The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, and Fame. After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.
In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in Poetic Justice (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world's most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by Billboard magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album All for You in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural MTV Icon special.
The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation and released her eleventh studio album Unbreakable the same year. Since then she has continued to release music as an independent artist.
Having sold over 100 million records, Jackson is one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again", and "All for You"; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. One of the world's most awarded artists, her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jackson has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers and credited with elevating a standard of sound, showmanship and sex appeal expected of pop stars.
Got 'til Its Gone
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one about me
Oh yeah?
I like this song
Uh-uh like Joni says...
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's--
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's--
You don't know what you've got 'til it's--
Gone
Have a feelin
Now believin
That you were the one
I was meant to be with
Oh how I'm wishin
Thinkin dreamin
Bout you
And the love
How'd I ever let you get away?
Got 'til it's gone
Don't- don't- don't it always--,
Don't- don't- don't it always--
Got 'til it's gone
Don't- don't- don't it always--
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Joni Mitchell never lies
You don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
If I could turn back
The hands of time I'd make you
Fall in love
In love with me again
So would you give me
Another chance to love
To love you
In the right way no games
Got 'til it's gone
Don't- don't- don't it always--, Don't- don't- don't it always--
Here we go again...
Got 'til it's gone
Don't- don't- don't it always--, Don't- don't- don't it always--
Joni Mitchell never lies
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
1,2... 1,2...
Gone
Yo lemme just fuck wit it for a minute
You don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Now you're realizin when the nights go long right?
Campaign for me stay when you know that I'm gone right?
You act all wild when I tell you to settle
I was workin round the clock but your girls wanna meddle
Talkin bout, "I heard he swims with this chick on the beach."
That was out with the tide but my love you impeached
Now you lookin at the walls head in hand cold Jonezin
Ringin my house, hangin up, and then posin
Now why you wanna go and do that love huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that, huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that love huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that love huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that love huh?
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that and do that?
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
Joni Mitchell never lies
You don't know what you've got 'til it's
Gone
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
Dust
The song "Got 'til Its Gone" by Janet Jackson featuring Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell is a nostalgic ballad that speaks to the pain of losing someone or something that you took for granted. The song begins with an exchange between two people, presumably at a club or party, discussing the next song to be played. One person mentions that it's about the other person and the conversation turns to Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi," which includes the famous line "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." This phrase repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that we often don't appreciate what we have until it's taken away.
The lyrics progress to the singer expressing their regret and longing for someone they lost. They believe that this person was the one they were meant to be with, but they let them slip away. The singer wishes they could turn back time and make things right, begging for another chance to love the person in the right way. Q-Tip interjects towards the end of the song with a rap that further explores the consequences of taking someone for granted, ending with the repeated phrase "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."
The song's message is universal and relatable, as most people have experienced regret for taking someone or something for granted. The references to Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi" also add an extra layer of nostalgia and meaning to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
What's... what's the next song?
Janet Jackson inquires about the next song to be played.
The one about me
The song played is about Janet Jackson.
Oh yeah?
Janet Jackson shows interest in the upcoming song.
I like this song
Janet Jackson expresses her liking for the current song playing.
Uh-uh like Joni says...
Janet Jackson references Joni Mitchell's song 'Big Yellow Taxi' which deals with environmentalism and apathy.
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's--
Janet Jackson sings about not realizing the worth of something until it's gone.
Gone
The concept of loss and not fully appreciating something until it's gone is emphasized.
Have a feelin
Janet Jackson expresses her sentiment about having a feeling of love.
Now believin
Her feeling of love has turned into a full-fledged belief.
That you were the one
Janet Jackson strongly believes that her love interest was the one for her.
I was meant to be with
Janet Jackson feels like destiny planned for her to be with this person.
Oh how I'm wishin
Janet Jackson expresses her longing and desire for her love interest.
Thinkin dreamin
Janet Jackson is constantly thinking and dreaming about her love interest.
Bout you
Janet Jackson's thoughts and dreams are all about her love interest.
And the love
Janet Jackson's thoughts and dreams revolve around the love she shares with her interest.
How'd I ever let you get away?
Janet Jackson regrets letting her love interest go and wonders how it happened.
Don't- don't- don't it always--,
Janet Jackson repeats the message of not realizing what you have until it's gone.
Here we go again...
Janet Jackson starts repeating the same message again, reflecting on how common it is to take something for granted.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Janet Jackson affirms the point made in the previous repetition.
If I could turn back
Janet Jackson expresses her wish to have power over time and turn back the clock.
The hands of time I'd make you
Janet Jackson would make her love interest fall in love with her again.
Fall in love
Janet Jackson wants her love interest to feel the same love for her as she does for him.
In love with me again
Janet Jackson wants to reignite the love her interest once had for her.
So would you give me
Janet Jackson implores her love interest to give her another chance.
Another chance to love
Janet Jackson wants another opportunity to love her interest.
To love you
Janet Jackson wants to love her interest again.
In the right way no games
Janet Jackson wants to love her interest sincerely, without playing any games.
Now you're realizin when the nights go long right?
Janet Jackson sings about how her love interest is now realizing the value of their relationship now that she's gone.
Campaign for me stay when you know that I'm gone right?
Janet Jackson questions why her love interest wants her to stay when he didn't value her when she was there.
You act all wild when I tell you to settle
Janet Jackson points out how her love interest starts acting out when she wants him to settle down with her.
I was workin round the clock but your girls wanna meddle
Janet Jackson alludes to how her interest's friends were interfering in their relationship, causing issues.
Talkin bout, "I heard he swims with this chick on the beach."
Janet Jackson references rumors her interest's friends spread about him cheating.
That was out with the tide but my love you impeached
Janet Jackson confirms that the rumors were baseless, but her love interest still didn't trust her.
Now you lookin at the walls head in hand cold Jonezin
Janet Jackson sings about her love interest being alone and missing her now that she's gone.
Ringin my house, hangin up, and then posin
Janet Jackson's love interest is calling her but not really saying anything, just posing and trying to get her attention.
Now why you wanna go and do that love huh?
Janet Jackson questions why her love interest is behaving this way, now that she's gone.
Now why you wanna go and do that and do that, huh?
Janet Jackson repeats the same question, emphasizing the confusion and frustration she feels about her interest's behavior.
1,2... 1,2...
Janet Jackson counts down as if she's about to start rapping, but only repeats the same line again.
Yo lemme just fuck wit it for a minute
Janet Jackson takes a short break before repeating the same line again.
Dust
The song ends with the repetition of the word 'dust', possibly signifying the transience of things and how easily they can disappear.
Lyrics © JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DES'REE WEEKES, JAMES HARRIS, JAMES III HARRIS, JANET JACKSON, JONI MITCHELL, KAMAAL FAREED, MICHAEL GRAVES, TERRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mr Hood
Back in 97, I listened to this song on repeat, on a bus trip from Germany to Spain, for 8 straight hours.This song is pure Nostalgia.💕 🙏💗
Cris K
That sounds like a hell of a time and now a good memory!
Washington George
I was rocking this in Germany too..Wiesbaden to Vilseck to Graf..
Wordupmiman
I can do that too, 90s music makes me chill
Paola Ferreira
Oh wow! Love your comment! I did the same thing but now in 22.
burn your soul like ETHER
You know just what you got, so it's never gone
hsbthree
23 years later this song, the Grammy award winning video is a timeless classic. A precursor to the look and feel of some of Beyoncé and Solange’s work.
Janet Jackson is a Icon. Not debatable.
L. Hill
All For You compared to LEMONADE? Is it coke!?
The vvs show
FACTS
Brandon Frazier
@L. Hill girl this is from the Velvet Rope what are you talking about?