Two Lonely Hearts
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics

Excuse me, you headin' my way?
As the singer seeks companionship, she asks the person if they are going in her direction.

Tryin' to find something to brighten up my day
The singer is looking for something that will bring joy or happiness to her day.

Maybe I could talk to you
The singer considers striking up a conversation with the person she's addressing.

Or you could talk to me
Alternatively, the artist is open to the person initiating a conversation with her.

Your eyes seem to call out for some comfort
The artist perceives a sense of longing or sadness in the person's eyes.

Is it the everyday racism
The singer poses a question about whether the person's discomfort may stem from experiencing racism in their daily life.

Or a pain from deep within
Alternatively, the singer wonders if the person is dealing with an internal struggle or emotional pain.

I may not understand now but then again
Although the artist doesn't know what the other person may be going through, she's willing to listen and offer support.

Say, you headin' my way
The artist repeats her inquiry to get a conversation started.

Two lonely hearts on the subway
The artist and the person she's addressing share a feeling of isolation and loneliness in their surroundings.

Singin' the blues on the subway train
Despite their shared loneliness, the singer and the other person are on opposite ends of the train car, singing their own private 'blues.'

Black black yes it's hard
The artist acknowledges the challenges of being black in a society where racism exists.

And that's a fact
She is firm in her belief that racism is an undeniable part of life for black people.

But I can rise above
Despite the hardships, the singer has found a way to transcend the negativity she's encountered.

When I have love
The presence of love in the singer's life has helped her to overcome adversity.

Here comes the train
The artist's attention turns to the approaching train.

Please don't turn and walk away – stay
She implores the other person not to leave the train and miss the chance for connection.

We could read some Ntozake Shange
The singer suggests that they read some literature by Ntozake Shange, an African American playwright and poet.

And I loose myself in the book
Reading provides the singer with an escape, allowing her to forget about the stress of daily life.

I escape to my heavenly tomb
Reading, in this case, is like a form of mental burial, a way of achieving spiritual liberation.

Or we could read The Voice
Alternatively, the artist proposes that they read a publication called The Voice, which was an important newspaper during the Civil Rights era.

It's your choice
The artist is flexible and willing to let the other person decide which literature to read.

I just want to get to know you
Above all, the singer desires to form a personal connection with the person she's addressing.

Your lovely black face
The artist finds beauty in the person's blackness.

Accompanied by some strictly roots
The musical genre strictly roots emphasizes black consciousness and resistance to oppression.

As we venture
The singer sees their time together as a journey, an adventure into the unknown.

It's just nice to be near you
Regardless of what they do or don't do, the singer appreciates the proximity of the other person.