YahZarah (born Dana Nicole Williams) is a classically trained R&B singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴YahZarah (born Dana Nicole Williams) is a classically trained R&B singer-songwriter based out of Durham, NC. Her stage name, a dedication to her grandmothers Yah and Sarah, roughly translates to “Queen Mother is the brightest star” in Arabic.

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.

The Lie
Yahzarah Lyrics

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Don't talk to me, don't speak, don't say a word
I already know what you're thinking
You wanna move, you got a itch
Wanna see if the grass is greener
If it's always raining, then somebody's crying
But if it's always sunny, then somebody's lying
And one day when you run down your list of regrets,
You'll see that I'm as perfect as you're gonna get, yeah

You got your head in the clouds, your heart your a sleeve
And you will stay with her evry now and then
It's like the bigger the lie, the more you believe
But you have no idea what you're up against
(X2)

Baby, you know the fact the other side would be easy
She only shows you what she want you to see
But if you gotta go through hell with somebody,
Why don't you do it with me?

You got your head in the clouds, your heart on a sleeve
And you will stay with her every now and then
It's like the bigger the lie, the more you believe
But you have no idea what you're up against
What you're up against

Don't talk to me, don't speak (Mm...), don't say a word
I already know what you're thinking (Mm, mm, mm)
You wanna move (Mm), you got a itch (Yeah)
Wanna see if the grass is greener
So if it's always raining, then somebody's crying
But if it's always sunny, then somebody's lying
And one day when you run down your list of regrets,
You'll see that I'm as perfect as you're gonna get, hey, hey...

Babe, you really think that love would be easy
Well, everybody, that's on love on degree
'Cause if you gotta go through hell with somebody,
Might as well do it with me

You got your head in the clouds, your heart on a sleeve
And you will stay with her every now and then [you keep runnin' away]
It's like the bigger the lie, the more you believe
But you have no idea what you're up against
You got your head in the clouds, your heart on a sleeve
[Head in the clouds]
And you will stay with her every now and then
It's like the bigger the lie [The bigger the lie],
The more you believe [Ooh, yeahh]
But you have no idea [Ooh] what you're [Who] up against
[You-ou messin' with? Yeah]

Oh you have no idea what you're up against
What you're up against, ah

Have no idea what you're up against
Have no idea what you're up against

Overall Meaning

Yahzarah's "The Lie" is a somber ballad that is about a person who is struggling with their emotions and trying to hide the truth from the person they love. In the first verse, Yahzarah sings about how the person is keeping their feelings inside, and they want to try new things and see if they can find something better, but they are not willing to let go of their current relationship. In the second verse, Yahzarah urges the person to be honest with themselves and to stop hiding behind lies. She argues that love is not easy, and that it requires work, commitment, and honesty.

Yahzarah's lyrics highlight the importance of being truthful in relationships and the consequences of not doing so. She encourages her lover to embrace the truth and to work towards building a stronger, more honest relationship. The lyrics also showcase Yahzarah's soulful vocal range and her ability to convey emotion through her music.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't talk to me, don't speak, don't say a word
I don't want to hear anything you have to say.

I already know what you're thinking
I can tell what's going on in your head without you having to say it.

You wanna move, you got an itch, Wanna see if the grass is greener
You're curious about what else is out there, and you're considering leaving me for something new.

If it's always raining, then somebody's crying, But if it's always sunny, then somebody's lying
Life can't always be perfect. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

And one day when you run down your list of regrets, You'll see that I'm as perfect as you're gonna get, yeah
Someday, you'll realize that I'm the best thing that ever happened to you, and you'll regret leaving me.

You got your head in the clouds, your heart your a sleeve, And you will stay with her every now and then
You're not fully committed to me, and you still see and hang out with other women.

It's like the bigger the lie, the more you believe, But you have no idea what you're up against
The longer you deceive yourself, the harder it is to see the truth. You don't fully understand the trouble you're causing.

She only shows you what she want you to see, But if you gotta go through hell with somebody, Why don't you do it with me?
You think this other woman is perfect, but she's only showing you her best side. If you're going through a tough time, why not stay with me?

Babe, you really think that love would be easy, Well, everybody, that's on love on degree
You thought love would be simple and straightforward, but it's much more complicated than that.

You have no idea what you're up against, What you're up against
You don't fully realize the problem you're causing and the harm you're inflicting.

Oh you have no idea what you're up against, Have no idea what you're up against
You're oblivious to the fact that you're hurting me and jeopardizing our relationship.

Contributed by Nathaniel O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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