One of the most popular African-American comedians of the late 1990s, TV star turned screen actor Jamie Foxx first became known for his many roles on Keenen Ivory Wayans’ long-running comedy variety show In Living Color. Since then, Foxx has played both raucous and sensitive nice-guy roles in a number of films, and earned particular acclaim for his portrayal of a talented but egotistical quarterback in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday.
Born Eric Bishop in the small town of Terrell, Texas, on December 13, 1967, Foxx was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated. He enjoyed a happy upbringing, going to church every day with his grandparents and excelling at everything from academics to music to football. During his teen years he had his first taste of the entertainment business as his church’s choir director and music director, and also started his own R&B band. Foxx studied music while a student at the U.S. International University in San Diego; it was during his college days that he got his start as a stand-up comedian. Attending a comedy club one night with some friends, he was encouraged to take the stage and perform some impersonations, which proved incredibly popular with the audience. Foxx’s enthusiastic reception led to his decision to move to L.A. and pursue a comedy career. At the age of 22 he was hired for In Living Color, and he subsequently landed a recurring role on Charles Dutton’s sitcom Roc in 1985.
Foxx was ultimately given his own show in 1996; that same year, he appeared in a supporting role in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, which cast him as a friend of Ben Chaplin. He was also featured in the boxing satire The Great White Hype, and the following year he got star billing opposite fellow comedian Tommy Davidson in the poorly received comedy Booty Call. After playing a DJ in Ice Cube’s The Players Club (1998), Foxx earned some of his best reviews to date for his role in Any Given Sunday (1999). He subsequently returned to straight comedy, starring in Antoine Fuqua’s crime comedy Bait as an ex-con trying to mend his ways, and as a man caught in a convenience stored robbery in Held Up.
In 2001, Foxx was given an opportunity to again flex the dramatic chops he displayed in Any Given Sunday with a role as Drew Bundi Brown in Michael Mann’s biopic Ali. Then, after a role in the barely seen 2003 Sylvester Stallone drama Shade, Foxx embarked on his busiest year yet. 2004 saw him star in no fewer than four films, the most noteworthy of them being the thriller Collateral. The tense summer flick not only saw Foxx again under the direction of Mann, but cast on an equal level with Hollywood uber-star Tom Cruise. His turn as a hapless cab driver who is forced into a menacing partnership slowly advancing Foxx’s dramatic screen presence, the role served as proof to many that his talents extended well beyond what many may have suspected. When it was announced shortly thereafter that Foxx would be donning the trademark sunglasses to essay the role of legendary blues pianist Ray Charles in Director Taylor Hackford’s eagerly anticipated biopic Ray, it was only a matter of time before audiences found out how deep Foxx’s talents as an actor truly ran. So effective was Foxx in recreating Charles’ unique style and unmistakable visage that many critics speculated an Oscar nomination may be in calling for the one-time funnyman turned dramatic powerhouse. When the star-studded evening in February did finally arrive and the envelope that would reveal the best actor of 2005 was breathlessly opened, Foxx did indeed take the prize — raising already stratospheric expectations regarding his future career to a fever pitch.
Foxx subverted expectations by capitalizing on his Oscar win with an R&B album that garnered respectable reviews and solid sales. He returned to films in the summer action flop Stealth — in a supporting role to would-be superstar Josh Lucas — and appeared as a leader of men in Sam Mendes’ Gulf War film Jarhead. In 2006 he reteamed with Michael Mann, starring as Tubbs in the big-screen adaptation of Miami Vice. Late in the year, he starred in the much-anticipated adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, opposite fellow actor-musicians hyphenates Eddie Murphy and Beyoncé Knowles. He is also known for his big leading role in Law Abiding Citizen.
Pretty Thing
Jamie Foxx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can make you feel it if you really ready
'Cause we loving something that you get to choose
But when it hits you, ooh you know you can't help it
There's nothing like this situation with you
I want to love you (PYT) pretty young thing
I want to love you (PYT) pretty young thing
Your husband everywhere (PYT) but I'll take you there
Baby I, I, girl I got no jokes for ya
I can't lie
Baby I, I, feel it in my bones for ya
I just can't get right
I know the question's on your mind been kinda heavy
But if you ask me, girl I swear to tell the truth
Your friends say I'll hurt you cause they jealous
They hate to see you doing better than they do
I want to love you (PYT) pretty young thing
Your husband everywhere (PYT) but I'll take you there
I want to love you (PYT) pretty young thing
Your husband everywhere (PYT) but I'll take you there
Baby I, I, girl I got no jokes for ya
I can't lie
Baby I, I, feel it in my bones for ya
I just can't get right
The lyrics to Jamie Foxx's song "Pretty Thing" seem to be about a man who is interested in a married woman, conveyed through the repeated use of "Your husband everywhere (PYT) but I'll take you there". However, the song does not explicitly state that the woman is married, and the lyrics could also be interpreted as the man trying to woo a younger woman who is in a relationship with someone else. The lyrics speak to the excitement and unpredictability of new love by referencing how "when it hits you, ooh you know you can't help it".
The second verse of the song addresses the concerns that the woman may have about pursuing a relationship with the man, noting that the man is willing to be truthful about his intentions, despite what the woman's jealous friends may say. The bridge of the song repeats "Baby I, I, girl I got no jokes for ya / I can't lie / Baby I, I, feel it in my bones for ya / I just can't get right", which could either be expressing the depth of the man's attraction to the woman or his hesitation and internal conflict about the situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pretty Thing" express the intensity and potential complications of new love, regardless of whether or not the object of one's desire is already in a committed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I can make you feel it if you really ready
I have the ability to evoke those feelings in you, but only if you're truly willing to embrace them.
'Cause we loving something that you get to choose
This love we share is something that you have the power to choose and input into.
But when it hits you, ooh you know you can't help it
Once the intensity of feelings strikes you unexpectedly, you'll realize there's no controlling it.
There's nothing like this situation with you
I have never had an experience like this one with you before, it's truly unique.
I want to love you (PYT) pretty young thing
I desire to show my affection towards you, you're a beautiful young woman.
Your husband everywhere (PYT) but I'll take you there
Despite your husband being present in your life, I'm willing to take you beyond that and give you an even more fulfilling love.
Baby I, I, girl I got no jokes for ya
I'm being serious with you, I'm not joking around or playing games.
I can't lie
I'm incapable of deceiving you, what I say is the absolute truth.
Baby I, I, feel it in my bones for ya
I have a deep, strong feeling within me that's directed towards you.
I just can't get right
I'm trying my best, but there's something that's holding me back from completely succeeding in this relationship.
I know the question's on your mind been kinda heavy
I understand that you're concerned about something and it's weighing down on your thoughts.
But if you ask me, girl I swear to tell the truth
I promise you that if you ask me anything, I will be truthful in my response to alleviate any doubts or fears you have.
Your friends say I'll hurt you cause they jealous
Your friends are telling you that I'll bring you pain and harm because they're envious and don't want you to be happy.
They hate to see you doing better than they do
Your friends feel envy when they see you doing better in life than they are.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MIKELY WILHELM ADAM, DIJON ISAIAH MCFARLANE, JAMES INGRAM, QUINCY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind