Emerging from the English-Indian underground, Sean's first album featured political content as well as emotional songwriting baring his personal insecurities and struggles, all of it drawing influence from the traditional pop music of India (such as Bhangra). Released 8 November 2004 in the U.K., January 2005 in Malaysia, and February 2005 in India on 2Point9 Records, Relentless Records, and Virgin Records, 'Me Against Myself' achieved highly supportive critical reviews, with Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music praising Sean's work as "an album of phenomenally accomplished R&B". His release was certified as multi-platinum in his native India and gold in the U.K. His three singles (composed with help from Sean's mentor Rishi Rich) also met with British chart success: "Dance With You" (#12), "Eyes On You" (#6), and "Stolen" (#4).
Sean's touring, as well as the success of his singles in clubs, led Tareck Ghoneim of Contactmusic.com to call Sean an "Asian sensation". Still, he had his eyes on breaking into the U.S. while also keeping his stride with the U.K. charts, and he wanted as well to incorporate more of a slick pop sound to his coming work. His sophomore release, 'My Own Way', featured him on the cover looking as dapper in his light brown suit as a master of business. Released 12 May 2008 on Jayded Records and 2Point9 Records, the work suffered from various leaks and also received some mixed reviews from critics.
Nonetheless, the album became commercially successful in the U.K., reaching #6 on the U.K. Albums Chart and #1 on the UK R&B Chart. It eventually became certified platinum. Lead single "Ride It" also garnered major airplay throughout Europe, featuring Sean remarking about "all about the games people play across the dance-floor on a night out". Momentum building, his third studio album, 'All or Nothing', came out 23 November 2009 with strong promotion in the U.S.
International top 40 singles "Down" and "Do You Remember" cemented Sean's status as a global superstar. With massive tours leading him from TV show to stadium across countries, "Down" (also known as "Down (Feat. Lil' Wayne)" and other titles due to Lil' Wayne's presence) in particular hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming later known as one of the iconic singles of 2009 in American memory. Other nation's listeners also gave his singles strong airplay.
The first official single from Jay Sean's fourth studio album, titled 'Worth It All', was "I'm All Yours", which he sent for airplay on April 18, 2012. The song featured rapper and entertainer Pitbull. Although not quite achiving as much success as he had hoped in the U.S., it became a major international hit, reaching the top 40 in both Germany and New Zealand, and it ended up being mutli-platinum certified in Australia.
When it comes to the business of being a singer there are artists, there are stars and there are phenomenons. Jay Sean is all of the above. The proof is in the press, the sales, the fans and above all, the music.
ALL OR NOTHING is both Jay Sean's first American release and first for Cash Money/Universal Republic Records. But while it's his debut over here, the 29-year-old Pop/R&B singer/songwriter/producer has been a major sensation and multi-platinum artist over there since 2004; releasing two smash albums, scoring two top ten singles, nominated for Britain's heralded MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award twice and building a worldwide, fervid fan-base that stretches from Russia to Australia to NYC.
In some ways ALL OR NOTHING is the best of both worlds. Featuring sizzling, brand new tracks like the lead off single "Down" (featuring label mate Lil' Wayne), ALL OR NOTHING also includes some of the songs that helped Jay Sean blow up around the rest of the world.
One of those songs is "Ride It" written "strictly on a vibe," built on a hypnotic, sinewy track, and delivered with Jay Sean's slick vocals. The video for "Ride It" clocked an astonishing 12 million hits on You Tube (20+ million hits across all online video channels) and captivated fans everywhere; including Cash/Money Records CEO and co-founder, Ronald "Slim" Williams who was turned on to Jay Sean's music by one of the singer's producers. Slim liked what he heard and proved it by making Jay Sean the first UK artist to join the Cash/Money family.
The match up of Nawlins swagger and UK Pop/R&B drives ALL OR NOTHING's first single "Down" ft/ Cash/Money soldier Lil' Wayne. Already taking radio by storm, "Down" resulted from a conversation that began about what's wrong in the world, and blossomed into a celebration of everything that's right - namely love.
Offers Jay Sean, "I'm a very positive, optimistic person and thought let me write a song about the idea that if you've got someone special in your life then nothing else really matters how you need to appreciate the little things. The title is a play on the word 'down.' That's why Lil' Wayne says, 'Are you down like the economy.' It's a fun, very easy track something to pump in your car."
Another mid tempo breeze born out of real life is "War." The message? "To battle with anybody, whether it's your girl, family or another country never solved anything," explains Jay Sean.
It is that mix of introspection and keenly crafted Pop/R&B songs that has brought Jay Sean from where he was to where he is.
Born and raised in London, England and of Indian/Punjabi heritage, Jay Sean started rapping at 12 and credits rap with helping him structure, produce and write songs. Inspired by R&B stars Jodeci, Brian McKnight, Joe, and Musiq Soulchild, Jay Sean started singing hooks and then stepped it up.
Amazingly, at the same time he was exploring his artistic side, Jay Sean was at med school; surely a steadier profession than "pop-star." Luckily Jay Sean's parents had his back.
"It wasn't as though they suddenly went 'you sing?' Jay Sean laughs. "They knew there might be a strong possibility I'd do music. They told me, 'The same way you apply yourself to your studies you have to work hard doing music.' That's always stayed with me."
Jay Sean's songs caught the attention of a producer putting together a groundbreaking project fusing traditional Punjabi music and contemporary Pop/R&B. As soon as the single dropped, Jay Sean became the face and voice of a new generation.
"It was so interesting that the kids who love listening to Pop/R&B and traditional Indian music said, 'What the hell is this, it's brand new.'"
Along with galvanizing a heretofore, untapped demographic, Jay Sean caught the ears of the industry, because as he explains, "The English labels knew I had this huge following.
His solo debut ME AGAINST MYSELF dropped in 2004 and exploded on the Internet. Jay Sean toured through Europe, South East Asia, as well as spot dates in the US. He even performed, with Akon, at the Ruler of Dubai's daughter's sweet sixteen. In India, this album outsold Jay-Z, Britney Spears and Madonna.
"I have a heavy fan-base in many countries including India. I'm in a minority culture but in many countries, there's still Indians there and they all knew me," says Jay Sean.
After dealing with creative issues and the desire to change his musical direction to straight-forward Pop/R&B, Jay Sean made the decision in 2008 to go for self.
"I realized I had a global fan base so why not make the music myself?"
Those instincts paid off and then some when MY OWN WAY, his first release on his own label, Jayded Records, out sold and then some Jay Sean's prior effort. The album peaked at #6 on the UK album chart.
All of which brings Jay Sean to ALL OR NOTHING and a future that is just beginning.
Speaking with a refreshing mix of humility and confidence, Jay Sean says, "I've got a different up-bringing and take on a music that you guys make so well and would like to think that I'm a fresh new face and voice. Hopefully American audiences will like it. People always like a change. That's what I have to offer."
See: www.jaysean.com
Walking Alone
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Troubled boat again
Trying hard to find a way
For though blows me all the same
And I'm tired of holding on
When there's nothing more to gain
I'd rather stand here on the dock
And watch it all just sail away
This sail has no wind
The wind has no sea
The sea has no shore anymore
I'm walking these streets all by myself
I know its my fault, and no one else
And there's nobody here to save me
I'm walking alone
And if I look lonely, that's alright
Cause I'm the only one left in my life
And there's no one to save me
I'm walking alone
In a word that lives in graces
I'm a grain amongst the sand
I never took the time to get to know
The person that i am
And maybe I was just caught up
Up in the race and so I'd run
And i hadn't even stop
To see the man that I've become
Dont you know
This sail has no wind
The wind has no sea
My sea has no shore anymore
I'm walking these streets all by myself
I know its my fault, and no one else
And there's nobody here to save me
I'm walking alone
And if I look lonely, that's alright
Cause I'm the only one left in my life
And there's no one to save me
I'm walking alone
It ain't like it's over, I haven't thrown it all away
And i won't just stop living over my own mistakes
And i just needed time for a moment to stand
So that I can just see who it is that I am
I'm walking these streets all by myself
I know its my fault, and no one else
And there's nobody here to save me
I'm walking alone
And if I look lonely, that's alright
Cause I'm the only one left in my life
And there's no one to save me
I'm walking alone
I'm walking these streets all by myself
I know its my fault, and no one else
And there's nobody here to save me
I'm walking alone
And if I look lonely, that's alright
Cause I'm the only one left in my life
And there's no one to save me
I'm walking alone
The lyrics to Jay Sean's song Walking Alone express a feeling of isolation and loneliness. The singer is tired of trying to sail a troubled boat and feels like they are making no progress. They have reached a point where there is nothing left to gain, and they would rather stand on the dock and watch everything sail away. The singer is walking the streets alone and acknowledges that it is their own fault that they are in this situation. There is no one left to save them, and they are left to walk alone. The lyrics suggest that the singer has lost touch with themselves and the world around them. They feel like they are just a grain among the sand, and never took the time to get to know themselves.
The chorus repeats the idea that the singer is walking alone and that there is no one left to save them. They acknowledge that it is alright to look lonely because they are the only one left in their life. The singer has not given up; they have just needed time to stand still and reflect on who they are. The song ends on the idea that the singer is still walking alone, but they have not thrown it all away, and they will not stop living because of their mistakes.
Overall, the song portrays the theme of loneliness and self-discovery. The singer has lost touch with themselves and is now walking alone, trying to figure out who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of trying to sail this
Troubled boat again
I'm exhausted from attempting to navigate through my problems, which are continuously resurfacing
Trying hard to find a way
For though blows me all the same
I'm struggling to discover a solution to my issues, even though external factors continue to affect me
And I'm tired of holding on
When there's nothing more to gain
I'm worn out from holding onto situations that no longer have a purpose or meaning for me
I'd rather stand here on the dock
And watch it all just sail away
I prefer to let go and observe the problems drift away from me, rather than trying to force a resolution
This sail has no wind
The wind has no sea
The sea has no shore anymore
My attempts at navigating through life lack direction, purpose, and stability
I'm walking these streets all by myself
I know its my fault, and no one else
And there's nobody here to save me
I'm walking alone
And if I look lonely, that's alright
Cause I'm the only one left in my life
And there's no one to save me
I'm walking alone
I'm alone in my journey to self-discovery, taking responsibility for my own actions and without anyone to rely on for help or guidance
In a word that lives in graces
I'm a grain amongst the sand
In a society that values perfection, I am just another ordinary person among many
I never took the time to get to know
The person that i am
I neglected the process of self-exploration and never developed a true understanding of who I am as an individual
And maybe I was just caught up
Up in the race and so I'd run
Perhaps I was too caught up in the constant competition of life, causing me to overlook my own needs and well-being
And i hadn't even stop
To see the man that I've become
Dont you know
I failed to take a moment to reflect on the person I have grown into, and now I am awakening to the realization of my true self
It ain't like it's over, I haven't thrown it all away
And i won't just stop living over my own mistakes
And i just needed time for a moment to stand
So that I can just see who it is that I am
Although I have made mistakes, I refuse to give up and let them define me, and I recognize the importance of taking a step back to identify my personal identity and beliefs
Contributed by Anthony V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rohini G
Love the lyrics and the emotion behind it :)
Damien Nguyen
Every song Jay Sean composes is beautiful.
Irrena Coker
love this song
Bthying
Wow ! Amazing song !
arshi arora
Love you forever jay 😘😘😘😘😘
Milot Sheholli
<3 <3 Love this song alot
Kenix Lin
This song sound good it shows a feeling when a boy miss his girl so much.I like it
Mirza Sadia Kazmi
awesoommeee thanks for the lyrics :)
Nicco Mauro
Love More Forever Mars 💗💗💗💗
Sammie Nicole
I like this song it's good