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.
Lately
Jamila Woods Lyrics
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I've been missing you crazy
And when I need you the most
That's when I cry for your ghost
Tell me that we got our own shit
Mine's is mine nobody else's
Wish I could take back each cigarette
I hope that you're happy
You go ahead to make a place for us
Lately
I've been missing you crazy
And when I need you the most
That's when I cry for your ghost
You are the library burned
But they can't take the lessons I learned
I heard it a hundred times, but I could never tell it right
Wish I could be by your side
Lately
I've been missing you crazy
And when I need you the most
That's when I cry for your ghost
How is the view?
Can you feel it when we miss you?
The wind blew the hat from my head
Was it you? Was it you?
You always play too much
You still play too much
You make a place for us
And when I get there, I'll have to say so much
The song "Lately" by Jamila Woods is a haunting ballad about missing someone who has passed away. The opening lines express a deep sense of longing: "Lately / I've been missing you crazy / And when I need you the most / That's when I cry for your ghost." The use of the word "ghost" conjures up the image of a spirit that lingers long after the physical body is gone. The singer seems to feel the presence of this ghost most acutely in moments of need or vulnerability.
The second verse of the song is more introspective and regretful. The singer wishes they could undo certain actions or choices, such as smoking cigarettes. They also express a desire to make things right: "Bargain God for your birthdays." However, it seems that the person they are missing has already passed on. The line "You go ahead to make a place for us" suggests that the singer believes in an afterlife or some kind of spiritual realm where they will eventually be reunited with their loved one.
The final verse of the song brings in some enigmatic imagery. The line "You are the library burned / But they can't take the lessons I learned" could be interpreted in a few different ways. It might refer to someone whose life was cut short, but who left a legacy of knowledge or wisdom behind. The image of a library burning down suggests something precious and irreplaceable that has been lost. The song ends on a note of surrealism with the lines "The wind blew the hat from my head / Was it you? Was it you? / You always play too much / You still play too much." The final lines suggest that the person they are missing had a playful or mischievous spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately
Recently, as of late
I've been missing you crazy
I've been longing and yearning for you intensely
And when I need you the most
During moments of utmost need
That's when I cry for your ghost
That's when I shed tears for the memories or presence of you that are no longer there
Tell me that we got our own shit
Confirm with me that we have our respective personal matters to take care of
Mine's is mine nobody else's
What belongs to me is solely mine and not to be touched by anyone else
Wish I could take back each cigarette
I regret smoking those cigarettes and wish I could undo it
Bargain God for your birthdays
Make deals with God for your important dates of birth
I hope that you're happy
I wish that you are content and joyful
You go ahead to make a place for us
You move forward to create a space for us to be together
You are the library burned
You represent the library that has been destroyed
But they can't take the lessons I learned
Despite the destruction, the knowledge and wisdom gained cannot be taken away
I heard it a hundred times, but I could never tell it right
I listened to something multiple times, but was never able to articulate it properly
Wish I could be by your side
I want to be physically present next to you
How is the view?
What is your perspective on the situation?
Can you feel it when we miss you?
Are you aware of our longing and yearning for you?
The wind blew the hat from my head
A gust of wind caused my hat to fly off my head
Was it you? Was it you?
Is this a sign of your presence or influence?
You always play too much
You tend to joke or tease excessively
You still play too much
You continue to joke or tease excessively
And when I get there, I'll have to say so much
When I finally reunite with you, there will be a lot that I need to express
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jamila Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind