Jamila released her debut album HEAVN on her SoundCloud page on July 11, 2016. HEAVN featured Chance the Rapper, NoName, Saba, Lorine Chia and Donnie Trumpet.
Breadcrumbs
Jamila Woods Lyrics
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Why come God gave you a smile that turn back time?
Who gave us leave to love like this, are we insane?
Grandma loved Granddaddy even after he forgot our names
Where they do that at?
Guess we better find a new planet
How they get like that?
Happens sometimes you can't plan it
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me, guide me back
Today I look like somebody you used to know
Tomorrow I'm a stranger and I better go
All of the boxes in the attic of your mind
But you remember Stevie's song just fine
(All I do) all I do
(All I do) all I do
(All I do) all I do
(All I do) all I do
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me, guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me, guide me back
Why I always feel like I been knowing you since '89?
The first two lines of the song express a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia that the singer has towards their love interest. The year 1989 is a specific reference, and it's possible that the song is set in this time period. Alternatively, it could be a nod to the '90s R&B and soul music that heavily influenced Jamila Woods, as this was a significant time for the genre. The next line describes the power of the love interest's smile, which has the ability to turn back time, suggesting that their connection is so strong that it can overcome the limitations of time and space.
The second verse shifts the focus to the broader concept of love, questioning where the permission to feel such a strong connection comes from. The line "are we insane?" implies that there may be societal or cultural norms that discourage or stigmatize intense love. The final two lines reference the singers' grandparents, specifically their grandmother's enduring love for their grandfather even as he struggled with memory loss. The question "where they do that at?" is rhetorical, suggesting that such devotion is rare or unusual. The song closes with a plea for guidance in the form of "breadcrumbs," which could represent memories or tokens of affection that serve as reminders of their bond.
Line by Line Meaning
Why I always feel like I been knowing you since '89?
Why do I feel such a strong connection and familiarity with you, as though we've known each other since 1989?
Why come God gave you a smile that turn back time?
Why did God give you a smile that has the power to transport me back in time?
Who gave us leave to love like this, are we insane?
Who granted us permission to love each other so deeply that others may see us as crazy?
Grandma loved Granddaddy even after he forgot our names
Grandma continued to love Granddaddy even when he suffered from memory loss and couldn't remember our names.
Where they do that at?
Where is it common for people to love each other as deeply as we do?
Guess we better find a new planet
Perhaps we should search for a new world where our love is celebrated rather than questioned.
How they get like that?
How does one develop such an intense, deep love like the one we share?
Happens sometimes you can't plan it
Sometimes love like ours just happens, without any planning or intention.
Leave me breadcrumbs for the ride
To guide me back
Please give me clues or reminders that will help me find my way back to you when I feel lost or disconnected.
Today I look like somebody you used to know
Today, I may bear resemblance to someone from your past, someone you once loved deeply.
Tomorrow I'm a stranger and I better go
Tomorrow, I may become a stranger to you, and it may be best for me to leave our love behind.
All of the boxes in the attic of your mind
But you remember Stevie's song just fine
(All I do) all I do
(All I do) all I do
(All I do) all I do
(All I do) all I do
Your memories may be stored away in the depths of your mind, but you still remember Stevie's song perfectly.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Shapiro Bernstein & Co Inc, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jamila Woods, Laetitia Sadier, Tim John Gane, Zach Henderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind