Diamond In Da Ruff
Jaheim Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mmmmh diamond
Ohh diamond (diamond)

Diamond in da ruff
someone that you don't meet twice

We left the Brickz for the 'Burbs
turned Mo into Remy
matching fur coats and Fendi
from the bus to a Bentley coupe
with a closet full of shoes yeah

Than our smiles turned to frowns
ups turned to downs
I don't know where i'm going now
I think about her every once in awhile

We started out like Bobby and Whitney
Justin and Britney
Then it all got ugly
if it weren't for the money
you said i start actin' funny
but what's wrong witcha honey

then the good turned to bad
forgot what we had
is it to late to get it back?
I think about her
more than once in awhile

Like when i spot a rainbow
or see a fallin' star
a set of twins, or a classic car
a four leaf clover, or a two dollar bill
it's so rare that it's so unreal

And I don't know how to get over her smile
I wonder what she's doin (what's goin on)?
I think about her every once in awhile (once in awhile)

I should've came with a ring
set a date for next May
guess i thought that you'd wait
now I hate that I took so long
played around wit' her now she's gone

now my smiles turned to frowns, ups turned to downs
and i don't know where i'm goin (now now now now)
I think about her every once in awhile

We argued like Archie and Edith
like Ike turned on Tina
but I really didn't mean it
I was raised not to hit a woman
especially not the one i'm lovin'

but when the good turned to bad
happy to sad
I wish we could take it back/(How I miss you baby
I think about her every once in awhile

Like when I spot a rainbow
or see a fallin star
a set of twins, or a classic car
a four leaf clover or a two dollar bill
it's so rare that it's so unreal

I don't know how
to get over her smile
I wonder what she's doin now
I think about her every once in awhile

Your like a star
shinning in the broad daylight
Something you don't see all the time
and now I finally recognize
that I shoulda made you all mine
never shoulda let you pass me by
you put that sparkle in my life
someone that you don't meet twice
i'm gonna live to regret it baby
ooooh




baby, baby
I miss you...need you...yeahhh

Overall Meaning

The song "Diamond In Da Ruff" by Jaheim is a tragic love story of a man who had a chance with the perfect woman but failed to hold onto her. The title itself refers to how the woman was like a diamond in the rough, a rare and exceptional find that doesn't come around often. The first verse talks about the progression of their relationship from living in the less fortunate neighborhood of Brickz to moving into the suburbs and upgrading their lifestyle with fancy clothes and cars. However, as time passed, their relationship began to crumble, and the sweet memories of their time together started to turn sour.


The second verse continues with the mention of iconic couples such as Bobby and Whitney and Justin and Britney and how their fairy tale romance also came to an end. The man expresses regret that if he had proposed sooner, they would still be together, and he blames himself for not realizing her value at the time. He compares her to a rare sight like a rainbow, falling star, or a two-dollar bill that is so unique and unreal. The last verse reflects on the man's realization that the woman was more exceptional than he ever knew, and he ultimately lost her. It's a poignant reminder of how sometimes true love comes but once in a lifetime, and it's something we should cherish.


Line by Line Meaning

Mmmmh diamond
The singer is singing about a diamond


Ohh diamond (diamond)
The singer is emphasizing the importance of the diamond


Diamond in da ruff
The singer compares someone special they met to a diamond in the rough, meaning a rare gem that needs polishing and with time becomes valuable.


someone that you don't meet twice
The singer describes the person as a unique individual who is hard to find in the world.


We left the Brickz for the 'Burbs
The singer and their partner moved from the city to the suburbs, signifying they started a new life together.


turned Mo into Remy
The singer is implying that they upgraded their lifestyle from cheap liquor (Mo) to more expensive cognac (Remy).


matching fur coats and Fendi
The singer and their partner have the same style with expensive fur coats and Fendi accessories.


from the bus to a Bentley coupe
The singer and their partner have moved up in the world, going from public transportation to a luxury car.


with a closet full of shoes yeah
The singer and their partner have a lot of shoes, implying that they have a luxurious lifestyle.


Than our smiles turned to frowns
The relationship went through a rough patch, and the couple started to fight and argue.


ups turned to downs
The relationship lost its positivity and happiness.


I don't know where i'm going now
The singer is confused and lost after the relationship fell apart.


I think about her every once in awhile
The singer still misses their ex-partner and thinks about them sometimes.


We started out like Bobby and Whitney
The singer compares their past relationship to the volatile relationship between Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston.


Justin and Britney
The singer is referencing the pop stars Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, who dated in the past.


Then it all got ugly
The relationship turned sour and the couple started to argue and fight.


if it weren't for the money
The partner accused the singer of changing after they became more financially stable.


you said i start actin' funny
The partner began to think that the singer's behavior changed after becoming wealthy.


but what's wrong witcha honey
The singer is confused and doesn't understand why his partner is acting this way.


then the good turned to bad
The positive aspects of the relationship turned into negative memories.


forgot what we had
The couple lost sight of what made their relationship special in the first place.


is it to late to get it back?
The singer wonders if they can still fix the relationship.


Like when i spot a rainbow
The singer refers to a rainbow as a rare event to represent how rare his ex-partner is.


or see a fallin' star
The singer thinks of his partner when he sees a star falling from the sky, which is a rare occurrence.


a set of twins, or a classic car
The singer thinks of his partner when he sees either a pair of twins or a classic car, representing how special and rare they are to him.


a four leaf clover, or a two dollar bill
The singer thinks of his partner when he sees a four-leaf clover or a two-dollar bill, which are symbols of rare things. This shows how special they are to him.


it's so rare that it's so unreal
The singer describes how unusual and rare his ex-partner is to him.


And I don't know how to get over her smile
The singer misses his partner's beautiful smile and is struggling to move on.


I wonder what she's doin (what's goin on)?
The singer is curious about what his ex-partner is doing and how they are doing.


I think about her every once in awhile (once in awhile)
The singer admits to thinking about his ex-partner from time to time.


I should've came with a ring
The singer regrets not proposing to his partner when he had the chance.


set a date for next May
The singer should have set a date to marry his partner in May.


guess i thought that you'd wait
The singer assumed his partner would wait for him to propose, but it did not happen.


now I hate that I took so long
The singer regrets waiting too long to propose to his partner.


played around wit' her now she's gone
The singer admits to playing around with his partner and regrets losing them.


We argued like Archie and Edith
The singer compares their arguments to the classic TV couple Archie and Edith from 'All in the Family.'


like Ike turned on Tina
The singer compares their arguments to the abusive relationship between Ike and Tina Turner.


but I really didn't mean it
The singer didn't mean to hurt his partner during their arguments.


I was raised not to hit a woman
The singer was brought up to respect women and never to hit them.


especially not the one i'm lovin'
The singer would never intentionally hurt the woman he loves.


but when the good turned to bad
Once again, the singer references how the relationship turned sour after being happy for a long time.


happy to sad
The happiness of the relationship soon turned into sadness and fights.


I wish we could take it back/(How I miss you baby
The singer wishes he could go back in time and fix things between him and his partner.


Your like a star
The singer believes his partner is shining like a star in his life.


shinin in the broad daylight
The singer refers to his partner's beauty as shining in broad daylight; it is easy to see and recognize.


Something you don't see all the time
The singer implies that his partner is a rare individual, and he's lucky to have them in his life.


and now I finally recognize
The singer takes the opportunity to recognize how special his ex-partner truly is to him.


that I shoulda made you all mine
The singer realizes he missed out on an opportunity to be with the love of his life forever.


never shoulda let you pass me by
The singer regrets letting his partner leave him and letting that opportunity slip by.


you put that sparkle in my life
The singer hails his partner for giving life to his life and making it more colorful.


someone that you don't meet twice
The singer once again acknowledges that his partner is a rare and unique individual.


i'm gonna live to regret it baby
The singer admits he's going to regret his mistake forever.


ooooh
The singer emphasizes his emotions towards his ex-partner.


baby, baby
The singer is probably referring to his ex-partner endearingly.


I miss you...need you...yeahhh
The singer says how much he misses the one that got away.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Albert Prentis Hamilton, Bale Wa M Muhammad, Clifton Lighty, Ernest Dion Wilson, Jaheim Hoagland, Keir Lamont Gist, Vernon Brown

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@royarroyo3212

Your like a star
shinning in the broad daylight
Something you don't see all the time
and now I finally recognize
that I shoulda made you all mine
never shoulda let you pass me by
you put that sparkle in my life
someone that you don't meet twice
i'm gonna live to regret it baby



All comments from YouTube:

@pb9841

Still here in 2024...I keeps this album in rotation ❤

@akinchinnery1167

Playing this song all now😁🙌🏿❣

@jessicakeel1696

Yesss

@blackdaripper

This whole album made me smile, laugh and cry. Still here 2023

@Leszek81

I feel the same... Laugh, cry, love and wonderful memories...sometimes life is very sad...

@maxwelldavis4555

I smiled after finding this song😊 Iwe in 2024

@dcuthbertson5778

One of my favorite songs by him. The lyrics are hell. Mannnnn. Told me she waited 20 years for an apology and finally got it. That was it.

@BangaDaLiveWire

They don't make songs like this no more

@donjvffo4889

“You’re Like A Star, Shinin In The Broad Daylight, Something You Don’t See All The Time”✨💫

@kaydianjobson5162

One of the realest songs ever

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