As a sophomore in high school, Lenae spent $300 for a studio session that would ultimately produce her first single, "Greetings." Soon after, in 2015, she was featured on Monte Booker’s song, "Baby." Booker and Lenae along with rapper, Smino, formed the original core of the music collective, Zero Fatigue, which was brought together by Chris "Classick" Innumerable at his recording studio, Classick Studios. Lenae's first EP, Moon Shoes, was originally released as a free download in August 2015, but was later reissued by Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group in 2016. It drew praise from critics for her "fluid vocals and spare, poetic lyrics."
In 2016, Lenae was officially signed to Atlantic Records. She also appeared as a featured performer on Mick Jenkins' album The Healing Component and on Noname's song "Forever." She would go on to tour with and open for Noname on her Telefone Tour from January to March 2017. Lenae also performed at WBEZ's Winter Block Party alongside fellow members of the underground collective Medicine Woman: Drea Smith, Via Rosa, and Jean Deau.
She released her second EP Midnight Moonlight on March 3, 2017. Later that month, she performed at SXSW, was featured on Smino's "Glass Flows," and was listed by Rolling Stone as one of "10 New Artists You Need to Know." In the following three months, she would go on to perform at several other festivals, including Mamby on the Beach in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood and Culture Shock in Purchase, New York. Beginning in August 2017, Lenae opened for SZA on her Ctrl Tour. The tour ended in December 2017. On February 9, she released her third EP, entirely produced by Steve Lacy, titled Crush.
On February 1, 2022, she released Skin Tight with Steve Lacy, the first single of her debut album, Hypnos. Following, she released her debut album on May 20, 2022. Featuring vocals and production from Monte Booker, Steve Lacy, KAYTRANAD , Fousheé, Mereba, Smino, Sango, Luke Titus, IAMNOBODI, Phoelix and Teo Halm.
Last Breath
Ravyn Lenae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took never twice
(lookin' like you)
Lookin' like you want to stay
(I dont think it)
I don't think it but you raised the day
You can play my number
God say [?] understood
If you understand that
You're on someone's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
But there's no other way
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
This is not a test
You got to let me know right now, right now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Got to let me know right now, right now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Oh, but are you willing
To sacrifice your life
Are you willing?
But are you willing
To sacrifice your life
Are you willing?
To give it up tonight
You said pro-life
Took never twice
(lookin' like you)
Lookin' like you want to stay
(I dont think it)
I don't think it but you raised the day
You can play my number
I'll say there's no other
God say [?] understood
If you understand that
You're on someone's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
But there's no other way
x2(why you, why you tryna shake it)
x2(theres no other way)
x2(please let me know if you want to go, mhmm)
The lyrics of Ravyn Lenae's "Last Breath" are filled with existential questions and a sense of urgency. The first verse is about someone who seems indecisive about staying or leaving. The singer seems to be trying to convince them to make up their mind before it's too late. The phrase "pro-life" is used here not in the anti-abortion sense, but rather as a way of saying "pro-living" - being fully present in one's life instead of just going through the motions. The line "you raised the day" perhaps hints at the idea of seizing the day and making the most of one's time.
The chorus is a plea for the person to make a decision and take action. The repetition of "why oh why" suggests a sense of desperation and frustration on the singer's part. They want to know if the person is going to show up and be fully present in their life or not. The line "you're wasting your last breath" adds a sense of finality and urgency to the situation.
The second verse is about sacrifice and the idea of being willing to give up one's life for something. The repetition of the phrase "are you willing" emphasizes this point. The singer seems to be saying that if one is not willing to make sacrifices and take risks, they may not be fully alive.
Overall, the song's lyrics encourage the listener to live fully and not waste their time or their breath on indecision or half-hearted commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
You said pro-life
You claimed to be pro-life
Took never twice
You never hesitated
(lookin' like you)
You appeared to be
Lookin' like you want to stay
You seemed like you wanted to stay
(I dont think it)
But I don't think it's true
I don't think it but you raised the day
I doubt it, but you made my day better
You can play my number
You can have my phone number
I'll say there's no other
I will say there's no one else
God say [?] understood
God knows what you mean
If you understand that
If you understand what I'm saying
You're on someone's plan
You are part of someone else's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
And you can never find the right words to say
But there's no other way
But there's no other option
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
Why are you wasting your time and energy
This is not a test
This is not a practice run
You got to let me know right now, right now
You need to tell me now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Are you going to act on it now
Oh, but are you willing
But are you prepared
To sacrifice your life
To give up your life
To give it up tonight
To let it go tonight
x2(why you, why you tryna shake it)
Why are you trying to deny it
x2(theres no other way)
There's no other option
x2(please let me know if you want to go, mhmm)
Please tell me if you want to leave
Contributed by Josiah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nemiahava3681
You said pro-life
Took never twice
(lookin' like you)
Lookin' like you want to stay
(I dont think it)
I don't think it but you raised the day
You can play my number
I'll say there's no other
God say [?] understood
If you understand that
You're on someone's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
But there's no other way
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
This is not a test
You got to let me know right now, right now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Got to let me know right now, right now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Oh, but are you willing
To sacrifice your life
Are you willing?
But are you willing
To sacrifice your life
Are you willing?
To give it up tonight
You said pro-life
Took never twice
(lookin' like you)
Lookin' like you want to stay
(I dont think it)
I don't think it but you raised the day
You can play my number
I'll say there's no other
God say [?] understood
If you understand that
You're on someone's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
But there's no other way
x2(why you, why you tryna shake it)
x2(theres no other way)
@maevakameni1349
You [?] life
Took [?] test
(lookin' like you)
Lookin' like you want to stay
[?]
Look at what you wasted there
You can play my number
I'll say there's no other
God say [?] understood
If you understand that
You're on someone's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
But there's no other way
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
Why oh why you wasting your last breath
This is not a test
You got to let me know right now, right now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Got to let me know right now, right now
Are you gonna show right now, right now
Oh, but are you willing
To sacrifice your life
Are you willing?
But are you willing
To sacrifice your life
Are you willing?
To give it up tonight
You [?] life
Took that [?] test
Looking like
You look like you want to stay
[?]
Look at what you wasted there
You can play my number
I'll say there's no other
God say [?] understood
If you understand that
You're on someone's plan
And you never, never, never find the words to say
But there's no other way
(But there's no other way)
(Please let me know if you wanna go)
(Please let me
@abbymiller
this song is perfect while riding the bus. your voice builds the scenarios my brain creates.
@mase000
yessss or in the car
@Bluexhox
Her and SZA are the new voices of that awesome alternative soul. It's only right they're gonna be on tour together...
@noellefoti345
I'm in love ,all the way in south Africa
@wameshole8266
south african gang!!!
@GU1TARD3MON
We squad deep up in here
@ynable
Check out lorine Chia if you not familiar with her.
@noellefoti2218
New accout
same music taste
@userJFK
Gang gang sbali
@barbour29
Her style is very unique in so many ways.she is one of a kind she dont sound like anybody else thats a plus in my book.keep doing your thing ravyn lenae