Subsequently, she collaborated with Eric Benet, Will Smith, Lupe Fiasco, Common and broadened her performing experience by touring Canada in a production of the Broadway musical Rent. Signed to Steve McKeever's newly formed Hidden Beach Recordings label, she released her debut album Who Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 in July 2000. The following summer she released Experience:Jil Scott 826+ after she released the single "A Long Walk." Scott continued to gain more recognition, eventually earning a Grammy nomination in early 2003 for Best Female Vocal Performance for "A Long Walk". Jill Scott also won a Grammy award at the 2005 Grammy awards for Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male or Female.
Jill Scott appears in David Chappelle's Block Party performing with The Roots and Erykah Badu.
Scott released a new album, entitled Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 in 2004. Her book of poetry, The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours was released in April 2005.
Recently, Scott was prominently featured on hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco's 2006 single "Daydreaming" which also appeared on a new Scott collection called Collaborations on January 30, 2007.
The Collaborations collection served as "an appetizer" for her next studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 released September 25, 2007. A clip of the title track was released on a bonus disc from Hidden Beach Records and included with Collaborations. The lead single, "Hate on Me", gained airplay in May 2007 with a video released in mid-July. In advance of the album's release, Hidden Beach released a 17-minute album sampler through their forums. Interspersed between the dozen songs previewed on the sampler was a personal explanation from Jill for the inspiration behind some of her songs.
Jill Scott is also an accomplished actor, appearing as detective Precious Ramotswe in the BBC's dramatisation of Alexander McCall Smith's series of books: "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency". Scott also appeared as "Sheila" in the Tyler Perrry film, "Why Did I Get Married" (2007) and its sequel, "Why Did I Get Married Too" (2010) .
The Fact Is
Jill Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do do do do, do do, do
I can pay my own light bill baby (Do do do do, do do)
Pump my own gas in my own car (Do do do do, do do)
I can buy my own shoe collection (Do do do do, do do)
I've been blessed thus far (Do do do do, do do)
Although it's hard because I'm scared (Do do do do, do do)
I can even stain and polyurethane (Do do do do, do do)
But some things just don't change (Do do do do, do do)
I need you, yeah (Do do do do, do do)
Sometimes so hard to say, oh (Do do do do, do do)
I need you (Do do do do, do do)
Somethings remain (Do do do do, do do)
I can buy my own groceries baby (Do do do do, do do)
Get my hair tight my nails right (Do do do do, do do)
I can floss my own bling bling (Do do do do, do do)
Write the the words to the songs I sing (Do do do do, do do)
I can even raise the child we'll make (Do do do do, do do)
Make sure he's loved and knows what God gave us (Do do do do, do do)
I can teach him how to walk and stand (Do do do do, do do)
But he needs you to help him be a man (Do do do do, do do)
We need you (Do do do do, do do)
So hard to say (Do do do do, do do)
We need you (Do do do do, do do)
Somethings don't change
I could be congresswoman or a garbage woman
Or police officer or a carpenter
I could be a doctor and a lawyer
And a mother an good girl
Women what you've done to me, kind of lover I can be
I could be a computer analyst (Do do do do, do do)
The queen with the nappy hair raising her fist
Or I could be much more and a myriad of this (Do do do do, do do)
Hot as the summer, sweet as the first kiss
And even though I can do all these things (Do do do do, do do)
I need you (Do do do do, do do)
And even though I can do all these things (Do do do do, do do)
We need you, we need you, we need you (Do do do do, do do)
And even though I can do all these things (Do do do do, do do)
By my damnself
I need you (Do do do do, do do)
I do, I do, I do, I do
And even though I can do all these things (Do do do do, do do)
I need you (Do do do do, do do)
We need you, we do (Do do do do, do do)
We need you, yeah, we need you (Do do do do, do do)
Jill Scott's "The Fact Is" is a song about the strength and independence of women. The opening lines highlight the various tasks that women can accomplish on their own, including paying their own bills, pumping gas, and buying shoes. Scott emphasizes the idea that although she can do all of these things by herself, there are certain aspects of life where she needs the support of a partner. She then goes on to explain the different potential careers she could have had, but ultimately expresses her desire for a man's companionship and support, specifically in raising a child.
The chorus repeatedly expresses the need for a partner, despite being able to do things alone. This theme is prevalent throughout the song and emphasizes the idea that while women may be strong and independent, they still need emotional support and companionship. Additionally, the use of "we" instead of "I" in the chorus signifies the importance of a partnership and working together.
Overall, "The Fact Is" is a powerful anthem highlighting the strength and independence of women, while also emphasizing the importance of emotional support and companionship from a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Do do do do, do do, do
Repetition of tune
I can pay my own light bill baby
I am capable of financially taking care of myself
Pump my own gas in my own car
I am independent and can handle everyday tasks on my own
I can buy my own shoe collection
My material desires are achievable without anyone's help
I've been blessed thus far
I am grateful for everything I have in life
I can kill the spider above my bed
I am brave and can handle fearful situations
Although it's hard because I'm scared
Despite my fears, I am still strong and capable
I can even stain and polyurethane
I can handle DIY projects and be self-reliant
But some things just don't change
Certain things can only be done by someone else
I need you, yeah
I require your presence and support
Sometimes so hard to say, oh
It can be difficult for me to express my emotions
Somethings remain
Certain needs are consistent and cannot be met by myself
I can buy my own groceries baby
I am self-sufficient and can provide for myself
Get my hair tight my nails right
I take care of my physical appearance without anyone's help
I can floss my own bling bling
I can take care of my own jewelry
Write the the words to the songs I sing
I am creative and can write my own music
I can even raise the child we'll make
I am capable of being a single parent and can nurture a child
Make sure he's loved and knows what God gave us
I can provide love and teach my child important lessons
I can teach him how to walk and stand
I can take care of the basic upbringing of my child
But he needs you to help him be a man
A male role model is necessary for my child's development
We need you
We depend on you for support and guidance
So hard to say
It is difficult for me to admit that I need help
Somethings don't change
Certain needs are consistent and cannot be met by myself
I could be congresswoman or a garbage woman
I have the ability to accomplish any profession
Or police officer or a carpenter
I have the potential to excel in non-traditional careers
I could be a doctor and a lawyer
I am capable of earning advanced degrees
And a mother an good girl
I can still fulfill traditional gender roles
Women what you've done to me, kind of lover I can be
My identity as a woman has a major influence on my romantic relationships
I could be a computer analyst
I have the ability to succeed in technological fields
The queen with the nappy hair raising her fist
I can use my voice to fight for justice and equality
Or I could be much more and a myriad of this
I have the potential to achieve even greater things
Hot as the summer, sweet as the first kiss
I am confident and attractive
And even though I can do all these things
Despite my numerous abilities
We need you, we need you, we need you
We require your presence and help
By my damnself
I am not able to do everything alone
I do, I do, I do, I do
Reiteration of needing someone
We need you
We rely on your support
We do
We need help to thrive
We need you, yeah, we need you
We require your presence and guidance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JILL H. SCOTT, PETE KUZMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind