Born and raised in Tennessee, as a child he appeared on the television shows Star Search and The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. In the late 1990s, Timberlake rose to prominence as one of the two lead vocalists and youngest member of NSYNC, which eventually became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Timberlake won two Grammy Awards for his R&B-focused debut solo album Justified (2002) and its single "Cry Me a River". Another single from the album, "Rock Your Body", was also successful.
His critically acclaimed second album FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006), characterized by its diversity in music genres, debuted atop the U.S. Billboard 200 and spawned the Hot 100 consecutive number-one singles with "SexyBack", "My Love" and "What Goes Around... Comes Around". Established as a solo artist worldwide, his first two albums both exceeded sales of 10 million copies, as he continued producing records and collaborating with other artists.
From 2008 through 2012, Timberlake focused on his acting career, effectively putting his music career on hiatus. He held starring roles in the films The Social Network, Bad Teacher, Friends with Benefits, and In Time.
Timberlake resumed his music career in 2013 with his third and fourth albums The 20/20 Experience and The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2, exploring neo soul styles, partly inspired by the expansive song structures of 1960s and 1970s rock. The former became the best-selling album of the year and spawned the top three singles "Suit & Tie" and "Mirrors". Timberlake voiced Branch in DreamWorks Animation's Trolls (2016), whose soundtrack includes his fifth Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping single, "Can't Stop the Feeling!", which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His fifth studio album Man of the Woods (2018) became his fourth number-one album in the US. Supported by the two top ten singles, "Filthy" and "Say Something", it concluded 2018 as the sixth best-selling album of the year.
Filthy
Justin Timberlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good)
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good) come on
Hey, if you know what's good
(If you know what's good)
So real
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
All my haters gon' say it's fake
I guess I got my swagger back
I said, put your filthy hands all over me
And no, this ain't the clean version
And what you gonna do with all that meat?
Cookin' up a mean servin'
No question, I want it
Fire up, everybody smokin'
Your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
Come chill, baby, you the coldest
Go far, put 'em on notice
If you know what I want, then yeah
Baby, don't you mind if I do, yeah
Exactly what you like times two, yeah
Got me singin', "ooh, ooh"
So baby, don't you mind if I do
Look
Put your filthy hands all over me
And no, this ain't the clean version
And what you gonna do with all that beast?
When I leave the cage open
Huh, walk to me, uh
No question, I want it
Fire up, everybody smokin'
Your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
Come chill, baby, you the coldest
Go far, put 'em on notice
If you know what I want, then yeah
Baby, don't you mind if I do, yeah
Exactly what you like times two, yeah
Got me singin', "ooh, ooh"
So baby, don't you mind if I do
Come on, break it down!
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good) come on
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good) come on
Hey if you know what's good
(If you know what's good)
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
All my haters gon' say it's fake
Baby, don't you mind if I do
Exactly what you like times two (times two)
Got me singin', "ooh, ooh" (uh)
Baby, don't you mind if I do
(Come on!)
Your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
Huh your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
So put your filthy hands all over me
And no, this ain't the clean version
Go on and put your filthy hands all over me
No, this ain't the clean version
Do you see me?
Can you find me?
(Can you find me?)
Look closer
Through the trees
Do you see it?
The song "Filthy" by Justin Timberlake is a funky dance track that makes a statement of the singer's comeback after his long hiatus. The song starts with an introduction of "If you know what's good" which is a clear message to his fans that he is back with a new and different style of music. In the lyrics, Timberlake is talking about his desires and appealing to his lover to put her "filthy" hands all over him. Despite haters trying to make fun of him or calling it fake, Timberlake claims that it's real and all his haters will say it's "fake so real."
The lyrics of the song also highlight Timberlake's playful side, asking what his lover is going to do with all that meat and what he would do if his lover lets him do exactly what he likes, times two. He encourages her to put him on notice and take control of the situation. The song features catchy beats and an impressive vocal range, enhancing Timberlake's sensual and playful performance.
Overall, Justin Timberlake's "Filthy" is an extravagant return to the music industry that easily makes listeners dance to its funky beats. The lyrics are a perfect ode to his love for exciting and fun times, asserting his comeback in the music sphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
Beginning of song
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good)
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good) come on
Hey, if you know what's good
(If you know what's good)
Invitation to listeners to pay attention to the song
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
Haters gon' say it's fake
So real
All my haters gon' say it's fake
I guess I got my swagger back
Confidence in self despite negative critiques from haters
I said, put your filthy hands all over me
And no, this ain't the clean version
And what you gonna do with all that meat?
Cookin' up a mean servin'
Sexual innuendo, suggesting the singer and the listener engage in sexual acts
No question, I want it
Fire up, everybody smokin'
Your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
Come chill, baby, you the coldest
Go far, put 'em on notice
If you know what I want, then yeah
Encouragement to listener to engage in a party/fun atmosphere and take notice of singer's sexual desires
Baby, don't you mind if I do, yeah
Exactly what you like times two, yeah
Got me singin', "ooh, ooh"
So baby, don't you mind if I do
Singer's desire to engage in sexual acts with listener
Look
Put your filthy hands all over me
And no, this ain't the clean version
And what you gonna do with all that beast?
When I leave the cage open
Huh, walk to me, uh
Continuation of sexual innuendo, singer's open invitation to listener to engage in sexual acts
Come on, break it down!
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good) come on
If you know what's good
(If you know what's good) come on
Hey if you know what's good
(If you know what's good)
Encouragement to keep up with the fun/party atmosphere
Baby, don't you mind if I do
Exactly what you like times two (times two)
Got me singin', "ooh, ooh" (uh)
Baby, don't you mind if I do
(Come on!)
Repetition of singer's desire to engage in sexual acts
Your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
Huh your friends, my friends
And they ain't leavin' till six in the morning (six in the morning)
Emphasis on the party atmosphere and continuation of the fun beyond typical hours
So put your filthy hands all over me
And no, this ain't the clean version
Go on and put your filthy hands all over me
No, this ain't the clean version
Reiteration of sexual desires as expressed through a metaphorical request for physical contact
Do you see me?
Can you find me?
(Can you find me?)
Look closer
Through the trees
Do you see it?
Closing of song, perhaps reflecting the desire for physical intimacy as well as individual identity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Anthem Entertainment, Peermusic Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: FLOYD NATHANIEL HILLS, JAMES EDWARD II FAUNTLEROY, JUSTIN R. TIMBERLAKE, LARRANCE LEVAR DOPSON, TIMOTHY Z. MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zaczumbaugh
When I first watched this, I wondered why JT would tease a Tennessee-roots album, then release a modern dance song with futuristic themes and suggestive content.
I think it's on purpose.
"Filthy" reminds me of FutureSex/LoveSounds. But the video and lyrics are a message to fans. Like JT is saying: "Guys, here's a song in my classic style, like the ones that made me a sex symbol many years ago." He's not bashing this type of music and dancing. It worked well for him when he was young and single in his 20s.
But I think this is him saying "I'm not exactly that guy anymore." That's why it's the robot dancing on stage instead of him. He's a husband and father now. He's in a different place.
I didn't get it until the girls came out. There's a moment when it cuts to JT and he's just looking at the audience, like he's wondering what they're thinking or if they get it. Remember, there are 15 more songs on this album. This was a prelude to the more personal stuff.
I could be wrong, just my two cents.
@prettynina1000
Here's the deep meaning behind this video:
The robot Justin look alike is an illusion represents the old edgy JT that did what the fans/media want, done all the Filthy stuff, JT backstage (who dressed as Steve Jobs on purpose), created and controls that robot
The lyrics supports the "Robot = old edgy JT" message that the current JT trying to deliver in this song
"I guess I got my swagger back"
"Your friends" the robot points at Justin
"My friends" Justin points at himself
"Baby don't you mind if i do... Exactly what you like times two"
Telling the fans if they'd mind it if he over do the things they like... Making it extra filthy, referring to how JT think he over did the 'sexy' image he delivered in the previous eras
"No question I want it...Fire up & everybody smoking"
He doesn't feel bad with the filthy image he created, as long as the fans enjoyed it
In one of JT's interviews in the psst years he said something like "The showman Justin you see performing on stage is not really me, it's just a character I created on stage"
Means the "Haters gonna say it's fake, so REAL " lyrics
that's not just 'haters gonna hate' meme but it's referring to the fact "The haters were right, the old JT was fake it's not really me"
So basically the robot is the character of THAT showman JT, and the real JT is the one backstage in this video
Since it's just a character, JT probably when watching himself performing on stage he be like "oh wow I really did that? Is that me?"
Which is why in 3:56 you see the real JT surprised while looking at the robot dancing/flirting with women
JT disappeared at the end of the video, means he's done with that image, wants to leave that world and make a new image, of course he'd think that way after becoming a dad :p
@grimacet3321
It’s crazy how this was 3 years ago. Feels like last winter!
How time flies...
@layzeesuga7047
Yep
@Blacktolite
Hard fire 🔥 🔥 switche's it up different🎶🎵
@cameronconnell6870
Bruh right
@joeferri3491
I’m the 300th like
@shekharsaha5784
To me ...it feels like 6 years
@foxdeanda1716
1st listen: wtf is this
2nd listen: this is alright
3rd listen: hATerS GoNNa saY ITs fAkE
@taddypatty7923
I agree
@sidusher4704
hhhhhhhh same here
@stevenmorris2234
Yep totally agree. After a couple of listens now I love it