In April 2013, SZA released her S EP to good critical reviews— in July of that same year, it was announced she was signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and began working on her Z EP, which would eventually become a full-fledged album. Z was released in April 2014.
Her debut album, CTRL was released on June 9, 2017 through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy, and Isaiah Rashad. Upon release, CTRL was a massive critical and commercial success, and catapulted SZA into fame. The record debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. The album then received acclaim from music critics, many praised its cohesiveness and production, as well as SZA's vocal delivery. In 2018, CTRL received 4 Grammy nominations. She was then nominated Best New Artist. The album was ranked at 472 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, her first to do so.
After a 5 year hiatus from music, SZA released her second studio album, SOS on December 9, 2022 through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records.The album features guest appearances from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. Six singles were released between 2020 and 2023 to promote SOS, five were top-ten hits on the US Billboard Hot 100. The fifth, "Kill Bill", was SZA's first song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, SZA's first to do so, and also broke the record for the largest streaming week for an R&B album in the US alone. Several media publications ranked it as one of the best albums of 2022 and 2023. In 2023, it was ranked number 351 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, joining her debut album CTRL on the list.
To continue to promote the album, SZA had embarked on a North American, European, and Australian arena tour, the SOS Tour, from February 2023 to April 2024.
At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the album and its tracks received a total of nine nominations, including Album of the Year, and won Best Progressive R&B Album. The record was a total commercial success.
SOS Deluxe: LANA is SZA’s re-issue of her sophomore album SOS (2022). The album was released on December 20th, 2024 through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. LANA was delayed due to final changes to the album's mixing. “Saturn” was released as the album's lead single on February 22, 2024, and was teased and performed at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. SZA said herself that this deluxe album became a whole other album. The album has 15 songs and includes leaked songs from SOS. The deluxe was hinted at on December 10, 2023, through various photos posted on her Instagram captioned ‘LANA’.
Garden
SZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Need you for my sanity
Need you to remind me where I come from
Can you remind me of my gravity?
Ground me when I'm tumblin', spiralin', plummetin' down to Earth
You keep me down to Earth
Call me on my bullshit
Lie to me and say my booty gettin' bigger even if it ain't
Love me even if it pain you
I know I be difficult
You know I be difficult
You know it get difficult too
Open your heart up
Hoping I'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
And hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me
You'll never love me, you'll never love me
But I believe you when you say it like that
Oh, do you mean it when you say it like that?
Oh, I believe you when you say it like that
You must really love me
For real, I'm not playing no games
Boy, we back and forth
I need your support now (now, now, now, now, now)
In case you call my phone one more 'gain
Got no panties on
I need your support now (now, now, now, now, now)
I know you'd rather be laid up with a big booty
Prolly hella positive 'cause she got a big booty (wow)
I know I'd rather be paid up
You know I'm sensitive about havin' no booty
Havin' nobody, only you, buddy
Can you hold me when nobody's around us?
Open your heart up
Hoping I'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
And hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me
You'll never love me, you'll never love me
But I believe you when you say it like that
Oh, do you mean it when you say it like that?
Oh, I believe you when you say it like that
You must really love me
You don't have shit to say to me
I ain't got shit to say to you
Granny, and that's the truth
And step, and step on
Also you black heffa, yeah you, you stand your ground
'Cause I feel the same way
If you don't like me, you don't have to fool with me
You don't have to talk about me or treat me mean
I don't have to treat you mean
I just stay out of your way
That's the way you work that one
The song "Garden" by SZA is essentially about the constant need for validation and reassurance in a relationship. The first verse makes it clear that the singer needs their partner to keep them grounded and remind them of their worth. They are grateful for their partner's ability to call them out on their behavior and maintain a sense of normalcy when they feel like they're spiraling out of control. However, the second verse is more vulnerable, as the singer worries that their partner will discover something about them that they don't like, and will ultimately reject them. They want their partner to love them for who they are, flaws and all, but they also understand that this may not be entirely possible.
In the chorus, SZA repeats the line, "You'll never love me," conveying feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. But there is also a glimmer of hope, as the singer believes their partner when they express their love for them. This hope is further underscored by the final verse, which features a short interlude from SZA's grandmother. The grandmother urges the listener to stand their ground and not be bothered by the haters, because at the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The message of the song is ultimately one of self-love and acceptance, even in the face of external pressure and criticism.
Line by Line Meaning
Need you for the old me
The singer needs their partner to remind them of who they used to be
Need you for my sanity
The singer needs their partner to maintain their mental health
Need you to remind me where I come from
The singer needs their partner to ground them and remind them of their roots
Can you remind me of my gravity?
The artist wants their partner to remind them of the seriousness of life and their responsibilities
Ground me when I'm tumblin', spiralin', plummetin' down to Earth
The artist wants their partner to keep them grounded when they feel like they're falling apart
You keep me down to Earth
The singer appreciates their partner for keeping them grounded
Call me on my bullshit
The singer wants their partner to call them out when they're behaving badly
Lie to me and say my booty gettin' bigger even if it ain't
The artist wants their partner to flatter them and make them feel good about themselves
Love me even if it rain
The artist wants their partner to love them no matter what difficulties they may face
Love me even if it pain you
The artist wants their partner to continue to love them even if it's difficult
I know I be difficult
The singer acknowledges that they are hard to deal with
You know I be difficult
The artist's partner knows that they are difficult
You know it get difficult too
The singer acknowledges that their partner also faces difficulties in their relationship
Open your heart up
The singer is asking their partner to emotionally open up to them
Hoping I'll never find out that you're anyone else
The singer doesn't want their partner to be someone else behind closed doors
'Cause I love you just how you are
The artist loves their partner for who they are
And hope you never find out who I really am
The artist is afraid that their true self might ruin their relationship
'Cause you'll never love me
The singer fears that their partner will not love them if they reveal their true self
But I believe you when you say it like that
The singer trusts their partner when they say they love them
Oh, do you mean it when you say it like that?
The artist is questioning if their partner's love is genuine
You must really love me
The artist decides to believe in their partner's love
For real, I'm not playing no games
The artist is being serious and genuine
Boy, we back and forth
The singer and their partner have a volatile relationship
I need your support now
The artist needs their partner's support
In case you call my phone one more 'gain
The singer is referring to their partner's inconsistency in their communication
Got no panties on
The singer is trying to seduce their partner
I know you'd rather be laid up with a big booty
The singer is acknowledging their partner's potential preference for someone with a better body
Prolly hella positive 'cause she got a big booty (wow)
The artist is sarcastically commenting on how people tend to favor those who are physically attractive
I know I'd rather be paid up
The artist would rather have financial stability than a big booty
You know I'm sensitive about havin' no booty
The singer is insecure about their appearance
Havin' nobody, only you, buddy
The singer feels like they only have their partner in their life
Can you hold me when nobody's around us?
The artist wants their partner to comfort them when they are alone
You don't have shit to say to me
The artist is addressing someone who has nothing to say to them
I ain't got shit to say to you
The artist has nothing to say to this person either
Granny, and that's the truth
The singer is emphasizing that they are being truthful
And step, and step on
The artist is telling this person to move on
Also you black heffa, yeah you, you stand your ground
The singer is addressing a black woman and encouraging her to stand up for herself
'Cause I feel the same way
The singer agrees with this black woman
If you don't like me, you don't have to fool with me
The singer is saying that if someone doesn't like them, they don't have to interact with them
You don't have to talk about me or treat me mean
The artist is asking this person to treat them with kindness
I don't have to treat you mean
The artist is vowing to treat this person with kindness
I just stay out of your way
The singer will avoid this person to avoid conflict
Lyrics © CTM Outlander Music LC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Craig Inocencio Balmoris, Daniel Tannenbaum, Solana I. Rowe, Sergiu Adrian Gherman, Tyler Reese Mehlenbacher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@queenslimclermont
This part always make me cry about him
“Open your heart up
Hoping I'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
Hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me, you'll never love me
You'll never love me but I believe you when you say it like that
Oh, do you mean it when you say it like that?
Oh, I believe you when you say it like that
You must really love me” 💖💖💖💖💖💖😭😭😭
@jordanmccall7485
Lyric hookup bc I couldn't find any 🍒
Need you for the old me
Need you for my sanity
Need you to remind me where I come from
Can you remind me of my gravity?
Ground me when I'm tumblin', spiralin', plummetin' down to Earth
You keep me down to Earth
Call me on my bullshit
Lie to me and say my booty gettin' bigger even if it ain't
Love me even if it rain
Love me even if it pain you
I know I be difficult
You know I be difficult
You know it get difficult to
Open your heart up
Hoping they'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
Hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me
You'll never love me, you'll never love me
But I believe you when you say it like that
Only you need me when you say it like that
Oh I believe you when you say it like that
You must really love me
For real, I'm not playing no games
Pulling back and forth
I need your support now (now, now, now, now, now)
In case you call my phone I don't care
Got no panties on
I need your support now (now, now, now, now, now)
I know you'd rather be layin' up with a big booty
Body hella positive 'cause she got a big booty (wow)
I know I'd rather be paid up
You know I'm sensitive about havin' no booty, havin' no body, only you buddy
Can you hold me when nobody's around us
Open your heart up
Hoping they'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
Hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me,
You'll never love me, you'll never love me
But I believe you when you say it like that
Only you need me when you say it like that
Oh I believe you when you say it like that
You must really love me
"You don't got shit to say to me
I ain't got shit to say to you"
- "haha and that's the truth"
"And step on
Also you black heffa, you stand your ground
'Cause I feel the same way
If you don't like me, you don't have to fool with me
You don't have to talk about me or treat me mean
I don't have to treat you mean
I just stay out of your way
That's the way you work that one"
@valentiziagomez1861
mid sc Just in case you still need them
Need you for the old me
Need you for my sanity
Need you to remind me where I come from
Can you remind me of my gravity?
Ground me when I'm tumblin', spiralin', plummetin' down to Earth
You keep me down to Earth
Call me on my bullshit
Lie to me and say my booty gettin' bigger even if it ain't
Love me even if it rain
Love me even if it pain you
I know I be difficult
You know I be difficult
You know it get difficult to
Open your heart up
Hoping they'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
Hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me, you'll never love me, you'll never love me
But I believe you when you say it like dat
Only you need me when you say it like dat
Oh I believe you when you say it like dat
You must really love me
For real, I'm not playing no games
Pulling back and forth
I need your support now (now, now, now, now, now)
In case you call my phone I don't care
Got no panties on
I need your support now (now, now, now, now, now)
I know you'd rather be layin' up with a big booty
Body hella positive 'cause she got a big booty (wow)
I know I'd rather be paid up
You know I'm sensitive about havin' no booty, havin' no body, only you buddy
Can you hold me when nobody's around us
Open your heart up
Hoping they'll never find out that you're anyone else
'Cause I love you just how you are
Hope you never find out who I really am
'Cause you'll never love me, you'll never love me, you'll never love me
But I believe you when you say it like dat
Only you need me when you say it like dat
Oh I believe you when you say it like dat
You must really love me
@camrynology
RIP SZA"s GRANDMOTHER. YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. THANKS FOR YOUR WISE WORDS THAT HELPED ME THROUGH THIS YEAR. I LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU.
@1hitw0nder71
what did she say in this song
@camrynology
Oh Yeah Yeah she said:
“You don’t have shit to say to me ion have shit to say to you... and stepped on.. you black heffa you.. you stand to ground.. cuz i feel the same way... if you don’t like me, you don’t have to fool/talk about me or treat me mean... i don’t have to treat you mean. i just stay out of your way. that’s how we work it out
@barbarahardison6369
wavycam Omg I'm now just finding out she pasted by looking at this comment. RIP. Ur granddaughter is such a legend in music. Rest in peace beautiful ♥❤💙
@thisgallovesthehook684
Girl yes. My grandmother passed a couple years ago, and I told my dad I don't have anyone to talk to since she's been gone. Hearing SZA's grandmother brought me some relief, because she sounds just like my grandmother.
@nf6075
This Gal Loves the Hook rest in peace 🙏🏽
@planetxtk7567
"Hoping I never find out that you anyone else. Cause I love you. Hoping you never find out who I am really am. Cause you'd never love me." This shit is deep as fuck.
@kenisadenise
Sacada Zero Best part of the song
@Eadie_Hooks519
Sacada Zero this shit here?! sooooo fucking real life!
@planetxtk7567
Ikr she is so real on this album. No abstract shit. She even said in an interview that she was gonna be more straightforward in this album. I love it. I think something people like about rnb is how straightforward the artists can be. She let's all the insecurities and shit float on the surface. Makes you feel like you're not alone.