Lyrics

When asked about name-checking Alicia Keys in the words of his song "Thunder on the Mountain," Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone that "There's nothing about that girl I don't like." And while highly attractive songstress' lyrics may not... Read More

Song Lyrics Album Video Year
The Life Songs in A Minor 2001
Butterflyz [Roger's Release Mix] Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Butterflyz Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Nobody Not Really (Interlude) The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Samsonite Man The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Troubles Songs in A Minor 2001
Troubles [J-Jay & Chris Lum Bootleg Mix] Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Girlfriend [Krucial Keys Sista Girl Mix] Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Fallin' Unplugged 2005
Fallin [Ali Version] Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Goodbye Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Caged Bird (Outro) Songs in A Minor 2001
Caged Bird Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Diary Unplugged
  1. Play
2005
Fallin' Songs in A Minor
  1. Play
2001
How Come You Don't Call Me Songs in A Minor
  1. Play
2001
How Come You Don't Call Me Unplugged 2005
How Come You Don't Call Me [Neptunes Remix] Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Heartburn Unplugged
  1. Play
2005
If I Was Your Woman/Walk on By The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
You Don't Know My Name The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
You Don't Know My Name Unplugged 2005
Karma The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Karma Unplugged
  1. Play
2005
If I Ain't Got You The Diary of Alicia Keys
  1. Play
2003
If I Ain't Got You Unplugged
  1. Play
2005
Lovin' U Songs in A Minor 2001
When You Really Love Someone The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Girlfriend Songs in A Minor 2001
Wake Up The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Dragon Days The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Harlem's Nocturne The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Butterflyz Songs in A Minor 2001
Never Felt This Way Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
If I Was Your Woman Unplugged 2005
Rock Wit U Songs in A Minor 2001
Never Felt This Way (Interlude) Songs in A Minor 2001
Diary The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Feeling U, Feeling Me (Interlude) The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
So Simple The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Goodbye Songs in A Minor 2001
Piano & I Songs in A Minor 2001
Why Do I Feel So Sad Songs in A Minor 2001
Slow Down The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
A Woman's Worth Songs in A Minor
  1. Play
2001
Woman's Worth [Remix] Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Jane Doe Songs in A Minor 2001
Every Little Bit Hurts Unplugged 2005
Intro Alicia's Prayer [Acappella] Unplugged
  1. Play
2005
A Woman's Worth Unplugged 2005
Stolen Moments Unplugged 2005
Heartburn The Diary of Alicia Keys 2003
Streets of New York (City Life) Unplugged 2005
Unbreakable Unplugged 2005
Wild Horses Unplugged
  1. Play
2005
Sure Looks Good to Me As I Am 2007
Mr. Man Songs in A Minor 2001
No One As I Am 2007
Superwoman As I Am 2007
The Thing About Love As I Am 2007
I Need You As I Am 2007
Go Ahead As I Am 2007
Teenage Love Affair As I Am 2007
Prelude to a Kiss As I Am 2007
Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise) As I Am 2007
Where Do We Go from Here As I Am 2007
Wreckless Love As I Am 2007
Like You'll Never See Me Again As I Am
  1. Play
2007
Lesson Learned As I Am 2007
I Got a Little Something for You Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003
Someday We'll All Be Free Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor 2003

When asked about name-checking Alicia Keys in the words of his song "Thunder on the Mountain," Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone that "There's nothing about that girl I don't like." And while highly attractive songstress' lyrics may not have been the first things on Dylan's mind, but they couldn't have escaped his notice, either.

Keys' songs, most of which she either writes or co-writes, present her as a strong, assertive and deeply thoughtful artist in the mold of the smooth soul stars of the 1970s and 80s. Her lyrics focus on relationships but go deeper than most pop songs, wondering what it is that makes love succeed or fail and delving into complex situations. On her debut album, Songs in A Minor, she admits jealousy over her boyfriend's apparently platonic friendship with another woman. Elsewhere, she revels in love's pleasures ("Fallin' ") but is always aware of the downside of opening herself up too much and/or too soon. Not to worry, though, because Keys also lays down the law in the lyrics to "A Woman's Worth," declaring, "A real man knows a real woman when he sees her/And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her" -- so get with the program, guys.

Keys continued to delve deep into her feelings on her sophomore set, The Diary of Alicia Keys. She sees that an alternately hot and cold lover gets his comeuppance within the lyrics to "Karma" and gets philosophical on "I Ain't Got You," which concludes that fortune, fame and power are all worthless without love. On her third studio album, As I Am, Keys stays strong, offering in "Go Ahead," a nasty breakup song that may or may not have political overtones, and "Superwoman" a feminist anthem of a sort that hasn't been heard in far too long.