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.
If You Love Me
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
Ooh
I've learned to love me as myself
But when I'm with somebody else
I question everything I know
When the world can't love me to my face
When the mirror lies and starts to break
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid
'Cause if you love me, you love all of me
Or none of me at all
I accept the things that I can't change about you
But can't accept the fact that I can't change myself too (uh)
Wish I could fall in love with me so easily like you did
Being good to me like I am someone else seems so backhanded
When the world can't love me to my face
When the mirror lies and starts to break
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid, oh
If you love me, you love all of me
Or none of me at all, oh (oh)
Everything the light touches
Oh, baby, give me light touches
When the world can't love me to my face
When the mirror lies and starts to break
Hold me close, don't let me run away (don't let me run away)
Don't be afraid (oh, yes)
When the world can't look me in my eyes (look me in my eyes)
When the darkness takes over my mind (takes over my mind)
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't you be afraid, no, no, no, no, no
When the rain falls and I'm locked outside (woo)
Will you be there standing by my side? (Standing by my side)
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid, no, no
If you love me, you love all of me
And if you love me, you love all of me
Or none of me at all
(If you love me, ooh)
(If you love me, ooh)
(If you love me, ooh)
(La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la)
In Lizzo's song "If You Love Me," she explores the complexities of self-love and acceptance within the context of a relationship. The lyrics express her struggle with maintaining a strong sense of self-worth and confidence when she is with someone else. Lizzo acknowledges that she has learned to love herself as she is, but in the presence of another person, she begins questioning her own beauty and value. The line "How can you say I'm beautiful?" suggests that she doubts her own worthiness of love and admiration.
The song highlights the societal pressure and external criticism that can erode one's self-esteem. Lizzo references how the world often fails to love her to her face and how the mirror, a symbol of self-reflection, can distort her perception of herself. Despite dealing with these insecurities, Lizzo calls for her partner to hold her close and not let her run away. She seeks reassurance and stability in their love, fearing that without it, she would be left vulnerable to her own self-doubt.
Ultimately, the chorus captures the central message of the song: "If you love me, you love all of me, or none of me at all." Lizzo acknowledges that she accepts the flaws and imperfections in her partner, but she struggles to extend the same acceptance and love to herself. She desires the ability to love herself as easily as her partner loves her, wishing for the same kindness and compassion she receives from them.
Overall, "If You Love Me" delves into the complexities of self-love, the impact of external forces on one's perception, and the need for unconditional acceptance from both oneself and a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ooh)
Expressing excitement or anticipation.
I've learned to love me as myself
I have come to appreciate and accept who I am.
But when I'm with somebody else
However, when I am in a relationship with someone.
I question everything I know
I start doubting my own beliefs and understanding.
How can you say I'm beautiful?
I wonder how you can genuinely compliment my appearance.
When the world can't love me to my face
When people are unable to express their love or admiration for me openly.
When the mirror lies and starts to break
When my reflection in the mirror deceives me and shatters my confidence.
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Embrace me tightly, preventing me from escaping or avoiding my insecurities.
Don't be afraid
Please have no fear or hesitations.
'Cause if you love me, you love all of me
Because true love means accepting every part of who I am.
Or none of me at all
If you can't fully accept me, then it's better to have no love at all.
I accept the things that I can't change about you
I acknowledge and embrace the aspects of you that I cannot alter.
But can't accept the fact that I can't change myself too (uh)
However, I struggle to come to terms with the idea that I cannot change myself as easily.
Wish I could fall in love with me so easily like you did
I desire to love myself as effortlessly and genuinely as you do.
Being good to me like I am someone else seems so backhanded
Treating me well as if I were a different person feels insincere and dishonest.
Everything the light touches
Everything that is illuminated or visible.
Oh, baby, give me light touches
Oh, darling, show me gentle and tender gestures of love.
When the world can't love me to my face
When people are unable to express their love or admiration for me openly.
When the mirror lies and starts to break
When my reflection in the mirror deceives me and shatters my confidence.
Hold me close, don't let me run away (don't let me run away)
Embrace me tightly, preventing me from escaping or avoiding my insecurities.
Don't be afraid (oh, yes)
Please have no fear or hesitations.
When the world can't look me in my eyes (look me in my eyes)
When people are incapable of making eye contact with me.
When the darkness takes over my mind (takes over my mind)
When my thoughts and emotions are overwhelmed by negativity and despair.
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Embrace me tightly, preventing me from escaping or avoiding my insecurities.
Don't you be afraid, no, no, no, no, no
Please do not let fear consume you, refuse to succumb to it.
When the rain falls and I'm locked outside (woo)
When I am caught in the rain and feeling excluded or isolated.
Will you be there standing by my side? (Standing by my side)
Will you offer your support and be there to comfort me?
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Embrace me tightly, preventing me from escaping or avoiding my insecurities.
Don't be afraid, no, no
Please have no fear or hesitations.
If you love me, you love all of me
If you truly love me, you accept every aspect of who I am.
And if you love me, you love all of me
Furthermore, if you genuinely love me, you embrace every part of my being.
Or none of me at all
If you cannot fully accept me, then it's better to have no love at all.
(If you love me, ooh)
(If you genuinely love me, expressing excitement or anticipation.)
(If you love me, ooh)
(If you genuinely love me, expressing excitement or anticipation.)
(If you love me, ooh)
(If you genuinely love me, expressing excitement or anticipation.)
(La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la)
(Melodic sounds indicating a playful or joyful mood.)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Amy Rose Allen, Melissa Viviane Jefferson, Nate Mercereau, Thomas Edward Percy Hull
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Lervneie
LYRICS.
"If You Love Me"
Ooh
I've learned to love me as myself
But when I'm with somebody else
I question everything I know
How can you say I'm beautiful?
When the world can't love me to my face
When the mirror lies and starts to break
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid
'Cause if you love me, you love all of me
Or none of me at all
I accept the things that I can't change about you
But can't accept the fact that I can't change myself too
Wish I could fall in love with me so easily like you did
Being good to me like I am someone else seems so back-handed
When the world can't love me to my face
When the mirror lies and starts to break
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid, oh
If you love me, you love all of me
Or none of me at all
Everything the light touches
All, baby, give me light touches
When the world can't love me to my face
When the mirror lies and starts to break
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid (Oh, yes)
When the world can't look me in my eyes (Look me in my eyes)
When the darkness takes over my mind (Takes over my mind)
Hold me close, don't let me run away (Don't you be afraid, no, no, no, no, no)
When the rain falls and I'm locked outside
While your feet, they're standing by my side (Standing by my side)
Hold me close, don't let me run away
Don't be afraid, no, no
If you love me, you love all of me
And if you love me, you love all of me
Or none of me at all
If you love me
If you love me
If you love me
@therealduelist8397
I recently stopped talking to a family member of mine because they couldn't accept a part of me that I couldn't control and I resonate to this song so much. I dont care who you are but I want you to know not to be afraid to be yourself and to shine bright because yes there will be those who show their true colors but there will also be those who love all of you and dont suppress yourself for others because as this song says if you love me you love all of me or none of me.
@Jessiethechildofgod
Omg I’m so sorry you had to do that
@TshepoMorca
May you be happy too ♥️
@CRISFILMM
Dad
@thugdog6888
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnkl3hJyTJ0
@bhadmajesty9258
You might not know any of us in the comment section, but we thank u so much for sharing this and always remember that you're loved ❤️
@twoghosts5341
Girl! How the hell do you and Harry manage to crawl inside my head, take every one of my insecurities and magically make them disappear? Forever my heros!
@thugdog6888
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnkl3hJyTJ0
@JonathonNeville
perfectly said!
@okayholden2531
I've spent years of my life hiding from peoples opinions on me. This music helps me open my eyes to be the person that I want to be. I don't know where I will be in the future, but this song is helping my branch into a new me and help me realize that it's time for a change. Don't hide from yourself for other people, stay strong and show us how beautiful you are. Thank you, Lizzo. ❤