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.
Take Back The Night
Justin Timberlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen, uh
Yeah, this was your city
You did it all and more, broke every law except for one, babe
Attraction, are you ready
I know you feel it
Pull you nearer 'til you feel it again, oh
I wanna do something right
But we can do something better
Ain't no time like tonight
And we ain't trying to save it 'til later
Stay out here living the life
Nobody cares who we are tomorrow
You got that lil' something I like
A little something I've been wanting to borrow
Tonight's the night, come on surrender
I won't lead your love astray, astray, yeah
Your love's a weapon
Give your body some direction
That's my aim
Then, we could
Take back the night
Come on, use me up until there's nothing left
Take back the night
Dizzy, spinning, sweating, you can't catch your breath
Take back the night
Ooh, don't know when the sun is rising next
Take back the night
So if the feeling's right, then raise your glass and let's
Take back the night, take back the night
They gon' try to shut us down, but I'll be damned if we gon' let them
Take back the night, take back the night
You know you gon' mess around and find out there ain't no one better
Take back the night, oh
Yeah
Rare, there's not too many
No one but you and crowded rooms, we can do anything (yeah)
Attraction can drive you crazy
The way you move, you go crazy, that's incentive for me
I wanna do something right
But we can do something better
Ain't no time like tonight
And we ain't trying to save it 'til later
Stay out here living the life
Nobody cares who we are tomorrow
You got that lil' something I like
A little something I've been wanting to borrow
Tonight the night's, come on surrender
I won't lead your love astray, astray, yeah
Your love's a weapon
Give your body some direction
That's my aim
Then, we could
Take back the night
Come on, use me up until there's nothing left
Take back the night
Dizzy, spinning, sweating, you can't catch your breath
Take back the night
Ooh, don't know when the sun is rising next
Take back the night
So if the feeling's right, raise your glass and let's
Take back the night, take back the night
They gon' try to shut us down, but I'll be damned if we gon' let them
Take back the night, take back the night
You know you gon' mess around and find out there ain't no one better
Take back the night
Break it down now,
Break break it down,
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, doo, doo, doo
Yeah, yeah, oh
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, take it over
Yeah, yeah
Y'all ready to have a good time out there, ladies and gentlemen?
JT and the Tennessee Kids
Let your hair down baby
Take back the night
Take back the night
Take back the night
We don't know when the sun is rising next
Take back the night
The feeling's right, raise your glass and let's
Take back the night
Take back the night
But they gon' try to shut us down, I'll be damned if we gon' let them
Take back the night alright
Take back the night
You know you gon' mess around and find out there ain't no one better
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say,
And the horns say, feels good to me
And the horns say, alright
Ooh it's taking over
The lyrics of Justin Timberlake's song "Take Back the Night" is about living life to the fullest and enjoying the moment. The song is inspired by the annual Take Back the Night rallies that aim to end sexual violence against women. In the first verse, Justin sings about the city that the woman he’s singing about has taken over, breaking every law except for one- which is not specified. He then talks about how he feels about her and how he wants to act on it.
The chorus is about how they’re going to "Take Back the Night" and not let anyone shut them down or stop them from having a good time. Timberlake appears to be urging the person he’s singing to, to let go of their inhibitions - to let him lead the way and let their love be their weapon.
There's also a breakdown in the middle of the song where the horns take over, signifying the rise of intensity before it ends on a celebratory note.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, uh, feels good, don't it?
The singer is excited about the night ahead and wants to share the feeling with everyone listening to the song.
Yeah, this was your city
You did it all and more, broke every law except for one, babe
Attraction, are you ready
I know you feel it
Pull you nearer 'til you feel it again, oh
The singer is complimenting the listener for being adventurous in the city, and the attraction between them is palpable. He wants to draw them closer together and make the night more memorable.
I wanna do something right
But we can do something better
Ain't no time like tonight
And we ain't trying to save it 'til later
Stay out here living the life
Nobody cares who we are tomorrow
You got that lil' something I like
A little something I've been wanting to borrow
Tonight's the night, come on surrender
I won't lead your love astray, astray, yeah
Your love's a weapon
Give your body some direction
That's my aim
Then, we could
The singer wants to experience something special with the listener tonight, something beyond mere satisfaction. He is aware that they can achieve something amazing together, and they have no time to waste. He is also aware of the listener's appeal and wants to bask in their glow. Finally, he declares his intentions clearly: to direct the listener's body and use their love as a weapon of pleasure.
Take back the night
Come on, use me up until there's nothing left
Take back the night
Dizzy, spinning, sweating, you can't catch your breath
Take back the night
Ooh, don't know when the sun is rising next
Take back the night
So if the feeling's right, then raise your glass and let's
The singer wants to take control of the night and make it truly memorable for both himself and the listener. He is ready to give his all to achieve this, and he wants them to join him in the experience. The night may be unpredictable, but they will face it together, and if they are both enjoying themselves, they should keep going.
They gon' try to shut us down, but I'll be damned if we gon' let them
Take back the night, take back the night
You know you gon' mess around and find out there ain't no one better
Take back the night, oh
Yeah
The singer acknowledges that there may be people who do not want them to have a good time but insists on continuing regardless. He believes that the listener has no limits and is confident that they will both enjoy the night to the fullest. Finally, he declares triumphantly that they will take back the night and own it.
Rare, there's not too many
No one but you and crowded rooms, we can do anything (yeah)
Attraction can drive you crazy
The way you move, you go crazy, that's incentive for me
The singer compliments the listener once again, saying that they possess a rare quality that makes them stand out from the crowd. He also establishes that they are both free to do whatever they want, regardless of who else is watching. He acknowledges that the listener drives him wild with desire and is incentivized to make the night extraordinary for them.
Break it down now,
Break break it down,
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, doo, doo, doo
Yeah, yeah, oh
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, take it over
Yeah, yeah
The singer wants to switch up the tempo and have some fun before the night ends. He also makes reference to the horns, which provide the accompanying music for the song. They signify the excitement of the night and the power of the music to motivate people.
Y'all ready to have a good time out there, ladies and gentlemen?
JT and the Tennessee Kids
Let your hair down baby
The singer is addressing the audience and trying to get them hyped up for an amazing night. He introduces himself and his backing band, the Tennessee Kids. Finally, he encourages everyone to let their hair down and enjoy themselves.
Take back the night
Take back the night
Take back the night
We don't know when the sun is rising next
Take back the night
The feeling's right, raise your glass and let's
Take back the night
Take back the night
But they gon' try to shut us down, I'll be damned if we gon' let them
Take back the night alright
Take back the night
You know you gon' mess around and find out there ain't no one better
And the horns say, alright
And the horns say,
And the horns say, feels good to me
And the horns say, alright
Ooh it's taking over
The singer repeats his message of taking back the night and owning it. He reminds everyone that they do not know what tomorrow holds and should seize the moment. He also assures the listener that they will not be deterred by anyone who does not want them to have fun. Finally, he calls on the horns and the music to provide the necessary energy to make the night unforgettable.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Godbey, Daniel Jones, James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosely
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Silly little guy
Lyrics: Closet full of secrets and skeletons awakes but nothing's true
I used to own a castle now it's boxes that I have to move
Right here in the darkness there's nothing left for me to do
It's easier to run away but today
Today we got to
Cast the shadows out from sight
A final stand a shouting cry
All the wrongs now turned to right
So fight the past
Take back the night
And call upon the torch tonight
To bring out all the ghosts to light
Because at last we have to go it's time
To take back the night
To take back the night
Being chased by monsters to face head on or be consumed
Reaching out for something grasping on to nothing to lose
Paybacks left too long unpaid but today
Today we got to
Cast the shadows out from sight
A final stand a shouting cry
All the wrongs now turned to right
So fight the past
Take back the night
And call upon the torch tonight
To bring out all the ghosts to light
Because at last we have to go it's time
To take back the night
To take back the night
Whoa oh oh oh
Whoa oh oh oh
To take back the night
Whoa oh oh oh
Whoa whoa whoa whoa (To take back the night)
So fight the past, take back the night
Take back the night
Whoa oh oh oh
Whoa oh oh oh
To take back the night
Whoa oh oh oh
Whoa whoa whoa whoa
And call upon the torch tonight
To bring out all the ghosts to light
Because at last we have to go it's time
To take back the night (whoa oh oh oh)
Nusaybah Amato
This song has just got a good feeling to it. Like you wanna go out late at night and just have fun but in a classy way
dort
This song wants me to go play minecraft
Le Burg
Brings me back to the summer of 2013, the summer between Grade 7 and Grade 8. I really liked Justin Timberlake’s music back then, and I still do.
Illona Johnson
His songs put you in a mood incredible, you cannot be in a bad mood while you watch this
Sipho M
The song never get old 🔥🔥🔥
Cianalee Martin
Yasss
Nacho PIEK
One of Timberlake's most underrated singles for sure
Sweatyfathuman
Bruh he stole the lyrics from a minecraft song smh
Internet Explorer
@Sweatyfathuman bruh what-
Internet Explorer
@Sweatyfathuman oh wait it's a joke