GAYLE was born on July 8, 2004, in Dallas, Texas, United States. She is of Scottish descent. She started singing when she was seven and eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a musical career. After releasing several self-produced singles, she was discovered by former American Idol judge and Arthouse music publisher Kara DioGuardi and was signed to Atlantic Records.
Describing her musical style, she has said: "I write passive aggressive pop songs." Her influences include Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Adele.
z
GAYLE Lyrics
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My best friend fucked my ex-boyfriend
Now his best friend hits me up
When I post things for attention
We all need an intervention
We all Snap in the same group chat
But behind my back, I know
They're talkin' shit and lovin' it
But that's the way we do it, we
Glorify our problems
But we never solve 'em
We're too busy actin' like we know too much
Fakin' love and fuckin' up
Our friendships
We don't feel connected
We're too busy talkin' shit and losin' sleep
We make it look easy
I'm a flirt, but I get real hurt
When you call me a tease
All I wanna do is please
People but they're killin' me
Oh
We don't trust no one 'cause
We don't wanna work on it
We'd rather sit and
Glorify our problems
But we never solve 'em
We're too busy actin' like we know too much
Fakin' love and fuckin' up
Our friendships
We don't feel connected
We're too busy talkin' shit and losin' sleep
We make it look easy
Oh (na-na-na, na-na-na)
(Please)
Oh (na-na-na, na-na-na)
(Please)
Glorify our problems
But we never solve 'em
We're too busy actin' like we know too much
Fakin' love and fuckin' up
Our friendships
We don't feel connected
We're too busy talkin' shit and losin' sleep
We make it look easy
(Na-na-na, na-na-na)
Oh
(Oh)
(Na-na-na, na-na-na)
Easy
In "Z," GAYLE muses on the complexities of modern day relationships and friendships, which are often marked by betrayal, disconnection, and fake love. The opening lines suggest a messy love triangle involving the singer, her best friend, and her ex-boyfriend. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the ex's best friend is now hitting on her. The singer seems to crave attention and validation, which she seeks through social media posts, but is aware of the underlying dysfunction within her friend group. While they may Snap each other frequently, there is a sense of backstabbing behind the scenes, and everyone seems to enjoy talking shit about each other. Despite this, the group seems to remain somewhat cohesive, united by their shared issues and inability to solve them.
Throughout the song, GAYLE highlights the fact that people like to glorify their problems rather than confront them. There is a sense of emotional immaturity and recklessness among the group members, who are too busy trying to look cool to really connect with one another. GAYLE's narrator acknowledges that she is a flirt who craves attention, but she doesn't want to be labeled as a tease. Despite her apparent lack of trust in others, she admits that she just wants to make people happy, even though this is slowly eroding her own sense of peace.
Overall, "Z" paints a picture of a generation that is simultaneously connected and disconnected, with tenuous relationships that are built on a foundation of superficiality and drama. The song's lyrics invite listeners to reflect on their own relationships and ask themselves if they too are glorifying their problems rather than fixing them.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you turn up the guitar more?
This line is a request to increase the volume of the guitar in the song.
My best friend fucked my ex-boyfriend
The line is saying that the singer's best friend had a sexual encounter with her ex-boyfriend.
Now his best friend hits me up
The singer's ex-boyfriend's best friend is now trying to flirt with her.
When I post things for attention
This line is stating that the singer shares things on social media for attention.
We all need an intervention
The singer is suggesting that she and her friends are in need of an intervention due to their problems.
We all Snap in the same group chat
The singer suggests that she and her friends are in the same group chat on Snapchat.
But behind my back, I know
This line is saying that the singer knows her friends talk about her behind her back.
They're talkin' shit and lovin' it
The line is stating that the singer's friends talk negatively about her, but they enjoy it.
But that's the way we do it, we
The singer is saying that this is how she and her friends behave.
Glorify our problems
This line suggests that the singer and her friends exaggerate their problems or make them more significant than they are.
But we never solve 'em
The line is saying that despite glorifying their problems, the group never attempts to solve them.
We're too busy actin' like we know too much
This line suggests that the singer and her friends act like they are aware of everything and always have the answers, but in reality, they don't.
Fakin' love and fuckin' up
The line is saying that the group pretends to care for each other but end up ruining their relationships.
Our friendships
This line is talking about the group's relationships with each other.
We don't feel connected
The line is suggesting that despite being friends, the group feels disconnected from each other.
We're too busy talkin' shit and losin' sleep
This line suggests that the group wastes time talking negatively about each other, causing them to lose sleep and focus on their issues.
We make it look easy
The line is saying that despite the group's struggles, they make it look as though everything is hunky-dory.
I'm a flirt, but I get real hurt
The line suggests that the singer flirts with people but ends up getting hurt when they call her a tease.
When you call me a tease
This line is referring to people calling the singer a tease.
All I wanna do is please
The singer wants to make people happy and desires to be liked by everyone.
People but they're killin' me
The line suggests that despite wanting to make people happy, the pressure is taking a toll on the singer's mental health.
We don't trust no one 'cause
The group doesn't trust anyone as they feel betrayed by friends in the past.
We don't wanna work on it
The group doesn't want to expend the energy and effort to fix their issues.
We'd rather sit and
This line suggests that the group prefers to remain idle and not address their issues.
Oh (na-na-na, na-na-na)
This line is nonsensical and is used to fill the rhyme pattern of the song.
(Please)
This line is not clear in its meaning and context.
(Oh)
This line is used for rhyming purposes and doesn't have a specific meaning.
Easy
The final line of the song is reiterating the idea that the group makes it look easy to handle their problems when in reality, it's not easy at all.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Breanna Kennedy Jacobsen, Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, Robyn Dellunto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind