This Time
Janet Jackson Lyrics


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Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

After all I've done for you

This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, I must get away
This time, you've gone too far (yeah, yeah)
This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, you've got to pay
This time, you've gone too far

You runnin 'round with those nasty hoes
How long did you think I could take this?
He says to me, "that's the way life goes"
How long did you think I could take this?

I should have known
Oh, you weren't for real
But my love for you kept on strong
You better know you're gonna miss my love
And now you know that I'm not still holdin' on
That's right, all of my friends say

This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, I must get away
This time, you've gone too far (yeah, yeah)
This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, you've got to pay
This time, you've gone too far

You've played the game
But you played yourself
Oh boy, take a look at who's sorry now
You're not the same
Oh, how you have changed
So now look at you, it's a damn shame

I don't care if I never ever see your face again
You broke my heart one too many times, oh
You think that I'm, I'm just not that strong
My bags are packed, watch me walk right through that door

This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, I must get away
This time, you've gone too far (really gone too far)
This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, you've got to pay (you have got to pay)
This time, you've gone too far

Walkin 'round with nasty hoes
Tellin' me that's the way life goes
No, baby you've gone way too far
Said to me that I'm not that strong
Watch me walk right through that door
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah

This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, I must get away
This time, you've gone too far (really gone too far)
This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, you've got to pay
This time, you've gone too far

This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, I must get away
This time, you've gone too far (really gone, really gone too far)
This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, you've got to pay
This time, you've gone too far

Ah, gone too far
Ah, gone too far
Ah, gone too, ah, gone too, ah, gone too far

This time, I'm not gonna stay
This time, I must get away
This time, you've gone too far (ah, gone too far)
This time, I'm not gonna stay (ah, gone too far)
This time, you've got to pay (ah, gone too far)
This time, you've gone too far
(Ah, gone too, ah, gone too, ah, gone too far)





You're dismissed

Overall Meaning

This song is clearly a song of empowerment after a bad breakup characterized by infidelity. Janet Jackson seems to have tolerated her lover's indiscretions for a while as evidenced by the lines, "After all I've done for you, how long did you think I could take this?" However, she has now reached her limit, and in the chorus, she declares her decision to leave, insisting that this time she will not stay. Furthermore, her lover has gone too far, and he must pay for it. The song continues with her lover attempting to make amends, but it's already too late since she has moved on, and she's not looking back. The song's pace is relentless, a perfect representation of the empowerment she feels.


Line by Line Meaning

After all I've done for you
I have done so much for you, yet things have ended up this way


This time, I'm not gonna stay
I cannot bear to stay in this situation any longer


This time, I must get away
I need to escape this harmful situation I'm in


This time, you've gone too far (yeah, yeah)
Your actions have crossed a line that can't be ignored


You runnin 'round with those nasty hoes
You've been hanging out with promiscuous women behind my back


How long did you think I could take this?
I can no longer tolerate your deceitful behavior


He says to me, 'that's the way life goes'
He rationalizes his behavior as a natural consequence of life


I should have known
I regret not recognizing your true nature earlier


Oh, you weren't for real
You were not authentic in our relationship


But my love for you kept on strong
Despite your deceptive behavior, my love for you persisted


You better know you're gonna miss my love
You will regret losing the love I gave you


And now you know that I'm not still holdin' on
I have accepted that our relationship is over


That's right, all of my friends say
My friends agree with my decision to end this relationship


You've played the game
You've been playing a game of deception and manipulation


But you played yourself
Your actions have caused your own downfall


Oh boy, take a look at who's sorry now
You are now regretful and apologetic, but it's too late


You're not the same
Your behavior has changed for the worse


Oh, how you have changed
You are no longer the person I thought you were


So now look at you, it's a damn shame
Your behavior has led to your own demise


I don't care if I never ever see your face again
I no longer want to have any contact with you


You broke my heart one too many times, oh
Your repeated deceitful actions have caused me emotional pain


You think that I'm, I'm just not that strong
You underestimate my strength to leave this toxic relationship


My bags are packed, watch me walk right through that door
I am leaving this relationship and nothing will stop me


Ah, gone too far
Your actions have irreparably damaged our relationship


You're dismissed
I am ending this relationship and no longer acknowledging your presence




Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Harris III, Janet Jackson, Terry Lewis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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