"Desperado" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth s… Read Full Bio ↴"Desperado" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album "Anti". It was written and produced by Mick Schultz with additional writing by Krystin "Rook Monroe" Watkins, Rihanna, Iman Jordan, James Fauntleroy and Derrus Rachel. During the recording process of Anti, Rihanna rented a house in Malibu over several months and started extensively writing and composing music with her team consisting of various musicians. One of the songwriters in the house was Krystin "Rook Monroe" Watkins. He together with American producer Mick Schultz worked on the song. Their efforts resulted in mid-tempo song feature deep synths and vocal samples.

Following the album's release "Desperado" was met with positive reviews who praised the song for its Western themes. On June 9, 2017, a dance remixes extended play was released via the iTunes Store for digital download and streaming on Apple Music and Spotify. It topped the US Dance Club Songs chart, becoming her fifth to do so in 2017; Rihanna became the only act to score as many number ones within a year. "Desperado" also became her seventh from Anti, the second only album to have produced as many, and her thirty-second single in total.

Rihanna sings about a “desperado"—someone "on the run,” either literally or metaphorically. She struggles in their relationship and wonders whether she can run away with him or if she will get left behind.

The beat on “Desperado” is an interpolation of the background vocals on alternative-R&B singer Banks‘ song “Waiting Game”.

The song’s producer, Mike Schultz, said that he wanted the song to sound “edgy.”

"I like to do different things and try to push the envelope on sound. If you listen to the record, it’s got an alternative vibe but still has urban undertones but it’s guitar and dirty live bass. I was just trying to do something edgy. I’m into doing dark, edgy stuff that moves you, puts you in a mood."

According to Songfacts, producer Mike Schultz explained to Billboard magazine:

"I actually had the “Desperado” track. It wasn’t written to and I actually went over to her house and I had just taken some things I thought would be a good fit. I hadn’t even heard anything she was doing so it was like completely a blind thing but my friend Rook who wrote the song he was over there and he invited me to come over so that was like a random chain of events that turned out to work but that’s not always the case. I don’t usually just bring in something like that randomly. I met her [Rihanna] and she had a place that she was working on a bunch of music. Me and Rook were just in a room vibing out to the “Desperado” track that I had. Rook just started working on it. She didn’t hear it till there was already lyrics on it. I didn’t actually play it for her – I actually found out she had a lot of people working on stuff for her. It might have been a week after I had gone over to her house and did that song that I just heard from her team that she really loves the record. One thing led to another and she cut it but I actually never really presented the record to her."

Desperado
Rihanna Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Desperado
Sitting in a old Monte Carlo
A man whose heart is hollow, uh
Take it easy
I'm not tryna go against you
Actually, I'm going withcha

Gotta get up out of here and

You ain't leaving me behind
I know you won't, 'cause we share common interests
You need me, there ain't no leaving me behind
Never, no, no, just want outta here, yeah
Once I'm gone, ain't no going back

If you want
We could be, runaways
Running from any sight of love
Yeah, yeah, there ain't nothing
There ain't nothing here for me
There ain't nothing here for me anymore
But I don't wanna be alone

(Oh)
(Oh)
(Oh)

Desperado
Sitting in an old Monte Carlo
We've both had our hearts broken, uh
Take it easy
I'm not tryna go against you
I can be a lone wolf witcha

Gotta get up out of here
And you ain't leaving me behind
I know you won't, 'cause we share common interests
You need me, there ain't no leaving me behind
Never, no, no, both want outta here, yeah
Once we're gone, ain't no going back

If you want
We could be runaways
Running from any sight of love
Yeah, yeah, there ain't nothing
There ain't nothing here for me
There ain't nothing here for me anymore
I don't wanna be alone

Dear desperado
Yeah, I don't wanna be alone
Dear desperado
Yeah, I don't wanna be alone

If you want
We could be runaways
Running from any sight of love
Yeah, yeah, there ain't nothing
There ain't nothing here for me
There ain't nothing here for me anymore
But I don't wanna be alone

If you want
We could be runaways
Running from any sight of love
Yeah, yeah, there ain't nothing
There ain't nothing here for me
There ain't nothing here for me anymore
But I don't wanna be alone

Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "Desperado" by Rihanna is about two people who have had their hearts broken and are ready to leave everything behind and start a new life. The "old Monte Carlo" represents their current life, and they both feel trapped and want to escape. The singer is not trying to go against their partner but wants to accompany them on the journey. They both have common interests, and the singer believes that their partner needs them, so they can't leave them behind. The lyrics suggest that once they leave, they won't come back, and they may become runaways.

The chorus begins with the word "if," which suggests that the singer is not pressuring their partner to leave with them. The choice to leave is theirs. The lyrics suggest that running away from love may not be the best solution, but there is nothing left for them in their current environment. The repetition of "there ain't nothing here for me" reinforces the idea that they both feel stuck and want to get out.

Overall, "Desperado" is a song about two people who want to start over and leave their past behind. They are willing to take the risk and become runaways to escape their current situation. The song has a melancholic tone that reflects the characters' feelings of hopelessness and the desire for change.

Line by Line Meaning

Desperado
This song is about two people who are broken-hearted and want to leave their current situation and run away together.

Sitting in an old Monte Carlo
They are currently sitting in a car, likely getting ready to leave and start their new journey together.

We've both had our hearts broken, uh
They can relate to each other's heartbreak and use this as a way to bond and comfort one another.

Take it easy
One of them is reassuring the other to relax and trust in their plan to escape together.

I'm not tryna go against you
They are on the same page and want the same thing - to leave their current situation and start over somewhere new.

I can be a lone wolf witcha
One of them is offering support to the other, even if that means being alone together in their journey.

Gotta get up out of here
They both feel trapped in their current situation and are determined to leave.

And you ain't leaving me behind
They are loyal to each other and want to escape together, never leaving the other behind.

I know you won't, 'cause we share common interests
They have a strong bond and connection, which will make it easier to leave together and start over.

You need me, there ain't no leaving me behind
They have each other's backs and will never leave each other alone in this journey.

Never, no, no, both want outta here, yeah
They are both determined to leave and start a new life together.

Once we're gone, ain't no going back
They are committed to their plan and are willing to take the risk.

If you want, we could be runaways
They are offering the idea of running away together as a way to escape their problems and start anew.

Running from any sight of love
They might have been hurt by love before and are running away from any potential for heartbreak again.

There ain't nothing here for me
They feel stuck and unhappy in their current situation and want to leave it all behind.

I don't wanna be alone
They would rather leave with the other person than be alone in their journey.

Dear desperado
The singer is addressing the person they want to run away with as a 'desperado' - someone who is desperate for change and new beginnings.

Yeah, I don't wanna be alone
They emphasize again that they don't want to go through this journey alone.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Iman Jordan, James Fauntleroy, Robyn Fenty, Mick Schultz, Krystin Watkins, Derrus Rachel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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