It's Not Fair
Janelle Monae Lyrics

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Day and night, I find myself
Trying to figure out a way to make this work somehow
But my emotions always get in the way
Of what I really mean to say
And it only makes things worse, somehow

It's not fair (it's not fair)
I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are

Oh it's, it's not fair (it's not fair)
I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are

It's like every time I talk to you
Things fall right apart again
'Cause I start feeling that emptiness
That lies deep in my heart
And this telephone
It won't change that im still alone
And I wish that things could go
Back to how they used to be before

It's not fair (it's not fair)
I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are
Oh it's, it's not fair (it's not fair)
I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are

Oh even a walk through the park is not the same
When you're not there
Even the picture frame it feels my pain
And who's to blame? All I know,

It's not fair (it's not fair)
I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are
Oh it's, it's not fair (it's not fair)
Oooh I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are

Ooh la la la la la
La la la la la lala
La la la la la lala la la
Ooh la la la la oooh
La la la la lala
La la la la la lala la oooh

Ooh It's, it's not fair
I wanna be there where you are

Oh it's, it's not fair
I wanna be there where you are

Overall Meaning

The song "It's Not Fair" by Janelle Monáe is about a love that is not working out due to the singer's emotions getting in the way. The lyrics reveal the singer's longing to be with her lover, but she keeps experiencing a feeling of emptiness that makes her believe that she is still alone. The singer cannot find the right words to express herself, and every time she communicates with her lover, things seem to fall apart. She wishes that things could go back to how they used to be before, but everything seems to be going downhill.

The chorus, "It's not fair, I wanna be there where you are" is repeated many times in the song, emphasizing the singer's desire to be with her lover. She feels that even a walk through the park is not the same when her lover is not around, and everything reminds her of him. However, despite her intense longing, the singer is unable to find a way to make the relationship work.

The song's rhythmic structure is in a 6/8 time signature, with a slow and pensive melody. Janelle Monáe displays her vocal range in the chorus and hits a high note during the bridge. The song is part of Monáe's Metropolis Suite series, which features a tale of a futuristic world where love is forbidden between humans and robots. The song features a Neo soul, Pop, and R&B genre.

Line by Line Meaning

Day and night, I find myself Trying to figure out a way to make this work somehow But my emotions always get in the way Of what I really mean to say And it only makes things worse, somehow
She spends all her time trying to fix their relationship, but despite her efforts, her emotions complicate things and she can't express what she wants to say, causing more problems.

It's not fair (it's not fair) I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are Oh it's, it's not fair (it's not fair) I wanna be there (wanna be there) where you are
She feels like it's not fair that she can't be with the person she loves and wants to be near them.

It's like every time I talk to you Things fall right apart again 'Cause I start feeling that emptiness That lies deep in my heart And this telephone It won't change that im still alone And I wish that things could go Back to how they used to be before
Every conversation with the person she loves ends up making things worse, as she feels the void in her heart and the phone can't replace physical presence. She wishes things could be like they were before.

Oh even a walk through the park is not the same When you're not there Even the picture frame it feels my pain And who's to blame? All I know,
She feels the absence of the loved one everywhere, even in a walk through the park or when looking at pictures. She wonders who or what is the cause of the situation.

Ooh la la la la la La la la la la lala La la la la la lala la la Ooh la la la la oooh La la la la lala La la la la la lala la oooh
These are the repeated lines of the chorus.

Ooh It's, it's not fair I wanna be there where you are Oh it's, it's not fair I wanna be there where you are
Repetition of the chorus.

Contributed by Anthony N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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