Neon Valley Street
Janelle Monáe Lyrics
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May your ears love the sweet melody
Every note, every chord
I've arranged them for you and for me
May the sound of my voice be your guide
Bring you closer to me
Let us bathe in the noise
For now, I'll pretend
I'm holding your hand
May this song reach your heart
May this song reach your heart
May this song reach your heart
May this song journey on to you
We met alone forbidden in the city
Running fast through time like Tubman and John Henry
But the time was wrong
Illegal aliens moaned
It's such a pity that the city's just a danger zone
Atomic blues bombing hearts like Iraqis in Babylon
The droid control will take your soul and rate it
Berate, slay it
You hate it and debate it but you don't get caught
And outlaw outrunning the law, ha
May the strings make you smile
May they always remind you of me
For now let's pretend
I'm holding your hand
May this song reach your heart
May this song reach your heart
May this song reach your heart
May this song journey on for you
In Neon Valley Street, Janelle Monáe is singing about longing to be with someone who is far away. She hopes that the song will reach the person's heart and that the melody, notes and chords will be pleasing to their ears. The song has been arranged by Janelle Monáe herself for both her and the other person, which could suggest that the song is personal to her. She wants the sound of her voice to be a guide for the other person, bringing them closer to her, and for them to be able to bathe in the noise of the song. Janelle Monáe seems to be expressing her desire for the other person to reciprocate her love and for their love to speak back to her. She acknowledges that they are not physically together at the moment, but she wants them to pretend that they are holding hands. She repeats the phrase "may this song reach your heart" as if to emphasize her hope that the other person will connect with her on an emotional level through the music.
The second half of the song takes a darker turn. It seems to describe the struggle the two of them are facing in trying to be together. Being together is "forbidden" and they are "illegal aliens" trying to navigate a dangerous city. The reference to Harriet Tubman and John Henry suggests that they are on the run, fighting to survive. The atomic blues bombing hearts is a metaphor for the explosions of pain and heartache that are threatening to destroy their love. The droid control taking their souls and rating them is possibly a reference to the way that technology can control us and affect our emotions, making us feel like we're not in control of our own lives. Janelle Monáe describes herself as an outlaw, outrunning the law, which suggests that she is determined to fight for their love and do whatever it takes to be with the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
May this song reach your heart
Janelle Monáe hopes that the emotions she expresses in this song will resonate with the listener's heart.
May your ears love the sweet melody
Janelle Monáe desires the listener to appreciate the pleasing tune of her music.
Every note, every chord
Janelle Monáe has meticulously composed every musical tone to have a specific meaning.
I've arranged them for you and for me
Janelle Monáe has intentionally arranged the melody to tell a story that connects with both the listener and herself.
May the sound of my voice be your guide
Janelle Monáe wants the sound of her voice to lead the listener through the different emotions and themes of the song.
Bring you closer to me
Janelle Monáe desires to form a connection with the listener through her music.
Let us bathe in the noise
Janelle Monáe wants to immerse the listener in the music and the feelings that it brings out.
Let the love in your heart speak to me
Janelle Monáe wishes for the listener to express themselves emotionally through her music, forging a deeper connection with her.
For now, I'll pretend
Janelle Monáe will imagine holding the listener's hand as if they were together in person.
We met alone forbidden in the city
The relationship between Janelle Monáe and the listener is forbidden, possibly due to cultural, societal, or personal reasons.
Running fast through time like Tubman and John Henry
Janelle Monáe and the listener are connected through their shared struggles and are using their relationship to push back against unjust systems.
But the time was wrong
Despite their connection, Janelle Monáe and the listener's relationship is hindered by an unfortunate timing.
Illegal aliens moaned
The singer references the plight of illegal immigrants and how their struggles resonate with her own story.
It's such a pity that the city's just a danger zone
Janelle Monáe's location is a hostile environment, making it difficult to form a long-lasting connection with her listener.
Atomic blues bombing hearts like Iraqis in Babylon
Janelle Monáe compares the struggles of the Iraqi people in Babylon to the struggles that many people face in their daily lives that can ravage the heart.
The droid control will take your soul and rate it
Janelle Monáe speaks to a system that dehumanizes people and rates them based on a set of standards that are beyond their control.
Berate, slay it
Janelle Monáe speaks to the negative messages that are often directed at people, stifling their growth and self-esteem.
You hate it and debate it but you don't get caught
Janelle Monáe is aware that many people are aware of these problems, but are unable to change them due to outside factors
And outlaw outrunning the law, ha
Janelle Monáe encourages the listener to rebel against societal norms and forge their own path, no matter the consequences.
May the strings make you smile
Janelle Monáe wants the listener to feel the joy and happiness found within the melody's strings.
May they always remind you of me
Janelle Monáe hopes that the listener always associates the joyful emotions and memories found within the song with her.
May this song journey on to you
Janelle Monáe hopes this music continues to resonate with the listener and journey with them through their experiences.
Contributed by Zoe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.