“She Knows” is a song by the American rapper J. Cole. It came out on October 29, 2013, as the fourth single from his second studio album called “Born Sinner.”
J. Cole both rapped and produced the song, and he used a sample from Cults’ song “Bad Things.” “She Knows” tells the story of J. Cole admitting to cheating on his girlfriend and feeling like she might already be aware of his unfaithfulness, even though he wants to stop his behavior.
In this article, we’ll dig into the meaning behind the song “She Knows.”
Table of Contents
“She Knows” Lyrics Meaning
[Intro: J. Cole & Amber Coffman (Sampled)]
She knows
She knows, ayy
Bad things happen to the people you love
And you find yourself praying up to heaven above
But honestly, I’ve never had much sympathy
‘Cause those bad things, I always saw them coming for me
I’m gonna run, run away (Oh, I), run run away, run away (Oh, I-I-I)
Run away and never come back (Well, alright)
Run run away, run run away (Oh, I), run away (Oh, I-I-I)
Show ’em that your color is black (Well, alright)
In this part, they sing about bad things happening to loved ones and praying for them.
J. Cole expresses a lack of sympathy for these situations because he believes that bad things were always meant to happen to him.
[Verse 1: J. Cole]
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 nigga?
On some DMX shit, huh
I know them other niggas love tricking
On some BMX shit, but not me
Now I’m sure you done heard about me
A black star, Mos Def, Kweli
Good so them 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’ that she down for whatever
In the back of his mind is Coretta
Verse 1 of “She Knows” by J. Cole talks about his romantic situation. He mentions having a girlfriend back home while being tempted by other women.
He uses the phrase “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” to express his dilemma. J. Cole compares himself to iconic figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and mentions that he feels like he’s cheating on his girlfriend even when he’s with another woman.
This verse reflects his struggle with infidelity and the moral conflict he experiences.
[Chorus: J. Cole]
And 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
The chorus conveys a sense of guilt and awareness. J. Cole sings that both he and the woman he’s involved with know the truth about his actions. It emphasizes a shared understanding that they are both aware of the infidelity.
[Refrain: J. Cole with Amber Coffman]
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 refrain repeats the phrase “I can’t be what you want from me.”
This line reflects J. Cole’s realization that he cannot be the person his partner desires or expects him to be due to his infidelity.
It underscores his inability to meet her expectations and the strain it places on their relationship.
[Verse 2: J. Cole]
Damned if I do, shit, 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—What she want from a nigga?
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, try and get a piece of that apple pie
I be up so high, try and get a piece of that apple pie
Dancehall vibes with my pants on fire
‘Cause I told her I was sleep
‘Cause I creep with this pretty young thing that I chose
She could be doing the same thing, I suppose
In Verse, J. Cole continues to discuss his complicated romantic situation. He mentions having a girlfriend and being tempted by other women.
He talks about the desire of some women to commit and put a ring on it, implying that they want a serious relationship.
J. Cole also acknowledges that he’s currently involved with someone who just wants a casual fling.
The verse explores his inner conflict between loyalty to his girlfriend and the allure of other women, reflecting his struggle with fidelity and the choices he faces in his relationships.
[Bridge 1: J. Cole]
Niggas say, “Turn up,” hoes say, “Turn up”
Only bad thing ’bout a star is they burn up
Niggas say, “Turn up,” hoes say, “Turn up”
Only bad thing ’bout a star is they burn up
Rest in peace to Aaliyah
Rest in peace to Left Eye (Left Eye)
Michael Jackson, I’ll see ya
Just as soon as I die (I die)
In Bridge 1, J. Cole mentions how people encourage him to “turn up” (party and have a good time), but he reflects on the downside of being a celebrity, which is that stars often burn out quickly.
He pays tribute to late artists like Aaliyah, Left Eye (from TLC), and Michael Jackson, suggesting that their fame may have contributed to their untimely deaths.
[Bridge 2: J. Cole]
Got me up so high, try and get a piece of that apple pie, uh
I be up so high, try and get a piece of that apple pie
Got me up so high, try and get a piece of that apple pie, uh
I be up so high, try and get a piece of that apple pie
Bridge 2 continues to emphasize the idea of being high or intoxicated. J. Cole mentions being “up so high” while trying to get a piece of that “apple pie.”
This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the pleasures and temptations he encounters.
The repeated lines suggest his indulgence and the blurred lines between right and wrong in his actions.
[Outro: Amber Coffman (Sampled)]
Run away, run away— Back
Run away, run away— Back
Run away, run away— Back
Run away, run away— Back
The Outro repeats the phrase “Run away” and “Back” multiple times. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and conflict. It can be interpreted as J. Cole expressing the desire to escape the consequences of his actions and then immediately returning to face them.
The repeated words “Run away” suggest a longing for escape, while “Back” may indicate the realization that running away won’t solve his problems.
Deeper Meaning Behind “She Knows”
“She Knows” by J. Cole is a song that explores the complexities of infidelity, fame, and the consequences of one’s actions in relationships.
The title “She Knows” suggests that the woman in the relationship is aware of the unfaithful actions or behavior of the narrator. It implies that despite his attempts to conceal or justify his actions, his girlfriend is not fooled and understands the truth.
In the song, J. Cole is torn between his commitment to his girlfriend and the temptations of other women. The repeated phrase “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” expresses his dilemma, reflecting the conflict between his loyalty and desires. He grapples with the guilt and awareness that his girlfriend “knows” about his infidelity.
In the end, “She Knows” emphasizes the idea that secrets and deceit can only be hidden for so long, and the truth eventually comes to light, which might ruin one’s reputation.
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