“Locked Away” is a song by R. City, a duo from the Virgin Islands. It features Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5. The song came out on June 29, 2015, on Kemosabe Records and RCA Records.
This song is about the nature of love and commitment. The lyrics ask tough questions about what it means to truly love someone, and whether that love is unconditional.
In this article, we will analyze the profound meaning behind the lyrics.
“Locked Away” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1: Lil Wayne]
Uh, I’m going away for a while
Pray for me child, would you wait for me now?
I know sometimes confusion can get weighed to the doubt
And sometimes I fall short of what I say I’m about, but
At my best I am love
And nothing comes easy but in God we trust
And she ride for me and I ride for us
She knew it be this way she said sign me up
And she lock it down when they lock me up
I knock it down she say knock me up
And when time get rough she take time adjust
And push come to shove she break down and puff
I can’t say enough, can’t make this up
Blood sweat and tears and love faith and luck
Sometimes we afraid, sometimes we are wrong
But with out being scared we don’t get to be strong
(Love hard love long)
In Verse 1, the singer starts the verse by expressing that he’ll be away for some time. This suggests he might be facing a separation from his partner due to legal issues.
He asks his his partner to pray for him and to confirm whether she’ll wait for him during his absence, as expressed in the line “Pray for me child, would you wait for me now?”
The singer acknowledges that confusion and doubt can sometimes affect their relationship. He’s aware that uncertainties can arise but wants reassurance from his partner. He sings, “I know sometimes confusion can get weighed to the doubt.”
The singer admits that he’s not perfect and sometimes fails to live up to his promises or ideals. Despite this, he’s hoping for understanding and support from his partner, as expressed in the line “And sometimes I fall short of what I say I’m about, but.”
The singer asserts that when he’s at his best, he embodies love. He emphasizes that their relationship may face challenges, but they trust in a higher power to guide them through difficulties, as he sings, “And nothing comes easy but in God we trust.”
In the lines “And she ride for me and I ride for us, She knew it be this way she said sign me up,” the singer highlights the mutual support and loyalty between him and his partner. His partner understood the challenges they would face in their relationship but still willingly committed to it.
The line “And she lock it down when they lock me up” suggests that even if the singer faces incarceration or any other form of trouble, his partner will remain faithful and committed to him.
The singer suggests that he’s capable of overcoming obstacles, and his partner encourages him to keep going. The phrase “knock me up” could imply a desire for deeper emotional connection or starting a family.
His partner is adaptable and supportive during tough times. She’s willing to make adjustments to their relationship to ensure its survival, as evident in the line “And when time get rough she take time adjust.”
When faced with challenging situations, his partner copes by taking a moment to relax and gather herself before tackling the problem, as he sings, “And push come to shove she break down and puff.”
The singer emphasizes that he can’t express his gratitude and love for his partner enough. He’s genuine in his feelings and actions towards her. He sings, “I can’t say enough, can’t make this up.”
In the line “Blood sweat and tears and love faith and luck,” he describes the components that make up their relationship, including hard work, dedication, love, faith, and luck.
The singer acknowledges that it’s natural for them to experience moments of uncertainty and make errors along the way. He believes that overcoming these challenges is what makes their relationship stronger. He sings, “Sometimes we afraid, sometimes we are wrong, But with out being scared we don’t get to be strong.”
The phrase “(Love hard love long)” serves as a reminder to love deeply and persistently, no matter the obstacles they encounter in their relationship.
[Chorus: Adam Levine]
If I got locked away
And we lost it all today
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
If I showed you my flaws
If I couldn’t be strong
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
In the Chorus, Adam Levine poses a hypothetical scenario with the line “If I got locked away” where he is imprisoned.
He suggests a situation where they lose everything they have, singing, “And we lost it all today.”
In the line “Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?” Levine asks his partner if their love would remain unchanged despite the challenges they face.
He questions if revealing his imperfections would affect their love, as he sings, “If I showed you my flaws.”
Levine also wonders if his inability to be strong would impact their relationship.
He repeats the question “Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?” seeking assurance from his partner regarding the constancy of their love despite difficulties or shortcomings.
[Verse 2: R. City]
Skiddly-down-down-down-dang
All I want is somebody real, who don’t need much
A gal I know that I can trust
To be here when money low
If I did not have nothing else to give but love
Would that even be enough?
Girl me need to know
In Verse 2, the line “Skiddly-down-down-down-dang” is a rhythmic and playful introduction to the verse.
In the following line “All I want is somebody real, who don’t need much, A gal I know that I can trust, To be here when money low” the singer expresses a desire for a genuine partner who isn’t materialistic and doesn’t require extravagant things. He hopes his partner will stand by him even when financial resources are limited.
The singer questions whether his love alone would be sufficient to sustain the relationship if he lacked material possessions, as he sings, “If I did not have nothing else to give but love, Would that even be enough?”
He expresses the need for clarity and understanding from his partner in the line “Girl me need to know.”
[Pre-Chorus: R. City]
Now tell me would you really ride for me?
(would you really ride for me?)
Baby tell me would you die for me?
(tell me would you die for me?)
Would you spend your whole life with me? (what’s up)
Would you be there to always hold me down?(aha aha)
Tell me would you really cry for me?
(would you really cry for me?)
Baby don’t lie to me (baby don’t lie to me)
If I didn’t have anything (what’s up)
I wanna know, would you stick around?
In Pre-Chorus, the singer asks if his partner would truly support and stand by him through difficult times, as expressed in the line “Now tell me would you really ride for me?”
He inquires if his partner’s love and loyalty run so deep that he would make the ultimate sacrifice for him. He sings, “Baby tell me would you die for me?”
The singer seeks to understand if his partner envisions a long-term commitment and partnership. He questions if his partner would consistently provide support and stability during challenging moments.
In the line “Tell me would you really cry for me?” he asks if his partner would genuinely feel emotional pain and sorrow in his absence or during tough times.
The singer presents a hypothetical situation where he lacks material possessions or wealth. He wonders if his partner would remain committed and stay by his side even during times of hardship or scarcity.
[Verse 3: R. City]
Right about now
If a judge ‘for life’ me, would you stay by my side?
Or is you gonna say goodbye?
Can you tell me right now?
If I couldn’t buy you the fancy things in life
Shawty, would it be alright?
Come on show me that you are down
In Verse 3, the singer asks if his partner would remain loyal and committed to him if he were sentenced to life in prison. He sings, “Right about now, If a judge ‘for life’ me, would you stay by my side?”
He questions whether his partner would choose to leave him in such a dire situation, singing, “Or is you gonna say goodbye? Can you tell me right now?”
In the line “If I couldn’t buy you the fancy things in life, Shawty, would it be alright?” he speculates on whether his partner’s love would endure if he was unable to provide luxurious material possessions.
He expresses a need for his partner to demonstrate his commitment and willingness to support him through any circumstances, as evident in the line “Come on show me that you are down.”
Music Video
A music video for “Locked Away” came out on August 14, 2015.
The video shows four different families:
- A soldier leaving his family to go back to duty.
- A man (Theron Thomas of R. City) and a woman (Chantel K Davis) struggling to make ends meet.
- A man (Timothy Thomas of R. City) returning home to his child and the child’s mother.
- A father and daughter separated by an unlawful act.
Each family faces challenges like love, loss, poverty, and imprisonment. These scenes are set against Adam Levine’s chorus, where he sings, “If I got locked away, and we lost it all today, tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?”
In the beginning of the video, a woman gets arrested, and a police officer reads her Miranda rights, saying, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.”
Deeper Meaning Behind “Locked Away”
The song “Locked Away” seems to ask a simple question: Would you love someone forever, flaws and all? Theron, one of the song’s authors, explains it like this:
“Locked Away” is based on our parents. Our dad went to jail for five years, came out and became a trash man. Then he worked at the legislature as a security guard. He didn’t make real money, he was on drugs, did all kinds of crazy shit.
But our mom held him down. Our parents been together for 38 years—they’re still together. With the success of being a songwriter, where you can get fly and have all this nice shit, we’re like, “You really like me? If I was fucked up, would you hold me down?”
Through its lyrics, “Locked Away” explores the depths of relationships and poses introspective questions about the nature of true love.
The singer questions whether love endures if he were imprisoned, as he sings, “If I got locked away, and we lost it all today, tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?”
By posing this metaphorical question, he hopes his partner would affirm her love to him and promise that she would still be loyal and committed if they faced tough times. This expresses his desire for the unwavering bond between them, as he sings, “Come on show me that you are down.”
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