Following a minor stroke at age 18, she gained a Sony publishing contract and penned hits for the likes of Chris Brown, Dutch X Factor winner Lisa Lois, and Miley Cyrus (the American number two hit "Party in the USA"). After building up an established online presence, she signed to Universal Records and began working with the likes of hitmaker Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson), Atlanta rapper B.o.B, and R&B producer Labrinth on her debut album, Who You Are. In 2010, her first single, "Do It Like a Dude," originally written for Rihanna, reached number 25 in the U.K. charts and, following in the footsteps of Adele, Florence + the Machine, and Ellie Goulding, she was announced as the winner of the Critics Choice Award at the 2011 Brits. That same year, an appearance on Saturday Night Live coincided with her album being reissued in the U.S.
Following a tour that took in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, Malaysia, and her first show in North America, Jessie J became the first U.K. female solo artist to achieve six Top Ten singles from a single studio album. The success of the sixth single, "LaserLight," featuring David Guetta, was aided in no small part by her appearance as judge on the U.K. edition of The Voice. The hit show gave the singer a chance to display her talent for musical coaching, while building a rapport with fans both old and new on prime-time television. Also involved were Tom Jones and will.i.am, with whom Jessie J performed at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Concert in June 2012, before heading back to the studio to work on the follow-up to Who You Are.
After finishing her second and final season of coaching on The Voice in 2013, J returned with the singles "Wild" and "It's My Party," which preceded her second album, Alive, that September. With a planned U.S.-only version of Alive featuring collaborations with Pharrell Williams eventually put aside, J instead focused on recording new material for what would become her third studio album, Sweet Talker. Including the likes of Diplo, the-Dream, and the aforementioned Pharrell, the album also saw her join forces with De La Soul and 2 Chainz, while Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj both featured on the lead single, "Bang Bang," which debuted at number one in the U.K. and became a Top Ten hit in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Bulgaria. Sweet Talker arrived in October 2014, reaching the Top Ten in the U.S. and U.K. Taking a break from music, she joined the cast of judges on television singing competition The Voice Australia. She returned in 2017 with the singles "Real Deal" and "Queen," which later appeared on her fourth LP, R.O.S.E.
I Miss Her
Jessie J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm talking to You upstairs
Are you there?
You know I care
So please don't tell me that this is an empty prayer
Oh no
'Cause all she has and all she's lost
I watch her fade and slip away
It's hurting more than ever
[Chorus]
I miss her even though she's still here
You need to listen
Don't let her disappear
I'll give her my forever
If it meant for a day she could really be okay
'Cause I miss her
Even though she's still here
Is this pretend?
Will she really not know my face?
In the end
If You're a friend a friend a friend
Show me how to heal it when she can't even feel it
Please... show me
'Cause all she has and all she's lost
I wish she could remember
I watch her fade and slip away
It's hurting more than ever
I miss her even though she's still here
You need to listen
Don't let her disappear
I'll give her my forever
If it meant for a day she could really be okay
'Cause I miss her
And promise me this
When she goes
Everything she sees will set her free
Thirteen and the color green
Promise me this
That she knows
That the people that she loves
Will love her in the skies above
I miss her even though she's still here
You need to listen
So don't let her disappear
I'll give her my forever forever forever
If it meant for a day she could really be okay
'Cause I miss her
Even though she's still here
She's still here oh
I miss her, miss her miss her
I just miss her, miss her miss her
I miss her even though she's still here
In Jessie J's song "I Miss Her," the lyrics convey a deep sense of sadness and longing for someone who is still present but slowly slipping away due to mental or emotional factors. The first verse begins with the singer addressing God, asking if they are present to hear her prayers. She is concerned about a person she loves who seems to be losing themselves and wishes that they could remember the things they have and not just the things they've lost. The chorus then emphasizes the pain in watching someone fade away, expressing the deep desire to help this person, even if it is just for one day.
The second verse reflects on the possibility that the person affected may not even recognize the singer anymore, and the helplessness that comes with not being able to ease their pain. Through the repetition of the line, "show me," the singer pleads with God for guidance on how to help this person. The song then returns to the chorus, emphasizing that this person's loss is not only difficult to watch, but it is also a loss for the singer herself.
The final verse ends with the singer making a promise, asking God to promise that when this person is gone, everything they see will set them free. Taking on a comforting tone, the singer wishes that this person knows that the people they love will continue to love them, even in the skies above. It is a touching tribute to those who suffer from mental illness, addiction or other mental or emotional issues that might cause them to retreat inwardly.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not fair
It feels unfair
I'm talking to You upstairs
Addressing God
Are you there?
Asking God for presence
You know I care
Expressing care to God
So please don't tell me that this is an empty prayer
Wishing for the prayer not to be empty
Oh no
Expressing worry
'Cause all she has and all she's lost
Talking about the girl's life
I wish she could remember
Wishing for her memory to be intact
I watch her fade and slip away
Observing her deteriorate
It's hurting more than ever
Feeling pain and suffering
I miss her even though she's still here
Missing the girl despite her being present
You need to listen
Asking God to listen
Don't let her disappear
Wishing for her to stay
I'll give her my forever
Offering eternal care
If it meant for a day she could really be okay
Wanting her to be free of pain for at least one day
'Cause I miss her
Explaining the reason for missing her
Is this pretend?
Questioning the reality
Will she really not know my face?
Worrying about the girl not recognizing who is who
In the end
Eventually
If You're a friend a friend a friend
Asking God to be a friend in need
Show me how to heal it when she can't even feel it
Asking for guidance in healing her
Please... show me
Requesting for help or guidance
And promise me this
Asking for a promise
When she goes
Referring to death
Everything she sees will set her free
Wishing for freedom in the afterlife
Thirteen and the color green
A reference to a specific memory
Promise me this
Asking for a promise again
That she knows
Wishing for the girl to know
That the people that she loves will love her in the skies above
Hope for her to receive love in the afterlife
She's still here oh
Emphasizing her physical presence
I miss her, miss her miss her
Repeating the reason for missing her
I just miss her, miss her miss her
Repeated emphasis of missing her
I miss her even though she's still here
Final line, expressing the reason for missing her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAUDE KELLY, JESSICA CORNISH, CHARLES T HARMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind