“Locked Away” is a popular song by R. City featuring Adam Levine. The song was released in 2015 and has since been a fan favorite. The lyrics are powerful and emotional, and many listeners have found themselves moved by the words.
In this article, we will analyze the meaning behind the lyrics of “Locked Away.”
Lyrics Interpretation
Before we delve into the story behind this song, let’s take a closer look at each verse of the lyrics.
Verse 1
The song begins with Adam Levine asking a question that many people in relationships may wonder about. He asks, “If I got locked away, and we lost it all today, tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?”
This question is significant because it touches on a fear that many people in relationships have – the fear of losing everything and wondering if their partner will still love them despite their flaws and weaknesses.
Pre-Chorus
The pre-chorus of the song asks some tough questions about the nature of love. Levine asks, “If a judge for life me, would you stay by my side? Or is you gonna say goodbye?” This line is especially poignant because it speaks to the idea that love should be unconditional, even in the face of adversity.
Levine continues by asking, “If I couldn’t buy you the fancy things in life, Shawty, would it be alright? Come and show me that you are down.” This line challenges the idea that material possessions are a necessary part of love. Instead, Levine suggests that true love should be based on more than just material things.
Chorus
The chorus of the song is where the main message of “Locked Away” comes through. Levine and R. City ask a series of questions that ultimately come down to one thing: would you stick around?
“Now tell me would you really ride for me? Baby tell me would you die for me? Would you spend your whole life with me? Would you be there to always hold me down? Tell me would you really cry for me? Baby don’t lie to me, if I didn’t have anything, I wanna know would you stick around?”
Bridge
The bridge of the song is a conversation between Levine and R. City. They talk about being locked away and what it means to be in love.
“And I just wanna let you know, I’m locked away, and we lost it all today. If I showed you my flaws, if I couldn’t be strong, right about now, if I judge for life me, would you stay by my side? Or is you gonna say goodbye?”
The conversation between the two artists emphasizes the importance of being honest and vulnerable with your partner. It also speaks to the idea that love should be unconditional, even in the face of adversity.
Verse 2
The second verse of the song is sung by R. City. He asks for a partner who is real and trustworthy. “All I want is somebody real who don’t need much, a girl I know that I can trust to be here when money low.” This line speaks to the idea that love should be based on more than just material possessions.
R. City continues by asking, “If I did not have nothing else to give but love, would that even be enough? Girl, you need to know.” This line emphasizes the importance of love in a relationship, and how it should be the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Pre-Chorus
The pre-chorus of the song is repeated, this time with R. City singing the lines. He asks the same tough questions about the nature of love that Levine did in the first pre-chorus.
“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.”
These questions reinforce the idea that love should be based on more than just material possessions and that it should be unconditional.
Chorus
The chorus is repeated once again, with both Levine and R. City singing. They ask the same questions about love and commitment, and whether their partner would stick around through thick and thin.
“Now tell me would you really ride for me? Baby tell me would you die for me? Would you spend your whole life with me? Would you be there to always hold me down? Tell me would you really cry for me? Baby don’t lie to me, if I didn’t have anything, I wanna know would you stick around?”
True Meaning Behind “Locked Away”
“Locked Away” is a song that emphasizes the importance of true love and loyalty, despite any flaws or imperfections that may arise.
The song was co-written by Theron Thomas, who was inspired by his parents’ relationship. Theron’s father had gone to jail for five years and had some struggles with drugs and other issues, but Theron’s mother stood by him through it all, and they have been together for 38 years.
The songwriters behind “Locked Away” were curious if their partners would show the same kind of loyalty and commitment if they faced tough times. The lyrics of the song reflect this curiosity, asking if their partners would still love and support them even if they were “fucked up.”
Overall, “Locked Away” is a powerful reminder that true love is about sticking together through thick and thin, and that even the most imperfect relationships can be strengthened by loyalty and devotion.
Music Video
Maroon 5’s hit song “Locked Away” was accompanied by a music video that tugged at viewers’ heartstrings when it was released on August 14, 2015.
The music video featured four different families going through various hardships, including a soldier leaving his family to return to service, a man and a woman struggling to make ends meet, a father returning home to his child and the child’s mother, and a father and daughter torn apart by an unlawful act.
The poignant vignettes portrayed love, loss, poverty, and imprisonment, all set to Levine’s soulful chorus “If I got locked away / and we lost it all today / tell me honestly / would you still love me the same?” The music video is a touching visual representation of the song’s theme of unconditional love and loyalty, despite life’s obstacles.
Conclusion
“Locked Away” by R. City ft. Adam Levine is a song 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.
The song emphasizes the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and trust in a relationship. It challenges the idea that material possessions are a necessary part of love and reinforces the idea that love should be based on more than just what a person can offer materially.
Ultimately, “Locked Away” is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the complexities of love and what it truly means to be committed to someone.