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.
“LANA" is the upcoming third studio album/deluxe of SZAs second studio album “SOS" released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. “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 became a whole other album. The album will be approximately 15 songs, and will include leaked songs from SOS. The deluxe was hinted at on December 10, 2023 through various photos posted on her Instagram captioned “LANA”.
Although there is no release date set, SZA did confirm the record will be released sometime in 2024.
Once Upon A High
SZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High up on, high
High up on, high up on, high up on you
High up on, high up on, high up on us
High up on, high up on, high up on
High up on, high up on, high up on you
High up on, high up on, high up on us
High up on, high up on, high up on (kush for me)
I'm high, moon, hey, moon
High up on, high up on, high up on us
High up on, high up on, high up on you
High up on, high up on, high up on
I'm high up on , high up on, high up on
Didn't I tell you? didn't I say that?
Didn't I tell you a high like this won't last?
Didn't I tell you? didn't I say that?
Didn't I tell you a high like this won't last?
So I'm the fool, you could make it
Don't wanna be alone and naked
Be a shame we're just gonna waste it, oh
High up on high, high up on climax
High up on you
High up on you should spend the night
I'ma throw it back
High up on, high up on we
High up on, high up on, high up on
Didn't I tell you?
Didn't I say that? (Didn't I say that?)
Didn't I tell you? (Didn't I tell you?)
Didn't I say that? (Didn't I say that?)
Didn't I tell you? (Didn't I tell you?)
Didn't I say that? (Didn't I say that?)
Didn't I tell
'Kay, bye
The song "Once Upon A High" by SZA is a song about getting high and being lost in the moment with someone she likes. The repeated phrase "High up on, high up on" highlights the feeling of being on a high, either literally or metaphorically, and being lost in the experience. The lyrics convey the emotion of being lost in the moment with a person, where the focus is on the feeling of being high and in the moment rather than on reality.
The lyrics also convey a sense of vulnerability and longing. SZA sings about wanting someone to stay the night and not wanting to be alone with another person naked. She wants the moment to last and not go to waste. However, she is aware that this feeling of being high and lost in the moment is temporary and will not last forever. Hence, she refers to herself as a fool for getting lost in the moment again and again, knowing that the high will eventually end.
Overall, the song is a representation of the feeling of being on a high, whether it's from drugs or the thrill of being with someone you like. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and the fleeting nature of these moments.
Line by Line Meaning
High up on, high
High up on, high
This line repeats the phrase 'high up on', emphasizing the feeling of being high or intoxicated.
High up on, high up on, high up on you
The singer is focused on being high up on someone in particular, suggesting an intense attraction or infatuation.
High up on, high up on, high up on us
The singer and the person they are high up on may be in a relationship or may be experiencing this high together.
High up on, high up on, high up on
This line continues the theme of being high, without specifying a particular object or person that the artist is high up on.
High up on, high up on, high up on you
The artist returns to focusing on the person they are high up on.
High up on, high up on, high up on us
The singer may be affirming that the high they are experiencing is mutual and shared with the other person.
High up on, high up on, high up on we
The singer is further emphasizing that the high is experienced together as a union.
High up on, high up on, high up on, kush for me
The artist mentions 'kush', which refers to a high-quality strain of marijuana, further emphasizing the intoxication aspect of the song.
I'm high moon, hey moon
The artist describes themselves as the moon, which is often associated with mystical and otherworldly elements, possibly further emphasizing the otherworldly feeling of being high.
High up on, high up on, high up on us
The artist continues to emphasize the union of the high.
High up on, high up on, high up on you
The singer returns to focusing on the person they are high up on.
High up on, high up on, high up on
Again, the high is emphasized without a particular object or person specified.
I'm high up on , high up on high up on
The singer is emphasizing the intense feeling of being high and repeating the phrase.
Didn't I tell you, didn't I say that
The singer is calling attention to a warning they may have given about the high not lasting, suggesting that they saw the potential for the high to be temporary.
Didn't I tell you a high like this won't last?
The singer further emphasizes their warning that this particular kind of high may not be sustainable.
So I'm the fool, you could make it
The artist may be accepting that they were wrong about the high not lasting, and that the other person could make the high last longer.
Don't wanna be alone with him naked
The artist may be suggesting that the attraction between them and the other person is purely physical and not worth pursuing further.
Be a shame we're just gonna waste it
The singer may be expressing regret that the high is temporary and that they won't be able to fully enjoy it.
High up on high, high up on climax
The singer is building towards a climax of the high, emphasizing that the experience is intensifying.
High up on you
The artist is still focused on the person they are high up on.
High up on you should spend the night
The artist is suggesting that spending the night together would be a good way to fully enjoy the high.
I'ma do my thang
The artist is asserting their independence and suggesting that they will do what they want to do.
High up on, high up on we
The singer still emphasizes the union of the high and the experience together with the other person.
High up on, high up on, high up on
The artist repeats the phrase as a continuation of the theme of being high.
Didn't I tell you?
The singer is repeating their warning that the high may not last.
Didn't I say that? (Didn't I say that?)
The singer is repeating themselves, possibly out of frustration that the high may not be sustainable.
Didn't I tell you? (Didn't I tell you?)
The singer is reiterating their warning to the other person, possibly wanting them to understand the impermanence of the high.
Didn't I say that? (Didn't I say that?)
The artist repeats themselves once more.
Didn't I tell you? (Didn't I tell you?)
The artist is emphasizing their previous warning once more.
K bye
This is a casual sign-off, possibly implying that the conversation is over and the singer is done trying to convince the other person of the impermanence of the high.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Solana I. Rowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FaderTeam
Amazin cant wai for the journey ahead of her
@bennowak3855
You're never gonna see this but she went so far. Sis is a gold and platinum selling artist.
@cassandra8964
yeah this comment aged brilliantly
@antoniog2002
This comment aged well 😌
@sweetener.
@@bennowak3855 and now she’s dropping her sophomore album i love her so much
@amberisntamber7508
this comment aged so well :)
@NunaLunaLuv
Still a underrated gem in 2022🥺✨🔥
@natojatoja9941
TRUE 😭
@lonelyshine8200
Right 🙏
@layschips127
Miss this SZA so much