Ghetto Woman
Janelle Monáe feat. Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see you working night to morning light yet no one cares
Carry on Ghetto Woman
Cause even though they laugh and talk about the clothes you wear
I wish they could just realize
That all you’ve ever needed was someone to free your mind
Carry on Ghetto Woman
Cause even in your darkest hours I still see your light
And when you cry don’t you know that I am crying with you?
When people put you down, yeah way down and you feel
like you’re alone
Let love be your guide
You were built to last through any weather
Oh Ghetto Woman hold on to your dreams
And all your great philosophies
You’re the reason I believe in me, for real
Carry on Ghetto Woman
When you doubt if you’re a star, just know we still believe
Carry on Ghetto Woman
Even when the news portrays you less than you could be
I wish they could just realize
All you ever needed was someone to free your mind
Carry on Ghetto Woman
You’re the 7th wonder reigning over us at night
When you cry, don’t you know we’re right there crying with you
People put you down, yeah way down and you feel like you’re alone
Let love be your guide
You were built to last through any weather
Oh Ghetto Woman hold on to your dreams and all your great philosophies
You’re the reason I believe in me, for real
Some say this ghetto land will take you down and poison you
Some say she can do all the things a man can do
Who said the ghetto’s just a place where queens dance naked on the moon?
We say a woman came to change the face of each and every room
When I was just a baby my momma dropped out of school
It was only second semester the baby due
The doctor said “December the first your due date”
The daddy he was gone off to college he couldn’t wait
Only just a teen with dreams to be on TV
And living with a mom and my grandma who used to feed me
We would move around in the city place to place
The landlord come for the rent face to face
Her eyes too heavy from working nights as a janitor
She’d keep it to herself and nobody could understand her
Even when she thought that she couldn’t she carried on
She couldn’t imagine both of her daughters here all alone
Before the tuxedos and black and white every day
Used to watch my momma get down on her knees and pray
She’s the reason that I’m even writing this song
Ghetto Woman no it won’t be long. Now sing along
Let it use you
Let it use you
When the love is strong
It won’t let you be alone
Let it use you
Just let the spirit lead you
The song "Ghetto Woman" by Janelle Monáe featuring Prince is an empowering tribute to women from marginalized communities who face daily struggles and obstacles, yet still manage to persevere and shine brightly. The lyrics express gratitude for their unwavering strength and hope for their dreams and aspirations. The chorus urges them to carry on, even through the toughest of times, with the knowledge that they are not alone.
Throughout the song, Janelle speaks directly to these women, letting them know that she sees their struggles and feels their pain. She tells them that they are not defined by the opinions of others, and that they should hold on to their dreams and philosophies. The song also mentions the misconceptions associated with living in a ghetto or marginalized community, and how women take on the responsibility of changing society's perception of them.
Moreover, the song is full of compassion and love, reminding women that they are not alone in their struggles. The lyrics make a powerful statement about the strength of the human spirit and the importance of mutual support in overcoming adversity. Overall, "Ghetto Woman" is a beautiful tribute to women who are often overlooked and undervalued in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Carry on Ghetto Woman
Keep going, strong woman of the ghetto
I see you working night to morning light yet no one cares
I see you working tirelessly when no one seems to appreciate or acknowledge you
Cause even though they laugh and talk about the clothes you wear
People may ridicule your appearance and make fun of your clothes
I wish they could just realize that all you’ve ever needed was someone to free your mind
I wish they could see that all you need is someone to help you break out of the mental barriers holding you back
Cause even in your darkest hours I still see your light
Even when you're at your lowest, I can still see the spark within you that inspires me
When people put you down, yeah way down and you feel like you’re alone
When people insult and belittle you to the extent that you feel completely isolated
Let love be your guide
Let love guide your actions and decisions
You were built to last through any weather
You are strong enough to withstand any challenge or obstacle thrown your way
Oh Ghetto Woman hold on to your dreams and all your great philosophies
Hold on tightly to your dreams and the beliefs and values that guide you
You’re the reason I believe in me, for real
Your strength and perseverance inspire me to believe in myself
When you doubt if you’re a star, just know we still believe
When you feel like you're not living up to your potential, know that I still have faith in you
Even when the news portrays you less than you could be
Even when the media paints a negative picture of you, remember that you have much more potential than what they show
You’re the 7th wonder reigning over us at night
You are a marvel to behold, and even the darkness cannot diminish your light
Let love be your guide
Once again, remember to let love guide your actions and decisions
Some say this ghetto land will take you down and poison you
Some people believe that living in the ghetto will break you down and harm your spirit
We say a woman came to change the face of each and every room
We believe that a strong woman can change and improve any environment she enters
Even when she thought that she couldn’t she carried on
Even when she felt like giving up, she kept moving forward
Just let the spirit lead you
Allow your inner spirit to guide you and determine your path
Contributed by Xavier I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.