The introductory track on the eponymous album, here Janet speaks of her own internal velvet rope (where everyone is allowed to freely be themselves), similar to the velvet rope at a red carpet show. She wishes for everyone to have their wishes inside their respective velvet ropes, while not receiving judgement or hate.

Janet said the title is about the barriers we all put up, our own personal velvet ropes. Those velvet ropes can keep people from knowing us, and us from knowing ourselves (she referenced this in an interview with John Norris). She gave the analogy of a club, where you have to pass through the bouncer and his velvet rope. Then another velvet rope to the tables. Then another to the DJ and so on.