You Ain't The Problem
Michael Kiwanuka Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

La la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la

La la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la


La la la la la

Love makes you blind
I hope to find
Who I believe in
Get back in line
I can't deny myself
Show me the feeling
Oh, you got me wrong
If you don't belong
Live in the trouble

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem (I know)

I lived a lie
Love is the crime
It's you I believe in (I know)
No need to play myself
No need to die
I'm only human (I know)
I'm done, you got to put me on
I know when you come along

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem

La la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la

I point the gun
They shoot for fun
You are the problem
I try to help myself
You are the one
Do all the talkin'
You got me wrong
I caught you fallin'
I hear you callin'

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem (I know)

I lived a dream
I hope to be
Who I believe in (I know)
I used to hate myself
You got the key
Break out the prison (I know)
Ah, I hope to never see time passin'

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem

La la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la

La la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la

La la la la la la la
La la la la la

La la la la la la la
La la la la la

Overall Meaning

The song "You Ain't the Problem" by Michael Kiwanuka is a soulful and reflective piece about finding oneself and overcoming hurdles in life. In the opening lines, he repeats "la la la" to create an upbeat yet uncertain mood, which complements the lyrics well. He then sings about love and hoping to find someone to believe in while acknowledging that love can make one blind. In the chorus, Kiwanuka reassures himself that the person he is addressing isn't the problem and time will eventually heal his pain.


The next verse begins with a metaphorical gun, which may represent the pain or struggle that Kiwanuka has faced, while the person he is addressing is the one who talks too much but doesn't provide a solution to his problems. The artist continues to emphasize that he has lived a lie and hopes to be the person he believes in. He also mentions that he used to hate himself and is now finding the courage to break out of his self-imposed prison.


Overall, "You Ain't the Problem" is a soulful reflection on finding oneself and overcoming the pain that comes with love or other struggles in life.


Line by Line Meaning

La la la la la la la
The song starts with a series of meaningless sounds that are used as filler words for the music


La la la la la
The same meaningless filler words are used again in the next line


Love makes you blind
Being in love can cloud one's judgment and prevent them from seeing a situation clearly


I hope to find
The speaker desires to discover or uncover something new or meaningful related to their love life


Who I believe in
The speaker is searching for someone they can trust and rely on for emotional support


Get back in line
The speaker is telling themselves to regain focus and stay on track with their goals and priorities


I can't deny myself
The speaker knows that they cannot ignore their own feelings and needs


Show me the feeling
The speaker wants to experience a genuine emotional connection with someone


Oh, you got me wrong
The speaker believes that someone has misunderstood them or their intentions


If you don't belong
The speaker is questioning whether someone fits into their life or relationship


Live in the trouble
The speaker is accepting that there may be difficulties or conflicts in their love life


Don't hesitate
The speaker is urging themselves to take action or make a decision


Time heals the pain
The speaker is confident that with time, their emotional pain and struggles will lessen


You ain't the problem (I know)
The speaker is reassuring themselves that their love interest is not the source of their problems or pain


I lived a lie
The speaker has been living in a false reality or fooling themselves about something related to love


Love is the crime
The speaker feels that being in love is causing them to behave in ways that are wrong or hurtful


It's you I believe in (I know)
The speaker is confident that their love interest is the one they can trust and have faith in


No need to play myself
The speaker is telling themselves to be honest and authentic with their emotions and actions


No need to die
The speaker is using a metaphor for the importance of self-care and self-preservation


I'm only human (I know)
The speaker acknowledges their own fallibility and limitations


I'm done, you got to put me on
The speaker is asking their love interest to take the lead and guide them in the relationship


I know when you come along
The speaker is confident that they will recognize when they have found the right person for them


I point the gun
The speaker is using a metaphor for feeling a sense of danger or violence in their relationship


They shoot for fun
The speaker feels that they are being targeted or victimized in their love life


You are the problem
The speaker is shifting blame onto their love interest for causing difficulties or stress in the relationship


I try to help myself
The speaker is attempting to find ways to improve their emotional well-being and relieve their own pain


You are the one
The speaker is declaring their love interest as the most important person in their life


Do all the talkin'
The speaker is allowing their love interest to do most of the communication and leading in the relationship


You got me wrong
The speaker feels that their love interest does not truly understand them or their feelings


I caught you fallin'
The speaker may have saved their love interest from a mistake or problem, or proved them wrong in some way


I hear you callin'
The speaker is responding to their love interest's emotional needs and requests for attention


I lived a dream
The speaker has been experiencing a positive fantasy or illusion related to love


I hope to be
The speaker has aspirations for a future version of themselves that is more fulfilled and happy


You got the key
The speaker believes that their love interest holds the solution or answer to their problems or pain


Break out the prison (I know)
The speaker is ready to let go of their emotional baggage and move forward in their love life


Ah, I hope to never see time passin'
The speaker is cherishing the present moment and praying that it lasts forever


You ain't the problem
The chorus is repeated again to reinforce the idea that the love interest is not causing the speaker's problems or pain


La la la la la la la
The meaningless filler words are repeated again to close out the song


La la la la la
The same meaningless filler words are repeated a final time




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Burton, Dean Cover, Michael Samuel Kiwanuka

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Adrian Villegas

Love makes you blind
I hope to find
Who I believe in
Get back in line
I can't deny myself
Show me the feeling
Oh, you got me wrong
If you don't belong
Live in the trouble

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem (I know)

I lived a lie
Love is the crime
It's you I believe in (I know)
No need to play myself
No need to die
I'm only human (I know)
I'm done, you got to put me on
I know when you come along

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem

I point the gun
They shoot for fun
You are the problem
I try to help myself
You are the one
Do all the talkin'
You got me wrong
I caught you fallin'
I hear you callin'

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem (I know)

I lived a dream
I hope to be
Who I believe in (I know)
I used to hate myself
You got the key
Break out the prison (I know)
Ah, I hope to never see time passin'

Don't hesitate
Time heals the pain
You ain't the problem



All comments from YouTube:

Sarazar

Like always. Amazing. Love the 60th flow in your music. Since years you are pushing out more and more great songs. Cheers from Germany 👊

Eric Seine Mudda

Get lost Connor. And my best regards to Bezos and Moscow.

Animation 64

Jesus?

Mike Smith

?koo

Jacova Wernett

@jman243634564 sehr toll.

jman243634564

Ach du scheiße, das ich mal ein kommentar von so ner legende aus meiner jugend unter einem video sehe das weniger als 1000 likes hat hätte ich nie gedacht, falls du das liest, danke für die schönen momente :)

2 More Replies...

Willie Ledbetter

Nostalgic sound. Funk-infused, funk-induced, funk-inspired. Mindful, and meaningful lyrics. Splendid.

TOWO AWAWA BO (Official)

Dude studies jazz, he's a master

Wild Flower

FUNK is my favorite word ~

Natalie Moore

Such a Tonic in this sorry World.....

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