Usher Raymond IV (born October 14, 1978 in Chattanooga, Tennessee), known s… Read Full Bio ↴Usher Raymond IV (born October 14, 1978 in Chattanooga, Tennessee), known simply as Usher, is a Grammy Award winning American R&B singer-songwriter, producer and actor. He rose to fame in the late 90s, releasing the multi-platinum albums My Way and 8701. His success continued with the release of his 2004 album, Confessions, which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and earned Usher four American Music Awards and eight Grammy nominations. To date, he has sold approximately 40 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards. He released his debut album in 1994 and has since released 1997's My Way, 2001's 8701, 2004's Confessions and 2008's Here I Stand. His sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond, was released March 2010.

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).

It Is What It Is
usher Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh, uh huh
Gangster

I though it was love
Didn't wanna admit that
When I looked back
It was lust
Too bad I had to learn a lesson

Now what gets me
You were with me
But you never let your old thang go
I don't care to know why
Girl I guess some things
Can't be explained

[Chorus]
It is what it is (what it is)
I don't know what to call it
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (I'm feeling something else)
It is what it is (what it is)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (uh huh)
When it's really something else

(I'm don't care)
Know that is okay
Felt something going on
For every time that I fought it (uh)
Girl I bet that's what it was
Called myself being down for you (ice cold)
Just know that
Before I knew you right
I already knew how you get down (uh)
But if that's your thang, babe
I ain't mad at you
It's cool
Just know I did it too

[Chorus]
It is what it is
I don't know what to call it (don't know what to call it)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (I'm feeling something else)
It is what it is (what it is)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (aww girl)
When it's really something else
Take it to the bridge

I'm not saying that two wrongs can make it right
It ain't too late for us to try (yeah)
Do we put back together
Or we say goodbye? (ha)

Give me another chance
You did it to shit
It's all good, baby
You eating, right?
Well how can I smile, shit?
It's better to smile than to frown anyday
Yeah listen

[Chorus]
It is what it is
I don't know what to call it (don't know what to call it)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (Girl I'm feeling something else)

It is what it is (what it is)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (get caught up)
When it's really something else (if you want to get to be with me baby)

It is what it is (what it is)
I don't know what to call it (call it)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (uh, uh yeah yeah come on)

It is what it is (what it is)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (caught up, and I)
When it's really something else (oh my)
To the bridge
[Bridge]
I'm not saying that two wrongs can make it right
But it ain't too late for us to try (baby)
Do we put back together
Or we say goodbye?
[Chorus][Repeat till end]
It is what it is (what is)
I don't know what to call it (don't know what to call it uhhh uhh)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (gonna give my love)
It is what it is (what it is)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (caught up oh no, no)
When it's really something else (gonna give my love)

It is what it is (ohhh, i)
I don't know what to call it (call it iiii)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (gonna give my love)
It is what it is (what it is)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (OHH)
When it's really something else (gonna give my love)

It is what it is
I don't know what to call it (oohhh oh yeah)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (gonna give my love)
It is what it is (oh oh)
Just don't let yourself get caught up (caught up when iiii)
When it's really something else (gonna give my love)

It is what it is (what it is)
I don't know what to call it (call it ‘cause I'm feeling)
‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (feeling something uh, uh, uh, uh)
It is what it is

Just don't let yourself get caught up
When it's really something else (gonna give my love)

Overall Meaning

Usher's song "It Is What It Is" is about coming to terms with a relationship that was based on lust rather than love. Usher initially thought it was love, but he confesses that it was just physical attraction. In the chorus, Usher is torn between how he feels and what he should do. He admits that he is feeling something else, but he does not know what to call it. Usher acknowledges that sometimes things just can't be explained and he cautions his partner not to get caught up in the physical attraction, thinking there is something more to it. In the second verse, Usher points out that he called himself being down for her, but he knew how she "got down" before they were together. He tells her it is "cool" and not to worry about it.

In the bridge, Usher contemplates whether two wrongs can make it right and if they should try to put the relationship back together or say goodbye. He is willing to try again for the sake of their relationship. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that it is what it is and one should not get caught up in the physical attraction.

Line by Line Meaning

Uh, uh huh Gangster
Starting off with a confident tone, he asserts that he's a ‘Gangster’ and means business.

I thought it was love
Initially, he thought that their relationship was based on love.

Didn't wanna admit that When I looked back It was lust
In hindsight, he realized that he was in lust with her, but didn't want to admit it earlier.

Too bad I had to learn a lesson Now what gets me You were with me But you never let your old thang go
He regrets that he had to learn this fact the hard way. He reflects that although she was with him, she still didn't let go of her past relationship.

I don't care to know why Girl I guess some things Can't be explained
He doesn't want to know why she didn't let go of her past relationship; he understands that some things just can't be explained.

It is what it is (what it is) I don't know what to call it ‘Cause I'm feelin' something else (I'm feeling something else)
The chorus gives a rather sombre and vague reflection that he doesn't really know how to describe their current relationship, as he's feeling something else.

Know that is okay Felt something going on For every time that I fought it (uh) Girl I bet that's what it was
He comes to terms that it's okay, as he really felt something going on between them, but he fought against it. He guesses that this fighting back was due to the fact it was just mere lust.

Called myself being down for you (ice cold) Just know that Before I knew you right I already knew how you get down (uh)
He thought that he was down for her, the real hard fact is, he realizes that he already knew what he was getting himself into.

But if that's your thang, babe I ain't mad at you It's cool Just know I did it too
He reconciles with the fact that if it's something she likes doing (like having two relationships), it’s cool with him. He even confesses that he too did this before.

Give me another chance You did it to shit It's all good, baby You eating, right? Well how can I smile, shit? It's better to smile than to frown anyday Yeah listen
He asks her to give him another chance, as she too did the same in the past. Despite accepting the fact that she did it to him, he suggests that it’s all good at the end. He further tells her to keep a good and cheerful attitude to life.

I'm not saying that two wrongs can make it right It ain't too late for us to try (yeah) Do we put back together Or we say goodbye? (ha)
In the ending bridge section, the singer suggests that neither of them are right for doing this, but it's not too late for them to try to mend their relationship. He gives two options, to either come back together and make it work or to say goodbye.

Repeat till end
The chorus repeats until the end, emphasizing the idea that he doesn't know what to call their relationship, but he knows it's more than just what it seems.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOBBY ROSS JR. AVILA, IZZY AVILA, JAMES HARRIS III, JAMES WRIGHT, JAMES QUENTON WRIGHT, JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, TERRY LEWIS, USHER RAYMOND

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