Jennings began singing at a young age in a Toledo church choir. He later joined a group called The Dotsons with two of his cousins and his older brother, Jay. The group separated in the early 1990s, and Jennings rediscovered music and started a music program at an Ohio prison where he was serving a ten-year sentence on an arson-related charge. He has cited Erykah Badu's 1997 album Baduizm as one of the reasons for his rediscovery. Jennings was released from prison in December 2002 and started to pursue a solo career in music. In January 2003, he performed in Showtime In Harlem at The Apollo. The same year, he also independently released his first EP, What Is Love. To further pursue his career, Jennings moved to New York City where he performed at rapper Nelly's concert at Radio City Music Hall, at an NAACP convention where he performed an original song called "Thank God for the NAACP", and at the Cafeteria in Chelsea, Manhattan during the blackout on August 14. He signed with Columbia Records and released his debut album Lyfe 268-192 (268-192 was his inmate number) in August 2004. His first single was Stick Up Kid, which didn't see much sucess until after the album was released. The album featured his hit single "Must Be Nice". Jennings' second album The Phoenix will be released in August 2006. The first single, "S.E.X.", feautures Jennings' protégé, singer LaLa Brown.
Sex
Lyfe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see most cats would take advantage of you right now
But I ain't gon' do that, you heard
I'm a give you the game, right
I'm a give it to you because
I don't want somebody to give my little girl the game
So she could find her S.E.X.
Heard you just turned seventeen and finally got some hips
Hustlers on the block go crazy when you lick your lips
But they just want relations, they don't want relationships
(Welcome to the real world)
It ain't the same
Fellas old enough to be your daddy know your name
Everybody's talkin' 'bout how much that girl done changed
Can't quite put your finger on it, but you feel it's strange
Like it's fire in your veins
Girl, it's just your S.E.X.
Mama's secret
And daddy gon' go crazy when he finds out that his baby's found her
S.E.X., take a deep breath
And think before you let it go
The block is packed
Baby got an attitude and proud to holla back
Mama's giving advice, but she ain't tryin' to hear that
Not because it's wrong, just her delivery is whack
(Shay, get your butt in this house, if I see you with another boy, I swear...)
Life is rough
You say that you're not ready for sex, but you're in love
He says if you really loved him, you would give it up
Mama says that's just a line guys use to get your stuff
Which one will you trust?
Girl, it's just your S.E.X.
Mama's secret
And daddy gon' go crazy when he finds out that his baby's found her
S.E.X., take a deep breath
And think before you let it go
Hey yo, Lyfe
She might take it better coming from a woman (Get 'em, girl)
See, he'll tell you all kind of things to get in your pants, yeah
Baby, it's a fact that once it's gone, you'll never get it back (never get it back)
Hold on to your innocence
Use your common sense (you're worth waiting for)
Be strong
Honey, don't give in, blessings come with patience
Till we meet again, I'm praying for you
Girl, it's just your S.E.X.
Mama's secret
And daddy gon' go crazy when he finds out that his baby's found her
S.E.X., take a deep breath
And think before you let it go
Girl, it's just your S.E.X.
Mama's secret
And daddy gon' go crazy when he finds out that his baby's found her
S.E.X., take a deep breath
And think before you let it go
The lyrics of Lyfe Jennings's song SEX talks about a young girl who just turned seventeen and is experiencing some changes in her body. She is navigating the complexities of male attention as guys make passes at her. She is receiving conflicting messages about love, sex, and relationships from her mother, father, and lover. The song sheds light on the importance of waiting to have sex, exploring the theme of innocence and caution as the girl is advised to think before she let it go. The spirit of the song is to warn young girls not to be swayed by lustful propositions of men, but to treasure their innocence and wait for true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey yo, you
Lyfe Jennings is addressing a young girl.
You see most cats would take advantage of you right now
Many guys would try to take advantage of her in her young age.
But I ain't gon' do that, you heard
However, Lyfe wants to teach the girl about life and sex.
I'm a give you the game, right
He wants to give her advice to help her in the future.
I'm a give it to you because
He feels that he owes it to her to give her this advice.
I don't want somebody to give my little girl the game
Lyfe wants to give this girl advice because he has a daughter of his own.
So she could find her S.E.X.
He wants her to be informed and make her own decisions about sex.
Life's a trip
Life can be unpredictable and confusing.
Heard you just turned seventeen and finally got some hips
The girl has recently become more physically mature.
Hustlers on the block go crazy when you lick your lips
Men are attracted to the girl's physical appearance and behavior.
But they just want relations, they don't want relationships
Men are only interested in sex, not a commitment.
(Welcome to the real world)
Lyfe is acknowledging the harsh reality of adult life and relationships.
It ain't the same
Life is different from when Lyfe was growing up.
Fellas old enough to be your daddy know your name
Even older men are interested in the girl.
Everybody's talkin' 'bout how much that girl done changed
People are noticing how the girl has grown and developed.
Can't quite put your finger on it, but you feel it's strange
The girl is experiencing confusion and uncertainty.
Like it's fire in your veins
Her emotions and desires are strong and intense.
Girl, it's just your S.E.X.
Lyfe wants the girl to understand that sex is not all there is to life.
Mama's secret
The girl's mother likely told her about sex but perhaps not enough.
And daddy gon' go crazy when he finds out that his baby's found her S.E.X.
The girl's father may react poorly if he finds out she is having sex.
Take a deep breath
Lyfe is telling the girl to relax and think before making decisions.
And think before you let it go
She needs to use her reasoning to make the right choices about sex.
The block is packed
The environment around her is full of temptation and danger.
Baby got an attitude and proud to holla back
The girl has a confident personality.
Mama's giving advice, but she ain't tryin' to hear that
The girl may not be receptive to her mother's advice.
Not because it's wrong, just her delivery is whack
The mother's advice may be sound, but the girl just does not like the way she is delivering it.
(Shay, get your butt in this house, if I see you with another boy, I swear...)
Lyfe is imitating the girl's mother's way of speaking in a humorous manner.
Life is rough
Life can be difficult and challenging.
You say that you're not ready for sex, but you're in love
The girl's emotions may be difficult to control when it comes to sex, and she is not quite sure what she wants.
He says if you really loved him, you would give it up
The boy is pressuring her to have sex and using her love for him to justify it.
Mama says that's just a line guys use to get your stuff
Her mother is warning her that the boy is manipulating her.
Which one will you trust?
The girl has conflicting sources of advice and must choose for herself.
Hey yo, Lyfe
The girl is addressing Lyfe Jennings again.
She might take it better coming from a woman (Get 'em, girl)
The girl thinks she might be able to understand sex better if a woman explains it to her.
See, he'll tell you all kind of things to get in your pants, yeah
Lyfe is warning the girl that guys will say anything to convince her to have sex.
Baby, it's a fact that once it's gone, you'll never get it back (never get it back)
Once the girl loses her virginity, she will never have it again.
Hold on to your innocence
Lyfe is telling the girl to value her innocence and not rush into sex.
Use your common sense (you're worth waiting for)
The girl should trust her own judgment and know that she is worth waiting for.
Be strong
Lyfe is encouraging the girl to be strong and assertive.
Honey, don't give in, blessings come with patience
If the girl waits and is patient, good things will come to her.
Till we meet again, I'm praying for you
Lyfe is sending the girl off with a blessing and wishes her the best.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEVI, JR. SEACER, . PRINCE (US 1)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kristencharles8382
Who still listening in 2024?
@debbiewilliams4184
I am
@Meech817
I'm trying to figure out why this song still isn't the anthem for all young teens as motivation. It's like we all forgot it exsist.
@charitacoffey8212
Exactly!!! I love this song
@RamonMartelle
The influence to do the opposite has a greater presence and is being pushed on a much larger scale. We have to shift the tide.
@maxineperez3141
Agree but it's life finde what you can if they don't find this song it wasn't there
@missjski
Same
@didi_90
I know right
@AliciaHill-mb6ls
I will never forget when I first heard this song, I was probably about 15 & it resonated with me so much. I was a pretty shy girl & I finally got some "hips" LOL and "welcome to the real world". I'm grateful that I listened to it though, it saved me from SO much. To any young girl reading this just know it's not worth it and you are a ROSE, regardless of what anyone says. God gave you that and he don't miss babygirl!!!
@tee8870
Very smart young lady proud of you