A wounded heart you gave/
My soul you took away.

Jackson’s “Again” tells the story of an ex coming back into Janet’s life. She was deeply in love with him and she was hurt when he left. Now, he is back in town and wants to see her again. Does she want to see him again? Does she still have feelings for him?

She eventually concludes that she does, but warns him: “don’t you stand there and then tell me you love me and leave again…Cause I’m falling in love with you..again.” It is the most powerful line in the song and really one of the more powerful moments in any song. It’s the delivery.

The melody of “Again” is great, and the background tale is especially fun. I like Janet’s voice throughout: she sounds very feminine and vulnerable. The background piano and strings are a great combo for any love song and the production is done just right. For aspiring divas out there, note how she chooses exactly one note in the entire song to carry out longer than a measure. And she doesn’t use her entire voice to do it, she just sings slightly louder than the rest of the song. That is how you convey emotion in a song.

“Again” received some mild radio play when it first came out, but it quickly faded into obscurity. It is odd, Janet Jackson was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, but when was the last time you heard this—her best song by far—on the radio?  It is deserving.

You might like this older song with a similar theme.

Again Lyrics

I heard from a friend today
And she said you were in town.
Suddenly the memories came back to me
In my mind.

How can I be strong I’ve asked myself
Time and time I’ve said.
That I’ll never fall in love with you again.

A wounded heart you gave,
My soul you took away.
Good intentions you had many,
I know you did.

I come from a place that hurts,
And God knows how I’ve cried.
And I never want to return,
never fall again.

Making love to you
Oh it felt so good and
Oh so right.

How can I be strong I’ve asked myself
Time and time I’ve said,
That I’ll never fall in love with you again.

So here we are alone again’,
Didn’t think it’d come to this.
And to know it all began
With just a little kiss.

I’ve come too close to happiness
To have it swept away.
Don’t think I can take the pain;
No never fall again.

Kinda late in the game, and my heart is in
Your hands.
Don’t you stand there and then
Tell me you love
Me then leave again.
Cause. I’m falling in love with
You again.

Hold me.
Hold me.
Don’t ever let me go.
Say it just one time
Say you love me.
God knows I do
Love you
Again.

Songwriters: Venus Dodson / Jerry Harris / Ivan Barias / Carvin Haggins / Faith Renee Evans