sailing NOT selling
Jhené Aiko Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

See, I got a lot to say and I ain't afraid to say it
Mind on my money so that's why I'm trying to make it
Yeah, but the money's what you make it
Let it make you, see where it's gon' take ya
Hey, you'll be headed nowhere, moving so fast you won't even care, yeah
But when you get there, what you gon' do when nobody's there?
Hey, I know what you're gonna say, made it there alone so you don't worry 'bout they, hey
But when it all goes away, you're gonna be stuck, so what I'm trying say is

Don't lose your so-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oul
Oh-oh, let go-oh, let go of your ego
Don't sell your so-oh-oul, sail your so-oul
Sailing so-oh-oul, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Isn't it clear that you are only hurting yourself?
You will never grow if you lose control over yourself
(Don't let go) If you don't get a hold of yourself
Then you will end up with no self
Playing the game for the fame in the end
But what do you gain when you're paying to win
You don't, you better keep your soul
Set sail or get sold, oh

[Kanye West]

I sold my soul to the devil, that's a crappy deal
Least it came with a few toys like the Happy Meal
This game, you could never win
'Cause they love you, then they hate you, then they love you again
Get away from me loneliness, get away from me misery
Get away from me fake shit, I can't take the phoniness,
Get away from me wack tracks, I can only make only hits
I'm an only child lost in the world, where did the lonely kids go when the bell ring?
And feeling like hell rings, bringing me back down, checking my background, it's ironic what's happening
Imagine if I didn't have the ends, I wouldn't have so many imaginary friends
I'm spaced out dog, I be on that moon talk, wonder if God asked Mike how to moon walk
I swear to mom, I wish me and my father talk more
I stopped visiting around the time I was a sophomore
I guess everything I hate about me I see in him
And I ain't finna change, so we'll never agree again
Just a few things pouring out my soul, Rosewood we could see out with our eyes closed

Don't lose your so-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oul
Oh-oh, let go-oh, let go of your ego




Don't sell your so-oh-oul, sail your so-oul
Sailing so-oh-oul, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Sailing Not Selling" is a collaboration between Jhené Aiko and Kanye West that speaks to the importance of staying true to oneself and not selling out for fame, success, or money. The lyrics are primarily delivered by Aiko, with West joining in for a verse towards the end. Aiko begins by acknowledging that she has a lot to say and is unafraid to speak her mind, but her focus is on her money and using her talents to make it. She cautions against being consumed by the pursuit of money and losing sight of what's truly important. She warns that if you don't hold onto your soul, you'll end up with nothing.


West's verse acknowledges his own struggles with selling out and compromising his values for success. He admits to selling his soul to the devil, but his gain was only temporary and ultimately unfulfilling. He speaks to the loneliness and phoniness of the music industry, and the pressure to keep producing hits. He longs for a deeper connection with his father and grapples with the realization that he sees some of his own flaws in him. Through their combined lyrics, Aiko and West encourage listeners not to lose sight of their true selves and to stay grounded in their values and identity.


Line by Line Meaning

See, I got a lot to say and I ain't afraid to say it
I'm not afraid to speak my mind and share my thoughts.


Mind on my money so that's why I'm trying to make it
I'm focused on making money, hence my efforts.


Yeah, but the money's what you make it
Money is only as valuable as you perceive it to be.


Let it make you, see where it's gon' take ya
Allow it to motivate you and see where it leads you.


Hey, you'll be headed nowhere, moving so fast you won't even care, yeah
You're going nowhere if you're moving too fast to care.


But when you get there, what you gon' do when nobody's there?
What will you do when you reach your destination and have no support?


Hey, I know what you're gonna say, made it there alone so you don't worry 'bout they, hey
You'll say you made it alone, so you don't care about others.


But when it all goes away, you're gonna be stuck, so what I'm trying say is
When everything disappears, you'll be trapped, so listen to what I'm saying.


Isn't it clear that you are only hurting yourself?
You're only hurting yourself, isn't that obvious?


You will never grow if you lose control over yourself
Losing control means you'll never develop into a better version of yourself.


(Don't let go) If you don't get a hold of yourself
If you don't take control of yourself, you'll never have it.


Then you will end up with no self
You'll be left with nothing if you don't have control of yourself.


Playing the game for the fame in the end
People play the game just for fame in the end.


But what do you gain when you're paying to win
What do you really gain when you pay to succeed?


You don't, you better keep your soul
You don't gain anything, so preserve your soul instead.


Set sail or get sold, oh
Sail your way rather than being sold into the wrong thing.


I sold my soul to the devil, that's a crappy deal
I made a terrible deal of selling my soul to the devil.


Least it came with a few toys like the Happy Meal
At least I got a few things from it, like a Happy Meal toy.


This game, you could never win
This game is unwinnable.


'Cause they love you, then they hate you, then they love you again
They love you, then hate you, then love you again, leaving you confused.


Get away from me loneliness, get away from me misery
I don't want loneliness or misery near me.


Get away from me fake shit, I can't take the phoniness,
I can't handle fake people and their phoniness.


Get away from me wack tracks, I can only make only hits
I don't want to associate with bad music, only good stuff.


I'm an only child lost in the world, where did the lonely kids go when the bell ring?
As an only child, I'm alone in this world, and I wonder where other lonely kids go.


And feeling like hell rings, bringing me back down, checking my background, it's ironic what's happening
I'm feeling like hell is dragging me down, and even checking my past seems useless.


Imagine if I didn't have the ends, I wouldn't have so many imaginary friends
I wouldn't have so many imaginary friends if I wasn't successful.


I'm spaced out dog, I be on that moon talk, wonder if God asked Mike how to moon walk
I'm in another world, it's like I'm talking crazy sometimes. Wondering if God asked Michael Jackson how to moonwalk.


I swear to mom, I wish me and my father talk more
I wish I could talk to my father more.


I stopped visiting around the time I was a sophomore
I stopped visiting him when I was in my second year of high school.


I guess everything I hate about me I see in him
I think everything I don't like about myself is what he is too.


And I ain't finna change, so we'll never agree again
I won't change, so we'll never see eye to eye again.


Just a few things pouring out my soul, Rosewood we could see out with our eyes closed
I'm just sharing a few thoughts from my soul, and in Rosewood, we could see without opening our eyes.


Don't lose your so-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oul
Don't lose touch with your soul.


Oh-oh, let go-oh, let go of your ego
Let go of your ego.


Don't sell your so-oh-oul, sail your so-oul
Don't give up your soul, instead set sail with it.


Sailing so-oh-oul, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Sail your soul.




Contributed by Layla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

jazmin

Lyrics:
See I got a lot to say
And I ain't afraid to say it
Mind on money so it's why I'm tryin' to make it
Yeah, but the money's what you make it
Let it make you see where it's gon' take ya
Hey, you'll be headed nowhere
Moving so fast you won't even care

Yeah, but when you get there
What you gon' do when nobody's there?
Ay, I know what you're gonna say
Made it there alone so you don't worry 'bout they
Hey, but when it all goes away
You gonna be stuck so what I'm tryna say is

Don't lose your soul
Oh, let go, let go of your ego
Don't sell your soul
Sail your soul
Sailing soul

Is it really worth it?
You are only hurting yourself
You will never grow
If you lose control over yourself
(Don't let go)
If you don't get a hold of yourself
Then you will end up with no self

You're playing the game
For the fame in the end
But what do you gain
When you're paying to win?
You don't
You better keep your soul
Set sail or get sold, oh

Don't lose your soul...
Oh, let go, let go of your ego
Don't sell your soul
Sail your soul
Sailing soul



All comments from YouTube:

Amber

This album is what started my spiritual journey, my life has literally come full circle in my awakening.

Lee

It’s amazing right!

Blue ocean 🌊💐

This right here!

Muken

thats whats up, hope u still doing well

Kiara Chilombo

Queen is coming through with the throwback joints

D W

Oh girl I had no clue😭😭thought this was new and this was the energy she was going for after chilombo🤣🤣

jazmin

Lyrics:
See I got a lot to say
And I ain't afraid to say it
Mind on money so it's why I'm tryin' to make it
Yeah, but the money's what you make it
Let it make you see where it's gon' take ya
Hey, you'll be headed nowhere
Moving so fast you won't even care

Yeah, but when you get there
What you gon' do when nobody's there?
Ay, I know what you're gonna say
Made it there alone so you don't worry 'bout they
Hey, but when it all goes away
You gonna be stuck so what I'm tryna say is

Don't lose your soul
Oh, let go, let go of your ego
Don't sell your soul
Sail your soul
Sailing soul

Is it really worth it?
You are only hurting yourself
You will never grow
If you lose control over yourself
(Don't let go)
If you don't get a hold of yourself
Then you will end up with no self

You're playing the game
For the fame in the end
But what do you gain
When you're paying to win?
You don't
You better keep your soul
Set sail or get sold, oh

Don't lose your soul...
Oh, let go, let go of your ego
Don't sell your soul
Sail your soul
Sailing soul

Chanecia Life Coach

10 years ago this song didn't mean much. 10 years and a spiritual awakening later, it makes HELLA sense. Grateful for you and the beauty you spread ❤❤❤❤

𝓒 𝓐 𝓝 𝓔 𝓛 𝓐

One of the best songs in the album.

Walid

I'm discovering this song in 2021 - realizing that this is one of the best songs from Jhené

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