Ms Jackson

Song Meaning of Ms Jackson by Outkast, and what it is about

"Ms. Jackson" is a song by American hip hop duo Outkast, André 3000 and Big Boi, the tune was released in 2000, as the second single from Outkast's fourth album, Stankonia.

It reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in 2001, and also reached number one in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

“Ms. Jackson” is a story of a folded romance, broken dreams, and the family caught in the messy aftermath with an enduring hook of a tune.

Inspired by André 3000’s split with neo-soul goddess Erykah Badu, the song is full of calamity, but in real life, it brought Outkast some peace.

In it, Dré and Big Boi appeal to the mothers of their childrens’ mothers with sharp, desperate raps. “Music gives you the chance to say what you want to say,” André later said. “And [Badu’s] mom loved it. She’s like, ‘Where’s my publishing check?’”

In Vibe magazine, André 3000 recalled creating the song, "'Ms. Jackson' was an acoustic guitar song that I was doing at home. Then I just converted it over into something people could understand a little bit more."

The song was inspired by Benjamin's relationship with Erykah Badu and her mother.

In 2016, Badu described her initial reaction to the song, "It hit kind of a sore spot. I didn't wanna hear that, especially when I heard Big Boi's verse. When I heard André's verse, I felt very good because his verse was really, really inspiring. He just said how he felt and it was his honest feelings and I always respected that and listened to what he felt and appreciated it."

Badu also noted that her mother loved the song, saying, "Baby, she bought herself a 'Ms. Jackson' license plate. She had the mug, she had the ink pen, she had the headband, everything."

Ms Jackson lyrics by Outkast

[André 3000:]

Yeah, this one right here goes out

To all the baby's mamas' mamas

Mamas, mamas, baby mamas' mamas

Yeah, go like this

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

[Big Boi:]

My baby's drama mama don't like me

She be doin' things like havin' them boys

Come from her neighborhood to the studio, tryna fight me

She needs to get a piece of the American pie and take her bite out

That's my house, I'll disconnect the cable and turn the lights out

And let her know her grandchild is a baby and not a pay check

Private school, daycare, shit, medical bills—I pay that

I love your mom and everything

But see, I ain't the only one who laid down

She wanna rib you up to start a custody war

My lawyers stay down

She never got a chance to hear my side of the story

We was divided

She had fish fries, cookouts for my child's birthday, I ain't invited

Despite it I show her the utmost respect when I fall through

All you, do is defend that lady when I call you, yeah

[André 3000:]

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

Me and your daughter got a special thang goin' on

You say it's puppy love; we say it's full-grown (Arroof)

Hope that we feel this, feel this way forever

You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather

Ms. Jackson

Ten times out of nine, now if I'm lyin', find

The quickest muzzle, throw it on my mouth and I'll decline

King meets queen, then the puppy love thing

Together dream 'bout that crib with the Goodyear swing

On the oak tree, I hope we feel like this forever

Forever, forever ever? Forever, ever?

Forever never seems that long until you're grown

And notice that the day-by-day ruler can't be too wrong

Ms. Jackson, my intentions were good, I wish I could

Become a magician to abracadabra all the sadder

Thoughts of me, thoughts of she, thoughts of he

Asking what happened to the feeling that her and me had

I pray so much about it, need some knee pads

It happened for a reason, one can't be mad

So know this, know that everything's cool

And yes, I will be present on the first day of school and graduation

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

[Big Boi:]

"Look at the way he treats me"

Shit, look at the way you treat me

You see, your little nosy-ass homegirls

Done got your ass sent up the creek, G

Without a paddle, you left to straddle and ride this thing on out

Now you and your girl ain't speakin' no more

'Cause my dick all in her mouth

Know what I'm talkin' about?

Jealousy, infidelity, envy, cheating, beating

In the year 2G, they be the same thing

So who you placin' the blame on?

You keep on singin' the same song; let bygones be bygones

And you can go on and get the hell on, you and your mama

[André 3000:]

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times

I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real

Never meant to make your daughter cry

I apologize a trillion times