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.
Flannel
Justin Timberlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That is where you'll feel my soul
It's been with me many winters
It will keep you warm
When a father's love is doin' you wrong
When a mother's love is bringin' you home
When you needed, needed, needed a stone
Now I know I could never sit in his chair
And that missin' love left you bare, yeah
But if I'm bein' selfish, that gave me a reason to be there
With my flannel on
Right behind my left pocket
That is where you'll feel my soul
It's been with me many winters
It will keep you warm
You see, I've been down that road before
And I wouldn't dare say that my hurt was more
But a little spitfire hurt you, boy
With nothin' to lean on (nothin' to lean on)
It's bound to go down after a couple empty cans
And I knew once I saw that fancy record company man
And in her face, she knew I was a stan
I was leavin' with my flannel on
Right behind my left pocket
That is where you'll feel my soul
It's been with me many winters
It will keep you warm
The character's in the way you wear it
It takes your shape while you keep it on
May we live for many winters
Keepin' each other warm
Now I pledge you'll never ever be alone again
And I pledge these arms and chest are here
To hold you in from the cold
Right behind my left pocket
That is where you'll feel my soul
It's been with me many winters
It will keep you warm
Ooh, here's my flannel
The character's in the way you wear it (the way you wear it)
It takes your shape while you keep it on (all you gotta do is keep it on)
May we live for many winters
Keepin' each other warm
And may we live for many winters
Keepin' each other warm
Do you see?
Look at all of it from up here
It's beautiful, it's beautiful
Do you see it?
It's in the air
It's in your blood
It's in your skin
Can you see it from up here?
Can you taste it?
Can you touch it?
It's in the earth
It's in the sky
Do you see me?
Do you see me?
Do you see me?
Do you see me?
The song "Flannel" by Justin Timberlake is a heartfelt tribute from the singer to his wife, Jessica Biel. He describes how his soul is behind his left pocket and has been with him through many winters, symbolizing the depth of his love, loyalty, and commitment. The lyrics indicate that Timberlake wants to be the rock for his wife, to lean on the stone, and to make up for the love that she may miss from her father. The song also portrays Timberlake's experience of overcoming his own emotional pain and finding solace in his flannel shirt.
The lyrics "When a father's love is doin' you wrong, when a mother's love is bringin' you home, when you needed, needed, needed a stone, someone to lean on" suggest that Jessica Biel's relationship with her father has caused her emotional pain, and she needed someone strong like Timberlake to lean on. Timberlake acknowledges that he can never replace her father, but he can be there for her as a supportive partner. The phrase "With my flannel on" signifies that Timberlake is comfortable and secure in his flannel shirt, just as he is with his role as Biel's partner.
In the second verse, Timberlake says that he has been down the same road before as Biel and that he understands what she is going through. The phrase "It's bound to go down after a couple empty cans" suggests that Biel may have been tempted to drink to numb her pain. However, Timberlake was there for her, wearing his flannel shirt, symbolizing his support and enclosure. He pledges to never leave her alone and that his arms and chest are there to hold her in when she needs comfort.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to love, loyalty, and support in a relationship. The lyrics use the symbolism of a flannel shirt as a representation of comfort, warmth, and security that Timberlake wants to provide his wife.
Line by Line Meaning
Right behind my left pocket
My soul resides in the depths of my heart and is so close to me that it is located right behind my left pocket.
That is where you'll feel my soul
I am so deeply connected to my soul that anyone who touches me in the area around my heart will be able to feel it.
It's been with me many winters
My soul has been a constant source of warmth and comfort to me over the years, helping me through countless cold and difficult seasons in life.
It will keep you warm
My soul has the power to keep others warm and protected, just as it has kept me warm throughout my life.
When a father's love is doin' you wrong
When a parent's affection is causing you pain or harm instead of love and support, it can be difficult and unsettling.
When a mother's love is bringin' you home
While a mother's love can be a source of comfort and safety, it can also be a source of tension and conflict when it conflicts with one's own desires and needs.
When you needed, needed, needed a stone
When all you needed was something strong and supportive to lean on during times of difficulty, like a sturdy rock or foundation.
Someone to lean on
A person or thing that can be relied upon for emotional or physical support when it is needed most.
Now I know I could never sit in his chair
I recognize that I can never truly replace the love and comfort that a father is supposed to provide.
And that missin' love left you bare, yeah
The absence of a father's love and affection can leave a person feeling vulnerable or incomplete, like something essential is missing from their life.
But if I'm bein' selfish, that gave me a reason to be there
While it may be selfish of me to want to help fill the void left by a father's absence, it gives me a sense of purpose and motivation to be there for someone who needs me.
With my flannel on
I am committed to being there for someone else, offering warmth and support like a cozy flannel shirt.
You see, I've been down that road before
I understand the struggles and difficulties of life because I have experienced them myself.
And I wouldn't dare say that my hurt was more
I would never claim that my own pain or struggles were more significant or important than someone else's.
But a little spitfire hurt you, boy
Someone else's fiery spirit or strong personality may have caused emotional pain or conflict.
With nothin' to lean on (nothin' to lean on)
Without the support and comfort of others, it can be difficult to navigate difficult times and cope with emotional pain.
It's bound to go down after a couple empty cans
When someone turns to alcohol or other substances to numb emotional pain and find relief, things are likely to spiral out of control.
And I knew once I saw that fancy record company man
When I realized that someone else was trying to use your talents and creativity for their own gain or profit, it made me want to be there for you even more.
And in her face, she knew I was a stan
The person who was trying to take advantage of your talent and creativity could see that I was a devoted fan and supporter of yours.
I was leavin' with my flannel on
I was committed to being there for you, offering warmth and support like a comfortable flannel shirt as I left that situation behind.
The character's in the way you wear it
True character is not just about what you do or say, but also how you carry yourself and present yourself to others.
It takes your shape while you keep it on
When you wear something frequently or for long periods of time, it can begin to reflect or embody aspects of your personality or character.
May we live for many winters
May we continue to persevere and overcome life's challenges for many years to come.
Keepin' each other warm
May we offer each other comfort and support, like a cozy flannel shirt helping to keep us warm on a cold winter day.
Now I pledge you'll never ever be alone again
I promise that you will never again have to face difficult times or feel alone, because I will always be here for you.
And I pledge these arms and chest are here
I promise to offer you a warm and comforting embrace whenever you need it, holding you close to my heart.
To hold you in from the cold
To offer you comfort and protection from the harsh and difficult aspects of life.
Ooh, here's my flannel
Here is my promise to always offer warmth, comfort, and support to those in need, like a cozy flannel shirt on a cold winter day.
Can you see me?
Do you truly see and understand who I am as a person, and what I am offering to those around me?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHAD HUGO, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, PHARRELL WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyrics4U
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David Ooko
I like it when I discover a gem that others haven't learned about. I'm selfish like that. And this is one of those gems, which I discovered around May 2018. I hold it close to my heart
mabspro
Found it.. and its perfect!!!!!! Keeping it too!
cloppin
@mabspro me too lol
Erin Nicole
You better hit them soulful notes JT ❤
Maria Clarke
I love this music 🎶 🎵 ❤️
Maria Clarke
You are handsome and charming men and I love you Justin Timberlake in my heart ❤️ 💖 💗
gold rush
This I think is the most moving song of the man of the woods album.
Colin Dunning
Yes!!
Arshid Salman
When i think of funeral....this song came to my mind