Shoulda Known Better
Jackson Janet Lyrics
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Tragedy's reign left her alone
I guess I shoulda known better
But she's a citizen of the world
A right to life her cry's unheard
I guess I shoulda known better
I guess I shoulda known better, why why why why
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
'Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
Headlines are real or just the news
Between the lines there's human truth
I guess I shoulda known better
Each day I'm faced with irony but
Just can't feel casual about casualties no
I guess I shoulda known better
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
'Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
It's never the critic that counts
'Cause critics only wanna talk
While enlightened minds and open hearts
Together make this world a better place
Awakening a better choice
It only starts if you lift your voice
And say I shoulda known better
And so next time I'll know better
Why why why why
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
'Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
I had this great epiphany
And rhythm nation was the dream
I guess next time I'll know better
The lyrics to Janet Jackson's song "Shoulda Known Better" address various social issues that she feels strongly about. The opening lines "A baby girl without a home, Tragedy's reign left her alone" refer to the plight of homeless children who have been abandoned by their parents or other guardians. Jackson then laments "I guess I shoulda known better" perhaps implying that society at large could have done something to prevent this tragedy from occurring. The lines "But she's a citizen of the world, A right to life her cry's unheard" suggest that every child deserves the right to live and be cared for, but not everyone is privileged enough to get this basic need fulfilled.
In the following verses, Jackson talks about her desire to be part of a revolution that brings about real solutions to society's problems. She expresses her refusal to tolerate abuse of any kind and her indignation at inequality and social injustice. She says, "Each day I'm faced with irony, but just can't feel casual about casualties no, I guess I shoulda known better" implying that it is hard to remain indifferent to the suffering of others and one should have known better not to be complacent.
In the chorus, Jackson reiterates her commitment to being part of a revolution, demanding real solutions and not mere excuses. She sings, "We won't accept excuses, we tolerate no abuses, 'cause I don't want my face to be that poster child for being naive." She then admits that "It's never the critic that counts, 'cause critics only wanna talk, while enlightened minds and open hearts together make this world a better place."
Overall, "Shoulda Known Better" is a song about standing up for what is right, and not being a passive observer in the face of social injustice. It promotes the idea of being part of a revolution that challenges the status quo and demands real solutions to society's problems instead of making excuses.
Line by Line Meaning
A baby girl without a home
A girl without a family or shelter
Tragedy's reign left her alone
Tragedy caused her to be alone
I guess I shoulda known better
I should have been more aware
But she's a citizen of the world
She belongs to the world
A right to life her cry's unheard
Her cry for the right to live is ignored
I guess I shoulda known better, why why why why
I should have known better, but I didn't
Part of the revolution
Part of a movement for change
Ready for real solutions
Looking for actual answers
We won't accept excuses
Not tolerating justifications
We tolerate no abuses
We do not allow mistreatment
'Cause I don't want my face to be
I don't want to be represented as
That poster child for being naive
An example of being inexperienced
Headlines are real or just the news
Headlines may be factual or a form of media reporting
Between the lines there's human truth
The deeper meaning may reveal human reality
Each day I'm faced with irony but
Every day, I am confronted with unexpected situations
Just can't feel casual about casualties no
I can't be indifferent towards loss of life
I guess I shoulda known better
I should have been more informed
Part of the revolution
A part of changing the system
Ready for real solutions
Open to real, practical answers
We won't accept excuses
Not willing to tolerate reasons
We tolerate no abuses
Mistreatment is not allowed
'Cause I don't want my face to be
A representation of myself
That poster child for being naive
An example of being inexperienced
It's never the critic that counts
Critics don't create change
'Cause critics only wanna talk
Critics only want to complain
While enlightened minds and open hearts
People who are enlightened and empathetic
Together make this world a better place
Collaboration leads to a better world
Awakening a better choice
Opting for a better decision
It only starts if you lift your voice
Taking action starts with speaking up
And say I shoulda known better
Acknowledge the need to be more informed
And so next time I'll know better
I will be more aware next time
I had this great epiphany
I had a significant realization
And rhythm nation was the dream
The dream was creating a unified community
I guess next time I'll know better
I will be more aware in the future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES SAMUEL HARRIS III, JANET JACKSON, TERRY STEVEN LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The_simplemom
Love it.
Sydney Sherman
I love this song of Janet Jackson when I was 12 I listen to her songs from the album called Unbreakable
Sakai Hitomi
“Shoulda Known Better” is the fifth song on Janet Jackson’s eleventh studio album,… read more »
[Verse 1]
A baby girl without a home
Tragedy's reign left her alone
I guess I shoulda known better
But she's a citizen of the world
A right to life her cry's unheard
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
[Chrous]
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
[Verse 2]
Headlines are real or just the news
Between the lines there's human truth
I guess I shoulda known better
Each day I'm faced with irony but
Just can't feel casual about casualties no
I guess I shoulda known better
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
[Chorus]
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
[Bridge]
It's never the critic that counts
Cause critics only wanna talk
While enlightened minds and open hearts
Together make this world a better place
[Verse 3]
Awakening a better choice
It only starts if you lift your voice
And say I shoulda known better
And so next time I'll know better
Why why why why
[Chrous]
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
[Outro]
I had this great epiphany
And rhythm nation was the dream
I guess next time I'll know better
Henrique Ramos
"Shoulda Known Better"
A baby girl without a home
Tragedy's reign left her alone
I guess I shoulda known better
But she's a citizen of the world
A right to life her cry's unheard
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
Headlines are real or just the news
Between the lines there's human truth
I guess I shoulda known better
Each day I'm faced with irony but
Just can't feel casual about casualties no
I guess I shoulda known better
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
It's never the critic that counts
Cause critics only wanna talk
While enlightened minds and open hearts
Together make this world a better place
Awakening a better choice
It only starts if you lift your voice
And say I shoulda known better
And so next time I'll know better
Why why why why
Part of the revolution
Ready for real solutions
We won't accept excuses
We tolerate no abuses
Cause I don't want my face to be
That poster child for being naive
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
Why why why why
I guess I shoulda known better
I had this great epiphany
And rhythm nation was the dream
I guess next time I'll know better
Writer(s): Jackson Janet, Harris James Iii
album: "Unbreakable" (2015)