Born and raised in Washington, DC, YahZarah started singing at the age of 7 in her church choir. Her love for performance began after winning a youth talent search at the Kennedy Center at age 10. After years of honing her talent in churches, talent shows and local concerts, she entered high school at DC’s prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Upon graduation in 1997, she was accepted to North Carolina Central University in Durham on a full scholarship to the school’s jazz program.
In 1998, she left NC Central and began touring as a background singer for Erykah Badu. While touring, YahZarah contributed background vocals and vocal arrangements to Badu’s platinum-selling “Mama’s Gun” LP, and was featured in the video for the album’s lead single, ‘Bag Lady.’ In 2001, she left the Mama’s Gun tour and released her debut album “Hear Me” on the KEO Music label. A follow up LP, 2003’s “Blackstar,” was issued on the Three Keys label and reached #44 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
2004 found YahZarah reuniting with longtime collaborator and fellow NC Central classmate Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange) for a series of crucial guest appearances. With the release of The Foreign Exchange’s debut album “Connected,” YahZarah was featured on the lead single “Sincere.” The following year she appeared on Little Brother’s “Minstrel Show” LP (Atlantic Records), and was featured on the debut single “Lovin It.” She later contributed two vocal performances to The Foreign Exchange’s GRAMMY-nominated “Leave It All Behind” LP in 2008. That same year, she released an EP of new material entitled “The Prelude.” To support the EP, she toured nationally and internationally with artists such as Chaka Khan, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Rahsaan Patterson, and R. Kelly.
YahZarah’s latest album “The Ballad Of Purple Saint James,” is scheduled for release in May 2010 on the Foreign Exchange Music label.
Baby
Yahzarah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(oooh) oooh (oooh) oo-oo-ooh
(ahhh, ah yeah) gotta get rid of you this time
(yeah) gonna clean up house
(oo-oo-oo-ooh) yeah (ahhhh, ah yeah)
'cuz I'm a clean up woman (ahhh yeah)
thought you were cold as ice
boy, you losin' me
look at the mess you made
now you're begging me not to leave
you must have lost your mind, well, well
first time it was shame on you
and the second time it was shame on me
well, now it's here - third degree
and that's time for you to leave
though your lies and your excuses
for me, it did come useless
you're cryin' and pleadin'
a dollar short, a day too late
[Chorus:]
baby, baby
you know you shoulda been by me
and now I gotta set you free
baby, baby
say you could've been a man
now I gotta find someone who can
yeah, yeah, yeah
ooh ohh, oh oh ohhh ohh
my, my my-my-my-my my my
now I was cold as ice
said it was nothing nice I know
(lyin', cheatin', had it up to here)
well, well (hey, hey)
thought I owe you my life
I can see all in your eyes for sure
(usin', abusin', gonna catch a case, hey, hey)
all the things you said were lies then
except the way you cried when I left
but you know I'm gone, no regrets
(no regrets, no)
and all your tired-ass excuses
like you, it did come useless
and if you think that I'll come running
you ain't seen nothing yet
[repeat chorus]
there was a day
that I would give you almost everything
and there's no doubt about it, heyy heyyy
and there was a time
I used to long for how we used to be
but now I'm tied of cryin'
[repeat chorus (ad-lib) twice]
(oooh, oooh) (no, no, no, no)
you know you shoulda been by me
(hit the road, Jack) oo-oo-oooh
the house, the kids (hit the road, Jack)
the keys, I want it all
gonna bring you to your knees
gonna clean up house, ohhhh yeah
(ahh ahhh) ooo-oooh
(well, well) oooooh
Yahzarah's "Baby" is a powerful breakup song that demonstrates the singer's self-respect and independence. The song's primary theme is about moving on from a toxic relationship and standing up for oneself. The singer expresses her frustration with the relationship's toxic elements, including lying, cheating, using, and abusing. She makes it clear that she is done and that no convincing will change her mind. In the end, she is determined to walk away and find someone who treats her right.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Baby, baby, you know you should've been by me," which emphasizes the fact that the singer deserved better from her partner. The song also highlights the importance of self-love and self-care. The singer recognizes that she deserves more and is willing to take steps to ensure that she gets it.
Overall, "Baby" is a bold and empowering song that encourages listeners to value themselves and stand up for what they deserve in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
(oooh) oooh (oooh) oo-oo-ooh
The singer expresses a feeling of disappointment.
(ahhh, ah yeah) gotta get rid of you this time
The singer has decided to end a relationship.
(yeah) gonna clean up house
The singer plans to make a fresh start.
(oo-oo-oo-ooh) yeah (ahhhh, ah yeah)
The singer is resolute about her decision.
'cuz I'm a clean up woman (ahhh yeah)
The singer has the strength to make a change.
thought you were cold as ice
The singer was previously deceived by her partner's personality.
now you gotta make the sacrifice
The singer's partner must face the consequences of his actions.
boy, you losin' me
The singer's partner is losing her because of his actions.
look at the mess you made
The singer's partner has caused problems in the relationship.
now you're begging me not to leave
The singer's partner wants to stop the relationship ending.
you must have lost your mind, well, well
The singer is surprised by her partner's desperation.
first time it was shame on you
The singer's partner was previously at fault.
and the second time it was shame on me
The singer accepted some responsibility for the previous incident.
well, now it's here - third degree
The current problem is significant and cannot be ignored.
and that's time for you to leave
The singer's partner must end the relationship.
though your lies and your excuses
The singer's partner has made excuses in the past.
for me, it did come useless
The singer was not convinced by her partner's excuses.
you're cryin' and pleadin'
The singer's partner is desperate to save the relationship.
a dollar short, a day too late
The singer's partner's efforts are too little, too late.
[Chorus:]
The singer repeats the song's main refrain to emphasize her point.
baby, baby
The singer addresses her partner directly.
you know you shoulda been by me
The singer believes her partner should have supported her.
and now I gotta set you free
The singer is ending the relationship.
baby, baby
The singer repeats her earlier statement.
say you could've been a man
The singer thinks her partner acted immaturely.
now I gotta find someone who can
The singer wants a partner who can meet her needs.
yeah, yeah, yeah
The singer punctuates her statement with a phrase of affirmation.
ooh ohh, oh oh ohhh ohh
The singer expresses her emotions through sounds.
my, my my-my-my-my my my
The singer is reflecting on her situation.
now I was cold as ice
The singer had to protect herself emotionally.
said it was nothing nice I know
The singer tried to be kind, but the situation was difficult.
(lyin', cheatin', had it up to here)
The singer's partner has been dishonest and unfaithful (or at least that's what she's heard).
well, well (hey, hey)
The singer uses these phrases to emphasize what she's saying.
thought I owe you my life
The singer previously felt indebted to her partner.
I can see all in your eyes for sure
The singer can tell that her partner is lying.
(usin', abusin', gonna catch a case, hey, hey)
The singer's partner has been manipulative and abusive, and she's reaching her limit.
all the things you said were lies then
The singer's partner has made false promises in the past.
except the way you cried when I left
The only truth the singer's partner expressed was his sadness at the relationship ending.
but you know I'm gone, no regrets
The singer is confident in her decision and feels no remorse.
(no regrets, no)
The singer repeats that she feels no remorse.
and all your tired-ass excuses
The singer is annoyed by her partner's excuses.
like you, it did come useless
The singer is unconvinced by her partner's excuses.
and if you think that I'll come running
The singer's partner should not expect her to change her mind.
you ain't seen nothing yet
The singer is warning her partner not to underestimate her independence.
[repeat chorus]
The singer repeats the chorus to reiterate her point.
there was a day
The singer is reflecting on the past.
that I would give you almost everything
The singer was willing to sacrifice for her partner in the past.
and there's no doubt about it, heyy heyyy
The singer emphasizes that she was deeply committed in the past.
and there was a time
The singer returns to reflecting on the past.
I used to long for how we used to be
The singer missed the way things used to be between her and her partner.
but now I'm tied of cryin'
The singer is tired of being upset.
[repeat chorus (ad-lib) twice]
The singer repeats the chorus again ad-libbing to emphasize her point.
(oooh, oooh) (no, no, no, no)
The singer expresses disbelief and resistance.
hit the road, Jack
The singer orders her partner to leave.
the house, the kids (hit the road, Jack)
The singer is even willing to lose material things in order to be rid of her partner.
the keys, I want it all
The singer wants everything and is ready to start fresh.
gonna bring you to your knees
The singer's partner will suffer the consequences of his actions.
gonna clean up house, ohhhh yeah
The singer is excited to start fresh and make positive changes.
(ahh ahhh) ooo-oooh
The singer expresses her emotions through sounds again.
(well, well) oooooh
The singer uses these phrases to emphasize her point.
Writer(s): Jeffrey Osborne, Leorn Jamal Franklin Copyright: Music Sales Corporation O.B.O. March 9 Music
Contributed by Matthew K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.