Laundry
R. Kelly Lyrics


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Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
When you’re soaked in tears for years, it never airs out
When you make pain look this good it never wears out
This dirty laundry, this dirty laundry

While my sister was on stage, killing it like a motherfucker
I was enraged, feeling it like a motherfucker
Bird in a cage, you would never know what I was dealing with
Went our separate ways, but I was happy she was killing it
Bitter, sweet, she was up, I was down
No lie, I feel good for her, but what do I do now?
Forget the records, off the record, I was going through some bullshit
Post Survivor, she on fire, who wanna hear my bullshit?
Meanwhile this nigga putting his hands on me
I swear y’all don’t know the half of this industry

Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
When you’re soaked in tears for years, it never airs out
When you make pain look this good it never wears out
This dirty laundry, this dirty laundry

And it’s almost been a decade
I’m behind them black shades
Roll up like it’s all good, right up out that escalate
Fix my make-up,
β€œget it together, Kelly, get it together”
Then we make up,
Well get it together, nigga, get it together
Kinda lucky, I was in her shadow
Phone call from my sister, β€œwhat’s the matter?”
She said, β€œOh no baby, you gotta leave!”
I’m on the kitchen floor, he took the keys
I was mad at everybody,
I mean everybody
Yeah, her, her, her, her everybody
Five years later, I got my shit down phat
Think I had it good, and they don’t know how bad
Fooled everybody,
Except myself, soaking in this hurt
Bathing in the dirt

Dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
When you’re soaked in tears for years, it never airs out
When you make pain look this good it never wears out
Dirty laundry,
laundry

So here I am in the spin cycle
We’re coming and we’re going, nobody can notice
And I was trapped in his house, lying to my mama
Thought it could get no worser as we maximize the drama
Started to call them people on him
I was battered
He hittin' the window like it was me, until it shattered
He pulled me out, he said, β€œDon’t nobody love you but me
Not your mama, not your daddy and especially not B.”
He turned me against my sister
I missed you

Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
This dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
When you’re soaked in tears for years, it never airs out
When you make pain look this good it never wears out
This dirty laundry, dirty laundry

Love is pain and pain is love,
He had me fucked up




Love is pain and pain is love,
He had me fucked up

Overall Meaning

The song "Laundry" by R. Kelly is a reflection of his personal struggles within the music industry and in his personal life. The lyrics are presented in a narrative that chronicles his experiences with heartbreak and domestic violence. The theme of the song centers on airing out personal struggles rather than hiding them, hence the term β€œdirty laundry”. Throughout the song, R. Kelly shares how he bottled up his feelings of resentment towards his family members while masking his pain through his music. He also shares his experiences of domestic violence in his relationship with an unnamed abuser, who mentally and physically tortured him. The chorus β€œWhen you’re soaked in tears for years, it never airs out, When you make pain look this good it never wears out”, highlights the effect such pain has on a person which is to stay with them for years and never fully fade away.


In the second verse, R. Kelly shares how he was trapped in his brother's shadow and his internal struggles as he saw his sister climbing the ladder of success. While the exterior appearance seemed to be one of happiness for his sister, inside he was dealing with feelings of envy and resentment. The abuse he experienced at the hands of an unnamed partner and his subsequent isolation becomes clear in the third verse as he narrates being trapped in his abuser's house. The chorus of the song continues to repeat, indicating that R. Kelly is still carrying the weight of his past experiences with him.


Line by Line Meaning

Let’s do this dirty laundry, this dirty laundry
Let's finally address the difficult and painful issues that we have been hiding and ignoring for too long.


When you’re soaked in tears for years, it never airs out
The emotional scars and pain that you suffer from for a long time will never truly disappear.


When you make pain look this good it never wears out
When you mask your pain so well that it looks like you're thriving, it's difficult for others to see that you're actually still hurting.


While my sister was on stage, killing it like a motherfucker
At the same time when my sister was very successful in her career, I was struggling with personal issues.


Bird in a cage, you would never know what I was dealing with
I felt trapped and powerless in my situation, and no one could see the pain that I was going through.


Bitter, sweet, she was up, I was down
My sister was doing great while I was struggling, and it was a mix of feelings for me.


Post Survivor, she on fire, who wanna hear my bullshit?
My sister was very successful after being a survivor, and nobody wanted to hear my problems in comparison.


Meanwhile this nigga putting his hands on me
While my career and my sister's career were going well, I was suffering abuse from someone close to me.


I’m behind them black shades
I'm hiding my pain and struggles behind a facade.


Fix my make-up, β€œget it together, Kelly, get it together”
I have to put on a brave face and get myself together despite my personal struggles.


Then we make up,
I forgive my abuser and try to move on, but the pain still lingers.


I mean everybody yeah, her, her, her, her everybody
I was resentful towards many people close to me, including my own family members.


Five years later, I got my shit down phat
After struggling for a long time, I finally got my life together and found success.


Started to call them people on him, I was battered
I finally began to speak out about my abuse and seek help.


Love is pain and pain is love, He had me fucked up
My abuser twisted love and pain, making it difficult for me to see the abuse that I was suffering.


So here I am in the spin cycle
I'm constantly being tossed around and overwhelmed by my emotional struggles.


And I was trapped in his house, lying to my mama
I was stuck in a dangerous situation and couldn't even be honest with my own mother.


Love is pain and pain is love, he had me fucked up
My abuser's manipulation made it difficult for me to recognize the abuse for what it was.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TERIUS NASH, KELLY ROWLAND, CARLOS MCKINNEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Corey Sheppard

Nivea's vocals..... especially her runs during the chorus are nothing to be played with. I don't think she's ever received her proper recognition. She sounded angelic

k k

Frfr

Mr. Big Red

YES! She hit every key effortlessly

Milky Marquis

She definitely smashed this track πŸ’―

Dennis Moore

Agreed

Dennis Moore

Yeah & complicated knocked my socks offfffffff

Lauren Professional

wow 2022 and this song popped in my head, classic calm and cool songs they dont make like this no more!

Paysan de Kinshasa

This song has such a melow and nostalgic feel to it. Wonderful.

Darrion Willett

Her vocals remind me of Aaliyah's right here, so soft and pure πŸ™Œ

Donovan Clinton

It's funny because he told Nivea that she reminded him of Aaliyah...

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