Hudson rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, placing seventh. She made her film debut as Effie White in the musical Dreamgirls (2006), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the youngest African-American to win in a competitive acting category. After signing to Arista Records, Hudson released her self-titled debut studio album in 2008, which was certified Gold in the US and the UK, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
Hudson's subsequent studio albums, I Remember Me (2011) and JHUD (2014), both charted within the top ten of the Billboard 200, with the former also being certified Gold in the US. Meanwhile, her other acting roles include the films Sex and the City (2008), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Winnie Mandela (2011), Black Nativity (2013), Sing (2016), Cats (2019) and Respect (2021), the television shows Smash (2012), Empire (2015) and Confirmation (2016), and her Broadway debut with the musical The Color Purple. Hudson also contributed as a coach on the UK and the US version of The Voice from 2017 up to 2019, becoming the first female coach to win the former.
Invisible
Jennifer Hudson Lyrics
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It's like I don't mean nothing
Like glass unclear
Almost like you can see straight through me
I got questions but no answers
So tired of being confused and I
Don't wanna stay right here and I
Gotta find my wings and fly
[Chorus]
I gotta find me another way
Cause I don't wanna stay another day
Time for a change in my mind
I've opened my eyes I'm changing my life
And now I'm gonna live my life for me
Cause this ain't how it's supposed to be
No more standing in the back of the line
Cause I'm invisible for the last time
Why can't you see me
Do I really even matter
You changed me completely
And I remember how it used to be
I got question what's the lesson
I'm tired of being confused and I'm
I'm gonna take my chance and fly
I'm taking back my life
[Chorus]
This can't be it for me
This can't be all I'm made for
And all my time wasted in this life
It's my time to shine
No more feeling insufficient
I'm gonna make my own decisions
It don't matter what you can or cannot see
I'm doing this for me
[Chorus]
Can you see me
I know you see me
No more stand in the back of the line
Cause I'm invisible for the last time
Jennifer Hudson's song "Invisible" talks about feeling unnoticed and insignificant to the people around her. She feels like she is not heard even when she has questions that need answers. The lyrics resonate with many people who, in one way or another, feel invisible and neglected by the people around them. The song's main message is about finding the courage to change one's life and to do things for the better with no regard for the opinions of others.
The song talks about a significant shift in Jennifer's life, where she realizes that she cannot continue living a life that makes her feel invisible. She decides to take control of her life and to start living for herself. She seeks a change of mind and a change in her life. She emphasizes that she is taking back her life, and she won't stand at the back of the line anymore. She says that she is invisible for the last time, implying that it has been a recurring issue.
Jennifer sings about the struggle to seek validation and the hurt of not receiving it. However, she finally decides to take back the power and control that she has over her life. She realizes that she is made for more than what people perceive her to be. The song encourages people to take control of their lives and to stop living for other people's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems like I'm not here
I feel like I am not seen or heard.
It's like I don't mean nothing
It feels like I am not valued or appreciated.
Like glass unclear
I feel invisible, as if I am transparent and easily overlooked.
Almost like you can see straight through me
It seems like my thoughts and feelings are completely exposed and visible to others.
I got questions but no answers
I feel confused and uncertain about my situation.
So tired of being confused and I
I am exhausted from feeling uncertain and unsure.
Don't wanna stay right here and I
I do not want to remain in this state of feeling invisible and unimportant.
Gotta find my wings and fly
I need to find my own path and take control of my life.
I gotta find me another way
I need to find a new path or direction for my life.
Cause I don't wanna stay another day
I no longer want to remain stagnant or unhappy in my current situation.
Time for a change in my mind
I need to shift my mindset and perspective to make a change in my life.
I've opened my eyes I'm changing my life
I am now aware of what needs to change in my life and am taking steps to make those changes.
And now I'm gonna live my life for me
I am going to prioritize my own needs and desires in my life.
Cause this ain't how it's supposed to be
I know deep down that my life should be different and that I deserve better.
No more standing in the back of the line
I am no longer willing to take a backseat or be overlooked in my own life.
Cause I'm invisible for the last time
I am no longer willing to feel invisible or unimportant in my life.
Why can't you see me
I am frustrated by feeling overlooked and invisible to others.
Do I really even matter
I question my own value and importance in the world.
You changed me completely
Someone or something has had a significant impact on my life and has caused me to reevaluate my priorities.
And I remember how it used to be
I recall a time when I felt more confident and in control of my life.
I got question what's the lesson
I am trying to understand what I can learn from my current situation.
I'm gonna take my chance and fly
I am going to take a risk and pursue a new path or direction in my life.
I'm taking back my life
I am reclaiming control over my own life and my own decisions.
This can't be it for me
I refuse to believe that this is all there is to my life.
This can't be all I'm made for
I know that I am capable of more and I want to achieve my full potential.
And all my time wasted in this life
I regret how much time I have spent feeling invisible and unimportant.
It's my time to shine
I am going to step into the spotlight and achieve success and happiness in my life.
No more feeling insufficient
I am no longer going to feel like I am not enough.
I'm gonna make my own decisions
I am going to take charge of my life and make choices that align with my own values and goals.
It don't matter what you can or cannot see
Other people's opinions or perceptions of me do not influence my own self-worth or value.
I'm doing this for me
I am putting my own needs and desires first, and am making choices that will benefit me and my own happiness.
Can you see me
I am asking for validation and recognition from others.
I know you see me
I am confident that I am now visible and noticed by others.
No more stand in the back of the line
I am no longer willing to play a small or insignificant role in my own life.
Cause I'm invisible for the last time
I am no longer willing to feel like I am not seen or heard in my own life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TIFFANY FRED, HARVEY MASON, STEVEN RUSSELL, DAMON THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind