Family
Jamie Foxx Jennifer Hudson Lyrics
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Curtis says its the best thing for the group.
What about whats best for me?
He feels the Dreams can crossover.
What about how I feel?
But when we're famous I'll write great things for ya,
Effie do it for me.
What about me?
It's more than you, it is more than me
No matter what we are, we are a family
This dream is for all of us, this one can be real,
And you cant stop us now because of how you feel
It's more than you,
It is more than me
Whatever dreams we have, there for the family,
We're not alone anymore now there are others there,
And that dreams big enough for all of us to share,
So don't think that your going,
You're not going anywhere, your staying and taking your share, and if
You get afraid again, I'll be there
We are a family like a giant tree branching out towards the sky, we are a family we
Are so much more than just you and I we are a family like a giant tree,
Growing stronger, growing wiser, we are growing free
We need you.
We are a family
The lyrics to Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson's song "Family" from the movie "Dreamgirls" address the tension between individual desires and the needs and aspirations of a group. The character Effie is struggling with feeling ignored and undervalued by her fellow group members, who are focused on achieving crossover success. She asks "What about what I need?" and "What about how I feel?" but is told that the group's success is the priority, and that she will benefit from it in the long run. Despite this tension, the chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of unity and shared ambition. The group is presented as a family, supporting and encouraging each other to achieve their dreams together. They are growing and improving as individuals, but their strength comes from their interconnectedness and their shared goals.
One interesting fact about the song "Family" is that it was written specifically for the Dreamgirls movie adaptation, and does not appear in the original stage musical. The film's music was largely written by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen, with additional contributions from other songwriters, including Beyoncé Knowles. Jennifer Hudson, who played Effie in the film, won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in part due to her powerful delivery of this song. "Family" also became a hit on the charts, reaching the top 40 in several countries. Outside of its commercial success, the song has resonated with audiences for its message of perseverance, cooperation, and mutual support in pursuit of a shared goal.
Another interesting aspect of "Family" is the way it uses metaphor to explore the dynamics of a group striving for success. The image of a towering tree with strong branches reaching toward the sky is a powerful symbol of growth, strength, and interdependence. The song suggests that while individual branches may grow in different directions and at different rates, they are all part of the same structure, and they are all necessary for the tree to thrive. This metaphor resonates with the experiences of many people who have participated in collaborative creative projects or pursued ambitious goals as part of a larger group.
Chords (as played on the piano in the movie):
Verse:
Dm7 Bb F/C C
Dm7 Bb F/C C
Dm7 Bb C
Bb Am7/D Dm7 C#dim7
Chorus:
Gm7 F/A Bb F/A
Gm7 F/A Bb D7
Gm7 F/A Bb Dm7
Dm7 G7 C
Line by Line Meaning
What about what I need?
I'm feeling overlooked and I need to know my needs matter too.
Curtis says its the best thing for the group.
Curtis thinks he knows what's best for us all, as a group.
What about whats best for me?
I'm trying to ask, why can't I have what's best for me?
He feels the Dreams can crossover.
He believes our Dreams can go beyond what we imagined before.
What about how I feel?
I need someone to understand how I feel right now.
But when we're famous I'll write great things for ya, Effie do it for me.
Once we achieve our dream, I'll make sure you'll be taken care of, even if I can't right now.
What about me?
I still need to know that I matter, that I'm not forgotten.
It's more than you, it is more than me
Our dream of success is bigger than any one person's needs or desires.
No matter what we are, we are a family
Regardless of our differences, we are united.
This dream is for all of us, this one can be real,
We can all achieve our collective dream, if we work together.
And you cant stop us now because of how you feel
Your doubts or fears won't hold us back from achieving our goals.
Whatever dreams we have, there for the family,
All our dreams are interconnected and support each other.
We're not alone anymore now there are others there,
We have each other, we are not alone in this journey.
And that dreams big enough for all of us to share,
Our dream is so big, there's enough room for all of us to participate and benefit.
So don't think that your going,
Don't even think about leaving us behind, we need you.
You're not going anywhere, your staying and taking your share, and if
You are a part of this family and we won't let you give up on our shared dream.
You get afraid again, I'll be there
We will support each other through the tough times, we are in this together.
We are a family like a giant tree branching out towards the sky, we are a family we Are so much more than just you and I we are a family like a giant tree, Growing stronger, growing wiser, we are growing free
We are united and growing stronger together, like a tree reaching upward and outward.
We need you.
You are an important part of our family and our collective success.
We are a family
We are not just a group of individuals, we are a united family, with a shared dream.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM WHITLOCK, STEVE BATES, LARRY LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind