Sullivan followed this with her second studio album, Love Me Back, in 2010, which was received favorably by critics. After taking a three-year break, Sullivan signed with RCA Records and released her first studio album under the label, Reality Show (2015). In 2021, she released her critically acclaimed first EP, Heaux Tales which has the single "Pick Up Your Feelings".
Sullivan has received two Grammy Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and two BET Awards over the course of her career. In 2022, Time placed her on their list of the 100 Most Influential People.
In Vain
Jazmine Sullivan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ohhhhh oooh uh
Ohhh oo oo
Hey yee
Hope she's everything you wanted
Hope she's everything I wasn't
Hope she gives up more than I
'Cause if you'd sacrifice everything
It better not be in vain
Hope she's all that matters
Hope you two live happily ever after
Hope she always makes you smile
Hope she's really worth your while
'Cause if you'd sacrifice everything
It better not be in vain
Hope you two are meant to be
'Cause I can't see what would take you away
From the life we made
Hope you two are meant to be
'Cause I can't see what would take you away
From the life we made
Oh oh oh oh
Tell me
Is she worth my tears?
Is she worth the years?
Why won't look into my eyes
Don't turn away
Sit here and watch me cry!
Ohhhhh
Hey ey
Hey ey
Hey ey
Hope you two are meant to be
'Cause I can't see what would take you away
From the life we made
Hope you two are meant to be
'Cause I can't see what would take you away
From the life we made
Hope you two are meant to be
The song "In Vain" by Jazmine Sullivan is a heartfelt ballad about the end of a relationship and the singer's hope that her former partner has found someone who is truly worth the sacrifice he made in leaving her. The lyrics express the singer's sincere wishes for his happiness and a life without any regrets, but also a sense of sadness and longing for what could have been.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer expresses her hopes for her former partner's happiness, even though it comes at her own expense. She wishes that his new partner will be everything that she was not, and that he will find the satisfaction and fulfillment that he could not find with her. However, she also puts him on notice that if he has given up everything for this new relationship, then it had better not be in vain.
The singer then goes on to enumerate the things that she hopes for her former partner and his new love - that they will be happy together, that she will always make him smile, and that their relationship will be worth the sacrifices he has made. She seems to have come to terms with the fact that their relationship is truly over, but still wishes the best for him, and hopes that the love they shared was not for nothing.
Overall, "In Vain" is a powerful and poignant song that explores the complexities of loss and moving on, while still holding on to the hope that the future will be brighter.
Line by Line Meaning
Hope she's everything you wanted
I hope she meets all the expectations that you had for me.
Hope she's everything I wasn't
I hope she can fix all the flaws and errors that I had in the relationship.
Hope she gives up more than I
I hope she puts in more effort and makes more sacrifices than I did to keep you happy.
Hope she keeps you satisfied
I hope she can give you everything that you need so that you never have to look elsewhere for fulfillment.
'Cause if you'd sacrifice everything
If you're willing to give up everything for her, then it better be worth it in the end.
Hope she's all that matters
As long as you have her, I hope that everything else in the world becomes insignificant to you.
Hope you two live happily ever after
I hope that you two will have a long and happy life together, without any issues or problems.
Hope she always makes you smile
I hope that she has the power to bring a permanent smile to your face and keep you happy forever.
Hope she's really worth your while
I hope that the effort and time that you put in for her is rewarded and that she really is worth it.
Tell me
Please answer me.
Is she worth my tears?
Is she really worth all the tears that I've shed over our breakup and your new relationship?
Is she worth the years?
Has she made you so happy to the point that all the years and memories we had together no longer matter?
Why won't look into my eyes
Why won't you face me and look into my eyes as I ask you these questions?
Don't turn away
Please don't ignore me or walk away from this conversation.
Sit here and watch me cry!
Stay here and witness the emotional pain and hurt that you have caused me through your new relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY BELL, JAZMINE SULLIVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yourditarrie
If this would have made the album, it literally would’ve MADE THE ALBUM, my favorite Jazmine Sullivan song EVER
@shanayaboyd4063
so glad they added this back on youtube 😩😩 i love this song sm
@angelawilson1633
Shanaya Boyd: u & me both
@malcolmdunbar9273
Me three🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
@Crisu20
ME too ❤️😭
@andrealoftin3033
I wish they would put it on Apple Music
@conswayla24
Yes me too. I was so sad and was definitely tryna find out why they removed it in the first place.
@the1atcpc
I need to hear her perform this live! Thumbs up if you're with me.
@nicollettemcphail1027
College boyfriend of 5 years left me and proposed to another woman after only 5 months. It was def in vain because she called off the engagement 3 months later. But during that time I found the current love of my life and future husband. Everything happens for a reason ;)
@ramonafortson
Been there sweetheart I know it's tough