In 1990 Usher joined an R&B local quintet called the NuBeginnings, which was organized by local music svengali, Darryl Wheeler and then he decided to pursue a career in music. Aside from recording, Usher has ventured into business. He has established his own record label, US Records, and is a part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. He has also dabbled in acting, with a recurring role on the teen sitcom Moesha, and roles in the films The Faculty (1998, with Josh Harnett) She's All That (1999, with Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and Texas Rangers (2001, with Ashton Kutcher).
Downtime
Usher Lyrics
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No need to pretend, we both know what you want
Say you gotta good thing, he don't have to know
Everything you and I do, only I know it
We could make this easy
I know you don't need me
This ain't that kind of thing
It's more of a fling
Not the only one coming through, no
Don't act like this body yours
What I do on my downtime
Is what I do on my downtime (that's everything I know)
We connect, but we wanna feel
That shit don't have no meaning
But what you do in your downtime is
What you do in your downtime is
That's everything I know
Girl that's everything I know
Yeah, yeah, that's everything I know
That's the only thing I know
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Left the country just to spend the weekend here to fuck me
Water's not the only thing that's comin'
All your friends are callin'
You like, "OMG your such and such is lucky"
It's touchin' my soul
But little does anyone know, yeah
I've been workin'
I ain't perfect
I don't need you to tell me, "It's yours"
Know what it is I adore
And somethin' about it inspires me to hit it more
You told me you comin', well shit I'll just buzz you in
Keys are still under the mat by the door
Ignore the mess
My crib ain't the cleanest
From company I had the evening before, yeah
I ain't the only one comin' through, no
Don't act like it's not you
What I do on my downtime
What I do on my downtime
We connect, we wanna feel
That shit don't come at me no
But what you do in your downtime is
And what you do in your downtime is
That's everything I know
Girl that's everything I know
Yeah, yeah, that's everything I know
That's the only thing I know
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
"Downtime" by Usher is a song that reveals the secrets and forbidden desire between two people in a casual sexual relationship. The song opens with the singer explaining that every action the person they're in the relationship with takes, they already know. There’s no need to pretend or hide from one another. They both know what each other wants, which is a purely physical relationship and the only one who knows it is them. They could make things simple, yet they both know that this isn't that kind of relationship because it's not built to last. They both have other people in their lives, and this is just a fling. The singer is saying that they have no problem being there for just a casual and sexual relationship. They know their worth, and if the person they’re with doesn’t need them, then they’ll find someone else who does. This puts the listener on notice that neither of the parties involved is looking for a deep, meaningful relationship and that the person they're with isn't expected to wait around for them.
The chorus of "Downtime" starts with the singer telling the person they are addressing that they are not the only one who is coming over to have sex with them. They are encouraging their partner to be honest and not pretend that they're the only one. The singer continues to explain that what they do in their free time has no meaning as this relationship is purely physical. The listener gets the sense that the singer doesn’t want this relationship to be anything more than what it is, and the lyrics imply that the person they are addressing has their own life outside of this connection. Toward the middle of the song, the listener gets the sense that the person the singer is addressing is famous or high profile as they describe how other people call them and share details about their lives. The singer doesn't seem to mind this, but instead, sees it as a way to further separate the relationship from any type of emotional connection. The song concludes with the singer telling the person they're addressing when they arrive next, they will be waiting for them. The final lyrics remind the listener that they're in a purely physical relationship and what they do in their downtime has no impact on anything else.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything you do is everything I know
I am aware of everything that you do.
No need to pretend, we both know what you want
There is no need for you to pretend, as we both are aware of what you want.
Say you gotta good thing, he don't have to know
You don't have to tell anyone else that you have a good thing with me.
Everything you and I do, only I know it
Whatever we do together only I am aware of it.
We could make this easy
We could have a simple relationship without any complications.
I know you don't need me
I am aware that you don't really need me.
This ain't that kind of thing
This is not a serious relationship.
It's more of a fling
It's more like a casual relationship without any emotional attachment.
That's why when you leave
That's why whenever you go away.
Not the only one coming through, no
I'm not the only one having casual relationships like this.
Don't act like this body yours
Don't act like you have total control over your body.
What I do on my downtime
What I do in my free time.
Is what I do on my downtime (that's everything I know)
Whatever I do in my free time is what I know.
We connect, but we wanna feel
We connect physically, but there is no emotional connection.
That shit don't have no meaning
What we do together has no emotional significance.
Girl that's everything I know
That's all I know about our relationship.
Left the country just to spend the weekend here to fuck me
You left the country just to spend the weekend with me for sexual purposes.
Water's not the only thing that's comin'
I am not the only one who is coming.
All your friends are callin'
All your friends are contacting and messaging you.
You like, 'OMG your such and such is lucky'
You tell your friends that I'm lucky to have you.
It's touchin' my soul
It's moving me emotionally.
But little does anyone know, yeah
However, nobody except us knows about our relationship.
I've been workin'
I've been busy with my work.
I don't need you to tell me, 'It's yours'
You don't have to claim ownership over me.
Know what it is I adore
I know what I like about you.
And somethin' about it inspires me to hit it more
Something about our relationship inspires me to spend more time with you.
You told me you comin', well shit I'll just buzz you in
You told me you're coming, so I'll let you in when you arrive.
Keys are still under the mat by the door
The keys are still under the doormat for you to use.
Ignore the mess
Don't pay attention to the mess in my house.
My crib ain't the cleanest
My house is not very clean.
From company I had the evening before, yeah
From the company I had the previous night.
I ain't the only one comin' through, no
I'm not the only one who is coming over.
Don't act like it's not you
Don't pretend like it's not you who is coming over.
That shit don't come at me no
I don't care about what you do in your free time.
And what you do in your downtime is
What you do in your free time.
That's everything I know
That's all I know about you and your free time.
That's the only thing I know
That's the only thing I'm aware of.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Usher Raymond, Mario Jefferson, Darius Ginn Jr., Krystin Watkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind