Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. (born November 2, 1974 in Austin, Texas), better k… Read Full Bio ↴Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. (born November 2, 1974 in Austin, Texas), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur signed to Universal and Derrty Records. Born to a half Tunisian father and American mother, he has been active since 1993 as a bandmate of the rap group St. Lunatics, and became a hip-hop superstar after the success of his solo release, Country Grammar, in 2000. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, spawned multiple chart toppers and won three Grammy awards. His second effort, 2002's Nellyville, was equally successful and it included the hits "Dilemma" and "Hot in Herre" and was nominated for five Grammy awards, including Album of the Year. In 2004 Nelly released two albums at the same time, Sweat and Suit, and in September they briefly held the two top spots on the charts. His latest album is Brass Knuckles, released in 2008.
Nelly has been equally active as a businessman; among other ventures, in 2003 he released his own energy drink called "Pimp Juice," and in 2004 he became a minority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats basketball team. He is also the CEO of Derrty Entertainment, his own company formed in 2003. Nelly has two clothing lines: Vokal (for men) and Apple Bottoms (for women).

Nothing Without Her
Nelly Lyrics

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So they say, she's a bad girl
Some say she's a bitch, she's a liar
Fucking with her is like playing with fire
So I'll say (so I'll say)
hey that's my girl (that's my girl)
And I'mma be the one that's gon' make her better
And you can always see the two of us together
'Cause when I'm going through some things I

Know that she's my daylight
In the middle of the darkness
I can see things clearly
Because she's near me yeah

Ain't no way I'm letting her go
See I've been warned by everyone around me
She gon' be the death of me oh yeah
But ain't no way I'm letting her go (no)
See all the money in this world don't mean
Nothing without her, nothing without her yeah

So they say, she's a problem
It ain't nothin' 'cause I'm known to be a solver
And I ain't worried about what other people call her
So I'll say (so I'll say)
I tamed a wild one (I tamed a wild one)
I ain't saying I can make nobody perfect
But I can really see what's underneath the surface
'Cause when I'm looking in her eyes I
See there's love inside I
Wanna be the one to show her
That I'm truly devoted
She's gonna know it yeah so

Ain't no way I'm letting her go
See I've been warned by everyone around me
She gon' be the death of me oh yeah
But ain't no way I'm letting her go (no)
See all the money in this world don't mean
Nothing without her, nothing without her yeah

Let me be the reason baby let me be the 'cause
Let me the only one you let up in your heart
Let me be the picture, sitting in your frame
Let me be your lover, I'll let you be the same

Let me be the reason baby let me be the 'cause
Let me the only one you let up in your heart
Let me be the picture, sitting in your frame
Let me be your lover, I'll let you be the same

Ain't no way I'm letting her go
See I've been warned by everyone around me
She gon' be the death of me oh yeah
But ain't no way I'm letting her go (no)

See all the money in this world don't mean
Nothing without her, nothing without her yeah

Overall Meaning

Nelly's "Nothing Without Her" is a love song devoted to a seemingly "bad girl" who is viewed by outsiders as problematic and troublesome. The singer, however, staunchly defends his love interest and believes himself capable of changing her for the better. He describes her as his "daylight in the middle of the darkness" and states that he can see things clearly when she is near.

The chorus repeats the refrain that the singer will not let go of his love interest, despite the warnings of those around him that she will be the "death of him." He asserts that all the money in the world means nothing without her.

"Nothing Without Her" celebrates the complexities of love and the singer's unwavering dedication to his partner, no matter what others may think or say.

Line by Line Meaning

So they say, she's a bad girl
Some people label her as a misbehaving woman

Some say she's a bitch, she's a liar
Some people accuse her of being difficult and untruthful

Fucking with her is like playing with fire
Dealing with her is a risky gamble

So I'll say (so I'll say)
I stand firm in my belief

hey that's my girl (that's my girl)
I claim her as my own

And I'mma be the one that's gon' make her better
I am committed to helping her improve

And you can always see the two of us together
We are inseparable

'Cause when I'm going through some things I
In times of struggle

Know that she's my daylight
She guides me through the darkness

In the middle of the darkness
Even when times are tough

I can see things clearly
She brings clarity into my life

Because she's near me yeah
Simply by being around me

Ain't no way I'm letting her go
I am not giving up on her

See I've been warned by everyone around me
Others have cautioned me about her

She gon' be the death of me oh yeah
Some people believe she will be my downfall

But ain't no way I'm letting her go (no)
Nevertheless, I refuse to abandon her

See all the money in this world don't mean
The world's riches cannot replace

Nothing without her, nothing without her yeah
The love and companionship of my girl

So they say, she's a problem
Some people view her as a challenge

It ain't nothin' 'cause I'm known to be a solver
I am capable of resolving issues

And I ain't worried about what other people call her
I don't care about how others label her

I tamed a wild one (I tamed a wild one)
I have successfully calmed her down

I ain't saying I can make nobody perfect
I am not claiming to be able to fix everything

But I can really see what's underneath the surface
I understand her true self

'Cause when I'm looking in her eyes I
When I gaze into her eyes

See there's love inside I
I detect the love within her

Wanna be the one to show her
I want to demonstrate to her

That I'm truly devoted
My commitment to her is genuine

She's gonna know it yeah so
She will become aware of my sincerity

Let me be the reason baby let me be the 'cause
Allow me to be the motivation and cause

Let me the only one you let up in your heart
Be the sole occupant of your heart

Let me be the picture, sitting in your frame
Let me occupy a place of honor in your life

Let me be your lover, I'll let you be the same
I will be your partner in love, and you will be mine

Ain't no way I'm letting her go
I am not giving up on her

See I've been warned by everyone around me
Others have cautioned me about her

She gon' be the death of me oh yeah
Some people believe she will be my downfall

But ain't no way I'm letting her go (no)
Nevertheless, I refuse to abandon her

See all the money in this world don't mean
The world's riches cannot replace

Nothing without her, nothing without her yeah
The love and companionship of my girl

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD BUTLER, CORNELL HAYNES, FRANK ROMANO, JAMES SCHEFFER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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