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 Harlem at the Showtime 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 was released in August 2006. The first single, "S.E.X.", feautures Jennings' protégé, singer LaLa Brown.
Hypothetically
Lyfe Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What if I told you a lie, but didn't mean it?
What if my one mistake had the potential to break up our happy home?
Would you want to know?
What if I confessed it
And though she didn't mean nothing...sex happened...
You're thinking bout leaving
Is it cool for me to smother the facts? is it cool for me to cover my tracks?
If you know... (if you never know)
Or would me not being honest hurt you more?
Hypothetically, of course, are there some things better left unsaid?
Or would you wanna know instead?
Hypothetically, of course, are there some wars not worth fighting?
...Some tears not worth crying now...
Hypothetically, of course, what if this happened to you?
What would you want me to do?
And what if I told you that I had a confession?
What if I said four years ago when we were arguing
He came to comfort me and I wound up pregnant
And I just can't say for sure if the baby's yours
Now what if I confessed it,
And it turned out not to be your baby after you get tested?
And it destroys what we've been blessed with
What if I suppressed it?
'cause technically you're the baby's daddy anyway
Is it wrong for me to want you to stay?
Would you rather have me tear you away from the only family you know?
Or is it just too big a secret to keep it on the low?
Hypothetically, of course, are there some things better left unsaid?
Or would you wanna know instead?
Hypothetically, of course, are there some wars not worth fighting?
...Some tears not worth crying now...
Hypothetically, of course, what if this happened to you?
What would you want me to do?
Would you wanna know?
Would you wanna know?
Tell me what you'd do!
Tell me what you'd do!
Would you walk away, or would you wanna stay?
Would you wanna know?
Would you wanna leave the past behind us?
Or are you afraid that one day it might find us?
Would it even matter
Could it even matter?
Should it even matter?
Hypothetically
Hypothetically, of course
Hypothetically
Hypothetically, of course
The song "Hypothetically" by Lyfe Jennings explores the hypothetical situations of cheating and infidelity within a relationship. The lyrics paint a picture of a couple contemplating the possibility of straying from their monogamous commitment, not knowing whether they should come clean or conceal their mistakes. The lyrics are extremely relatable as they reflect the emotions and questions that arise from such a situation.
Jennings opens with a very powerful hypothetical situation, where he breaks their monogamous agreement and tells a lie that he never meant. He questions whether his one mistake could potentially break their happy home. The song then explores two more hypothetical scenarios, where the singer confesses to his partner that he had sex with someone else, and another where he secretly has a baby with someone else during their relationship.
Jennings makes a very powerful point when he asks whether it's better to keep these secrets and avoid hurting your partner or if you should come clean and risk ruining everything. The song questions the value of honesty and whether some secrets are better left unsaid, irrespective of how well-meant they might be. The lyrics are a testament to the complexities and nuances inherent within relationships, as it is not always easy to decipher what is the right course of action to follow.
Line by Line Meaning
What if I broke our monogamous agreement
What if I cheated on you?
What if I told you a lie, but didn't mean it?
What if I lied to you accidentally or without ill meaning?
What if my one mistake had the potential to break up our happy home?
What if my mistake could ruin our relationship?
Would you want to know?
Do you want me to tell you if I did something wrong?
What if I confessed it
What if I admitted to what I did?
And though she didn't mean nothing...sex happened...
Even though the other person meant nothing to me, I still cheated.
You're thinking bout leaving
You're considering ending the relationship.
What if I suppressed it, and made a vow to never mess with another?
What if I kept it a secret and promised to never cheat again?
Is it cool for me to smother the facts? is it cool for me to cover my tracks?
Is it okay for me to hide the truth and pretend like it never happened?
If you know... (if you never know)
If I tell you or if I don't tell you.
Or would me not being honest hurt you more?
Would it be worse for me to lie to you about what I did?
Hypothetically, of course, are there some things better left unsaid?
Is it better to keep some things a secret?
Or would you wanna know instead?
Or do you want me to tell you everything?
Hypothetically, of course, are there some wars not worth fighting?
Are some arguments not worth having?
...Some tears not worth crying now...
Are some things not worth getting upset over?
Hypothetically, of course, what if this happened to you?
What if you were in my situation?
What would you want me to do?
What would you want me to do if I cheated on you?
And what if I told you that I had a confession?
What if I had something else to tell you?
What if I said four years ago when we were arguing
What if during an argument four years ago...
He came to comfort me and I wound up pregnant
Someone came to console me and I ended up pregnant.
And I just can't say for sure if the baby's yours
And I'm not sure if you're the father.
And it turned out not to be your baby after you get tested?
If we found out the baby wasn't yours after getting tested?
And it destroys what we've been blessed with
And our relationship falls apart because of it.
Is it wrong for me to want you to stay?
Is it bad that I want you to stay even if the baby isn't yours?
Would you rather have me tear you away from the only family you know?
Would you prefer if I broke up our family over something that may not matter?
Or is it just too big a secret to keep it on the low?
Or is this something that's too big of a secret to keep hidden?
Tell me what you'd do!
What would you do in my situation?
Would you walk away, or would you wanna stay?
Would you leave me or stay with me?
Would you wanna leave the past behind us?
Do you want to forget what happened?
Or are you afraid that one day it might find us?
Or are you worried that it might come back to haunt us?
Would it even matter
Would it even make a difference?
Could it even matter?
Would it really be important?
Should it even matter?
Is this even something we should be concerned about?
Hypothetically
In theory
Hypothetically, of course
Speaking in general terms
Hypothetically
In theory
Hypothetically, of course
Speaking in general terms
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LYFE JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@todarislife8595
What if I broke our monogamous agreement
What if I told you I lied but didn't mean it
What if my one mistake
Had the potential to break
Up our happy home
Would you want to know
What if I confessed it and though she didn't mean nothing since it happened
You're thinking about leaving
What if I suppressed it
And made a vow to never mess with another
Is it cool for me to smother the facts
Is it cool for me to cover my tracks
If you'd never know
Or would me not being honest hurt you more
Hypothetically of course
Are there some things better left unsaid
Or would you want to know instead
Hypothetically of course
Are there some wars not worth fighting
Some tears not worth crying
Hypothetically of course
What if this happened to you
What would you want me to do
Well what if I told you that I had a confession
What if I said 4 years ago when we were arguing
He came to comfort me and I wound up pregnant
And I just can't say for sure
If the baby's yours
What if I confessed it and it turns out not to be your baby after you get tested
And it destroys what we've been blessed with
What if I suppress it 'cause technically you're the baby's daddy anyway
Is it wrong for me to want you to stay
Would you rather have me tear you away
From the only family you know
Or is this just too big a secret to keep it on the low
Hypothetically of course
Are there some things better left unsaid
Or would you want to know instead
Hypothetically of course
Are there some wars not worth fighting
Some tears not worth crying
Hypothetically of course
What if this happened to you
What would you want me to do
Would you want to know
Would you want to know
Tell me what you'd do
Would you walk away or would you stay
Would you want to know
Would you want to leave the past behind us
Or are you afraid that one day it might find us
Would it even matter
Could it even matter
Should it even matter
@lashesoclassy3892
At this point in Lyfe's career, the world was just simply not ready for that level of purity and authentic music. For that reason, I don't think that he got the credit that he so greatly deserved. He was way ahead of his time and his albums were literally a musical diary of his life experiences. The good and the bad but beautiful in every aspect! 💯
@YoungMoneyfast7Boss
TRULY!!
@keirabarber4157
Absolutely
@jakeparsons5490
They never were ready
@RockellGlenn
@#REALlifeSht
Lpppppppp😊
@kimrhodes8113
Yes he was.... I love love me some LYFE right to this day....4-26-23❤❤❤❤
@ComeliaO7
This song does not get enough credit!!
Vocally Lyfe and Fantasia did absolutely amazing!!!
@choryagunter3318
I absolutely agree with you 👍
@MikeBrown-ox6kf
Facts 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@tremainworrell5997
They pretty sure did