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.
Pray
SZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pray for yourself one time
Young Medusa
Never sure, I just do
I jumped off the bridge
You say I fell, I say I flew
Missing parachute
Kind of average with queen qualities
Got molecules, I possess
Ever more nothing less
I think im starting to feel something
Here in the dark
I think im starting to feel something
Keep burning up
Keep burning up
Pray for yourself one time
Pray for yourself one time
Broken glass unswept in my mind
Brooms to heavy to bare, struggles that I find
Confusion
Gravity is relative
Sandcastles are still real life
They hold dreams like the real ones do
I take care building castles too
I think im starting to feel something
Here in the dark
I think im starting to feel something
Keep burning up
Keep burning up
Pray for yourself one time (keep)
Pray for yourself one time (burning up)
Pray for yourself one time
Pray for yourself one time
Pray for yourself one time (keep)
Pray for yourself one time (burning up)
Pray for yourself one time
Pray for yourself one time
The lyrics of SZA’s song Pray depict the singer talking about self-care and reflection. She starts off by asking the listener to pray for themselves, emphasizing the need to take care of oneself. The line “Young Medusa” may refer to the Greek mythological figure known for her power and strength, suggesting that SZA sees herself as a strong and powerful force. She talks about jumping off a bridge, which may symbolize taking a risk or facing a difficult situation. The bridge jump metaphor is countered with the lyrics "You say I fell, I say I flew," indicating that the experience could be interpreted differently from different perspectives.
In other parts of the song, SZA talks about struggles and confusion. She mentions broken glass in her mind, suggesting scattered thoughts or emotional trauma. In this section of the song, SZA also talks about building sand castles, which could symbolize creating something beautiful despite life's uncertainties. The chorus repeats the line “Keep burning up, keep burning up,” possibly referring to the desire to keep pushing forward despite obstacles.
Overall, the song Pray is a powerful message of self-care and perseverance. SZA encourages the listener to take care of themselves, even if they may face struggles and uncertainty along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Pray for yourself one time
Take a moment to reflect on your own needs and desires
One time, time
Just once, don't overthink it or dwell on it
Young Medusa
Like the mythical creature, I am still figuring things out
Never sure, I just do
I may not have all the answers, but I keep moving forward anyway
I jumped off the bridge
Took a risk, stepped out of my comfort zone
You say I fell
Others may see my actions as failures
I say I flew
But I see them as courageous and liberating
Missing parachute
I may not have all the tools I need to succeed
Feeling like topanga
Feeling nostalgic or reminiscent of my past
Patty mayonnaise
Referencing a popular TV character to describe a feeling of mediocrity
Kind of average
Feeling like I don't have any particularly unique qualities or talents
With queen qualities
Despite feeling average, I am still deserving of value and respect
Got molecules, I possess
Acknowledging that, at a basic level, I am still a part of the universe
Ever more nothing less
I am enough as I am, and won't settle for less
I think im starting to feel something
Beginning to experience a new emotion or realization
Here in the dark
In a metaphorical or emotional state of darkness or confusion
Keep burning up
Press on and persevere, even in difficult times
Broken glass unswept in my mind
I have internal struggles and unresolved issues that are causing me pain
Brooms too heavy to bear
I feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with these issues
Struggles that I find
These issues continue to plague me and cause me difficulty
Confusion
I am unsure of my path or what I truly want
Gravity is relative
The things that hold me down may not hold others down, and vice versa
Sand castles are still real life
Even though life can be fleeting and temporary, there is still beauty and meaning to be found in it
They hold dreams
These small moments of joy and accomplishment can help us to dream bigger and strive for more
Like the real ones do
These small moments and dreams are just as valuable and meaningful as larger accomplishments
I take care building castles too
I put effort and care into building these moments of joy and accomplishment in my life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Solana I. Rowe, William F. Vanderheyden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emiliocalamaio6451
Pray for yourself one time
One time, time
Young Medusa
Never sure, i just do
I jumped off the bridge
You say i fell
I say i flew
Missing parachute
Feeling like topanga
Patty mayonnaise
Kind of average
With queen qualities
Got molecules, i possess
Ever more nothing less
[Refrain]
I think I'm starting to feel something
Here in the dark
I think I'm starting to feel something
[Hook]
Keep burning up
Keep burning up
Pray for yourself one time
One time, time
Broken glass unswept in my mind
Brooms to heavy to bare
Struggles that i find
Confusion
Gravity is relative
Sand castles are still real life
They hold dreams
Like the real ones do
I take care building castles too
[Refrain]
I think I'm starting to feel something
Here in the dark
I think I'm starting to feel something
[Hook]
Keep burning up
Keep burning up
Pray for yourself one time
One time, time
[Hook]
Keep burning up
Keep burning up
Pray for yourself one time
One time, time
@TaraAngel
Who’s revisiting old SZA songs during this quarantine ✊🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
@punch3274
cant believe this comment was a year ago
@TaraAngel
@@punch3274 it truly has been a terrible time during this pandemic, but SZA is getting me through it ✊🏽🙏🏽
@TheElusiveReality
god i miss this era of sza so bad, im still mad she scrapped A and never intends to release it cuz her new sound is more marketable. who cares about marketable, OG fans LOVED this sound!!
@solidaritygirl6065
makes me shed a tear tbh. We need a support group. Old Sza fans ONLY lol.
@borickye
old SZA fans unite 😭
@amourlashai
Her, her voice, this beat, this bassline. This whole song is everything.
@chazbachman5534
i miss this era of SZA! though i love her new songs the old ones were better to me :(
@Aunestly
yea she kinda dumbed her music down to appeal to a wider range of audiences, but i still love her, I know she will return to this eventually. And her new music is not too far from this, but still not the same. she sings different too but I still love her.
@jakaylaa99
Aunestly Beautiful I don't think it's dumbed down i think she was younger and in a different headspace when she wrote these songs