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.
Why When How?
Justin Timberlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do do do doooooo
Dooo doooo
Oooo
Mmmmm
You're still captivating
Even though it's been so long
Tell me baby what went wrong
'cause now you march to a beat of a different song
I try to understand that we needed space
But everywhere I turn I see your face
And I've been wating for you to come home
'cause I don't want to be alone
Still Love you
Why did you take away your love
When did you think to just give up
How am I suppose to carry on now
With you
You were my life
I have changed girl since I last saw you
When you left you don't know what you put me through
But my heart still racing just being next to you
I can't escape the magic in your eyes
Is there a way to make you realize
There is no one more special to my heart
But you want us to be apart
Still Love
Why did you take away your love
When did you think to just give up
How am I suppose to carry on now
With you
You were my world
You ment everything to me
Your the air I breathe,
The song I sing
You were my queen
I was your King
But if we can try to work it out
We'll show the world what love is about
Baby come home
'cause I can't no more
Of this loneliness and emptiness
Why did you take away your love
When did you think to just give up
How am I suppose to carry on now
Without you
Why did you take away your love
When did you think to just give up
How ami suppose to carry on
Without you
You were my life
The lyrics of Justin Timberlake’s song Why When How? are about a man who is still in love with his ex-girlfriend and is struggling to move on. He is confused by the fact that she left him and constantly wonders "why did you take away your love" and "when did you think to just give up". He expresses his love for her and the fact that she meant everything to him: "You were my world/ You meant everything to me/ You’re the air I breathe/ The song I sing/ You were my queen/ I was your king". However, despite his desire to work things out with her, she seems to want to keep them apart.
In the bridge, Timberlake sings about how he has changed since they last saw each other and begs her to come back to him, expressing his loneliness and emptiness without her. The song ends with the repeated chorus of "Why did you take away your love/ When did you think to just give up/ How am I supposed to carry on now/ Without you/ You were my life".
This song speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the struggle to move on after a relationship ends. The lyrics show the emotional turmoil of longing for someone who doesn't want to be with you and trying to come to terms with the fact that the relationship is over. It is a reminder that even though we might not always get the answers we need, it's important to keep moving forward and trying to find ways to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
You're still captivating
You still have my attention after all this time
Even though it's been so long
Despite the passage of time
You used to love me
You once had affection for me
Tell me baby what went wrong
Explain to me the reason our relationship failed
'cause now you march to a beat of a different song
You have moved on and are living a different life now
I try to understand that we needed space
I try to comprehend that we needed time apart
But everywhere I turn I see your face
Everywhere I go, something reminds me of you
And I've been waiting for you to come home
I have been patiently waiting for your return
'cause I don't want to be alone
I do not want to be by myself
Still Love you
I still have feelings for you
Why did you take away your love
Why did you stop loving me?
When did you think to just give up
When did you decide to give up on us?
How am I suppose to carry on now
How am I supposed to live without you?
You were my life
You were the center of my existence
I have changed girl since I last saw you
I have grown and evolved since we last saw each other
When you left you don't know what you put me through
You do not understand the pain I experienced when you left
But my heart still racing just being next to you
My heartbeat quickens just being in your presence
I can't escape the magic in your eyes
I cannot resist the allure in your gaze
Is there a way to make you realize
Can I help you understand
There is no one more special to my heart
No one else occupies the same place in my heart as you do
But you want us to be apart
But you do not want to be with me
You were my world
You were my everything
You meant everything to me
You held immense value in my life
Your the air I breathe, The song I sing
You are the essence of my being, and the inspiration behind my music
You were my queen
You were my royalty
I was your King
I was the one who protected and cared for you
But if we can try to work it out
If we can make an effort to reconcile
We'll show the world what love is about
We can demonstrate to the world what true love looks like
Baby come home
My dear, come back to me
'cause I can't no more
Because I cannot bear this anymore
Of this loneliness and emptiness
This feeling of solitude and hollowness
Without you
In your absence
Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@spiderliliez
This is actually my favorite JT love song. It's just soo good. I don't understand why it wasn't a main release and why it isn't that popular that time. It's such a beautiful piece!
@jeneebailey9101
I LOVE THIS SONG!! I WISH HE WOULDVE RELEASED IT
@LaCheleWallace
I was in my kitchen making some golden beet juice and this song just started playin' in my head. I just had to come and check on it. He did his thing here. The production is primo.
@MsMartylicious
Such a great song. Unfortunately, i cant find it on Spotify :( if the owner of this video could also share in that platform :)
@mariaclarke8001
I love this music ♥️ 🎶 🎵 ❤️ 😌 and I love you Justin Timberlake in my heart forever ☺️ 😌 ♥️ 🎵 💓 ❤️ ☺️ 😌 ♥️ 🎵 💓 ❤️
@all-american469
I love that song too!
@LaurenKaminski
I love this sing so much!
@nandaalves6639
E essa música linda, feita com amor pra Britney🥰 ahhhhh!!! ❤
@happyhogan40
Jc is doing background vocals!
@user-mo1zq6vm3u
Why this song is not in apple music ?