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.
Fitness
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I been sweating, doing calisthenics
Booty vicious, mind yo business
I been working, working on my fitness
I've been lifting heavy metal
See this ass? Ain't no rental
Take it down low like just stretching
Woo, tryna get it, working on my fitness
Think about how I'm gonna feel when I step up on the catwalk
Think about how I'm gonna feel when I got that ass that don't stop
That ass that don't stop, that ass don't stop
And think about how I'm gonna feel when I take it all off
Independent, athletic
I been sweating, doing calisthenics
Booty vicious, mind yo business
I been working, working on my fitness
(Toot toot, beep beep)
(Toot toot)
I been working, working on my fitness
Ooh, work my body like
Ooh, I know you want it like
Ooh, but I don't do this for you
Think about how I'm gonna feel when I step up on the catwalk
Think about how I'm gonna feel when I got that ass that don't stop
That ass that don't stop, that ass don't stop
And think about how I'm gonna feel when I take it all off
But I don't do this for you
Independent, athletic
I been sweating, doing calisthenics
Booty vicious, mind yo business (better mind yo business)
I been working, working on my fitness (I'm working on my fitness)
Independent, athletic
I been sweating, doing calisthenics
Booty vicious, mind yo business
I been working, working on my fitness
Lizzo's song "Fitness" is a song about self-love and self-confidence, all while promoting the importance of physical fitness. The first verse opens with her stating her independence and athleticism while expressing her hard work and dedication to her fitness routine through sweat and calisthenics. She also mentions her body, boasting about her "vicious booty" while implying that others should mind their own business. She then goes on to explain her motivation for working out, envisioning herself walking down a catwalk with a body that doesn't stop.
The chorus reiterates her independence and dedication to her fitness, with the repetition of "independent, athletic" and "I been working, working on my fitness." Additionally, she emphasizes that she doesn't work out for the approval or validation of others when she sings, "But I don't do this for you."
Overall, "Fitness" is a song about taking control of one's own body, embracing and loving it, and challenging oneself to become stronger and healthier. It encourages listeners to work hard and be proud of their bodies, without seeking validation from anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Independent, athletic
I am self-sufficient and physically fit, able to take care of myself.
I been sweating, doing calisthenics
I have been working hard and exercising using bodyweight exercises.
Booty vicious, mind yo business
My rear end is amazing, but it's none of your concern.
I been working, working on my fitness
I have been consistently exercising and improving my physical health.
I've been lifting heavy metal
I have been weightlifting and getting stronger.
See this ass? Ain't no rental
My rear end is all natural, not bought or rented.
Take it down low like just stretching
I have great flexibility and can easily stretch my body.
Pick it back up like I'm flexing
I can lift my rear end up with ease, like flexing a muscle.
Woo, tryna get it, working on my fitness
I am putting in a lot of effort in order to improve my physical fitness.
Think about how I'm gonna feel when I step up on the catwalk
I am envisioning the confidence I will feel when I walk on a fashion runway.
Think about how I'm gonna feel when I got that ass that don't stop
I am imagining the positive attention and admiration I will receive for my body.
That ass that don't stop, that ass don't stop
My amazing rear end will catch everyone's attention and never quit impressing.
And think about how I'm gonna feel when I take it all off
I am envisioning my confidence and satisfaction when I am not wearing clothing.
Ooh, work my body like
I am excited to dance and move my body in a fun way.
Ooh, I know you want it like
I am aware that others may desire my body or my attention, but that is not my focus.
Ooh, but I don't do this for you
I am clear that I am not exercising or taking care of myself for others, but only for myself.
(Toot toot, beep beep)
This is a playful and fun expression added to the song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Aino Jawo, Bruce Sudano, Caroline Hjelt, Donna Summer, Edward Hokenson, Eric Frederic, Joe London, Joseph Esposito, Melissa Jefferson, Teddy Geiger, Tom Peyton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ihearthueningkai
She's always teaching people to love their body no matter how petite, big, tall, small, large, or whatever skin tone they are. This is why I love Lizzo.
@ronneisemunoz7374
So true 😍
@roudezm3673
Yas! I love that she's into building up other femmes. I love her forever
@LovelyRJ85
Same here I love her and I dont even know her
@chocolatelife6822
A 💯 goddess
@mercedesxog
Yaaaassss
@giannisavdis8042
SHE DESTROYED BODYSHAMING
@jinagibson6818
Giannis Avdis she destroyed something. shoulda been a country pop song. costume change and it would be? I'm all for body positivity, some things do not deserve to be charged.
@0nionSlut
Qualial bullshit. look at our society u fool
@0nionSlut
Qualial if I have to explain to you why you were wrong in the first place, you my friend are are the fucking moron :)