Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Monáe Robinson on December 1, 1985 in Kansas Ci… Read Full Bio ↴Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Monáe Robinson on December 1, 1985 in Kansas City, Kansas) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, actor and performer.

They moved to New York to study theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Their original plan was to pursue a career on Broadway, but they soon changed their mind and returned to music. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia in 2003, Monáe founded the Wondaland Arts Society with like-minded young artists, and made a couple of appearances on OutKast's 2006 album Idlewild, where they are featured on the songs "Call the Law" and "In Your Dreams".

By 2007, Monáe was ready to release her first solo work, titled Metropolis. It was originally conceived as a concept album in four parts, or suites, which were to be released through her website and mp3 download sites. After the release of the first part of the series, Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase in mid-2007, these plans were altered following them signing with Sean "Diddy" Combs' label, Bad Boy Records, later in the year. The label gave an official and physical release to the first suite in August 2008, which was retitled Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition) and included two new tracks. The EP was generally well-received by critics, gaining Monáe a 2009 Grammy nomination in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance for their single "Many Moons", festival appearances, and opening slots for the indie pop band Of Montreal. Monáe also toured as the opening act for band No Doubt on their summer 2009 tour.

In a November 2009 interview, Monáe revealed the title and concept behind her album The ArchAndroid. The second and third suites of Metropolis are combined into this full-length release, in which Monáe's alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather - also the protagonist of Metropolis: The Chase Suite - becomes a messiah-like figure to the android community of Metropolis.

Hum Along and Dance
Janelle Monáe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a fear in the air
And there's blood on the floor
Hear a deafening scream
Crying out for more
The city's on fire
Smoke is burning my eyes

I got one more chance in here

To come along and just hum along

And now dance
(Come on y'all)
Down down down gotta get down
Down down down

This might be our last night
The wolf's at the door
My stomach is growlin'
We all know the score
My legs are getting weary
My heart is so low

I got one more chance in here
To come along and just hum along
And now dance

(Come on y'all!) down down down
Gotta get down

Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down down down
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down down down down
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
I'll need you to come along and just hum along
And now dance (you better hold on, when you're staying alive, you're staying together)
Hey, hey, it's go, go, go
Gotta make a fire, when you're home alone (down down down down)

Gotta get down (to get up) (got to get on it)
Gotta get down (to get up) (got to get on it)
Gotta get down (to get up) (got to get on it)
Gotta get down (to get up) (got to get on it)

Down down down
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down (to get up)
Gotta get down down down down

Now dance
Get on down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Janelle Monáe's song "Hum Along and Dance" paint a vivid picture of a chaotic and uncertain situation. The opening lines, "There's a fear in the air, and there's blood on the floor," suggest a feeling of danger and violence. The following line, "Hear a deafening scream, crying out for more," adds to the intensity and urgency of the scene. The imagery of the city being on fire and smoke burning the singer's eyes further emphasizes the chaotic and dire circumstances.

Despite the fear and chaos, the lyrics express a belief in resilience and the power of unity. The lines "I got one more chance in here, to come along and just hum along" imply that even amidst the chaos, there is still hope for connection and solidarity. The act of humming along represents finding solace in music, using it as a means to cope and find strength.

The second verse continues to convey a sense of urgency. The mention of a wolf at the door and a growling stomach suggests a struggle for survival. The lyrics depict weariness and a heavy heart, reflecting the toll that the uncertain situation has taken on the singer. Yet, there is still a determination to persevere and find solace through music, as evidenced by the repeated refrain of "one more chance" and the call to dance.

The repetitions of "gotta get down (to get up)" throughout the song can be interpreted as a call to action. It encourages the listener to embrace the chaos and darkness in order to find a way out or to rise above the challenges they are facing. The repeated phrase "gotta get down (to get up)" suggests that sometimes one needs to hit rock bottom in order to find the strength to rise and overcome.

Overall, "Hum Along and Dance" captures the emotions of fear, chaos, resilience, and determination in the face of uncertainty. It implores the listener to find solace in music and to embrace the chaos as a means to move forward and find strength. The call to dance serves as a metaphorical representation of finding joy and unity amidst adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a fear in the air
The atmosphere is filled with a sense of anxiety and unease

And there's blood on the floor
Evidence of violence is visible, indicating a dangerous situation

Hear a deafening scream
A loud cry for help or expression of pain

Crying out for more
Desperately seeking something beyond the current circumstance

The city's on fire
The urban environment is engulfed in chaos and destruction

Smoke is burning my eyes
The smoke from the fire is causing discomfort and impairing vision

I got one more chance in here
There is a final opportunity present

To come along and just hum along
To participate passively and find solace in music

And now dance
To engage in movement and find release

(Come on y'all) Down down down gotta get down
Encouragement to immerse oneself fully in the energy and rhythm

This might be our last night
There is a possibility that this is the final evening

The wolf's at the door
Symbolic representation of imminent danger or threat

My stomach is growlin'
Feeling of hunger or emptiness

We all know the score
Understanding the difficult reality of the situation

My legs are getting weary
Experiencing physical exhaustion

My heart is so low
Emotional state characterized by sadness or despair

Gotta get down (to get up)
Need to lower oneself initially to eventually rise or improve

I'll need you to come along and just hum along
Request for support and unity through music

Hey, hey, it's go, go, go
Energetic call to action and movement

Gotta make a fire, when you're home alone
Necessity to ignite passion and resilience even in isolation

Gotta get down (to get up) (got to get on it)
Reiteration of the need to temporarily descend to eventually ascend

Now dance
Continue to actively engage in the act of dancing

Get on down
Encouragement to fully embrace the rhythm and groove

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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