Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966 in Gary, IN) is an American sing… Read Full Bio ↴Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966 in Gary, IN) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreography became a catalyst in the growth of MTV, enabling her to rise to prominence while breaking gender and racial barriers in the process. Lyrical content which focused on social issues set her reputation as a role model for youth.

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.

LP Version
Janet Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've seen the world, been to many places
Made lots of friends, many different races
I've had such fun around the world it's true
African skies with a Nairobi mood, ooh
I fell asleep in Tuscany and dreamed
The one thing missing was you

Runaway with me my love

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Runaway with me my love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I woke up with an Australian breeze
And danced the dance with Aborigines
Oh under the moon glow down in Mexico I dreamed
One thing was missing that's you

Runaway with me my love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Runaway with me my love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

We'll sail the waters of many colours
We won't need a compass, love will guide our way
Don't need nobody, as long as we got each other
No need to hurry, we've got everyday
I wanna share the world with you, you see
Spring time in Paris feels so good to me
Oh this is for me reality
So please make all my wishes come true

Runaway with me my love,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

And I just know we'll have a good time, ooh
And I just know we'll have a good time, ah
And I just know we'll have a good time
And I just know we'll have a good time

And I just know we'll have a good time
And I just know we'll have a good time, yeah

Overall Meaning

Janet Jackson's song "Runaway" is about the desire to escape with a loved one and explore the world together. The lyrics describe the many adventures the singer has had traveling to different countries and experiencing different cultures, but how those experiences are incomplete without the person they love by their side. The chorus repeatedly urges the person to "runaway" with them, highlighting their desire to leave behind any obligations or responsibilities and simply be with each other.

The song creates a vivid picture of the places the singer has been, from the Nairobi skies to Tuscan vineyards to dancing with Aborigines in Australia. The lyrics emphasize the freedom that comes with traveling and the joy of experiencing new things, but ultimately suggest that it is the connection with another person that truly makes those experiences meaningful.

The verses describe the almost mystical power of love, how it can guide and sustain the couple as they journey together. The singer dreams of sailing the seas with their partner, relying solely on their love to navigate their way. The song conveys a sense of urgency, urging the person to join them on this adventure as soon as possible, suggesting that their love is the missing piece that will make their lives complete.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen the world, been to many places
I have traveled to various destinations across the globe.

Made lots of friends, many different races
I have met and made friends from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.

I've had such fun around the world it's true
I have enjoyed my time exploring different parts of the world.

African skies with a Nairobi mood, ooh
I have experienced the beautiful African skies with a unique Nairobi vibe.

I fell asleep in Tuscany and dreamed
I slept in Tuscany and had a dream.

The one thing missing was you
The only missing piece in my travels was having you with me.

Runaway with me my love
Come travel with me and explore the world together.

We'll sail the waters of many colours
We will set sail on the seas of diverse colors.

We won't need a compass, love will guide our way
We won't require a navigational tool, as our love will steer us.

Don't need nobody, as long as we got each other
We don't need anyone else, as long as we have each other.

No need to hurry, we've got everyday
We can take our time, as we have every single day to enjoy.

I wanna share the world with you, you see
It is my desire to explore and experience the world alongside you.

Spring time in Paris feels so good to me
I particularly enjoy springtime in Paris.

Oh this is for me reality
This is my actual reality.

So please make all my wishes come true
Please fulfill my desires and let's travel and explore the world together.

And I just know we'll have a good time, ooh
I am confident that we will enjoy our travels together.

And I just know we'll have a good time, ah
I am absolutely convinced that we will have a great time.

And I just know we'll have a good time
I am certain that our journey together would be amazing.

And I just know we'll have a good time
I am confident that our experience would be incredible.

And I just know we'll have a good time
I am positive that our trip would be fun-filled.

And I just know we'll have a good time, yeah
I firmly believe that we would undoubtedly have an unforgettable time.

Lyrics © JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, JANET DAMITA JO JACKSON, TERRY LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Jojo Manley

1y↑3

I absolutely love this version of If. This was the first songs I heard of Empress Of Pop Janet Jackson on MTV when I was 7 years old. I was so mesmerized by her smile & her agility dancing. Been a Janet fan since her classic 1993 Virgin Records album janet. released on May 18th 1993 just 2 days after her 27th birthday