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.
Square One
Jessie J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a struggle, I took a risk, another life, another kiss
I start again, it keeps going, we're best friends, not even knowing
I win the race, and then I fall, I gave it up, to have it all
We let go of love so we can go again
We don't hesitate to let somebody in
To build a home just to get lost
I don't wanna, hold hands with a stranger.
I don't wanna walk when I just learned how to run.
I don't wanna care, 'cause it's human nature
I don't wanna go go go go back to square one.
Said she don't don't wanna go back to square one
I just wanna be the one.
In the dark, it's brand new
You're teaching me, I'm teaching you
Imagination, I wanna please
But I'm tired of the tease
Give you substance, I need soul
Not just a moment to come and go
It's not simple, it never is
Another life, another kiss
We let go of love so we can go again
We don't hesitate to let somebody in
To build a home just to get lost
We fire it up just to burn it off
I don't wanna, hold hands with a stranger
I don't wanna walk when I just learnt how to run
I don't wanna care, 'cause it's human nature
I don't wanna go go go go back to square one
She says she don't wanna go go back to square one, she just wanna find the one someone that she needs, she needs, she needs.
Everybody sing she don't wanna go go back to square one, she just wanna find the one someone that she needs, she needs, she needs.
I don't wanna, hold hands with a stranger.
I don't wanna walk when I just learnt how to run.
I don't wanna care, cause it's human nature
I don't wanna go go go go
She says she don't wanna go go back to square one
She just wanna find the one
Someone that she needs, she needs, she needs
She says she don't wanna go go back to square one
She just wanna find the one
Someone that she needs, she needs, she needs
I don't wanna, hold hands with a stranger.
I don't wanna walk when I just learnt how to run.
I don't wanna care, cause it's human nature
I don't wanna go go go go
The lyrics of Square One by Jessie J talk about the struggle to find love and the risk it takes to start a new relationship. The first stanza mentions the end of a relationship and the difficulty of moving on. The singer starts over, not knowing what the future holds, but with hope for the best. The second and third stanzas also express the idea that in order to find love, one must let go of past relationships and take risks. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the aversion to going back to square one, or starting over again in a new relationship. The final stanza speaks about the desire for a deeper connection, not just physical attraction, and the search for a partner who satisfies emotional and mental needs.
Overall, the song conveys a theme of perseverance and willingness to take chances in the hope of finding true love. It also reflects the complexity and uncertainty involved in relationships, and the need for genuine connection beyond physical attraction.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll the dice, double two, no more us, no me and you
Taking a chance on the roll of the dice, it resulted in failure with no hope of a future together.
What a struggle, I took a risk, another life, another kiss
The pain that comes with the risks of love and finding oneself back in the same place, with the kiss of another.
I start again, it keeps going, we're best friends, not even knowing
Starting anew with the same pattern of falling back into a friendship with no romantic connection made.
I win the race, and then I fall, I gave it up, to have it all
Achievement followed by downfall, willingly sacrificing what was gained to pursue something desired.
We let go of love so we can go again
End of one relationship to open up opportunities for the next.
We don't hesitate to let somebody in
Quick to open up and embrace the potential of love with another person.
To build a home just to get lost
Building a connection that eventually fails and leaves one feeling lost and directionless.
We fire it up just to burn it off
Investing in passion and desire, only for it to fizzle out and leave one feeling empty.
I don't wanna, hold hands with a stranger.
Not interested in meaningless connections, preferring something deeper.
I don't wanna walk when I just learned how to run.
Not willing to settle for less, after finally experiencing something greater.
I don't wanna care, 'cause it's human nature
Accepting the inevitability of getting hurt by love and relationships, and trying to remain detached.
I don't wanna go go go go back to square one.
Not wanting to repeat the pattern of failed relationships and starting over from scratch.
Said she don't don't wanna go back to square one
Repeating the desire to avoid going back to failed connections and starting from the beginning.
In the dark, it's brand new
Trying to experience something new and different, even if it's in the unknown.
You're teaching me, I'm teaching you
Learning from each other, a mutual exchange of experiences.
Imagination, I wanna please
Looking to create something special and unique, trying to make the relationship work.
But I'm tired of the tease
Growing weary of the ups and downs of emotional connection, feeling unsatisfied.
Give you substance, I need soul
Seeking depth and meaning beyond just a physical connection, wanting a connection with meaning and depth.
Not just a moment to come and go
Seeking something more long-lasting and substantial than just a fleeting moment of passion or connection.
It's not simple, it never is
Recognizing the complexity of emotions and relationships, and how difficult it can be to find something meaningful and lasting.
She says she don't wanna go go back to square one, she just wanna find the one someone that she needs, she needs, she needs.
Reiterating the desire to move past failed relationships and find the right person for a meaningful and lasting connection.
Everybody sing she don't wanna go go back to square one, she just wanna find the one someone that she needs, she needs, she needs.
Encouraging others to join in the search for a meaningful connection and avoid repeating past mistakes.
Contributed by Jayden T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JessieJGreek Heartbeats
MY BABY!!!!! I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!SHE IS MY EVERYTHING AND ALL HER SONGS ARE PERFECT!!!!!!!!
CallMeCharlottex
Amen!!
Alice Lohnhoff
love this song
joao rodrigues
the best singer in the world
ivaco1989
I really liked album Alive, so many good songs on it :)
r2dcore
Me too 😊
CallMeCharlottex
her best album in my opinion :)
Britney Butch Tolentino
JESSIE J!!!!!!!!!
Brices Lorene
this is how I will feel after meeting my prince charming
Diana Desta
This is my SONG