Pitchfork: This eases listeners into the album in a very gentle way.
Dev Hynes: That one’s interesting because it’s the first and only time I tried an experiment that was like: What would Marvin Gaye do? He would have his words written and know a refrain or two, but everything else was a one-take, just creating melodies up. I wanted to try something like that, because it gives you this weird connection to the lyrics; I wanted to see the words and then just fly and see what could happen.
The song was probably named after the U.S city Orlando, Florida. On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a terrorist attack inside Pulse, a gay nightclub located in Orlando. Devonte who has been an outspoken advocate of the LGBT community, talked about the incident in an interview.
Orlando
Blood Orange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give it time
Walked these steps before
Sixteen and old
Confusing knowing that it's different
He wants to give in
After school, set the books down
Darling, out
First kiss was the floor
But God it won't make a difference if you don't get up
Tell me the song, song
I don't know, turn the lights on
What they want me to think
But I'm changing the state
All that I know was taught to me young
Seen it all before
First kiss, the floor
First kiss, the floor
First kiss, the floor
Shoot, baby, shoot
Live for the floor
You know, it's an insult we often put onto a lot of folk is, like
Oh, you're doing too much
So like, a couple years ago I was like
You know what, my resolution, my eternal resolution will be to do too much
Yes, I love it
Blood Orange's song "Orlando" opens with the line "Dreaming Orlando (get it)," which appears to refer to the city of Orlando in Florida that is known for being a popular tourist destination and a place of dreams for many people. The song then continues with the lines "Give it time, Walked these steps before," indicating a sense of familiarity and perhaps a feeling of déjà vu. The lyrics go on to describe a situation involving a young person who is sixteen and feeling confused about something that is different. They want to "give in" but it's not clear what that means.
The next few lines seem to describe a typical after-school scenario where the person sets their books down and goes out. There's a sense of urgency in the line "Darling, out," as if they need to get going quickly. The following line "First kiss was the floor" is repeated multiple times throughout the song, perhaps indicating the significance of that moment. The related lines "But God it won't make a difference if you don't get up/Tell me the song, song" seem to suggest that this moment may have been a turning point for the person, but they need some motivation or guidance to move forward.
Later in the song, the lyrics become more abstract and less focused on a specific situation or narrative. The line "I don't know, turn the lights on/What they want me to think" could refer to societal expectations or pressure to conform. The following line "But I'm changing the state" seems to indicate a desire to challenge those expectations and create something new. The repeated line "First kiss, the floor" comes back again as a sort of anchor point, and the song ends with the phrase "Live for the floor," perhaps suggesting a focus on living in the moment and embracing experiences as they come.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreaming Orlando (get it)
Reflecting upon a past trip to Orlando, Florida and reliving the memories associated with it.
Give it time
Patience is necessary in order to heal and move on from past memories.
Walked these steps before
The singer has visited this place before and knows it well.
Sixteen and old
The feeling of being young yet mature enough to experience intense emotions.
Confusing knowing that it's different
Feeling uncertain or perplexed by a situation or feeling that is unique from previous experiences.
He wants to give in
The singer is considering giving in to their desires or impulses.
After school, set the books down
Taking a break from academic pursuits and focusing on personal desires or interests.
Darling, out
Expressing a feeling of being done or fed up with a current situation or person.
First kiss was the floor
The first intimate experience with another person occurred on the floor.
But God it won't make a difference if you don't get up
Acknowledging that staying in a low point or refusing to move forward will not change the outcome.
Tell me the song, song
Asking for a recommendation, specifically for a song that will lift the spirits and inspire movement.
I don't know, turn the lights on
Admitting a lack of knowledge or insight, and the need for clarity in a situation.
What they want me to think
Feeling pressure or influence from external sources to think or act in a certain way.
But I'm changing the state
Taking control and actively making changes to improve the current situation.
All that I know was taught to me young
Awareness that one's beliefs and values were ingrained from a young age.
Seen it all before
Feeling a sense of familiarity or repetition in a situation.
Shoot, baby, shoot
Encouraging oneself or others to take action and go for what they want.
Live for the floor
Finding joy in intimate experiences and living in the moment, especially on the floor.
You know, it's an insult we often put onto a lot of folk is, like
Recognizing a common insult and how it can be limiting to oneself or others.
Oh, you're doing too much
Criticizing someone for being ambitious or pursuing their goals with vigor.
So like, a couple years ago I was like
Recounting a moment of realization and deciding to reject the previous insult and strive to do more.
You know what, my resolution, my eternal resolution will be to do too much
Framing the pursuit of doing more as a positive and everlasting goal.
Yes, I love it
Expressing excitement and satisfaction with the decision to do more and be more ambitious.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Dev Hynes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind