girl, Girl, Your girl!
I want to emphasize that I am the girl for you, and I don't want you to forget it.
[Chorus: x2]
These are the recurring lines in the chorus, which sum up the overall theme of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEBORAH COX, SHEP CRAWFORD, LASCELLES STEPHENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind