In 2007, Knowles began to record music again. Her second studio album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams (2008) deviated from the pop-oriented music of her debut to Motown-inspired sounds from the 60's and 70's. It peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics. She followed this up with the 1980s pop and R&B-inspired EP True (2012) on Terrible Records and her imprint Saint Records. Her third studio album, A Seat at the Table (2016) was released to widespread critical acclaim and became her first number-one album in the United States. The album's lead single, "Cranes in the Sky" won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance. Her fourth studio album, When I Get Home, was released in March 2019 to further critical acclaim.
Knowles was heavily influenced by Motown girl groups and says that her first passion is songwriting. Frequently compared by the media to her sister Beyoncé, Knowles has claimed that they have different aspirations and are musically different. She has been ranked by Billboard as the 100th most successful dance artist of all-time, and in 2017 was honored with the "Impact Award" at Billboard Women in Music. Her other ventures include an endorsement deal with Rimmel London and a line of hip-hop-oriented merchandise for young children.
Don't You Wait
Solange Lyrics
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I gave it all I got but now you better know that I know for sure, oh
You made my bed, dealt with it when the lights went out
Now looking back for temporary nothings
But I bet on it, you'll all be here when the lights come out
Still looking for nothing
I don't want no part of it no longer, no longer
Looked around this place enough to know now
I don't want to waste the time to know you, to know you
Don't you wait for me
Now, I don't want to bite the hand that'll show me the other side, no
But I didn't want to build the land that has fed you your whole life, no
Don't you find it funny?
You made my bed, dealt with it when the lights went out
Now looking back for temporary nothings
But I bet on it, you'll all be here when the lights come out
Still looking for nothing
I gave it all I got to know now
I don't want no part of it no longer, no longer
Looked around this place enough to know now
I don't want to waste the time to know you, to know you
Don't you wait for me
I don't wanna, wanna, wanna wait
Don't you wait for me
The lyrics to Solange's song "Don't Wait" reflect on the end of a relationship and the singer's realization that it's time to move on. The song opens with Solange admitting that she gave everything she had to the relationship, but now she knows for sure that it's not worth it. She seems to be calling out her ex-partner for taking advantage of her efforts--"You made my bed, dealt with it when the lights went out, now looking back for temporary nothings." She's recognizing that the person wasn't in the relationship for the long haul and was only using her for temporary satisfaction.
Solange sings about her refusal to waste her time on someone who isn't worth it--"Looked around this place enough to know now, I don't want to waste the time to know you, to know you." She realizes that she doesn't want "to bite the hand that'll show me the other side" by staying in the relationship, but at the same time, she didn't want to build a life where her partner would be dependent on her. The repetition of "Don't you wait for me" at the end of each verse emphasizes her decision to move on and not allow her ex-partner to waste any more of her time.
Overall, "Don't Wait" is a powerful song about recognizing when a relationship is no longer worth the effort, and having the strength to move on and not look back.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave it all away that night, it was taking a little time, oh
I put everything on you that night, but I realized it took some time for it to take effect.
I gave it all I got but now you better know that I know for sure, oh
I did everything I could for you, but now I'm certain that it's not worth it.
You made my bed, dealt with it when the lights went out
You were there for me when things got tough.
Now looking back for temporary nothings
Now, I realize that what we had was only temporary and nothing meaningful.
But I bet on it, you'll all be here when the lights come out
But I know that you'll all still be here when things are good again.
Still looking for nothing
But I know that you don't really care about anything meaningful.
I gave it all I got to know now
I did everything I possibly could.
I don't want no part of it no longer, no longer
But now, I want no part in it anymore.
Looked around this place enough to know now
I've spent enough time in this place to realize now.
I don't want to waste the time to know you, to know you
I don't want to waste my time getting to know you.
Don't you wait for me
Don't wait for me.
Now, I don't want to bite the hand that'll show me the other side, no
I don't want to be ungrateful for your help and guidance.
But I didn't want to build the land that has fed you your whole life, no
But I don't want to take credit for the things you've worked hard for.
Don't you find it funny?
Don't you think it's ironic?
I don't wanna, wanna, wanna wait
I don't want to wait.
Don't you wait for me
Don't wait for me.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, WARP MUSIC LIMITED, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Solange Knowles, Adam Bainbridge, Troy Johnson, Dave Longstreth, Sampha Sisay, Kwesi Sey, Olugbenga Adelekan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind