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She knows, she knows
Oh I, oh I-I-I
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
Well alright
Damned if I do
Damned if I don't
You know I got a girl back home
You got a man what you want, what you want
What these bitches want from a nigg*
On some DMX sh*t
I know them other nigg*s love tricking
On some BMX sh*t
But not me
Now I'm sure you done heard about me
A black star, Mos Def, Kweli
Good southern bad hoes try me, they try me
This is Martin Luther King in the club
Getting dubs, with a bad bitch
In his ear sayin' she down for whatever
In the back of his mind is Coretta
She knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
And deep down she knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
I can't be what you want from me
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
I can't be what you want from me
Well alright
Damned if I do
Damned if I don't
I'm passing up on bad hoes
Trying to be the man that she want, what she want
What she want from a nigg*
To put a ring on it
Got a bitch on my dick right now
And she just want to sing on it
Got me up so high
Trying to get a piece of that apple pie
I be up so high
Trying to get a piece of that apple pie
Dancehall vibes with my pants on fire
'Cause I told her I was sleeping
'Cause I creep with this pretty young thing that I chose
That she could be doing the same thing I suppose
She knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
And deep down she knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
I can't be what you want from me
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
I can't be what you want from me
Well alright
My nigg*s say turn up, hoes say turn up
Only bad thing about a star is they burn up
nigg*s say turn up, hoes say turn up
Only bad thing about a star is they burn up
Rest in peace to Aaliyah
Rest in peace to Left Eye
Michael Jackson, I'll see ya
Just as soon as I die
Got me up so high, trying to get a piece of that apple pie
I be up so high, trying to get a piece of that apple pie
Got me up so high, trying to get a piece of that apple pie
I be up so high, trying to get a piece of that apple pie
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
I can't be what you want from me
Well alright
Oh I, oh I-I-I
I can't be what you want from me
Well alright
The song "She Knows" by J Cole and Jhene Aiko is centered around the theme of infidelity. J Cole raps about a situation where he is torn between his girlfriend and another woman. He acknowledges the fact he has a girlfriend at home and the woman he's interested in is already in a relationship. Despite this, he is still attracted to the other woman and is struggling to resist the temptation. He explains that he doesn't want to be like other men who love to play games with women and trick them.
The chorus, sung by Jhene Aiko, conveys that the woman in question is aware of J Cole’s attraction to her and the situation between them. She may also be aware of her own attraction to him, but the lyrics suggest that she is trying to resist his advances because she knows that he has a girlfriend.
Overall, “She Knows” is a complex story of temptation, attraction, and morals. It explores the internal conflict of wanting something that you know is wrong and the consequences of giving into those desires.
She knows, she knows
She is aware of the situation
Oh I, oh I-I-I
Expressing confidence
Well alright
Accepting the situation
Damned if I do
Feeling pressured by expectations
Damned if I don't
Feeling pressured by consequences
You know I got a girl back home
Acknowledging a commitment
You got a man what you want, what you want
Questioning intentions
What these bitches want from a nigg*
Reflecting on others' desire
On some DMX sh*t
Referencing a song
I know them other nigg*s love tricking
Generalizing behavior
On some BMX sh*t
Drawing a comparison
But not me
Asserting individuality
Now I'm sure you done heard about me
Being well known
A black star, Mos Def, Kweli
Naming musical acts
Good southern bad hoes try me, they try me
Citing southern women's interest
This is Martin Luther King in the club
Metaphorically placing oneself in a historical context
Getting dubs, with a bad bitch
Bringing a woman to dance
In his ear sayin' she down for whatever
Indicating intent
In the back of his mind is Coretta
Acknowledging conflicting desires
I can't be what you want from me
Admitting limitations
I'm passing up on bad hoes
Resisting temptation
Trying to be the man that she want, what she want
Striving for approval
To put a ring on it
Looking towards the future
Got a bitch on my dick right now
Admitting infidelity
And she just want to sing on it
Reducing intimacy to superficiality
Dancehall vibes with my pants on fire
Describing a mood
'Cause I told her I was sleeping
Lying to one's partner
'Cause I creep with this pretty young thing that I chose
Justifying betrayal
My nigg*s say turn up, hoes say turn up
Describing a party atmosphere
Only bad thing about a star is they burn up
Recognizing the downside of fame
Rest in peace to Aaliyah
Paying respect
Rest in peace to Left Eye
Paying respect
Michael Jackson, I'll see ya
Paying respect
Just as soon as I die
Expressing inevitability
Got me up so high, trying to get a piece of that apple pie
Describing a desire for success
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Written by: JERMAINE L. COLE, MADELINE FOLINE MCKENNA, RYAN MICHAEL MATTOS
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