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.
Would've Been the One
Solange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Casanova, lovely glare
And I was chosen, I was there
The wells get deeper, more unfolds
And at the bottom, there she goes
But wells are endless, I've found more
Flowers candy flirty late nights
Dinner movie sweet heart kisses
He don't dance, but tangles with two
I thought you plus me divided me from him
But I discovered, many more and again again
And you don't know, you fill many spaces
And she don't know, she's one of many lies
And he don't know, how he stole many places
And we all know, we can't fix him if we tried
I would've been the one
I held the title, wore the crown
I was the trophy, while you ducked down
And she was cool with just fooling around
(Yes she was, yes she was, yes she was)
Now number four was there to ride
And five was crazy, his wild child
And when we're rocky he calls number nine
Flowers candy flirty late nights
On the speed dial, that was you too
Dinner movie sweet heart kisses
He don't dance, but tangles with two
I thought you plus me divided me from him
But I discovered, many more and more and again
And you don't know, you fill many spaces
And she don't know, she's one of many lies
And he don't know, how he steals many places
And we all know, we can't fix him if we tried
I would've been the one
I was the one, yes I was the one
And yes that was my name
Inked up on his arm
And if he loved me that much
And still did me wrong
You feeling sorry, but you are holding on
I was the one, yes I was the one
Key word is was, yes I was the one
I figured out he was empty on my own
He had to find the answer
In something or someone
And you don't know, you fill many spaces
And she don't know, she's one of many lies
And he don't know, he stole many places
And we all know, we can't fix him if we tried
I would've been the one
Do do do doo do do
I would've been the one
In "Would've Been the One," Solange sings about being in a relationship with a charming and attractive man who seems to have many other women in his life. She was initially drawn to him and believed that being with him meant she would be separated from other women. However, as time went on, she realized that he had many more women in his life than she had initially thought. Throughout the song, Solange's lyrics describe how many other women are in the picture and how they've played a role in her relationship's downfall. She also sings about how she believed she was the only one for him and how she was the one who held the title.
Solange's frustration and confusion are palpable throughout the song. She realizes that her love interest has taken many other women to the same places that he's taken her and that she wasn't unique in his life. The song's title, "Would've Been the One," refers to Solange's belief that she could have been the one for him if he hadn't been so busy with other women.
Overall, "Would've Been the One" is a reflection on the disappointment and heartbreak that can come from being in love with someone who is not faithful. It is a poignant reminder that sometimes, no matter how much we want to believe we are special to someone, they may have many other people in their life that they are equally invested in.
Line by Line Meaning
Enlightening charmer, sent from where
Here comes the charming seducer, sent from ... (unknown past/origin)
A Casanova, lovely glare
A man with a flirtatious reputation and charming presence
And I was chosen, I was there
And he chose me, I was present and available
The wells get deeper, more unfolds
As I dig deeper (into this relationship), more secrets and issues reveal themselves
And at the bottom, there she goes
And at the lowest point (of this situation), there she falls
But wells are endless, I've found more
But the pit of issues in this relationship seems to have no end, and I've found more
Flowers candy flirty late nights
Romantic gestures and flirtatious behavior during late nights
On the speed dial, that was you too
You were one of the many people on speed dial for these late night rendezvous
Dinner movie sweet heart kisses
Classic romantic dates with sweet kisses
He don't dance, but tangles with two
He may not dance, but he certainly gets involved with multiple partners
I thought you plus me divided me from him
I thought choosing you over him would create a divide between me and him
But I discovered, many more and more and again
But I found out that there were even more people involved, again and again
And you don't know, you fill many spaces
You don't realize it, but you take up a lot of space (in his life)
And she don't know, she's one of many lies
She doesn't realize it, but she's just another deception in his web of lies
And he don't know, he stole many places
He doesn't know that he's taken up space in many people's hearts
And we all know, we can't fix him if we tried
Despite our efforts, we can't change him or his ways
I was the one, yes I was the one
I was the chosen one, at one point
And yes that was my name
And he even had my name inked on his skin
Inked up on his arm
My name was tattooed permanently on his skin
And if he loved me that much
And if he truly loved me that deeply,
And still did me wrong
Why did he still betray me?
You feeling sorry, but you are holding on
While you may feel bad for me, you are still attached to him
Key word is was, yes I was the one
The key word here is 'was', because I am no longer the one he wants
I figured out he was empty on my own
I eventually realized that he was emotionally empty on my own
He had to find the answer
He had to find a solution to his own emotional emptiness
In something or someone
And it seems like he's trying to find that solution in someone or something else
I would've been the one
I could've been the one to fulfill him, if he had only let me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Makeba Riddick, Matthew Kahane, Solange Knowles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stormieinapril9626
So many people sleep on Solange. This girl is. Bad! Great Artist, lyrically and vocally.
@RChanelleDavis
"The wells get deeper, more unfolds
And at the bottom, there she goes.
But wells are endless...I've found more"
This song is pure poetry.
@jimmycordell759
Chanelle Davis #truth
@1209dozer
Nice
@greenlight8819
I never caught that part...that is deep!
@jaymsantiago
“I WAS THE ONE YES I WAS THE ONE
& YES THAT WAS MY NAME INKED UP ON HIS ARM & IF HE LOVED ME THAT MUCH & STILL DID ME WRONG”
that part
@parrishtaylor9886
SOLANGE IS THEE VERSACE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!! UNDERESTIMATED,COMPARED TO AND DOUBTED;YET STILL SHE CONQUERS!!! LOVE HER SHE'S HONEST,PERSONALLY AND LYRICALLY!!
@QUEENKIMA
good analogy...
@nenucareaga
♥
@MillicentDionne
Solange is a lyrical genius!!