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.
Screwed
Janelle Monáe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live my life on a TV screen
I live my life on birth control
I lost my mind on rock and roll
And I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed
But I go sex crazy
But I feel so screwed
Sex, body
We're gonna crash your party
Let's get screwed
I don't care
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
Let's get, let's get screwed
I, I don't care
We'll put water in your guns
We'll do it all for fun
Let's get screwed
Wanna get screwed on a holiday
(Wanna get screwed on a holiday)
Wanna get screwed in a matinee
(Wanna get screwed in a matinee)
Wanna get screwed at a festival
(Wanna get screwed at a festival)
Wanna get screwed like an animal
And I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed
And ah, ah, ah, it's your birthday, baby
'Bout we go sex crazy
But we feel so screwed
Sex, body
We're gonna crash your party
Let's get screwed
I don't care
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
Let's get, let's get screwed
I, I don't care
We'll put water in your guns
We'll do it all for fun
Let's get, let's get screwed
See, everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
You screw me and I'll screw you too
Everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
Now ask yourself who's screwing you
Let's get screwed
I don't care, I don't care
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
Let's get screwed
I don't care
We'll put your water in your guns
We'll do it all for fun
Let's get screwed
I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed
And ah, ah, ah, it's your birthday, baby
But we go sex crazy
But we feel so screwed
I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed
(We're so screwed)
Let's get screwed
I don't care
Let's get screwed
I don't care
See everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
You screw me and I'll screw you too
Everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
Now ask yourself who's screwing you
Hundred men telling me cover up my areolas
While they blocking equal pay, sippin' on they Coca Colas
Fake news, fake boobs, fake food what's real?
Still in The Matrix eatin' on the blue pills
The devil met with Russia and they just made a deal
We was marching through the street, they were blocking every bill
I'm tired of hoteps tryna tell me how to feel
For real
The song Screwed by Janelle Monae is a political statement about the state of the world today, with a focus on the impact of sex and power. The song starts with Janelle describing how she lives her life in a magazine, on a TV screen, and on birth control. She also mentions how she lost her mind on rock and roll. The lyrics "And I, I, I hear the sirens calling, and the bombs are falling in the streets" give an indication that she is talking about the chaotic and dangerous state of the world. She emphasizes the fact that we are all screwed and that it's not perfect but we go sex crazy. The song continues on to talk about sex, body, and power, making the connection between sex and power, and how they are used to control people. She encourages people to fight against power and screw back.
Janelle also emphasizes the negative impact that fake news, fake boobs, and fake food have on the world. The line "Hundred men telling me cover up my areolas, while they blocking equal pay, sippin' on they Coca Colas" talks about the hypocrisy of men telling women to cover up while they are not providing equal pay. The song is a call to action to fight back and take control of the situation. Janelle encourages people to come together and put water in their guns, do it all for fun, and get screwed.
In summary, Screwed is a political statement about the state of the world and the impact of sex and power. Janelle Monae encourages people to fight against power and screw back, to take control of the situation and have fun doing it.
Line by Line Meaning
I live my life in a magazine
My life is controlled by societal expectations and standards reflected in magazines.
I live my life on a TV screen
My life is influenced by what's shown on TV.
I live my life on birth control
I use birth control to take control of my own body.
I lost my mind on rock and roll
I went wild and reckless because of the influence of rock and roll music.
And the bombs are falling in the streets
There is chaos and destruction happening in the world.
We're all screwed
We are all helpless to the destructive forces around us.
But I go sex crazy
I turn to sex as a release from the stressful world around me.
Sex, body
Sex is all about the physical body.
We're gonna crash your party
We are going to shake things up and challenge the status quo.
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
The world has been ruined and we are going to tear it all down too.
Wanna get screwed on a holiday
I want to experience wild, uninhibited sex on a holiday.
Everything is sex, except sex, which is power
Everything in life revolves around sex, except for real power.
Now ask yourself who's screwing you
You need to think about who is in control of your life and taking advantage of your vulnerability.
While they blocking equal pay, sippin' on they Coca Colas
Those in power are neglecting important issues such as equal pay for women while they indulge in luxuries.
Fake news, fake boobs, fake food what's real?
Everything around us is fake and we need to question what's actually real.
The devil met with Russia and they just made a deal
There are powerful people making corrupt deals behind the scenes.
We was marching through the street, they were blocking every bill
We were protesting for change, but those in power were preventing progress by blocking laws and regulations.
I'm tired of hoteps tryna tell me how to feel
I'm exhausted with people trying to dictate how I should think and feel.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ben Hudson Mcildowie, Charles L. Joseph, Janelle Monae Robinson, Nathaniel Irvin, Roman Irvin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mauricio Quiroz
I live my life in a magazine
I live my life on a TV screen
I live my life on birth control
I lost my mind on rock and roll
And I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed!
And ah, ah, ah, it's not perfect, baby
But I go sex crazy
But I feel so screwed
Sex, body
We're gonna crash your party
Let's get screwed!
I don't care
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
Let's get, let's get screwed
I, I don't care
We'll put water in your guns
We'll do it all for fun
Let's get screwed
Wanna get screwed on a holiday
(Wanna get screwed on a holiday)
Wanna get screwed in a matinee
(Wanna get screwed in a matinee)
Wanna get screwed at a festival
(Wanna get screwed at a festival)
Wanna get screwed like an animal
And I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed!
And ah, ah, ah, it's your birthday, baby
'Bout we go sex crazy
But we feel so screwed!
Sex, body
We're gonna crash your party
Let's get screwed!
I don't care
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
Let's get, let's get screwed!
I, I don't care
We'll put water in your guns
We'll do it all for fun
Let's get, let's get screwed
See, everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
You screw me and I'll screw you too
Everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
Now ask yourself who's screwing you
Let's get screwed!
I don't care, I don't care
You fucked the world up now, we'll fuck it all back down
Let's get screwed!
I don't care
We'll put your water in your guns
We'll do it all for fun
Let's get screwed
I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed
And ah, ah, ah, it's your birthday, baby
But we go sex crazy
But we feel so screwed!
I, I, I hear the sirens calling
And the bombs are falling in the streets
We're all screwed!
Let's get screwed
I don't care
Let's get screwed
I don't care
See everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
You screw me and I'll screw you too
Everything is sex
Except sex, which is power
You know power is just sex
Now ask yourself who's screwing you
Hundred men telling me cover up my areolas
While they blocking equal pay, sippin' on they Coca Colas
Fake news, fake boobs, fake food what's real?
Still in The Matrix eatin' on the blue pills
The devil met with Russia and they just made a deal
We was marching through the street, they were blocking every bill
I'm tired of hoteps tryna tell me how to feel
For real
Grace
Janelle is seriously one of the most underrated artists
Galore
LOVE LOVE LOVE J
Sam Galloway
haha what???? Dirty Computer is my favorite album of the year but it's absolutely not underrated, it's pretty consistently landed near the top of Best Albums of 2018 lists
Lou
@Sam Galloway she's pretty famous in the US but worldwide she's not that famous (at least in france)
Dewayne Ocain
it's you who underrated Janelle...
Atyab M
Getting a lot of exposure recently , Coachella headlining , Glastonbury headlining and nominated for 2 Grammy's along with a number of other awards
Luis Carvalho
I'm so proud of this girl. We need to thank Janelle for representing the victims of discrimination by the society, like the LGBT community and POC. I'm apart of both so I can't express how grateful I am for her and her work
Luis Carvalho
@Fruits are life "tired of hoteps tryna tell me how feel"
Avatar Lhamo
What is POC ??
Malte Micha
@Luis Carvalho The USA is no longer like that they accept everybody. The LGBT crowd in San Francisco is not a friendly crowd to those who are not like them and that's a fact.