You’ll See was released in 1995. I thought about my family every time I listened to this song, and I used to sing it every day during my walk to and from work. – “You think that you’ve destroyed my faith in love. You think after all you’ve done; I’ll never find my way back home. You’ll see, somehow, someday.”
I rested the first couple of days after arriving in DC. Then, I rented a car and drove to North Carolina to see my mother. I was so happy to see her. I sat and told her about everything that I had experienced during my cross-country journey. Well, almost everything. She was thrilled to see me, and I was delighted to see her.
That Sunday I drove back to DC and started looking for a job. Within a month I found a job at a four-star hotel and then got my apartment located at 15th and Rhode Island, in the Northwest section of town. Finally, I was living in a large city, something I had always wanted to experience.
Joel and I reunited and he took off a semester and moved in with me that fall. We shared my apartment for a few months, but I asked him to move out the following December after receiving questionable phone calls. By Christmas, we had split up for good. Joel soon enrolled in a dance program at VCU in Richmond, Virginia, and we remained friends.
At this point, I wasn’t speaking to some of my siblings. We didn’t talk for over two years. As much as I loved her, I needed to be on my own for a while. I guess we both needed some space away from one another. My new life in DC gave me that space and kept me very entertained.
I don’t think my family ever thought I would last very long in DC and the longer I stayed, the more distant we all became. I still loved my family, but our differences were just too intense at times.
I continued to rent a car once a month, to drive to North Carolina to spend time with my mother. That was a top priority for me, even though I could barely afford it. The only month that I missed visiting her was during the blizzard of 96′. Other than that, she saw me every month. During the workweek, I was always calling her and leaving messages on her answering machine. I wanted her to know that I was still thinking about her. I even got a tattoo with “MOM” on it and told her that she and I would always be together.
I was finally breaking away from my family, but it was a slow, painful process. The longer I stayed in DC, the happier I became. Friends that had known me for a very long time could see a positive change in me. I appeared lighter and more content. I sang this song every morning during my walk to work. It gave me strength and courage. Madonna’s music continued to play the soundtrack to my life, and I hoped that my siblings and I would be able to reconcile our differences someday, but until that day took place, I had to focus on my happiness. I continued to search for new friends, and explore new relationships.
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You think that I can’t live without your love,
you’ll see.
You think I can’t go on another day
You think I have nothing
without you by my side.
You’ll see, somehow, some way.
You think that I can never laugh again,
You’ll see.
You think that you’ve destroyed my faith in love.
You think after all you’ve done,
I’ll never find my way back home.
You’ll see, somehow, someday.
First Chorus:
All by myself,
I don’t need anyone at all.
I know I’ll survive,
I know I’ll stay alive.
All on my own,
I don’t need anyone this time.
It will be mine,
No one can take it from me.
You’ll see
You think that you are strong but you are weak,
You’ll see.
It takes more strength to cry,
Admit defeat.
I have truth on my side,
You only have deceit.
You’ll see, somehow, someday.
Second Chorus:
All by myself,
I don’t need anyone at all.
I know I’ll survive,
I know I’ll stay alive.
I’ll stand on my own,
I won’t need anyone this time.
It will be mine,
No one can take it from me.
You’ll see
You’ll see
You’ll see
You’ll see
