Aged 14, he gained national attention in 2012 after appearing in the second USA series of The X Factor.
Having previously released three EPs, Jacob Whitesides released hit debut studio album, Why?, was released on 9 September 2016.
Rumors
Jacob Whitesides Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m waking up like a man on a run
Are you a seller or a buyer?
I never meant to hurt no one
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Am I guilty ‘til it’s proven?
Filthy even after the rain
Sleep it off and keep it moving
Never make the same mistake again
Oooh, the rumors, the rumors so quietly loud
The winners and losers, you can’t pick them out
It’s just us in the middle
It’s just us in the middle of rumors
Rumors, rumors
But I’m not talking
You’ve been pulling all 6 strings
I can feel the whispers on your skin
Dripping down your body
Would you do it all over again?
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Oooh, the rumors, the rumors so quietly loud
The winners and losers, you can’t pick them out
It’s just us in the middle
It’s just us in the middle of rumors
Rumors, rumors
But I’m not talking
Stop talking
Don’t worry ‘bout the fire
No holding back
Oooh, the rumors, the rumors so quietly loud
The winners and losers, you can’t pick them out
It’s just us in the middle
It’s just us in the middle of rumors
Rumors, rumors
But I’m not talking
The song "Rumors" by Jacob Whitesides is a relatable track about the impact of gossip and speculation in people's lives. The lyrics depict the singer waking up feeling like a man on the run because of the rumors spread about him. He questions whether the listener is a seller or a buyer - in other words, are they spreading these rumors or believing them without verifying the truth? Although he never intended to hurt anyone, the singer feels like he is guilty until proven innocent, and the rumors make him feel filthy even after the rain. However, he chooses to sleep it off and keep it moving, determined not to make the same mistake again. The chorus emphasizes the fact that rumors can affect anyone, and that the only people in the middle of them are the ones they concern. The singer refuses to discuss the rumors, declaring that he's not talking and urging others to stop talking too. He encourages the listeners not to worry about the fire and to let go of holding back, suggesting that the only way to move past rumors is to refuse to let them have power over you.
Overall, the song seems to suggest that rumors can have a powerful and destructive impact on people's lives, but that it's possible to move past them by refusing to engage with them. The singer acknowledges the hurt and anxiety that rumors can cause, but ultimately seems to believe that the most important thing is to focus on one's own behavior and to let go of worrying about what others may say.
Line by Line Meaning
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
If there's some indication that something has happened, it's usually true
I’m waking up like a man on a run
I'm feeling apprehensive and constantly on the move
Are you a seller or a buyer?
Are you helping to spread rumors or are you trying to find out the truth?
I never meant to hurt no one
I didn't intend to cause any harm
Ooh ooh
Vocalization for effect
Am I guilty ‘til it’s proven?
Do people assume I'm at fault even though there's no evidence?
Filthy even after the rain
My reputation is still tainted even after some time has passed
Sleep it off and keep it moving
I need to put it behind me and move forward
Never make the same mistake again
I need to learn from my past mistakes and not repeat them
Oooh, the rumors, the rumors so quietly loud
The gossip is everywhere even if people aren't speaking it aloud
The winners and losers, you can’t pick them out
It's hard to tell who will benefit or suffer from rumors
It’s just us in the middle
We are the ones impacted by the rumors and trying to handle them
Rumors, rumors
Repeating the title of the song for emphasis
But I’m not talking
I'm not contributing to the spread of rumors
You’ve been pulling all 6 strings
You have been manipulating the situation to your advantage
I can feel the whispers on your skin
I can sense that you're involved in spreading gossip
Dripping down your body
The rumors are so pervasive that they seem to physically affect you
Would you do it all over again?
Are you willing to go through the pain and drama of spreading rumors again?
Stop talking
Urging people to stop spreading rumors
Don’t worry ‘bout the fire
Not to focus on the negative aspects of the rumors
No holding back
To be honest and transparent about the situation
Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.