February 2019 saw the release of Kehlani’s third mixtape While We Wait, which served as a prelude to what would be their second album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t. The highly-anticipated album was released on May 8, 2020 to positive reception, with the album cover and music videos being shot in their home due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time.
On April 29, 2022, Kehlani released their third album Blue Water Road, with features from Blxst, Justin Bieber, Syd, Jessie Reyez, Ambré and Thundercat.
Distraction
Kehlani Lyrics
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Do me a favor, pick me up, take me out later
Don't worry about no paper
'Cause I got mine stacked up for nights like this
My life can get crazy, I deal with shit on the daily
But baby I'm thinking maybe
We could agree to work it out like this
I need you (you, oh)
To give me your time (give me your time)
I need you (you, oh)
To not wanna be mine oh
Are you down to be a distraction baby?
But don't distract me, let me ask you baby
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
A distraction baby?
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
Hey, yeah, yeah
Are you down to be a distraction baby?
But don't distract me, let me ask you baby
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
A distraction baby?
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
I need you to respect it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sometimes this shit get me stressing
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So I need you with me
To keep me right and keep me up all night (oh, no)
We can get faded
This life can make you so jaded
So we can stay shaded
Just to us and try to get it right oh
I need you (you, oh)
To give me your time (give me your time)
I need you (you, oh)
To not wanna be mine
Are you down to be a distraction baby?
But don't distract me, let me ask you baby
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
A distraction baby?
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
Hey, yeah, yeah
Are you down to be a distraction baby? (Yeah, yeah)
But don't distract me, let me ask you baby
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be (oh do you, do you?)
A distraction baby?
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
I can't say I give my all
But tonight, I'd risk it all
Woah, woah, woah
Are you down to be
Are you down to be a distraction baby?
But don't distract me, let me ask you baby (don't you, don't you baby?)
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be (do you?)
A distraction baby? (Do you?)
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
Hey, yeah, yeah
Are you down to be (let me ask you one question baby)
A distraction baby?
But don't distract me (can you do it, can you do that?)
Let me ask you baby
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be (let me ask you baby)
A distraction baby?
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
I wanna know, I wanna know
The lyrics to Kehlani’s song “Distraction” are about two people who are looking for someone to be with to get their minds off of other stressful things in life. In the first verse, Kehlani asks someone to take her out and be her “distraction”. She says that her life can get crazy and she’s looking for someone to agree to work things out with her. She then proceeds to ask the person if they want to be her distraction, but also warns them not to distract her. The second verse shows a more vulnerable side of Kehlani, as she talks about how she needs someone to be with her to help her through tough times. She says she needs someone to “keep her right” and help her stay up all night. The chorus repeats, with Kehlani asking if the person is down to be her distraction and if they want to be.
Overall, the song is about a person who is looking for someone to be with to get their mind off of other things happening in their life. While they want someone to be their distraction, they also want someone who will respect them and be there for them when they need it.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be
Asking the listener if they want to be part of an adventure in her life
Do me a favor, pick me up, take me out later
Asking the listener to do her a favor by taking her out
Don't worry about no paper
Assuring the listener that she has enough money for the date
'Cause I got mine stacked up for nights like this
Stating that she has saved money for special occasions like this
My life can get crazy, I deal with shit on the daily
Admitting that her life can be difficult and stressful
But baby I'm thinking maybe
Considering the possibility of having a relationship with the listener
We could agree to work it out like this
Suggesting an agreement to have a casual relationship without commitment
I need you (you, oh)
Expressing a need for the listener's presence and attention
To give me your time (give me your time)
Requesting the listener to give her their time and attention
To not wanna be mine oh
Clarifying that she does not want a committed relationship
Are you down to be a distraction baby?
Questioning the listener's willingness to participate in a casual relationship
But don't distract me, let me ask you baby
Asking the listener not to distract her from her goals
I need you to respect it
Desiring the listener's respect for her choices and decision
Sometimes this shit get me stressing
Admitting she gets stressed out by life sometimes
So I need you with me
Declaring the need for the listener's support and comfort
To keep me right and keep me up all night (oh, no)
Asking the listener to keep her in good condition and company all night long
We can get faded
Suggesting the use of drugs or alcohol as a way to have fun and forget problems
This life can make you so jaded
Pointing out the negative effects of life on one's perspective
So we can stay shaded
Proposing a solution of avoiding the negative by staying together
Just to us and try to get it right oh
Striving to make things right between her and the listener in their own way
I can't say I give my all
Admitting that she cannot give everything she has in a committed relationship
But tonight, I'd risk it all
Stating that she would take risks for the listener tonight
Are you down to be
Asking the listener if they are willing to take that risk with her
I wanna know, I wanna know
Asking the listener to clarify their intentions and feelings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Wansel, Warren Felder, Kehlani Parrish, Matt Campfield, Daniel Klein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind