“Self Control” is a slow ballad which features Frank describing a relations… Read Full Bio ↴“Self Control” is a slow ballad which features Frank describing a relationship that is slowly falling apart. Throughout the song, Frank hints the reason their relationship fell apart was because the other person was too immature.

The intro features a high-pitch vocal effect Frank uses throughout the album. The squeaky voice suggests Frank is reminiscing about events that happened in his youth.

Austin Feinstein of indie band Slow Hollows and Yung Lean sing the choruses. Austin sings the first alone, with Yung Lean joining him on the second.

Also Alex G plays electric guitar and Jon Brion on keyboard.

self control
Frank Ocean Lyrics

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Poolside convo about your summer last night
Ooh yeah, about your summer last night
Ain't give you no play, mm
Could I make you shive last night?
Could I make you shy on the last night? (Last night)
Could we make it in? Do we have time?

I'll be the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight

Noses on a rail, little virgin wears the white
You cut your hair but you used to live a blonded life
Wish I was there, wish we'd grown up on the same advice
And our time was right

Keep a place for me, for me
I'll sleep between y'all, it's nothing
It's nothing, it's nothing
Keep a place for me, for me

Now and then you miss it, sounds make you cry
Some nights you dance with tears in your eyes
I came to visit, 'cause you see me like a UFO
That's like never
'Cause I made you use your self-control
And you made me lose my self-control, my self-control

Keep a place for me, for me
I'll sleep between y'all, it's nothing
Keep a place for me
It's nothing, it's nothing
It's nothing, it's nothing

I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave
Take down some summertime
Give up, just tonight, 'night, 'night

I, I, I know you got someone comin'
You're spittin' game, oh, you got it
I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave
Take down some summertime
Give up, just tonight, 'night, 'night
I, I, I know you got someone comin'
You're spittin' game, oh, you got it
Yeah
I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave
Take down some summertime
Give up, just tonight, 'night, 'night
I, I, I know you got someone comin'
You're spittin' game, oh, you got it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Frank Ocean's "Self Control" are filled with yearning for someone from the past. The song begins with a poolside conversation about the person's summer, and the singer wishes they could have made them "shy" or that they had more time to spend together. The chorus repeats the line, "Keep a place for me," suggesting that even though they can't be together now, the singer wants to be remembered by this person and keep a space in their life.

The second verse is more reflective, with the singer wishing they had grown up with the person and had more time together. The line "Noses on a rail, little virgin wears the white" suggests a possible reference to drugs or partying, highlighting the idea that the singer wishes they had shared those experiences with the person. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the desire to be remembered by the person.

The bridge of the song shows the two meeting up again, but knowing they can't be together, with the singer acknowledging the other person has someone else. It ends with the singer admitting they lost their "self-control," possibly indicating they had an intimate encounter with the person but ultimately couldn't be with them.

Line by Line Meaning

Poolside convo about your summer last night
Talking about your previous summer last night by the pool

Ooh yeah, about your summer last night
Yes, discussing it, specifically about the previous summer

Ain't give you no play, mm
I didn't show any interest, didn't make a move

Could I make you shive last night? Could I make you shy on the last night? (Last night) Could we make it in? Do we have time?
Could I have made you feel uncomfortable last night? Could we have connected and had time for more?

I'll be the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight
I'll be the man you dream about in your sexual fantasies tonight

Noses on a rail, little virgin wears the white
Snorting drugs on a table, an innocent and inexperienced girl is wearing white

You cut your hair but you used to live a blonded life
You changed your appearance, but you used to live a carefree life

Wish I was there, wish we'd grown up on the same advice And our time was right
I wish I experienced it with you, I wish we had similar upbringings and timing

Keep a place for me, for me I'll sleep between y'all, it's nothing It's nothing, it's nothing Keep a place for me, for me
Save a spot for me, I'll sleep in between you both, it's not a big deal

Now and then you miss it, sounds make you cry Some nights you dance with tears in your eyes
Sometimes you miss it, certain sounds make you emotional, and on some nights you dance while crying

I came to visit, 'cause you see me like a UFO That's like never 'Cause I made you use your self-control And you made me lose my self-control, my self-control
I visited because you consider me to be rare like a UFO, which is unlikely to happen. Because I made you control yourself, and you made me lose my own self-control

I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave Take down some summertime Give up, just tonight, 'night, 'night I, I, I know you got someone comin' You're spittin' game, oh, you got it
I understand that you have to leave and that summer is ending. However, tonight, just give in and forget about the future. I know you have another person coming, but you're flirting with me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christopher Breaux

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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