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.
The Fade
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full of fried food and fatigue
I I I ain't gettin' no sleep so
I guess when I'mma wake
Mama-se, mama-sa, I'mma dream
Wearing my heart on my sleeve
Hol' up, hol' up, wait, no, hol' up
Gotta pack with my girls
But you know no "i" in the team
By golly, Miss Molly, we in this thang
Big Bag Wolf, he make them piggies scream
All three houses -straw, sticks, bricks
And we blew 'em all down, dang, blousers
I don't play games but I
Know enough about 'em, how to win 'em bruh
Realize that it's not a game and
Jealousy is unhealthy competition yo
Welcome to the field, nigga
Home of the field nigga
Hard-working mother, ugly duckling
Black swan
Try to keep it in the real some time
But I gotta deal with a whole lotta nothing
And my whole life in front it so
I guess I gotta run it
Seeing futures when I close my eyes
But I gotta deal with a whole lotta nothing
And my whole life in front it so
I guess I gotta run it
I felt the fade but the fade's never over
You playing games but you
Don't got a scoreboard i can't relate
I ain't made for this sport boy
It's for the worst
How can I make you feel? How can I
How can I make you feel when
I don't even feel myself?
Not saying I'm not cocky but I know
When it come to the flow
I will outdo myself, boom boom bang
They ain't the best cause they
Ain't in they lane
How can you try to be something you're not?
That is not art, girl please explain
Cut out the middle man, be instrumental
I'm not the one to play the second fiddle
Bach off my Chopin, I'm tryna make Mozart
(I ain't seen the back of my
Eyelids in like a week) guess I gotta run it
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh! Ah ah ah ah!
I felt the fade
"Lizzo's song The Fade" is an empowering anthem that addresses themes of personal growth, self-confidence, and perseverance. The opening lyrics, "Full of fried food and fatigue," set the tone for the song as Lizzo reflects on the struggles and challenges she faces in her life. She acknowledges her lack of sleep but remains determined to chase her dreams, wearing her heart on her sleeve.
As the song progresses, Lizzo emphasizes the importance of surrounding herself with a supportive inner circle, hinted by the line "Gotta pack with my girls." She highlights the need to maintain a strong team mentality, where everyone contributes their unique qualities, as signified by the play on words "no 'i' in the team."
Lizzo references the tale of the Three Little Pigs to symbolize her ability to overpower obstacles and naysayers. The line "all three houses - straw, sticks, bricks, and we blew 'em all down" represents her resilience and ability to dismantle barriers. She also addresses the destructive nature of jealousy and unhealthy competition, emphasizing that success should not be treated as a game but rather as a personal journey.
The chorus, "I felt the fade but the fade's never over, you playing games but you don't got a scoreboard," conveys Lizzo's refusal to engage in games or conform to societal expectations. She states that she is not made for such shallow pursuits, instead focusing on her own growth and artistic expression. Lizzo desires to make a genuine impact on others, questioning how she can make others feel when she often struggles to feel secure within herself.
The song's closing lines, "Cut out the middle man, be instrumental, I'm not the one to play the second fiddle, Bach off my Chopin, I'm tryna make Mozart," showcase Lizzo's ambition and her determination to create groundbreaking and innovative music. She's willing to work hard and push boundaries, refusing to settle for mediocrity.
Overall, The Fade" is a powerful statement from Lizzo about her inner strength, resilience, and determination to rise above the challenges she faces. It encourages listeners to embrace their individuality, pursue their dreams, and not be swayed by the negativity or expectations of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Full of fried food and fatigue, uh
I am exhausted and feeling weighed down by unhealthy choices
I I I ain't gettin' no sleep so
I am unable to rest or find peace
I guess when I'mma wake
I will have to face reality
Mama-se, mama-sa, I'mma dream
I find solace and escape in my dreams
Wearing my heart on my sleeve
I am openly showing my emotions and vulnerability
Hol' up, hol' up, wait, no, hol' up
Wait a minute, let me pause and reconsider
Gotta pack with my girls
I am supported by my close female friends
No feelings all green
I am detached and unaffected by emotions
But you know no 'i' in the team
We work as a united group without individual egos
By golly, Miss Molly, we in this thang
We are fully committed and involved in this situation
Big Bag Wolf, he make them piggies scream
I have the power to intimidate and control others
All three houses -straw, sticks, bricks
I have defeated and overcome various obstacles
And we blew 'em all down, dang, blousers
We triumphed over adversity with ease
I don't play games but I
I don't engage in manipulative behavior
Know enough about 'em, how to win 'em bruh
I possess knowledge and skills to outsmart others
Realize that it's not a game and
I understand that life is not just a competition
Jealousy is unhealthy competition yo
Jealousy leads to negative and harmful competition
Welcome to the field, nigga
Welcome to the challenging and competitive world
Home of the field nigga
This is where hardworking individuals thrive
Hard-working mother, ugly duckling
I am a diligent and underestimated person
Black swan
I am a rare and unique individual
Try to keep it in the real some time
I try to stay grounded and authentic
But I gotta deal with a whole lotta nothing
I have to face numerous challenges and obstacles
And my whole life in front it so
I have my entire future ahead of me
I guess I gotta run it
I must take charge and move forward
Seeing futures when I close my eyes
I envision potential outcomes and possibilities
You playing games but you
You are engaging in manipulative behavior
Don't got a scoreboard i can't relate
I cannot understand or connect with your actions
I ain't made for this sport boy
I am not suited for this deceitful game
It's for the worst
It brings out the worst in people
How can I make you feel? How can I
How can I understand and empathize with you?
How can I make you feel when
How can I truly connect with you if
I don't even feel myself?
I am disconnected and lost within myself
Not saying I'm not cocky but I know
I am confident, but I am also aware
When it come to the flow
When it comes to my skills and talent
I will outdo myself, boom boom bang
I will constantly surpass my own expectations
They ain't the best cause they
They are not the best because they
Ain't in they lane
Do not stay true to their own path
How can you try to be something you're not?
Why would you pretend to be someone else?
That is not art, girl please explain
That is not authentic expression, please clarify
Cut out the middle man, be instrumental
Eliminate unnecessary intermediaries, take control
I'm not the one to play the second fiddle
I refuse to be in a subordinate position
Bach off my Chopin, I'm tryna make Mozart
Stop comparing me to others, I aim for greatness
(I ain't seen the back of my
(I haven't had a moment of relaxation
Eyelids in like a week) guess I gotta run it
In a long time) I have no choice but to keep going
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh! Ah ah ah ah!
(Expressing excitement and energy)
I felt the fade
I experienced a decline or setback
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER NUTTER, BRANDON BURTON, MELISSA VIVIANE JEFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Pink
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