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.
Humanize
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
(Humanize me, baby)
My hands are cold
My lips are tight, tryin' to blow
To give them warmth
It's not enough, one heart alone
Cannot suffice
It simply can't, I've done the math
But in through time
There is no chance for love
(hey!)
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through
(hey!)
I try, to try
(hey!)
Your skin is warm
It keeps me up, girl I am tired
I'm tryin' to know, what else, why else, has this happened
One man alone cannot suffice, I've done the research
Ignore the role, inside my bed, your lion features
(No!)
You can lay on my shoulder
That I spiced and [?]
In a heavy haze, we love it
Love the taste of it
We love it
You love it
Humanize me, baby
Humanize me, baby
I try!
(hey)
I try, to try
(hey)
Can see the love through
(hey)
I try, to try
Can see the love through Humanize
Who is gonna open the door
(hey!)
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
(Humanize me, baby)
You smell so good
You're broke
Broken
In the song "Humanize" by Lizzo, the singer is asking her lover to humanize her. The lyrics suggest that Lizzo is seeking validation and recognition from her lover, but is struggling to find it. The repeated line "I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize" indicates that Lizzo is putting in effort to make things work in the relationship, but she needs her lover's help to truly feel loved and valued.
Throughout the song, Lizzo uses metaphors to describe her feelings of inadequacy and longing. For example, when she says "My hands are cold, my lips are tight, tryin' to blow, to give them warmth," she is likening herself to a person trying to start a fire. She is trying to spark something between herself and her lover, but is finding it difficult to do so on her own.
The line "You're broke, broken" at the end of the song suggests that Lizzo's lover is also struggling in some way. Perhaps they are emotionally closed off or dealing with their own issues. Despite this, Lizzo is still willing to put in the effort to make the relationship work.
Overall, "Humanize" is a vulnerable and introspective song that explores the complexities of romantic relationships and the need for validation and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I try, I try, to try, can see the love through humanize
The singer is making an effort to understand and connect with others, even if it requires humanizing themselves.
My hands are cold
The singer is emotionally closed-off and distant from others.
My lips are tight, tryin' to blow
The singer is struggling to express themselves or communicate with others.
To give them warmth
The artist is attempting to connect with others on an emotional level.
It's not enough, one heart alone
The artist recognizes that they cannot experience love or connection alone.
Cannot suffice
The singer acknowledges that they need others to experience fulfillment.
But in through time
Despite the difficulties, the singer believes that they can eventually find love and connection.
There is no chance for love
The artist feels discouraged about their prospects for finding love.
Your skin is warm
The artist is drawn to someone physically and emotionally.
It keeps me up, girl I am tired
The artist is emotionally exhausted by their attempts to connect with others.
I'm tryin' to know, what else, why else, has this happened
The singer is searching for deeper meaning and understanding in their relationships.
One man alone cannot suffice, I've done the research
The artist acknowledges their need for connection and has attempted to explore this concept previously.
Ignore the role, inside my bed, your lion features
The singer is attracted to someone's strength and confidence, but this doesn't necessarily lead to emotional connection.
You can lay on my shoulder
The singer is open to providing emotional support to others.
That I spiced and [?]
The singer has made an effort to make themselves attractive or appealing to others.
In a heavy haze, we love it
The artist is experiencing a strong emotional connection to someone, even if it is not entirely clear or rational.
Love the taste of it
The artist is enjoying the experience of connection and love.
Who is gonna open the door
The singer is asking who will initiate or facilitate a relationship.
You smell so good
The singer is physically attracted to someone.
You're broke
The artist recognizes that someone they are attracted to is emotionally unavailable or struggling.
Contributed by Mila R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Queen Dez
HUMANIZE LYRICS
[Intro]
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
[Verse 1]
My hands are cold
My lips are tired, tryin' to blow (blow!)
To give them warmth
It's not enough, one heart alone
Cannot suffice
It simply can't, I've done the math
But in due time
There is no chance, for love
[Chorus]
I try to try (see the love through)
I try, to try
[Verse 2]
Your skin is warm
It keeps me up though I am tired
I’m tryin' to know
What else? Why else has this happened?
One man alone
Cannot suffice, I’ve done the research
Ignore the role
Inside my bed, your lion features (no!)
You can't lay on my shoulder
There are spikes and scales
And your cheek would just depress me
(In) a heavy haze, we love it
Love the taste of it, (you clench your jaw)
We love it, (you love it!)
ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
My hands are cold
My lips are tired, tryin' to blow (blow!)
To give them warmth
It's not enough, one heart alone
Cannot suffice
It simply can't, I've done the math
But in due time
There is no chance, for love
I try to try (see the love through)
I try, to try
Your skin is warm
It keeps me up though I am tired
I'm tryin' to know
What else? Why else has this happened?
One man alone
Cannot suffice, I've done the research
Ignore the role
Inside my bed, your lion features (no!)
You can't lay on my shoulder
There are spikes and scales
And your cheek would just depress me
(In) a heavy haze, we love it
Love the taste of it, (you clench your jaw)
We love it, (you love it!)
Humanize me, baby
Humanize me, baby
I try!
I try to try, I, I (see the love through)
I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
Who's gonna open the door?
(By your side standing)
(I will be there by your side standing)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby, ooh!)
I try, I try to try, and see the love through human eyes
(Humanize me, baby)
You smell so good
You're broke
Broken
lifeof_Colin
I want nothing more than this song to return to streaming platforms. It’s one of her greatest songs ❤️
Adam Rice
OMG 100%, so frustrated about this
asLan1246
I don't understand how she is not topping the charts! her music is so good!!! She is definitely underrated af!!
Erin Stott
She is sooo GOOD! people just don't know. Plus, a smart and strong mind will always be a threat and problem to these molach worshipping luciferians in the industry.
Three lil PIGS
They are so afraid of her. She is the truth and they are white luciferians. And don't come at me with ignorance... I am white and it's the truth. Not trying to be snotty or what not to you, just there sleeples
Majessty
It’s only because she’s not Illuminati. If she were, she’d be aaaalll over rn so quickly. That contact makes a huge difference
Erica Espinosa
That is how I feel. I want this woman well known around the world. She is amazing.
Mucktown
I don't know who to blame....I just heard the first time of her today through a Trevor Noah Interview and then clicked on Juice. She was blowin me away instantly and I was kinda angry that this didn't popped up earlier for me. Maybe it's really the YT algorithm or something cause normally I'm really fast up to new and good music like hers^^
Silence ?
Can we just talk about how beautiful Lizzo is??
Pulse87dotca
Sure! Nice to see a confident, plus-size gal who can sing in the music industry! (Yes, I like bigger girls, so this is bliss to me.)