Karma by Alicia Keys Lyrics Meaning – The Poetic Justice of Love and Consequence
Lyrics
That you don’t want me anymore
And how you need your space
And give the keys back to your door
And how I cried and tried
And tried to make you stay with me
But still you said the love was gone
And that I had to leave
(Now you) talkin’ bout a family
(Now you) sayin’ I complete your dream, ooh
(Now you) sayin’ I’m your everything
You’re confusing me, what you say to me
Don’t play with me, don’t play with me, ’cause
(What goes around, comes around)
(What goes up, must come down)
Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back to me
(What goes around, comes around)
(What goes up, must come down)
Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back
I remember when I was sittin’ home alone
Waiting for you ’til three o’clock in the morn’
And when you came home
You’d always have some sorry excuse
Half explaining to me
Like I’m just some kind of a fool
I sacrificed the things I want
Just to do things for you
But when it’s time to do for me
You never come through
(Now you) wanna be up under me, ayy
(Now you) have so much to say to me, hey
(Now you) wanna make time for me
What you do to me, you’re confusing me
Don’t play with me, don’t play with me, ’cause
(What goes around, comes around)
(What goes up, must come down)
Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back to me
(What goes around, comes around
What goes up, must come down)
Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back
I remember when I was sittin’ home alone
Waiting for you ’til three o’clock in the morn’
Night after night, knowing somethin’ goin’ on
Wasn’t long before I be g-g-gone
Lord knows it wasn’t easy, believe me
Never thought you’d be the one that would deceive me
And never do what you supposed to do
No need to approach me boo, ’cause I’m over you
(What goes around, comes around)
(What goes up, must come down)
Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back to me
(What goes around, comes around
What goes up, must come down)
Gotta stop cryin’, to come back to me
(What goes around, comes around
What goes up, must come down)
It’s called Karma baby and it goes around
(What goes around, comes around) around
(What goes up, must come down)
Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back to me
Alicia Keys masterfully weaves the tapestry of a relationship gone awry with her soulful ballad ‘Karma’. Through her poignant lyrics and rich melodies, Keys digs deep into the emotional turmoil of love’s labor lost and the inevitable swing of life’s moral pendulum. The haunting refrain underscores a universal truth that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt the sting of a love that didn’t pan out as hoped.
The song isn’t just another break-up track; it’s an exploration of the natural law of cause and effect, of actions and consequences in the realm of romance. Alicia Keys’s ‘Karma’ provides a soundtrack to the vindication felt when the scales of justice balance out – in life, and especially, in love. Let’s turn the pages of this lyrical journey and uncover the depth of meaning behind ‘Karma’.
The Cycle of Love’s Retribution: Exploring Cause and Effect
‘Karma’ opens with a sense of finality and resignation, as Alicia recounts the end of a relationship where her partner departs seeking freedom. However, the narrative swiftly pivots as this same once freedom-loving individual now desires to return to the arms they left. It hints at the cyclical nature of love and how often one doesn’t know what they have until it’s gone.
The ‘space’ needed then becomes the vacuum felt now – a classic tale of reversed roles that serves as poetic justice. Alicia Keys doesn’t just sing about heartbreak; she sings about the consequences of taking love for granted. And throughout, the oscillating ‘what goes around, comes around’ affirms the idea of Karma in love – a debt unpaid will eventually come due.
The Cold Reversal – When the Abandoned Becomes the Desired
A significant turn takes place in the narrative when the protagonist goes from being alone and neglected to becoming the object of desire. Alicia Keys captures this transformation with a raw emotional energy, conveying the bewildering change of heart that her former lover displays.
This reversal isn’t just narratively compelling; it echoes real-life stories of lovers who fail to realize a partner’s worth until separation. ‘Now who’s cryin’, desirin’ to come back to me.’ These lines don’t simply gloat; they reflect on the authenticity of feelings and the sometimes-harsh awakenings that come with loss.
The All-Night Waiting Game – A Study in Sacrifice and Self-worth
Keys doesn’t shy away from detailing the lonely nights spent waiting, the sacrifices made for a love that took but seldom gave. Her account reveals a depth of devotion and the willing suspension of her own needs—a storyline familiar to many who’ve loved selflessly. But her journey through the song is also one of awakening to one’s value.
She articulates a scenario where imbalance in a partnership leads to clarity and growth. The singer’s realization that she deserves to be more than a convenience is a powerful lesson on self-respect and setting boundaries. It’s an empowering reminder that one has to recognize their own worth before they can expect it to be acknowledged by others.
The Bittersweet Symphony of the ‘G-g-gone’ Moment
‘Karma’ reaches a crescendo as Alicia Keys sings of the moment of departure – the ‘g-g-gone’ echoing in the listener’s ears. This turning point is pivotal; it signifies the moment of empowerment when one steps away from a situation where their worth is not recognized.
The stutter in her voice isn’t just a melodic hook but a representation of the hesitance and pain that accompany such a decision – the heartache just before the realization that leaving is a form of self-liberation. Keys turns the sorrow of departure into a battle cry for those who have been taken for granted.
Deciphering the Hidden Meaning – Karma as Life’s Echo
Beyond the story of romantic disillusionment and resolve lies a deeper meaning that Alicia Keys embeds within ‘Karma’ – the idea that our actions are echoes that return to us. The song transcends the individual experience, touching on the spiritual law of Karma, which teaches that life reflects back what we put into it.
Alicia doesn’t just tell a tale of love found and lost; she weaves a philosophical thread on the nature of life. ‘What goes around, comes around’ – these words are more than a catchy hook; they are an ancient wisdom wrapped in contemporary melody, a reminder that our deeds, good and bad, eventually circle back to us.
