Kaytranada, the Montreal-raised producer, arrived during the early 2010s wi… Read Full Bio ↴Kaytranada, the Montreal-raised producer, arrived during the early 2010s with ear-perking remixes and an array of sounds that veered from J Dilla-inspired hip-hop beats to distinctly woozy house grooves. Numerous commissioned works and short-form solo releases led to his debut album, 99.9%—which went on to win the 2016 Polaris Music Prize and the 2017 Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year. Since signing to major-label RCA, the Haitian-Canadian has released his sophomore album, Bubba.

Kaytranada has worked with a wide array of artists including Anderson .Paak, Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Robert Glasper, Lauren Faith, Mick Jenkins, GoldLink, Snoop Dogg, Freddie Gibbs, and Alicia Keys. His 2016 debut album, 99.9% features guest appearances from Phonte, Craig David, Vic Mensa, Little Dragon, and more. Bubba, his second album, was released the following December with Pharrell, Kali Uchis, and Masego among the contributors—and has won the young producer 2 Grammys at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

ONE TOO MANY
Kaytranada Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

To the left, take it back y'all now

One night on the scene
And they can see you
Living like a star
New Playboy fatigue
They don't believe that
It's tearing you apart

All I really want
Is just a night at home with her by candlelight
But until I find that girl
I'm gonna hit the floor and we gon jam tonight
Just can't settle down not right now

Whatcha need and whatcha like
Drinks and girls of every type
I had one too many
Sexy girls and city lights
Planes and transatlantic flights
I had one too many

One night on the scene and I can see you moving in the dark
I don't want to leave and can't pretend to cause it's not in my heart
All I really want
Is just a night at home with her by candlelight
But until I find that girl
I'm gonna hit the floor and we gon' jam tonight
Want to settle down not right now

What you need and what you like
Drinks and girls of any type
I had one too many
Sexy girls and city lights
Planes and transatlantic flights
I had one too many

Breaking down your defenses
In my arms yes you're defenseless
Like you in court with a public defendant
Star witness wanna sing?
But if you on the team?
We gon swing for the fences
When it's go time on that goal line
Shit, I be making the call
Just gimme the ball I'll get you the inches
Broads my age talkin marriage and babies
And I'm like been there done it, boss
The young gals wanna love me long time
But then you gotta listen to 'em talk
Talkin me, me, me like she bout to single acapella on the steps of City Hall
Some set the bar, some raise the bar
I've passed the bar
Lemme get you off

I had one too many, I had one too many
I had one too many, I had one too many

Overall Meaning

The song "One Too Many" by KAYTRANADA and Phonte is a catchy tune about the party lifestyle and the consequences that come with it. The introductory line "To the left, take it back y'all now" is a reference to a popular dance move, which sets the tone for the upbeat and playful track. In the first verse, Phonte observes how living like a star and constantly partying can be addictive but ultimately take a toll on a person's well-being. He confesses that all he really wants is a quiet night at home with his loved one, but until he finds her, he'll keep hitting the floor and jamming the night away.

The chorus expands on the theme of excess, with Phonte admitting that he's had "one too many" drinks and girls of different types, while getting caught up in the allure of sexy girls, city lights, and transatlantic flights. The second verse sees Phonte getting more personal, as he tries to break down the defenses of a girl he's into. He compares himself to a star witness and boasts about his prowess in the bedroom, but also acknowledges that he's not ready to settle down yet. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the idea that too much of a good thing can be harmful.

Line by Line Meaning

To the left, take it back y'all now
Let's all move to the left and then take a step back together.

One night on the scene And they can see you Living like a star New Playboy fatigue They don't believe that It's tearing you apart
People see you living a glamorous life, but it's taking a toll on you, and they don't understand.

All I really want Is just a night at home with her by candlelight But until I find that girl I'm gonna hit the floor and we gon jam tonight Just can't settle down not right now
I want a quiet night at home with my girlfriend, but until I find her, I'll keep partying and dancing.

Whatcha need and whatcha like Drinks and girls of every type I had one too many Sexy girls and city lights Planes and transatlantic flights I had one too many
I got drunk, partied with various kinds of girls, traveled to different places, and had a little too much fun.

Breaking down your defenses In my arms yes you're defenseless Like you in court with a public defendant Star witness wanna sing? But if you on the team? We gon swing for the fences When it's go time on that goal line Shit, I be making the call Just gimme the ball I'll get you the inches Broads my age talkin marriage and babies And I'm like been there done it, boss The young gals wanna love me long time But then you gotta listen to 'em talk Talkin me, me, me like she bout to single acapella on the steps of City Hall Some set the bar, some raise the bar I've passed the bar Lemme get you off
I'm breaking down your emotional walls and making you feel vulnerable. You might be hesitant, but I'm on your side, and we'll succeed together. I'm not interested in settling down with women my age or listening to younger women talk about themselves. I'm confident in my abilities and want to pleasure you.

I had one too many, I had one too many I had one too many, I had one too many
I drank too much and had too much fun.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Louis Kevin Celestin, Phonte Coleman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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