Born Grace Martine Tandon -- "daya" is the Hindi word for "grace" in a nod to her Indian grandfather -- and raised in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mount Lebanon, she began taking piano lessons at the age of three, and moved on to voice lessons at the age of ten. Songwriting came later, and in 2014 she signed with the Z-Entertainment label based on her demos. A year later, her single "Hide Away" took off thanks to early online support, becoming a hit across the globe and receiving multi-platinum certification. In 2015, Daya issued her debut self-titled EP on Artbeatz. Both "Hide Away" and the follow-up, double-platinum single "Sit Still, Look Pretty" rose to the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, with a number 14 debut on the Heatseekers chart. She later contributed vocals to the Chainsmokers' enduring 2016 smash "Don't Let Me Down" (which went on to win the Grammy for Best Dance Recording). Daya's debut, Sit Still, Look Pretty, was released later that year. The album peaked in the Top 40 in the U.S. and Canada, and was eventually certified gold in the U.S. and silver in the U.K.
In 2017, she appeared on the Gryffin and Illenium track "Feel Good," later releasing her own singles "Safe" and "New," the latter of which became a modest hit in the U.S. and Australia. This marked the start of a multi-year period of standalone single, collaboration, and EP releases. Of the dozen or so fresh tracks that she would release at the turn of the decade, 2019's electronic-dance bop "Insomnia," "Wanted" with NOTD, and "Keeping It in the Dark" from the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack made dents on international charts and streaming services. In 2021, she issued her second EP, The Difference, which included the electro-pop banger "First Time" and the Charlie Puth-assisted hit "Bad Girl." Also that year, she delivered the non-album single, "What If I Told You," and "Evil" from the Blade Runner: Black Lotus anime soundtrack. Another single, the sultry and dance-oriented "Love You When You're Gone," arrived in June 2022 as the first track off her third EP, In Between Dreams. In 2023, Daya revealed that she had become a fully independent artist, gaining control over her sound and image. That year, she began a steady rollout of singles, dropping one every few weeks, starting with June's trip-hop-leaning "Juliene." ~ Neil Z. Yeung
U12
Daya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping for those three words, you never say out loud
I know you play cool but I know you think about it
So make my wish come true, and do something about it
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
Ever fall in love, but I know I want to
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
(Too-o-o, too-o-o, too-o-o)
I don't know why they say young hearts are such a mystery
Feels like this thing we've got is part of ancient history
The way you look at me, kiss me, is so classic
So let the haters do their thing 'til they get past it
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
Ever fall in love, but I know I want to
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
Ever fall in love, but I hope you want to too
Three, four, five, six
Boy, you're my lucky seven
And I'm your ten, you're taking me to heaven
Three, four, five, six
Boy, you're my lucky seven
And I'm your ten, you're taking me to heaven
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
Ever fall in love, but I know I want to
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
Ever fall in love, but I hope you want to too
(Too-o-o, too-o-o, too-o-o)
Hope you want to too
(Too-o-o, too-o-o, too-o-o)
Hope you want to too
(Too-o-o, too-o-o, too-o-o)
Hope you want to too
In "U12," Daya sings about young love and hoping that the person she likes will admit their feelings for her. She begins by referencing the tradition of blowing out candles on a birthday cake and making a wish. Daya's wish is for the person she likes to say the three words that they have been hesitant to say out loud. Despite their cool demeanor, Daya believes that this person thinks about her and feels the same way she does. She encourages them to act on their feelings and make her wish come true.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that others say they are too young to fall in love, but Daya knows she wants to and hopes the person she likes feels the same way. She disagrees with the notion that young hearts are a mystery, feeling that what they have is part of ancient history. She finds the way they look at each other and kiss to be classic, despite the criticisms of others. Daya finds comfort in knowing that their relationship is the real thing and that the haters will eventually move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Got sixteen candles, make a wish and blow them out
Celebrating a milestone age, hoping for a wish to come true
Hoping for those three words, you never say out loud
Wanting someone to express their love openly
I know you play cool but I know you think about it
Knowing that someone is interested despite their reserved behavior
So make my wish come true, and do something about it
Encouraging action to make a desire a reality
All they're ever saying is we're too young to
Common societal refrain that young people cannot truly fall in love
Ever fall in love, but I know I want to
Disregarding societal expectations, knowing personal feelings
Ever fall in love, but I hope you want to too
Expressing a desire for mutual feelings, despite what others say or think
I don't know why they say young hearts are such a mystery
Questioning why there is a stereotype about young love being confusing or indecipherable
Feels like this thing we've got is part of ancient history
Seeing a strong connection that feels longstanding and significant
The way you look at me, kiss me, is so classic
Finding comfort and familiarity in the way someone expresses affection
So let the haters do their thing 'til they get past it
Ignoring critics and their opinions about a relationship
Three, four, five, six
Counting up numbers in anticipation
Boy, you're my lucky seven
Attributing a sense of fortune to a relationship
And I'm your ten, you're taking me to heaven
Feeling an overwhelming happiness and contentment in the relationship
Hope you want to too
Expressing hope for mutual feelings
Hope you want to too
Reiterating hope for mutual feelings
Hope you want to too
Final repetition of hope for mutual feelings
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GINO BARLETTA, SCOTT BRUZENAK, BRETT MCLAUGHLIN, BRITTEN NEWBILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Valdaxx
this song needs more attention
@VeliaKeys
+Valda xx yeah
@miriamolivas6826
I'm telling my friends to here all her pumped up songs
@xxnovagalaxyxx5172
No, Daya needs more attention ;)
@kevinmugwaneza2827
I totally agree
@colinadong7490
Needs to be faster and more beat just like sit still look pretty I love that song I listen to it everyday
@edwink1467
My favorite part is 3 4 5 6, boy you're my lucky 7...
THIS PART IS SO CUTE OMGG
@jinsoul7960
johnnyXXX me 2
@Tcdwyvnh
Do you still like this song
@mexycana7131
Wow I'm fucking obsessed with this song