Joe is an American R&B singer. Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, he lat… Read Full Bio ↴Joe is an American R&B singer. Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, he later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, and signed a record deal with Polygram Records in 1992. He rose to prominence after releasing his debut album Everything the following year. He followed it with a series of successful albums under Jive Records, including All That I Am (1997), the international bestseller My Name Is Joe (2000) as well as the multi-certified albums Better Days (2001) and And Then... (2003). Several songs from these albums became hit singles on the pop and R&B record charts, including the number-one hit "Stutter", the top ten entries "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)", "Don't Wanna Be a Player", and "I Wanna Know" as well as his collaborations "Faded Pictures", "Thank God I Found You" and "Still Not a Player".

Chameleon
Joe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't figure you out to save myself
It would help if you would talk to me (baby talk to me)
You keep switchin' it up girl, I can tell
You ain't sure just where you wanna be, yeah
One minute it's like we're so inseparable (so inseparable)
Next second it's like you ain't feelin' this no more (no)
I know you wanna be close but ya scared so you push away
Just tell me which side of you I'm getting today, oh yeah

[Chorus]
Chameleon, I see your true colors
You can hide but the truth don't lie
You don't wanna get hurt this time
Your just like a....
Chameleon, I see your true colors
Everyday is a new disguise
Wanna get to know the one inside
Chameleon

Now I ain't tryin' to start no argument
(No baby, no baby, no baby)
I'm just sayin' that I don't understand
Girl the closer I get to knowin' you
I realize the further away I really am
One minute it's like we're floating on a cloud (floating)
The next second, I swear it's like the rain is pooring down
Whenever we get close, you get scared and push away
Just tell me which side of you I'm getting today

[Chorus]

Sometimes you wanna hide away
When it all seems too much (too much)
But runnin' doesn't take away the pain
I know that it's a lot to ask but this is serious
Just promise me your heart will never change
Whoa....

[Chorus: x 2]

Overall Meaning

In Joe's song "Chameleon," the lyrics express a sense of frustration towards an intimate partner who seems to constantly switch between different sides of their personality. The chorus likens the partner to a chameleon, whose true colors are constantly changing and difficult to pin down. The singer is struggling to understand and connect with their partner as they seem to push away whenever things get close, leaving the singer feeling unsure of where they stand in the relationship. Despite the difficulties, the singer urges their partner to stay committed and not let go of their love.

The song's lyrics speak to the challenges of intimacy and vulnerability in a relationship. The constantly shifting persona of the partner makes it challenging for the singer to build trust, leading to feelings of confusion and insecurity. The use of the chameleon metaphor reinforces this sense of fluidity, as the partner's true self is obscured and difficult to decode. Ultimately, the singer pleads with their partner to remain committed and keep their heart open to love, despite the challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't figure you out to save myself
It's difficult for me to understand you, even when it's crucial to do so

It would help if you would talk to me (baby talk to me)
Communication is key to understanding each other

You keep switchin' it up girl, I can tell
Your behavior is inconsistent and it's noticeable to me

You ain't sure just where you wanna be, yeah
You're uncertain about what you want from our relationship

One minute it's like we're so inseparable (so inseparable)
Our bond is tight at one moment

Next second it's like you ain't feelin' this no more (no)
The next second you seem distant and uninterested

I know you wanna be close but ya scared so you push away
You're afraid of getting too close and tend to push me away as a result

Just tell me which side of you I'm getting today, oh yeah
I'm uncertain of your current mentality, and if we're on the same page

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats twice as the singer describes the girl as a chameleon

Sometimes you wanna hide away
It feels like you need to detach yourself from our relationship

When it all seems too much (too much)
When things become overwhelming

But runnin' doesn't take away the pain
Avoiding the issue won't make the problem disappear

I know that it's a lot to ask but this is serious
The singer is aware that what he's asking for is a big decision for the girl to make

Just promise me your heart will never change
He only asks that her feelings are true, and consistent over time

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network
Written by: ALEX CANTRELL, JARED GOSSELIN, PHILLIP WHITE, William White

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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