As a sophomore in high school, Lenae spent $300 for a studio session that would ultimately produce her first single, "Greetings." Soon after, in 2015, she was featured on Monte Booker’s song, "Baby." Booker and Lenae along with rapper, Smino, formed the original core of the music collective, Zero Fatigue, which was brought together by Chris "Classick" Innumerable at his recording studio, Classick Studios. Lenae's first EP, Moon Shoes, was originally released as a free download in August 2015, but was later reissued by Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group in 2016. It drew praise from critics for her "fluid vocals and spare, poetic lyrics."
In 2016, Lenae was officially signed to Atlantic Records. She also appeared as a featured performer on Mick Jenkins' album The Healing Component and on Noname's song "Forever." She would go on to tour with and open for Noname on her Telefone Tour from January to March 2017. Lenae also performed at WBEZ's Winter Block Party alongside fellow members of the underground collective Medicine Woman: Drea Smith, Via Rosa, and Jean Deau.
She released her second EP Midnight Moonlight on March 3, 2017. Later that month, she performed at SXSW, was featured on Smino's "Glass Flows," and was listed by Rolling Stone as one of "10 New Artists You Need to Know." In the following three months, she would go on to perform at several other festivals, including Mamby on the Beach in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood and Culture Shock in Purchase, New York. Beginning in August 2017, Lenae opened for SZA on her Ctrl Tour. The tour ended in December 2017. On February 9, she released her third EP, entirely produced by Steve Lacy, titled Crush.
On February 1, 2022, she released Skin Tight with Steve Lacy, the first single of her debut album, Hypnos. Following, she released her debut album on May 20, 2022. Featuring vocals and production from Monte Booker, Steve Lacy, KAYTRANAD , Fousheé, Mereba, Smino, Sango, Luke Titus, IAMNOBODI, Phoelix and Teo Halm.
Venezuela Trains
Ravyn Lenae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleeping in on Venezuela trains
I won't be the one to tell you
I can never find the perfect time to say that I won't be the one to tell you
I won't be the one
I won't be the one to tell you
I can never find the perfect line to say that I will be the one to fail you
I will be the one
Mark my words, I hope you understand
If I had my way you'd be my major plan
Mark my words, I hope you understand
If I had my way you'd be my major plan
To begin interpreting these lyrics, it's important to understand the context of the song. Ravyn Lenae's "Venezuela Trains" is a dreamy, ethereal track that touches on themes of love, longing, and unrequited feelings. In these lyrics, she seems to be confessing her feelings for someone, expressing a desire to be with them but also acknowledging that she may not be the right person for them.
The first two lines suggest that this person has left a lasting impression on Lenae, even as she dreams of Venezuela and its trains. Perhaps this person is from Venezuela, or perhaps the train imagery is meant to signify a journey or a longing for something beyond her reach. Either way, Lenae seems to be mulling over her feelings for this person, unable to shake them from her mind.
The lines "I won't be the one to tell you / I can never find the perfect time to say that I won't be the one to tell you / I won't be the one" suggest that Lenae is hesitant to confess her feelings outright. She may fear rejection or feel unsure of the other person's feelings. Instead of speaking up, she continues to ruminate on her emotions, even as they weigh heavily on her.
As the song progresses, Lenae acknowledges that she may not be the right person for this individual. She sings, "I can never find the perfect line to say that I will be the one to fail you / I will be the one." This line suggests that Lenae may have doubts about her own suitability for this person, recognizing that a relationship between them may not work out.
The final lines, "Mark my words, I hope you understand / If I had my way you'd be my major plan," seem to be a plea to the other person to understand her feelings, even if she can't express them outright. Lenae seems to be saying that she wants this person to be a part of her life, but recognizes that it may not be possible.
Overall, "Venezuela Trains" is a song that captures the bittersweetness of unrequited love, with Lenae's dreamy vocals and the song's lush instrumentation underscoring the sense of longing and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
And your gaze still lasting on my brain
Your intense stare is still having an impact on me
Sleeping in on Venezuela trains
I am resting on trains while traversing Venezuela
I won't be the one to tell you
I do not want to be the person who delivers this message to you
I can never find the perfect time to say that I won't be the one to tell you
I cannot identify the perfect moment to inform you that I will not be the one relaying this information
I won't be the one
I will not be responsible for disseminating this news to you
I can never find the perfect line to say that I will be the one to fail you
I cannot craft the perfect phrase to tell you that I will ultimately let you down
I will be the one
I will be the individual who disappoints you
Mark my words, I hope you understand
Pay attention to what I am saying, and I hope you comprehend it
If I had my way you'd be my major plan
If I had my preference, you would be my primary focus
Mark my words, I hope you understand
Remember what I am telling you, and I hope you grasp its significance
If I had my way you'd be my major plan
If I were in control, you would be my chief priority
Contributed by Levi K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.