Born in Detroit in the late 80’s, Lizzo spent much of her formative years in the church, where she was raised on the gospel sounds of The Winans, The Clark Sisters, and Fred Hammond, along with mainstay secular artists such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John. At the age of 10 her family moved to Houston, TX, and Lizzo was exposed to a wide array of emerging Southern musical styles, from the trademark chopped and screwed rap tracks of the underground, to the progressive and polished R&B sounds of groups like Destiny’s Child that were raising the city’s national profile to new heights. In fact, it was after she stumbled across a Destiny’s Child performance at Wal-Mart that Lizzo—then a 5th grader-- was inspired to start writing music on her own. Over the next decade that decision would take her through the trenches of some of the most varied musical genres: R&B girl groups (I.N.I.T.I.A.L.S., Cornrow Clique), progressive rock bands (Elypseas), solo rap ventures, and electro-pop duos (Lizzo & The Larva Ink).
In 2011 she made the move to Minneapolis with Larva Ink in order to be a part of that city’s blossoming and collaborative musical community. Lizzo & The Larva Ink was well received there, and the group earned a few encouraging nods from the press. Lizzo was soon introduced to Sophia Eris and Claire de Lune, with whom she would form The Chalice, the three-piece all-female rap/R&B group that would elevate Lizzo’s profile and reputation. In 2012 The Chalice released We Are The Chalice, an album that would gain them instant local success amongst fans and critics alike, garnering City Pages’ prestigious Best New Band and Picked To Click accolades in the same year.
The success brought setbacks, though, and a falling out soon led to the demise of Lizzo & The Larva Ink. Feeling discontent with the loss of one group and the hurried blur of success of another, Lizzo was creatively drained from writing We Are The Chalice in two short months. She found herself in the throes of her first full-blown case of writer’s block. Unable to create music for herself, she began listening to several different local albums in hopes of finding inspiration. It was LAVA BANGERS, a 20-track instrumental mixtape from Doomtree producer and Minneapolis music vet Lazerbeak, that ultimately caught her ear. Beaks’ beats proved the fix for Lizzo’s problem. “I sat at home and listened to LAVA BANGERS, and when “Lift Every Voice” came on, my writer’s block was cured,” says Lizzo. “I think it revived my gospel roots. I wrote pages and pages of songs, and finally reached out to Lazerbeak, not thinking anything would come of it.”
Her timing could not have been better. Beak, impressed with Lizzo’s output with The Chalice, as well as her guest appearances on several other local releases, was looking for a change of pace from his daily Doomtree production and business responsibilities. He immediately signed on to work on some demos. Beat tapes were exchanged, songs were written, and mutual friend and musical collaborator Ryan Olson (Totally Gross National Product founder, Gayngs/Marijuana Deathsquads mastermind) was brought on board to creatively oversee the project. Olson recorded and edited all 15 tracks in his bedroom studio, bringing in laid back hype-man Cliff Rhymes along the way to add even more layers to Lizzo’s dynamic vocals.
LIZZOBANGERS is the culmination of that four-way collaboration, an album that manages to capture all of the varied musical influences of Lizzo’s upbringing and combine them with the forward-thinking experimental production style of Beak and Olson. The end result is a brave new project that encapsulates the best parts of both the familiar and the future.
Be Still
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wake up every morning feeling like slapping a nigga
Squeeze trigger, stay scheming then I realize I'm still dreaming
Oops sike, believing in believer's ability
To still scream for a nigga 'til you get nosebleeds
I be so scuffed up from kicking them rocks (uh-huh)
And if you're so tough come run up and get clocked (okay)
If you got them slippery socks
Yo I'ma give it all that I got
To make a nigga slide in the vault (that's right)
Then bake a nigga dash in some salt
I bring a nigga home and pole vault
Then blame a nigga like it's your fault
Your bad (it's you're fault)
I never understood and I will never understand
The tolerance for ho-ishness that some of you people have (nah)
"Me?" You, yeah you
I'm talking to the middle man
Like how you're content with giving someone else the upper hand
Walking 'round your cubicle, your tie with your coffee mug
Syphoning the hard earned work from the thugs and hustlers, 'cause
Takin' a chill pill (chillin') before I whip my sword out like Uma in Kill Bill
Makin niggas gasp like Emmitt Till
And I'ma keep on giving you the gospel like God's will, peace be still
This is God's will peace be still
This is God's will peace be still
Yeah
Can I fall in love 'efore the world ends?
Can my record get a few major spins? (Play that shit) I'm saying
I don't wanna think about tomorrow 'cause (I'm still hustling)
'Til then, I guess it's just me, you, theses food stamps and cravings
No raisins in the sun, just Funyuns and a Sunkist
We up in the club making it mist
Like I missed alcohol (though I see it every night)
And that Tylenol I take everyday period like Midol
Bye y'all, I'm moving on to other things by y'all
But not quite bilateral, more like three floors up and down the hall
Let the bygones be bygones, and try to keep the peace like Obama and Biden
All my friends are talented (are they?), All my friends got mad skills (really)
All my girlfriends wear heels (uh), all my niggas drug deal
We're tight, we're tight, we're tight, sike
We're tight, we're tight, we're tight, sike
All my friends are talented (are they?), All my friends got mad skills
All my girlfriends wear heels, all my niggas drug deal
We're tight, we're tight, we're tight, sike
We're tight (we're tight)
Yeah tight
In the song "Be Still" by Lizzo, the lyrics are raw and honest. The music paints a picture of someone who is struggling with the daily grind of life. The opening lines of the song convey that the singer wakes up every morning feeling angry and frustrated. She feels like she wants to hurt someone. The next line talks about realizing that she is still in a dream. Then she changes the tone and starts talking about the "believer's ability" to scream for someone until they get nosebleeds. This line seems to suggest that she is frustrated with people who are so focused on their own beliefs that they can't see what's really going on in the world.
The next verse of the song talks about how the singer doesn't understand the tolerance for "ho-ishness" that some people have. She's frustrated with people who give others the upper hand and take advantage of hardworking people. The line "Syphoning the hard earned work from the thugs and hustlers" suggests that she is thinking about people who profit from the work of others. The lines "Takin' a chill pill (chillin') before I whip my sword out like Uma in Kill Bill/Makin niggas gasp like Emmitt Till" suggest that she is ready to fight for what she believes in and is not afraid to be aggressive if necessary.
Overall, the song is a reflection of the struggles that people face every day. It's about trying to find peace in a world that is often chaotic and unfair. The music and lyrics work together to create a powerful and emotional experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo (yeah)
An exclamatory expression signaling enthusiasm.
I wake up every morning feeling like slapping a nigga
Starting the day feeling angry and wanting to lash out.
Squeeze trigger, stay scheming then I realize I'm still dreaming
Fantasizing about taking revenge on someone but realizing it's not worth it.
Oops sike, believing in believer's ability
Being fooled by others' beliefs or promises.
To still scream for a nigga 'til you get nosebleeds
Going to great lengths to support or impress someone who doesn't reciprocate.
I be so scuffed up from kicking them rocks (uh-huh)
Being bruised or hurt from life's challenges and obstacles.
And if you're so tough come run up and get clocked (okay)
Challenging someone to prove their toughness.
If you got them slippery socks
Hinting at someone's vulnerability or weakness.
Yo I'ma give it all that I got
Determined to give a hundred percent effort.
To make a nigga slide in the vault (that's right)
Trying to achieve something difficult or unlikely to happen.
Then bake a nigga dash in some salt
Inflicting pain or humiliation on someone.
I bring a nigga home and pole vault
Taking risks and trying new things to succeed.
Then blame a nigga like it's your fault
Shifting responsibility onto someone else after making a mistake.
Your bad (it's you're fault)
Taking no accountability for one's own actions or mistakes.
I never understood and I will never understand
Expressing confusion about a situation or behavior.
The tolerance for ho-ishness that some of you people have (nah)
Disapproving of promiscuity and lack of self-respect.
"Me?" You, yeah you
Directly addressing a specific person in the audience.
I'm talking to the middle man
Addressing someone who is not in charge but has influence or responsibility.
Like how you're content with giving someone else the upper hand
Allowing others to have power or control over oneself or a situation.
Walking 'round your cubicle, your tie with your coffee mug
Describing a typical office worker's appearance and demeanor.
Syphoning the hard earned work from the thugs and hustlers, 'cause
Taking advantage of others' efforts or struggles for one's own gain or comfort.
Takin' a chill pill (chillin') before I whip my sword out like Uma in Kill Bill
Taking a moment to relax and compose oneself before responding to a provocation.
Makin niggas gasp like Emmitt Till
Shocking and surprising others with one's actions or words.
And I'ma keep on giving you the gospel like God's will, peace be still
Sharing one's opinions and beliefs passionately and without fear or hesitation.
This is God's will peace be still
Emphasizing the religious or spiritual message of the song.
Can I fall in love 'efore the world ends?
Expressing a desire for intimacy and connection before it's too late.
Can my record get a few major spins? (Play that shit) I'm saying
Asking for affirmation and recognition in one's profession or art.
I don't wanna think about tomorrow 'cause (I'm still hustling)
Preferring to focus on the present instead of worrying about the future.
'Til then, I guess it's just me, you, theses food stamps and cravings
Acknowledging one's current struggles and dependence on assistance.
No raisins in the sun, just Funyuns and a Sunkist
Referencing a classic play about class and race struggles while detailing a modest snack.
We up in the club making it mist
Enjoying oneself and having fun despite difficult circumstances.
Like I missed alcohol (though I see it every night)
Missing something one used to indulge in but resisting temptation to relapse.
And that Tylenol I take everyday period like Midol
Dealing with physical pain and discomfort every day.
Bye y'all, I'm moving on to other things by y'all
Leaving behind people or situations that no longer serve one's interests or goals.
But not quite bilateral, more like three floors up and down the hall
Explaining that one's new endeavor isn't completely disconnected from the past, just somewhat distant.
Let the bygones be bygones, and try to keep the peace like Obama and Biden
Encouraging forgiveness and reconciliation while referencing a famous political duo.
All my friends are talented (are they?), All my friends got mad skills
Proudly boasting about the abilities and achievements of one's social circle.
All my girlfriends wear heels (uh), all my niggas drug deal
Jokingly stereotyping one's friends and acquaintances.
We're tight, we're tight, we're tight, sike
Insisting on closeness and loyalty but then revealing it's not entirely true or sincere.
Yeah tight
Confirming the existence of a close and supportive social circle.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Aaron Matthew Mader, Melissa Viviane Jefferson, Ryan Olson, Aaron Mader, Melissa Jefferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Pink
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