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15 Best Lyrics From Alicia Keys

When Alicia Keys sings, her lyrics resonate soundly. From the youthfulness of songs heard on her seminal album, 'Songs in A Minor,' to the maturity expressed over the rhythms on 'The Element of Freedom,' the New York native has served up countless tracks with substance. The BoomBox celebrates the chanteuse's way with words with 15 of her best lyrics that speak for the ills and thrills of the heart.

The R&B beauty will perform songs off her famed first effort, 'Songs in A Minor,' during Piano & I: A One Night Only Event With Alicia Keys, taking place at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on June 30. Tune in to the live stream of the intimate show here at 9PM EST.
15
"You give me butterflyz
Got me flying so high in the sky
I can't control the butterflyz"
'Butterflyz' (2001)
M. Caulfield, WireImage
Remember that first high school crush? Well, whether it's teeny bopper feelings or a mature fondness for the opposite sex, those butterflies never get old.

Read 'Butterflyz' Lyrics
14
"Even if it ain't all it seems
I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby, I'm from New York"
'Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down' (2009)
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
Alicia Keys prides herself on keeping the faith, a quality she fires out in her lyrics. But, native New Yorker or not, this speaks to those never letting go of a goal.

Read 'Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down' Lyrics
13
There's something special 'bout you
I must really like you
'Cause not a lotta guys are worth my time"
'You Don't Know My Name' (2003)
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Sometimes a lady just needs to make that first step. Out of character as it may be for some, the piano-playing singer proves that it's better to take a chance by putting all your cards on the table.

Read 'You Don't Know My Name' Lyrics
12
"Still when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an 'S' on my chest
Oh yes, I'm a Superwoman"
'Superwoman' (2007)
Theo Wargo, WireImage
Bold. Strong. Worry-free. That's what the ''As I Am' creator wants women to be. And these are the perfect words to repeat in the face of despair.

Read 'Superwoman' Lyrics
11
"All I wanna know, baby
If what we had was good
How come you don't call me anymore"
'How Come You Don't Call Me' (2001)
Theo Wargo, WireImage
Picking up the phone multiple times to see if the Mr. or Ms. Right Now called is a universal fail most everyone can lay claim to. It's OK, no judgment here.

Read 'How Come You Don't Call Me' Lyrics
10
"You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cause everything's gonna be alright"
'No One' (2007)
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
When giving up just seems easier than sticking through the stress and the mess, Alicia reminds the masses that a good support system always helps.

Read 'No One' Lyrics
09
"I was wondering, maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable, will it make us look crazy"
'Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)' (2009)
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
Face it, we've all had thoughts of kicking it with a special someone yet were afraid to speak our mind. Thanks, Alicia, you've spoken for us, once again.

Read 'Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)' Lyrics
08
"If you do the right thing, we can be together
I'm not easy, yeah, you gotta work for it"
'Put It In A Love Song' (2009)
Kevin Mazur, WireImage
Once again, the Grammy-winning singer gives men some insight into what they need to do to snag a good woman.

Read 'Put It In A Love Song' Lyrics
07
"So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you"
'Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart' (2009)
Jeff Kravitz, AMA2009
Every broken heart is different, but who doesn't want to throw their fist in the air in triumph when they've finally "made it" without the person responsible for the aches and pains.

Read 'Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart' Lyrics
06
"If you're worried, baby, you just gotta let it go
All your hustles ain't for nothing, you just gotta take it slow"
'Troubles' (2001)
Iris, WireImage
The feeling that all the hard work and dedication to something (or someone) goes unnoticed doesn't fall on deaf ears when this inspiring soul sister moves the down-trodden to keep going.

Read 'Troubles' Lyrics
05
"Oh, oh, I never felt this way
How do you give me so much pleasure?
And cause me so much pain"
'Fallin'' (2001)
Steve Grayson, WireImage
Cheers to Alicia Keys for putting into words that tugging feeling of loving vs. hating a irresistible relationship. But in the end, she makes the good seem to outweigh the bad.

Read 'Fallin'' Lyrics
04
"I will keep your secrets
Just think of me as the pages in your diary"
'Diary' (2003)
Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images
Eloquently put, Ms. Keys. The mind is sometimes clogged with thoughts begging to be let out and for those afraid to share what's on the brain, she reaffirms that, in confidence, secrets can be told.

Read 'Diary' Lyrics
03
"I don't wanna forget the present is a gift
And I don't wanna take for granted the time you may have here with me"
'Like You'll Never See Me Again' (2007)
Chris Jackson, Getty Images
Alicia Keys isn't the first artist to use that "present is a gift" line (see Common's 'Be' intro), yet she reminds us to value that special someone today, not tomorrow.

Read 'Like You'll Never See Me Again' Lyrics
02
"You will lose if you choose to refuse to put her first
She will and she can find a man who knows her worth"
'A Woman's Worth' (2001)
Chris Polk, FilmMagic
These two lines the soulful songbird let loose should be front and center inside whichever handbook the male species looks to when referencing "how to deal with women."

Read 'A Woman's Worth' Lyrics
01
"Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby"
'If I Aint Got You' (2003)
Peter Kramer, Getty Images
Stacks of money, flashy cars or pricey jewels don't mean anything if there's no one to share the experience of obtaining it with. Plus, belting this out to a certain boo is sure to score points.

Read 'If I Aint Got You' Lyrics
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lucaslucanita

When I wake up in the morning babe
Can't believe my eyes
Sweetest little part of destiny, with you now in my life (now in my life)
There is no better part
Can compare to you
Ain't no words to describe the way that I'm feeling, yeah
When I look at you

Not sure if all these words are exactly right. But it sounds this way to me. Love this song. So beautiful. (Speechless)

June 21 2011 at 9:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sean Doohan

Too hard to choose, because every one of Alicia's songs lyrics are my favourite, however, I'll go for this one, as no one has chosen it & it's a classic...

Clap your hands everybody
Clap your hands
Come on, keep it going
Clap your hands everybody
Clap your hands everybody
Clap your hand
Lets do it, you ready?
Come on

We could fight like Ike and Tina
Or give back like Bill and Camille
Be rich like Oprah and Steadman
Or instead struggle like Flow and James Evans
Cuz he ain't no different from you
And she ain't no different from me
So we got to live our dreams
Like the people on TV

We gotta stay tuned
Cuz there's more to see (Unbreakable)
Through the technical difficulties (Unbreakable)
We might have to take a break
But ya'll know we'll be back next week
I'm singing this love is unbreakable
Oh yeah yeah...

Yeah, clap your hands everybody
Clap your hands everybody
Lets do it like this, come on

See, we could act out like Will and Jada(Will and Jada)
Or like Kimora and Russell makin' paper, oh yeah
All in the family like the Jacksons(like the Jacksons)
And have enough kids to make a band like Joe and Catherine, yeah

She ain't no different from me
And he ain't no different from you
So we got to live our dreams
Like the people on TV

We gotta stay tuned
Cuz there's more to see (Unbreakable)
Through the technical difficulties (Unbreakable)
We might have to take a break
But ya'll know we'll be back next week
I'm singing this love is unbreakable

We're living our dreams...yeah...
We're living our dreams
We're living our dreams
We're living our dreeeeeeeeeeeeams
(ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh)
We're living our dreams(We're living our dreams)
We're living our dreams(We're living our dreams)
We're living our dreeeeeeeeeeeeams
(oooooooohhhhhhh oohhh yeah yeah)

And we got to stay tuned
Cuz there's more to see (Unbreakable)
Through the technical difficulties (Unbreakable)
We might have to take a break
But ya'll know we'll be back next week
I'm singing this love is unbreakable
Sing it one more time now
Ya'll know we'll be breaking up
But we just might be back next week
This love is unbreakable(ha,ha,ha,yeah,yeah)
Break it down, break it down like this
Yeah...

No thing, no money, no sin, no temptation, talking 'bout nothing
No thing, no money, no sin, no temptation, talking 'bout nothing
No thing, no money, no sin, no temptation, talking 'bout nothing
No thing, no money, no sin, no temptation, talking 'bout nothing
Yeeeeeeaaaaahhh.......
(Unbreakable)
Yeah, yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah
(Unbreakable)
We just might be breaking up
But ya'll know we'll be back next week
I'm singing this love is unbreakable

It's just perfect.
x

June 21 2011 at 8:28 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Stephanie

"have you've ever been so lost, but didn't know til you were found...looking everywhere, but you finally see now" (How It Feels To Fly) ... this is my fav song off of TEOF!!! :-)

"but you're stronger & you're better & you're ready for whatever ... sing ... oooh, wait til they see my smile" (Wait Til They see My Smile) ... I love how you sing that part of the song!!! :-)

June 20 2011 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Armani Fox

"Sometimes I feel so heavy hearted but it's hard to explain cuse I'm so guarded"

"We just could not get enough of it baby let's go when our kiss was brand new"

"Giving you his last cuse he's thinking of you first"

"The sand loves when the waves come, the sky can't wait for the light of the sun so how could you look me in my eye and not see"

June 20 2011 at 11:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Armani Fox

"Somtimes I feel so heavy hearted but I can't explain cuse I'm so guarded"

"We just could not get enough of it baby let's go. Back when our kiss was brand new"

"Giving you his last cuse he's thinking of you first"

"The sand loves when the waves come, the sky can't wait for the light of the sun so how could you look me in my eye and not see"

June 20 2011 at 11:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
let it flow...

"Maybe you won't go, maybe you'll stay. All I know is I'm gonna miss you either way. Ooh it's such a lonely road..." - Where Do We Go

That hits a DEEP chord in me.

June 20 2011 at 8:30 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Nadia Gloria Rossi

My favorite song is "Lovin' you"
" Those wonderful things that you do
They got me feelin'
In love with you
In love with you
Loving you is easy
Comes so naturally
Loving you is easy
Comes so naturally "

June 19 2011 at 6:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Miss-Alicia Keys

my fav:

"Love, love will come find you
Just to remind you of who you are
Love, it will forsake you
Threaten to break you, take what you got"

missaliciakeys.com

June 19 2011 at 10:56 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Chanel

How could I not mention "Fight"?!?!?

"Freedom is a basic right
You can't take what's mine
I don't let nobody hold me down
I gotta fight
Gotta keep my dignity
Gotta do what I believe
Can't you understand
I'm tryna make a stand"

This was my anthem when I was in college. I was a single mother, working two jobs and struggling like crazy. But every morning I'd listen to this song. I'd sing it to myself in the mirror and amp myself up for the day. It worked. Graduated with Honors and now I'm working on my Master's. And yes..I still listen to it every morning.

June 18 2011 at 10:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
monique

People keep talking they can say what they like but buy I know everything is going to be alright ...one of my fav songs fav lyrics

June 18 2011 at 4:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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