From 2016 to 2018, she released three EPs on the label, including Time, Change, and Ready. Her self-titled debut studio album was released in October 2018 and featured the singles "Boo'd Up" and "Trip", which charted in the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 5 and 11, respectively. In 2019, "Boo'd Up" was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best R&B Song, winning for the latter, as well as Mai herself being nominated for British Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Brit Awards. At the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, she won three awards, including the award for Top R&B Artist.
How
Ella Mai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How could you judge?
How could you switch up on me in my darkest hour, how could you?
What's the worst could happen, rollin' with myself?
I got too attached, now I'm workin' on my health
Wanna be a savage, thinkin' 'bout yourself
I had to attack, had to leave you on the shelf, oh well
Face facts for you, I lost my head
Face that, it's cool we go again
Can't let these heartless broken boys win, no (can't let these heartless broken boys win)
I'm back, I'm on my shit again
Back to business, caught my fuel again
You out so I can let me back in (so I can let me back in)
Now I'm, I'm in my ride
It's me, myself and time
That's what it takes to break a heartache
I'm, I'm just gon' drive
Just me, myself and time
Before I lose my whole mind thinkin', "How?"
How could you judge?
How could you switch up on me in my darkest hour, how could you?
How, how could you turn?
How could you switch it up on me? Yeah
Switch it up on me, yeah-yeah
What's the worst could happen, rollin' with myself?
I got too attached, now I'm workin' on my health
Wanna be a savage, thinkin' 'bout yourself
I had to attack, had to leave you on the shelf, oh well
How you switch up on a nigga?
I thought you would never leave
I know you hear my voice everywhere you be
Cold case, I had to give lil' shorty back to the streets
Had to slide out to Maui, I be back in two weeks
And it ain't no turnin' back, had to put her on the shelf
I can't buy a hunnid bags, gotta be loyal by yourself
And I can reward disrespect, you know
Never give up soul ties, I rather have a hunnid hoes
I thought that you vowed to be a roller
You had the big champion, now it's game over
Still outside, still keepin' my composure
Still gettin' wired, still killin' 'til it's over
Now I'm (ayy), I'm in my ride
It's me, myself and time
That's what it takes to break a heartache
I'm (ayy), I'm just gon' drive
Just me, myself and time
Before I lose my whole mind thinkin', "How?"
How could you turn?
How could you switch it up on me in my darkest hour?
How could you?
How, how could you turn?
How could you switch it up on me? Yeah
Switch it up on me, yeah-yeah
What's the worst could happen, rollin' with myself?
I got too attached, now I'm workin' on my health
Wanna be a savage, thinkin' 'bout yourself
I had to attack, had to leave you on the shelf, oh well
(My bad) my bad for puttin' my all in
(Ooh yeah, my bad) don't give me back what you stolen (stolen)
How you acted then, it's embarrassing, had to cap it
What's the worst could happen, rollin' with myself?
I got too attached, now I'm workin' on my health
Wanna be a savage, thinkin' 'bout yourself
I had to attack, had to leave you on the shelf, oh well
In Ella Mai and Roddy Ricch's song "How," the lyrics revolve around the theme of betrayal and heartbreak. Ella and Roddy are dealing with someone who has switched up on them in their hardest hour, leaving them to deal with their emotions and pick up the pieces of their broken hearts. The chorus repeats the question "How could you?" as a testament to their hurt and confusion. The verses explore the aftermath of the situation as the artists try to move on and find themselves again. Ella talks about wanting to be selfish and focus on herself while Roddy reflects on leaving his lover behind and choosing to put himself first.
The line "That's what it takes to break a heartache" in the chorus is particularly poignant. It suggests that it takes time alone, with oneself, to heal from a broken heart. Additionally, the line "Before I lose my whole mind thinkin', 'How?'" speaks to the obsessive thoughts that come after experiencing heartbreak. Both artists capture the emotional turmoil that comes with being betrayed in a relationship with their powerful vocal performances.
Overall, "How" is a powerful and relatable song about the consequences of betrayal and heartbreak in relationships. The song's emotional lyrics are conveyed through Ella Mai and Roddy Ricch's powerful vocals, making it a standout track.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Expressing disappointment and frustration
How could you judge?
Why would you judge me?
How could you switch up on me in my darkest hour, how could you?
How did you change and leave me alone when I needed you the most?
What's the worst could happen, rollin' with myself?
What's the worst that can happen if I depend only on myself?
I got too attached, now I'm workin' on my health
I became too emotionally dependent, now I am working on my own well-being
Wanna be a savage, thinkin' 'bout yourself
I want to be independent and focus on myself
I had to attack, had to leave you on the shelf, oh well
I had to confront you and leave you behind, even if it was difficult
Face facts for you, I lost my head
I acted irrationally because of you
Face that, it's cool we go again
Accepting that we can start fresh
Can't let these heartless broken boys win, no (can't let these heartless broken boys win)
I won't let emotionally unavailable men win
I'm back, I'm on my shit again
I am back to being independent and strong
Back to business, caught my fuel again
I am focused and motivated again
You out so I can let me back in (so I can let me back in)
I had to end things with you to prioritize myself and my own happiness
Now I'm, I'm in my ride
I am in my car
It's me, myself and time
I am alone with my thoughts and time
That's what it takes to break a heartache
That's what I need to do to move on from heartache
I'm, I'm just gon' drive
I am just going to keep driving
Before I lose my whole mind thinkin', "How?"
Before I drive myself crazy thinking about what went wrong
How, how could you turn?
How could you change your feelings and attitude towards me?
How could you switch it up on me in my darkest hour?
How could you abandon me when I needed support the most?
Switch it up on me, yeah-yeah
Change your opinion and behavior towards me
How you switch up on a nigga?
How did you change your feelings towards me?
I thought you would never leave
I never expected you to leave me
I know you hear my voice everywhere you be
I know you can't forget me
Cold case, I had to give lil' shorty back to the streets
I had to end things with you and move forward
Had to slide out to Maui, I be back in two weeks
I had to leave and go to Maui, but I will be back soon
And it ain't no turnin' back, had to put her on the shelf
There's no going back, I had to end things with you
I can't buy a hunnid bags, gotta be loyal by yourself
I can't try to impress others by buying expensive things, I need to be true to myself
And I can reward disrespect, you know
I can't reward disrespectful behavior
Never give up soul ties, I rather have a hunnid hoes
I won't give up on meaningful relationships, but I would rather be single than settle for someone who disrespects me
I thought that you vowed to be a roller
I thought that you were committed to being with me
You had the big champion, now it's game over
You had my support, but now our relationship is over
Still outside, still keepin' my composure
I am still standing strong despite everything
Still gettin' wired, still killin' 'til it's over
I am still going strong and not giving up
My bad for puttin' my all in
I apologize for investing too much in you
(Ooh yeah, my bad) don't give me back what you stolen (stolen)
Don't try to get back what you took from me
How you acted then, it's embarrassing, had to cap it
Your behavior was unacceptable, I had to end things
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ella Mai Howell, Rodrick Wayne Moore Jr, Bass Charity, Dijon McFarlane, Feliciano Ecar, Floyd Eugene Bentley III, Harissis Tsakmaklis, Jorge Augusto, Luzian Tuetsch, Nicholas Matthew Balding, Varren Wade
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@talkalottmedia
I don’t think I can get sick of Ella Mai. I’m literally obsessed with the voice 😩
@PrinceLife
REACTION VIDEO TO / Ella Mai Ft. Roddy Ricch, Mustard - How / HERE
🌎🌎📣📣💎💎🎶🎶💎💎📣📣🌎🌎
https://youtu.be/o_KptupAiuk
@brianwilliams7811
This voice your obsessed with? You sure don't require much.
@stephaniedennis5125
@Brian Williams again, the negativity is crazy
@danagordon7518
@@stephaniedennis5125fr tho lmao
@michaelbell7914
Exactly
@mnd9700
I love how Roddy started singing along with Ella on the 3rd chorus! This collab is a MASTERPIECE!! ❤️🔥
@brianwilliams7811
Masterpiece. You don't know how to use words.
@tomekahawkins8580
Right they so 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 together
@stephaniedennis5125
@Brian Williams the negativity is crazy