Rhianna Kenny, professionally known as Rhianna (born February 7, 1983), is an English R&B singer. She was raised in Leeds, England by multiracial parents.
After releasing her debut solo album, Get On, in 2002 on Sony to moderate commercial success, she is now the lead singer of her new band Fleurona.
External Links
Official Fan Site
Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia
Myspace.com - fleurona profile
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Justify
Rhianna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cos he can't stand the fact that the planets about to wear a cap to the back
Does Mr. Straight hate gay? Cos he's afraid? That deep inside he may be that way
Is it cos the eastern man is earning more?
That he's gotta hide his family from the hate in his store
If no then tell me what for
Violent times read the headlines
The murderer's aged nine
Next up
Somebody's daughter standin' naked
Four reads priest beast convicted a rapist
He was nine, the lady was blind.
Attacked her from the back another kid lost his mind
Tell me what for?
If no then tell me what for
Can anybody justify?
If no then tell me what for
Can anybody justify?
Got people at war religion's the cause
False prophets bombin' down on innocent shores
In hell the future dwells
Eleven nearly twelve
Inhaling heaven, cos he's sick of the world
My neighbours son jumped, now he's everybody's friend
Quick to claim his name, but you didn't back then
Tell me what for?
If no then tell me what for
Can anybody justify? Justify
If no then tell me what for
Can anybody justify? Justify
Rihanna's song "Justify" tackles various social issues that have plagued society for years. The song's verses are a series of questions that ask about the reasons behind different forms of hate, prejudice, and violence. The first verse deals with racial discrimination, where Mr. White and the Eastern man are pitted against each other. The former may not be comfortable with the latter's success, leading to prejudice and hate. The second verse highlights the violence that women and children face in the world, where buried stories of sexual abuse, rape, and murder dominate headlines. The third verse focuses on religion, which has been the cause of many wars and conflicts throughout history. The song also touches on mental health issues and suicide.
The chorus, "Can anybody justify?," is a plea to the listener to reconsider their biases and think about the various forms of hate in society. By asking for a justification, the song questions the very basis of prejudice and hate and forces the listener to confront their own prejudices. It is a powerful message conveyed through a powerful song.
Line by Line Meaning
Does Mr. White attack?
Does Mr. White use violence because he can't accept the cultural changes happening around him?
Cos he can't stand the fact that the planets about to wear a cap to the back
Is it because he can't accept that society is changing and moving on without him?
Does Mr. Straight hate gay? Cos he's afraid? That deep inside he may be that way
Does Mr. Straight hate the LGBTQ+ community because he's struggling to accept his own potential attractions to the same sex?
Is it cos the eastern man is earning more?
Does Mr. White hate the Eastern man because he's jealous that the Eastern man has financial success?
That he's gotta hide his family from the hate in his store
Is it because Mr. White is afraid of the backlash he might face from his customers if they find out he has Eastern neighbors?
If no then tell me what for
If these aren't the reasons for these attitudes, then what is?
Violent times read the headlines
The news is full of stories of violence and chaos
Woman dies continued on page five
A woman's death is buried in the news cycle
The murderer's aged nine
A child committed a murder
Next up somebody's daughter standin' naked
Women are exploited and objectified in the media
Four reads priest beast convicted a rapist
A priest who is supposed to be a moral leader has been convicted of raping someone
He was nine, the lady was blind.
The perpetrator of the rape assault was a child and the victim was a blind woman
Attacked her from the back another kid lost his mind
Another child committed a violent act
Got people at war religion's the cause
Religious conflict is causing people to go to war
False prophets bombin' down on innocent shores
Religious extremists are carrying out violent attacks against innocent people
In hell the future dwells
The future looks bleak and uncertain
Eleven nearly twelve
Children are being exposed to and affected by the violence and chaos around them
Inhaling heaven, cos he's sick of the world
A young person is turning to drugs to escape from the harsh realities of the world
My neighbours son jumped, now he's everybody's friend
After a tragic event, people suddenly start to care about someone they previously ignored
Quick to claim his name, but you didn't back then
People are quick to claim they knew someone who died by suicide, but they ignored them when they were alive
If no then tell me what for
If these aren't the reasons behind these issues, then what is?
Can anybody justify? Justify
Can anyone provide a good reason or explanation for these societal problems?
Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
koullatomz
you girls are so good! <3
Reaksmey Um
why it just a short version? It's great!