The 2013 film 20 Feet From Stardom recounts Hill's rise to prominence as a backup singer for Michael Jackson, who selected her to perform with him as a duet in his posthumously cancelled This is It Tour, and Josh Groban, who would later bring Judith on tour as a supporting act.
Hill was selected by Adam Levine on Season 4 of the musical talent show The Voice and supported John Legend on his #AllOfMe Tour, before recording her first studio album, Back in Time. The album was produced by Prince at his Paisley Park Studios.
What A Girl Wants
Judith Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a rock, you waited so patiently, while I got it together.
While I figured it out I only looked, but I never touched.
'Cause in my heart was a picture of us;
Holding hands, making plans.
And lucky for me, you understand.
What a girl wants, what a girl needs;
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly...
What a girl wants, what a girl needs;
Whatever keeps me in your arms;
And I'm thanking you for being there for me.
A weaker man might have walked away
But you had faith strong enough to move
Over and understand while I got it together...
While I figured it out.
They say, "If you love something, let it go...
If it comes back, it's yours; that's how you know."
It's for keeps, yeah, it's for sure;
And you're ready and willing to give me more.
Somebody sensitive and tough;
Somebody there when the going gets rough.
Every night he'll be giving his love
To just one girl, one girl, one...
Somebody cool but real tender too
Somebody, baby, just like you
Can keep me hanging around with the one who always knew
And I'm thanking you...
For being there for me.
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly...
And I'm thanking you for being there for me...
In Judith Hill's song "What a Girl Wants," the lyrics express gratitude towards a supportive, patient and understanding partner in a relationship. The songwriter expresses appreciation for the partner's ability to give space, trust and to be there during difficult times. The line "I wanna thank you for giving me time to breathe" shows that the partner has been allowing space and maturity to grow, and "they say if you love something, let it go... if it comes back, it's yours; that's how you know" suggests that the partner trusted their love for each other to bring them back together.
"What a girl wants, what a girl needs; whatever makes me happy and sets you free" indicates that although the partner's support is important, it's equally important to be true to oneself and value both partners' needs. The lyrics reflect a healthy relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and support. The songwriter concludes by thanking their partner twice, signifying the utmost gratitude and love for the strong and tender individual represented as a perfect partner.
Overall, the song conveys an inspiring message of love, commitment and support in a relationship that brings a sense of comfort and trust to sustain the bonds of the relationship. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of independence and self-discovery while being in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna thank you for giving me time to breathe.
Thank you for being patient with me while I figured things out.
Like a rock, you waited so patiently, while I got it together.
You were unmovable and supportive while I got my life together.
While I figured it out I only looked, but I never touched.
I didn't want to ruin what we could have by making a mistake before I was ready.
'Cause in my heart was a picture of us; Holding hands, making plans.
I knew what we could have, but wanted to make sure I was ready before pursuing it.
And lucky for me, you understand.
Fortunate that you understood my need for time and did not pressure me.
What a girl wants, what a girl needs; Whatever makes me happy and sets you free...
I need someone who wants me to be happy and is okay with allowing me to chase my own dreams.
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly...
Thank you for understanding what I truly need in a relationship.
Whatever keeps me in your arms;
I want to be with someone who I feel comfortable and secure with.
And I'm thanking you for being there for me.
I appreciate you being a constant in my life and showing up for me.
A weaker man might have walked away
Someone who wasn't as strong as you might have given up on me.
But you had faith strong enough to move
You had faith in me and our relationship that was strong enough to keep going.
Over and understand while I got it together...
You were supportive and understanding while I took the time I needed to get my life organized.
They say, "If you love something, let it go... If it comes back, it's yours; that's how you know."
They say that if you love someone and give them space, if they come back to you it's a sign that they truly care and want to be with you.
It's for keeps, yeah, it's for sure;
Our relationship is something that is going to last a long time.
And you're ready and willing to give me more.
You are always willing to be there for me and support me in any way possible.
Somebody sensitive and tough;
I need someone who is able to be both sensitive and strong when necessary.
Somebody there when the going gets rough.
I need someone who will be by my side even when things get difficult.
Every night he'll be giving his love
I want someone who will show me love on a consistent basis.
To just one girl, one girl, one...
I want someone who is committed to just me.
Somebody cool but real tender too Somebody, baby, just like you
I need someone who is both cool and tough, but who also has tender and loving qualities as well - just like you.
Can keep me hanging around with the one who always knew
You have always known what I need and have been there for me, which is why I want to be with you.
And I'm thanking you...
Once again, I want to express my gratitude for everything you do for me and our relationship.
For being there for me.
Thank you for always being by my side and supporting me.
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly...
Thank you for understanding me so well and what I need in our relationship.
And I'm thanking you for being there for me...
Thank you for always being there for me and showing up in my life when I need you the most.
Contributed by Mateo L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@julee5071
I don't understand how she didn't make it to at least top 2. Her performances are one of the best for this show.
@emceereach
I vowed never again to ever watch this show again when she was voted off.
That's one of the most inspired performance on a show of this ilk I've ever seen.
@prettieprynciss1048
That’s when I stopped watching as well.
@xxcarolxannexx
I stopped watching that time as well. Apparently I’m not missing out on anything as they haven’t supported their winners enough to make something of themselves. I think Christina said she left for that reason, that it wasn’t about music and finding talent but just another reality show.
@LostPassword-su7pc
She deserves Adele/JHud level fame for sure.
@stella28882
She is definitely better than them. They are talented, but Judith Hill is an absolute genius.
@Timmy.Huggins
This is the original. Michael knew
@ibridgethegap4u406
Judith was with Usher on stage with Michale Jackson prior to this audition a few years back. She didn’t go with Usher because he didn’t even remember her, he even sang with her. That video is somewhere on YouTube.
@tanithiaskygoddesswilliams8768
Facts!
@user-iu5dv8de9m
She is legit