The Worst
Jhene Aiko ft T.I. Lyrics


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Tell me whatcha say now?
Tell me whatcha say
Come again?

If you cannot stay down
Then you do not have to pretend
Like there is no way out
I shoulda never let you in
'Cause you got me face down

And don't take this personal
But you're the worst
You know what you've done to me
And although it hurts I know
I just can't keep runnin' away

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you
But I want you
I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to
But I love you

Tell me whatcha say now
Tell me whatcha say?
You said that you would come again
You said that we would remain friends but
You know that I do not depend on
Nothing or no one
So why would you show up
So uninvited then
Just change my mind like that
Please don't take this personal
But you ain't shit
And you weren't special
Til I made you so
You better act like you know
That I been through worse than you
I just can't keep runnin' away

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you
But I want you (But I want you)
I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to
But I love you

Everybody's like
He's no item
Please don't like em
He don't wife em
He one nights em
I never listen, no
I shoulda figured tho
All that shit you was spittin'
So unoriginal
But it was you
So I was with it
And tell you the truth
Wish we never did it

'Cause I usually do
Stick to the business
But you came out the blue
And then you just flipped it
God damn baby
My mind's blown
I be forgettin'
You live in a different time zone
I think I know what this is
It's just the time's wrong
Yeah, I know what you did
But baby I'm grown
And my love is patient
And kind, and shit
If this is real we can build
And do different types of shit
If you was really the realest
Wouldn't be fightin' it
I think your pride is just
In the way
Funny how everything changed
Once you got all that you wanted
Nothing was ever the same

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you
I still want you
I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to
But I, but I love you

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you
But I want you




I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to
But I love you

Overall Meaning

Jhene Aiko's "The Worst" is a song about a toxic relationship. The opening lines "Tell me whatcha say now? Tell me whatcha say? Come again?" sets the tone of frustration and confusion that runs through most of the song. Jhene talks about how she should have never let her partner in, as they have left her face down with hurt and disappointment. She acknowledges that she doesn't need this person in her life, but still wants them around. The chorus repeats this back and forth of needing and not needing this partner, as Jhene struggles to come to terms with her conflicting feelings.


The second verse delves deeper into Jhene's feelings towards this partner. She accuses them of not being special until she made them so and tells them that they ain't shit. Jhene also acknowledges that she has been through worse than this relationship, but still can't keep running away. The bridge of the song involves Jhene reflecting on the opinions of others about her partner, stating that everyone said he was not worth her time, but she did not listen. She realizes that her partner was not that original or different from others, but still got caught up in the drama. Jhene expresses her love, patience, and kindness in the hope that this relationship could be real.


Overall, "The Worst" is a powerful song that explores the complexity of love and relationships. Jhene Aiko's lyrical prowess and the haunting instrumental make it a memorable track.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me whatcha say now?
Asking for clarification on what was just said or done.


Tell me whatcha say
Repeating the request for clarification.


Come again?
Asking for the statement to be repeated.


If you cannot stay down
If you can't commit to me,


Then you do not have to pretend
You don't have to fake it.


Like there is no way out
As if there's no escape.


I shoulda never let you in
I regret letting you into my life.


'Cause you got me face down
You've left me emotional and vulnerable.


And don't take this personal
Please don't be offended.


But you're the worst
You're the most disappointing person I've ever met.


You know what you've done to me
You're aware of how you've hurt me.


And although it hurts I know
Even though it's painful, I understand.


I just can't keep runnin' away
I can't keep avoiding my feelings.


I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you
I can survive without you.


But I want you
But despite that, I still desire you.


I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to
I'm not trying to contradict myself.


But I love you
But the fact remains that I still love you.


You said that you would come again
You promised to return.


You said that we would remain friends but
You also said we'd be friends.


You know that I do not depend on
You should know that I'm independent,


Nothing or no one
And I don't need anyone.


So why would you show up
So why did you come back,


So uninvited then
Without an invitation.


Just change my mind like that
And make me reconsider my decisions.


But you ain't shit
But you're not significant.


And you weren't special
And you're not impressive.


Til I made you so
Until I elevated you.


You better act like you know
You should recognize and acknowledge my worth.


That I been through worse than you
I've experienced worse things than you've ever gone through.


Everybody's like
Everyone seems to think that,


He's no item
You're not worth investing in.


Please don't like em
Please don't fall for them.


He don't wife em
He doesn't commit to them.


He one nights em
He only sleeps with them for one night.


I never listen, no
But I didn't listen to them.


I shoulda figured tho
I should have known better.


All that shit you was spittin'
All the things you said to me.


So unoriginal
So cliche and tired.


But it was you
But because it was coming from you,


So I was with it
I was receptive to it.


And tell you the truth
To be honest with you,


Wish we never did it
I wish we never got involved.


'Cause I usually do
I typically keep things professional.


Stick to the business
And don't mix business with pleasure.


But you came out the blue
But you showed up unexpectedly.


And then you just flipped it
And changed everything.


God damn baby
Wow, my mind is blown.


My mind's blown
I'm blown away by you.


I be forgettin'
Sometimes I forget that...


You live in a different time zone
You're living in a different part of the world.


I think I know what this is
I think I understand what's happening here.


It's just the time's wrong
It's just not the right time for us.


Yeah, I know what you did
Yeah, I know what you're up to.


But baby I'm grown
But I'm mature now.


And my love is patient
And my love can wait.


And kind, and shit
And it's forgiving and understanding.


If this is real we can build
If this relationship is genuine, we can make it work.


And do different types of shit
And explore new experiences together.


If you was really the realest
If you were actually truthful,


Wouldn't be fightin' it
You wouldn't be struggling with your feelings like this.


I think your pride is just
I think you're just being stubborn.


In the way
And that's stopping you from truly being honest.


Funny how everything changed
It's interesting how things have shifted so dramatically.


Once you got all that you wanted
Now that you've achieved everything you desired,


Nothing was ever the same
Nothing feels the way it used to.


I still want you
I can't shake my desire for you.


But I, but I love you
But despite everything, I still love you.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN WARFIELD, MAC ROBINSON, CHAD HUGO, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, JHENE AIKO CHILOMBO, SHAWN CARTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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