Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois), better … Read Full Bio ↴Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is a Grammy award winning American R&B singer-songwriter, rapper, actor and record producer. Debuting in 1991 with the group Public Announcement, Kelly went solo in 1993, starting off a successful career with the release of the album 12 Play. He has since released a further nine studio albums, collaborated with Jay-Z on two albums and has had many successful singles including Bump N' Grind, I Believe I Can Fly, Ignition, The World's Greatest and the hip-hopera Trapped in the Closet.

Kelly has also produced and performed in many tracks by other R&B and hip-hop artists. In 1994, Kelly produced and wrote the debut album of R&B singer Aaliyah and in 1995, Kelly co-produced and wrote the song "You Are Not Alone" for Michael Jackson, which was included on Jackson's album, HIStory. Kelly has sung the hooks for many notable hip-hop songs, such as "Fuckin' You Tonight" by The Notorious B.I.G., "We Thuggin'" by Fat Joe, "Gigolo" by Nick Cannon, and "Go Getta" by Young Jeezy, and has collaborated for two albums with Jay-Z.

You Deserve Better
R. Kelly Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah
Yep
I understand yo goin through some things with this nigga
This nigga ain't worth it
Get with a real nigga
Take you away from all of this shit
Fly you around the world
Make love to ya in fifty states, ya know I mean?

Treat you like you're supposed to be treated
Alright

You deserve better baby
fuckin' with this clown
Pack your bags and we can leave now
Girl don't let him bring you down
You deserve better baby
Let a real nigga bring you wealth
These lames are bad for your health
You can do bad all by yourself
You deserve better baby

Last time was the last time
Yeah
That nigga gon' make you cry
Yeah
He playin' you, bass line
Yeah
But you don't need the drama you too fine
You need to fly no doubt
I can fly you just holla' out
Your destination I know the route
He a fallen' plane girl bail out
He the type of nigga gon' bore you
I'm the type of nigga gon' spoil you
I can getcha lost in those islands girl
Eatin' lobster crabs and live royal
You need you a ride to die
You mash the gas I steer
He can buy you flowers girl
I put rose gold in your ear
Patron shots over seas
Make you forget your fears
You look like you need savin'
Superman right here
Girl I know that he hurt you
I got the kinda' sex that heals
These niggas out here fraudulent
Girl let me keep it real

You deserve better baby
fuckin' with this clown
Pack your bags and we can leave now
Girl don't let him bring you down
You deserve better baby
Let a real nigga bring you wealth
These lames are bad for your health
You can do bad all by yourself
You deserve better baby

Between love and hate it's a thin line, yeah
And he done crossed that like a thousand times, yeah
You need to make up your mind, yeah
You should be somewhere getting a tan line
Baby girl you ain't gotta work
I'll make shoppin' your career
We can sail the world together yachts docked on them piers
Stole, your heart like a hold up and you ain't getting' it back
Sexin' you in like fifty states my chain all on your back
Girl you been lookin' for a real love and I got what they lack
You a butterfly, a good girl, don't fall in none of these traps

You deserve better baby
fuckin' with this clown
Pack your bags and we can leave now
Girl don't let him bring you down
You deserve better baby
Let a real nigga bring you wealth
These lames are bad for your health
You can do bad all by yourself
You deserve better baby

All I wanna do
Is see you happy baby (what would it take)
That's all I wanna do (just say the word)
Is see you smiling baby
So I'm turn life into a hotel
Check you into your suite
Show you all the finer things

You deserve better baby
fuckin' with this clown
Pack your bags and we can leave now
Girl don't let him bring you down
You deserve better baby
Let a real nigga bring you wealth
These lames are bad for your health

You can do bad all by yourself
You deserve better baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to R. Kelly's song You Deserve Better essentially revolve around a man offering to take care of a woman who he feels is being mistreated by her current partner. The opening lines suggest that the woman in question is going through a difficult situation with her partner, and that the singer thinks she deserves much better than what she is currently receiving. He offers to act as her protector and comforter, taking her away from this unsatisfactory situation and treating her like she ought to be treated. He promises to take her on trips around the world, making love to her in fifty different states, and generally giving her the life that she deserves. The chorus reinforces this message, stating that the woman deserves better than the man she is currently with, that he is bad for her health, and that she can do bad all on her own.

In the second verse, the singer goes further to describe just how unsuitable the woman's current partner is for her. He is a "fallen plane" who is going to bore her, while the singer himself is going to spoil her. He promises her that he can take her to tropical islands where they can eat lobster and live like royalty, and that he is always going to be there for her, protecting her from the dramas of life. He also suggests that he is capable of healing her pain through sex, and that he is not a "fraudulent" man like her current partner. Finally, the song concludes with the singer pledging to do everything he can to make the woman happy, by showering her with luxury and showing her all of the finer things in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Acknowledging the situation

Yep
Further affirmation of acknowledgement

I understand yo goin through some things with this nigga
Comprehending the troubles she's having with her current partner

This nigga ain't worth it
She's way better than what her current partner is offering

Get with a real nigga
Suggesting that she deserve a real man instead of her current partner

Take you away from all of this shit
Proposing a change of environment from the negativity she's currently surrounded by

Fly you around the world
Offering a chance to see the world and its beauties

Make love to ya in fifty states, ya know I mean?
Promising a romantic, adventurous journey around the United States

Treat you like you're supposed to be treated
Pledging to treat her how she should be treated

Alright
Affirming his commitment

You deserve better baby
Reiterating she deserves better

fuckin' with this clown
Referring to her current partner as a clown

Pack your bags and we can leave now
Inviting her to leave now and start anew with him

Girl don't let him bring you down
Encouraging her to not let her current partner bring her down

Let a real nigga bring you wealth
Aiming to bring wealth to her life

These lames are bad for your health
Describing her current partner and others like him as detrimental to her well-being

You can do bad all by yourself
She does not need a man like her current partner to feel good about herself

Last time was the last time / That nigga gon' make you cry / He playin' you, bass line / But you don't need the drama you too fine
Her current partner is not worth the drama and hurt he causes

You need to fly no doubt
She needs to start fresh and experience life

I can fly you just holla' out / Your destination I know the route
Offering his hand to lead her through the journey

He a fallen' plane girl bail out / He the type of nigga gon' bore you / I'm the type of nigga gon' spoil you
Her current partner is aiming to hold her down and bore her, while he is eager to make her feel special and spoilt

I can getcha lost in those islands girl / Eatin' lobster crabs and live royal
Painting a picture of luxury and extravagance, offering her a life full of indulgences

You need you a ride or die / You mash the gas I steer
Envisions a partnership where they can rely on each other equally and support each other through life's ups and downs, with him playing the supportive role

He can buy you flowers girl / I put rose gold in your ear
She deserves more than just shallow material gifts, and he promises to give her something more valuable

Patron shots over seas / Make you forget your fears
Encouraging her to let go of fears and enjoy life

You look like you need savin' / Superman right here
She appears to be in need of someone to save her and he is willing to play that role for her

Girl I know that he hurt you / I got the kinda' sex that heals / These niggas out here fraudulent / Girl let me keep it real
He understands that she's been hurt, and he promises to give her what she needs to heal and move on from the past

Between love and hate it's a thin line, yeah / And he done crossed that like a thousand times, yeah / You need to make up your mind, yeah
Her current partner is inconsistent and constantly hurts her, she needs to decide whether to stick around or not

You should be somewhere getting a tan line
She should be out in the sun enjoying herself, meeting new people and exploring new places

Baby girl you ain't gotta work / I'll make shoppin' your career / We can sail the world together yachts docked on them piers
She does not have to work and can spend her time shopping and sailing the world with him

Stole, your heart like a hold up and you ain't getting' it back / Sexin' you in like fifty states my chain all on your back / Girl you been lookin' for a real love and I got what they lack
He has won her heart and will not let go, he promises to make love to her repeatedly in different states, and has what those before him lacked

You a butterfly, a good girl, don't fall in none of these traps
She is a beautiful, good woman, and he warns her to not fall into the same traps others have fallen into

All I wanna do / Is see you happy baby (what would it take) / That's all I wanna do (just say the word) / Is see you smiling baby / So I'm turn life into a hotel / Check you into your suite / Show you all the finer things
All he desires is to make her happy and see her happy, for which he's willing to offer a luxurious and comfortable lifestyle

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert S. Kelly, Mario Bakovic, Dennis-Manuel Peters, Daniel Coriglie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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