R&B's best kept secret is finally out. Another chapter in Syleena Johnson's book has been written. This time, it is more than recording an album. After amicably leaving an eight-year record deal with Jive Records in 2006, Syleena has launched her own label, Aneelys Records (Syleena spelled backwards). This opportunity comes by way of a label deal with Federal/Universal Music Group.
Syleena previously worked with countless artists and producers such as R. Kelly, Bob Power, Kay Gee, Busta Rhymes, Cam' Ron, Common, Jermaine Dupri, and Twista. Kanye West blessed her with his production on "Bulls-Eye (Suddenly)," from Chapter 3: The Flesh. Syleena proved to be Kayne's saving grace as she provided last minute vocals on the hit, "All Falls Down," which led to a Grammy nomination for both artists.
Artists often fall by the wayside and are rarely heard after leaving a major record label. But, Syleena didn't allow her split with Jive Records to rip out any pages from her next chapter. She simply took matters into her own hands and decided to go the independent route. With her label, Syleena will finally see the benefits of all her hard work, whether it be working on a personal project or signing other acts. She will finally have the creative control and power to see things through and plan out her career as she sees fit.
With this control, Syleena will give birth to her newest release, Chapter 4: Labor Pains, due January 13, 2009. Along with running her own label and being an artist, Syleena has also become a wife and mother within the past year. "My husband is an excellent man, I couldn't ask for a better one and my son is my best work yet," Syleena says. Naturally, this experience lent a hand in Syleena writing Chapter 4: Labor Pains, as she describes the pain of having a baby as the worst pain in life, but rewarding in the end. Syleena shadows her life on the principle that you reap what you sow "Nothing good comes easy. All the struggle, strife, work and pain we go through, that's the price you have to pay to reap the benefits in the end," Syleena expresses.
As always, Syleena speaks on behalf of a woman's struggles. But, she leads off on a lighter note with her first single from, Chapter 4: Labor Pains, "It Is True." She sings a heavenly love ballad about new found, true love with her husband and the product of that love. "It is everything I felt about my husband when we first met, and now the love of my son follows suit," Syleena swoons. There's no denying that Syleena is passionately in love as she angelically sings "over and over again, in my dreams and in my head, I'm imagining you all in my future, us continuing through 'til we get older, and I swear that I've never met, a boy like you, a true soldier, my knight in shining armor, you saved me boy, you bring me joy and that's how I know it's true."
The buzz continues and the drama unfolds in Chapter 4: Labor Pains, as Syleena displays her songwriting and storytelling skills in "Shoo Fly," an alternative tale of baby mama drama. The story comes from the point of view of a woman with a man who has a baby mama and what that woman goes through when the baby mama wants him back all the while using the child as leverage. In the chorus Syleena sings, "so shoo fly he's mine, for the last time, don't make me say it no more, damn girl to move on, be gone, so long, get gone." This is a different angle giving the woman's perspective on baby mama drama. Other notable tracks on Chapter 4: Labor Pains are "Labor Pains," the title track which is dedicated to women and sisterhood, "My First," a grown and sexy song about a man who is the first to actually give good love and affection, and "Personal Trainer," a song about the mental stimulus of physical attraction.
While dealing with real issues, Syleena never strays away from God in her music. This signature approach is what makes her unique as she shows how God applies to every aspect of life. She tells the passionate, hard truth with a voice and spirit which has been anointed by God and speaks directly to the mind and spirit of women. "I always come from a spiritual view as a Christian woman in the real world, the here and now, the issues we as women have to deal with," Syleena testifies.
Chapter 1: Love, Pain, & Forgiveness, was the beginning of how God established a relationship and peace within Syleena. He then gave her the Garden of Eden in Chapter 2: The Voice. But she disobeyed Him and ate the forbidden fruit in Chapter 3: The Flesh. Now Syleena must pay the price, which is Chapter 4: Labor Pains. Biblically, labor pains are a woman's curse, but Syleena takes it all as a blessing. "At the end, I want people to feel uplifted and motivated, that's my goal. Not to just motivate people, but myself in the process," Syleena professes. Be prepared for the experience of Chapter 4: Labor Pains.
Despite releasing four albums, Syleena is more than a singer. She caught the acting bug and showed off her multi-dimensional talent by playing a significant role in Eric Jerome Dickey's Cheater's-The Stage Play in 2005. She also added modeling to her many talents as she modeled for Ashley Stewart after signing with Wilhelmina modeling agency as a plus-size model.
Johnson released her new album, "Chapter 5: Underrated" on September 27, 2011, which features Toxic (the producer behind Keyshia Cole & Monica's "Trust", as well as much of Twista's work number) and a number of other high-profile producers and artists. The albums' lead single titled "A Boss" was released on June 21, 2011.
I'm Gon' Cry
Syleena Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're on my mind
I can't sleep, can't eat
From what you done to me
Was she that fine
Was it that deep
For you to give yourself
And not consider my feelings
How could you be so ignorant
But I'm a woman of love
And not a woman of hate
So instead of wilin' out
I'll get out your way
It's obvious that the love is gone
So what in the hell am I supposed to say
You say it ain't that serious
But it IS that serious
[Chorus'
'Cause I'm gone cry I'm gone cry I'm gone cry I'm gone cry-cry for you
I'm gone Cry. I'm gone cry anyway
But I won't try I won't try I won't try I won't try-try for you
But I still won't try for you baby (No)
Now you calling me
With the baby please
Trying to make it somewhat like it used to be
No we can't be friends
'Cause when I talk to you
I catch them old feelings
It might make me want ya back
When it's dangerous to want ya back
So I'm cutting ya loose
Sick of being confused
Trying to lie to myself
Like I'm over you
And even though I care
I still don't want to bare
All this drama and pain
It's like I can't stop fallin'
So you would PLEASE stop callin;
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm gone cry I'm gone cry I'm gone cry I'm gone cry-cry for you
Said I'm gone Cry anyway
But I won't try I won't try I won't try I won't try-try for you
But I won't try baby (no no)
See I know that I'm gone Cry for you
But I Still won't try for you baby
'Cause I'm gone cry I'm gone cry I'm gone cry I'm gone cry-cry for you
But I won't try I won't try I won
The lyrics to Syleena Johnson's "I'm Gon' Cry" describe the pain, confusion, and heartbreak the singer is experiencing after being hurt by someone she loved. She can't sleep or eat because she's consumed by thoughts of this person, and she can't understand how they could have been so insensitive to her feelings. The singer is an optimistic person who chooses love over hate, so instead of confronting the person or lashing out, she chooses to remove herself from the situation. Even though she cares for the person and still has feelings for them, she knows it's best to cut ties and move on for her own well-being.
The chorus of the song, "I'm gone cry, I'm gone cry, I'm gone cry for you," emphasizes the singer's pain and heartache, but also her strength and determination to overcome it. She won't try to make things work with this person again, instead choosing to focus on herself and healing from the hurt they caused.
Overall, "I'm Gon' Cry" is a powerful and emotional song about heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on from someone we loved deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Another Lonely night
Another night where I am alone.
And you're on my mind
I can't stop thinking about you.
I can't sleep, can't eat
I am unable to sleep or eat because I'm so upset.
From what you done to me
You have hurt me deeply.
Was she that fine
Was the person you were with really that amazing?
Was it that deep
Did you have such a strong connection with the other person?
For you to give yourself
For you to give yourself in that way
So easily
Without any thought for the impact on me.
And not consider my feelings
You didn't think about how your actions might hurt me.
How could you be so ignorant
You didn't consider my emotions or the impact of your actions.
But I'm a woman of love
Despite everything, I am a person who believes in love.
And not a woman of hate
I choose not to respond with hate, even though I'm hurt.
So instead of wilin' out
So instead of getting angry and lashing out
I'll get out your way
I will remove myself from your life.
It's obvious that the love is gone
It's clear that the love we had is no longer there.
So what in the hell am I supposed to say
I don't know what to say to you anymore.
You say it ain't that serious
You keep trying to downplay what happened.
But it IS that serious
It is a big deal to me, even if you don't think it is.
Chorus
I'm going to cry for you, but I'm not going to try for you anymore.
Now you calling me
You are trying to contact me now.
With the baby please
You are trying to convince me to take you back.
Trying to make it somewhat like it used to be
You are hoping we can go back to how things were.
No we can't be friends
I can't be friends with you because it brings up old feelings.
'Cause when I talk to you
When I talk to you
I catch them old feelings
I start to feel the same way I used to about you again.
It might make me want ya back
Talking to you might make me want to be with you again.
When it's dangerous to want ya back
Wanting to be with you again could be dangerous for me.
So I'm cutting ya loose
So I'm letting you go.
Sick of being confused
I'm tired of feeling conflicted about you.
Trying to lie to myself
I'm trying to convince myself I'm over you.
Like I'm over you
Like I have moved on from you.
And even though I care
Even though I still care about you,
I still don't want to bare
I don't want to deal with
All this drama and pain
All of the emotional turmoil that comes with you.
It's like I can't stop fallin'
It feels like I can't stop loving you.
So you would PLEASE stop callin;
So please stop calling me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: SYLEENA N. BETTS, STEPHEN LEE CROPPER, DONALD V. DUNN, AL JR. JACKSON, BOOKER T. JR. JONES, IVAN BARIAS, CARVIN HAGGINS, FRANK ROMANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind