Like a DJ
Jaheim Lyrics
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Well
It's crazy
How you played me
Oh yea
How you played me
How you played me
Why why'd you do it baby
When I was hitting
I was in rotation off the charts (charts)
Like number 2 with a bullet
I was shooting straight for your heart (yea yea)
But it looks like I'm slippin
From that peak position
Drop down on your list
From top 10
To not even being on your countdown
And so I wait (I wait)
For you to come digging in the crates(oh yea)
Blow off the dust
So I could finally get some attention (oh)
Cause once you put the nigga on wax (yea)
You can't just put me back (you can't just put me back)
Just cut it up and scratch it
And get back
Cause your only gonna play me again
[Chorus]
You fade me out
And you blend him in
I can't get no spin unless I'm requested
She's something like a DJ
We used to move the crowd
Now the groove is all worn out
I can't get no play
She's something like a DJ
I'm so in love with the way you work the one and two's (one and two's)
But I can't help but be jealous
The way your work them other dudes
You get caught up skipping
Girl just let me flip it (just let me flip it)
I'll show you the remix baby
Breaking records at the top
For the number one spot
So I wait(I wait)
For you to come digging in the crates (in the crates)
Blow off the dust
So I could finally get some attention
Cause once you put the nigga on wax (yea)
You can't just put me back (you can't just put me back)
Just cut it up and scratch it
And get back
Cause your only gonna play me again
[Chorus]
Baby girl let's slow it down
Like it's the last song of the night (last song of the night)
We'll be dancing till the lights come on
No need to switch it up
Until you know the time is right (time is right)
See you got me feeling like
I'm your favorite song
[Chorus]
And just for the record baby
My head is spinning
My heart is turning
And I'm yearning for your love
In Jaheim's song "Like a DJ," he expresses his frustration and heartache after being played by his love interest. The song uses a metaphor comparing his lover to a DJ, and he to a record that has fallen out of rotation. The lyrics convey his desperation to catch her attention once again and regain her love. Jaheim recalls when he was "in rotation off the charts" and "shooting straight for your heart," but now he's "not even being on your countdown." He begs for her to "come digging in the crates" and "blow off the dust" so that he can finally get some attention. However, he knows that once she puts him on wax, she can't just put him back, and she'll only play him again. The chorus emphasizes his position, where he's faded out, and another man is blended in, and he can't get any spin unless he's requested. He feels like the groove is all worn out, and he's unable to move the crowd like he used to.
The second verse is a bit more hopeful, as Jaheim tries to get back in the game. He loves the way his lover works the one and two's, but jealousy pops up because she's working other dudes. He wants her to let him flip it and show her the remix, breaking records at the top, but once again, he waits for her to come digging in the crates. The chorus comes in again, emphasizing how he can't get any play because his lover is something like a DJ, and he's faded out. The bridge is a moment of slowing down, like the last song of the night. Jaheim wants to dance until the lights come on and be her favorite song.
Overall, "Like a DJ" is a song about longing and falling out of love. Jaheim uses creative metaphors and comparisons to convey his emotions, making it a standout song in his discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea my baby
Addressing the person he loves.
Well
Starting a new thought.
It's crazy
Expressing disbelief at what happened.
How you played me
Being hurt by the way he was treated.
Oh yea
Acknowledging what was done to him.
How you played me
Repeating the feeling of being used and discarded.
Why why'd you do it baby
Questioning why he was treated this way.
When I was hitting
When he was popular or successful.
I was in rotation off the charts (charts)
Being played often on the radio or other media.
Like number 2 with a bullet
Being high on the charts and trending upwards.
I was shooting straight for your heart (yea yea)
Trying to win her love and affection.
But it looks like I'm slippin
Losing popularity or falling out of favor.
From that peak position
From the top spot on the charts.
Drop down on your list
Being played less often and falling in ranking.
From top 10
From the top tier of successful songs.
To not even being on your countdown
Not even being considered for airplay or recognition.
And so I wait (I wait)
Waiting for a chance at redemption.
For you to come digging in the crates(oh yea)
Waiting for her to give him another chance.
Blow off the dust
Cleaning off his old songs or works.
So I could finally get some attention (oh)
Wanting her to notice him and his work again.
Cause once you put the nigga on wax (yea)
Once he's recorded and released a song.
You can't just put me back (you can't just put me back)
She can't just forget about him or ignore him.
Just cut it up and scratch it
Manipulating and remixing his music.
And get back
Returning him to popularity and success.
Cause your only gonna play me again
Because she will only recognize him when he is popular again.
[Chorus]
Repeating the main idea and theme of the song.
You fade me out
Ignoring him and his work.
And you blend him in
Replacing him with another artist or song.
I can't get no spin unless I'm requested
Not being played unless someone specifically asks for his music.
She's something like a DJ
Comparing the girl to a disc jockey.
We used to move the crowd
He and the girl used to be very popular.
Now the groove is all worn out
Their relationship is not exciting or popular anymore.
She's something like a DJ
Reinforcing the similarity between the girl and a DJ.
I'm so in love with the way you work the one and two's (one and two's)
Admiring her DJ skills and her ability to mix music.
But I can't help but be jealous
Feeling envious of her attention to other artists.
The way your work them other dudes
Paying attention to other artists or people.
You get caught up skipping
Getting too involved in other things or people.
Girl just let me flip it (just let me flip it)
Letting him remix and improve their relationship.
I'll show you the remix baby
Promising to improve their relationship.
Breaking records at the top
Achieving success and popularity.
For the number one spot
Trying to be the most popular or successful artist.
Baby girl let's slow it down
Asking her to take it easy and enjoy their relationship.
Like it's the last song of the night (last song of the night)
Enjoying the moment and savoring their relationship.
We'll be dancing till the lights come on
Dancing together for a long time.
No need to switch it up
No need to change their relationship or try anything new.
Until you know the time is right (time is right)
Waiting until they're both ready to move forward.
See you got me feeling like
He is feeling a certain way because of her.
I'm your favorite song
Feeling special and loved.
[Chorus]
Repeating the main idea and theme of the song.
And just for the record baby
As an aside or added comment.
My head is spinning
Feeling overwhelmed or disoriented.
My heart is turning
Feeling emotional turmoil and confusion.
And I'm yearning for your love
Longing for her affection and attention.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: FRANK TREMAYNE OLIPHANT, BALE'WA M. MUHAMMAD, TERENCE L. ABNEY, EDMOND M. GRANT, ERITZA E. LAUES, KEIR LAMONT GIST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind