The song was put on SoundCloud in November in 2014 as “just a taste” of what was to come in SZA’s words
Sobriety
SZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a fucking castle on it
And a diamond on top that's all I really wanted
Woah oh woah
Until two aliens came and chopped both our heads off
With samurai swords
At least we died together, that's what I thought
I woke up huggin' leather, am I out of pocket?
She ain't got no soul, she ain't got no heart
Love will stunt your growth
Love will make it hard to stay sober
So hard to stay sober
I'mma be fine anyway
I'mma be cool
I'mma keep calm
I'mma be right anyway
Better than you, better than her
I'mma be old anyway
I'mma be on, off anyway, woah
I'mma be on off anyway
I've been through like six Swishers
In one day with one grape and one blueberry
What would my mother say, she'd want me to be married
And happy and whole, not high and alone
Whoa, that Xanax make you trip, I still ain't got no whip
I still ain't got no friends
At least I got my family, bullshit
My daddy still can't stand me
That hate don't make you hard
Hate'll make you old
Haters gone too far
Hate is all I know
And I can't stay sober
I can't stay sober
(I can't stay sober)
You should see the look on your face
I'mma be fine anyway
I'mma be cool
I'mma keep calm
I'mma be right anyway
Better than you, better than her (You should see the look on your face)
I'mma be old anyway
I'mma be on, off anyway, woah
I'mma be on, off anyway
Just can't stay sober
I'm just trying to stay alive
I can't stay sober
I'm just trying to stay alive
(Just trying to stay alive) I can't stay sober, I
(Just trying to stay) I can't stay sober
Alive
I don't know man
In the song "Sobriety," sZa recounts a disorienting dream in which she and someone special (possibly a romantic partner) are given a ring with a castle and diamond on top, a symbol of wealth and power. However, the dream turns into a violent nightmare when two aliens with samurai swords decapitate both of them. sZa reflects on the perceived comfort in dying together but awakens to confusion and insecurity, wondering if she is "out of pocket."
The lyrics also touch on sZa's struggles with substance abuse and mental health. She cheekily mentions smoking several "Swishers" (blunts) in one day, despite knowing that her mother would want her to be "married and happy and whole, not high and alone." sZa reveals that she still doesn't have her life together, as she lacks a car and friends but has her problematic family. Throughout the chorus, she tries to convince herself that she'll be fine regardless of the setbacks and the haunting memories of hate, addiction, and death. The repeated phrase "I can't stay sober" can be interpreted in different ways. It could be a confession of her inability to resist drugs, a resignation to the idea that sobriety is too difficult to achieve, or a metaphor for the emotional chaos that consumes her, rendering her unstable.
The song's bridge adds another layer of emotional complexity as sZa sings, "I'm just trying to stay alive/ (Just trying to stay alive) I can't stay sober." Here, sZa admits that sobriety is not a mere preference or a luxury but a matter of survival. The repetition of "I'm just trying to stay alive" highlights the desperation and urgency of her battle with addiction and depression. It's a raw and unfiltered expression of the pain that sZa experiences daily, a cry for help and a vow to endure.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream last night you gave me a ring
The singer had a dream about receiving a ring from someone they care about
With a fucking castle on it
The ring itself was extravagant and ornate
And a diamond on top that's all I really wanted
The singer treasures the idea of receiving a nice piece of jewelry
Until two aliens came and chopped both our heads off
The dream turned violent and ended tragically
With samurai swords
The aliens used swords as weapons
At least we died together, that's what I thought
In the singer's dream, dying together provided some solace
I woke up huggin' leather, am I out of pocket?
The singer woke up feeling uneasy or disoriented about the dream
She ain't got no soul, she ain't got no heart
The artist is describing someone who lacks empathy or compassion
Love will stunt your growth
Love can hinder personal development and growth
Love will make it hard to stay sober
Having strong emotions can make it challenging to maintain sobriety
So hard to stay sober
The singer is struggling with sobriety
I'mma be fine anyway
Despite hardships, the artist believes they will be okay
I'mma be cool
The singer will remain calm and collected
I'mma keep calm
The singer is determined to stay level-headed
I'mma be right anyway
The singer is confident that they will make the right choices
Better than you, better than her
The artist believes they are better than others
I'mma be old anyway
The artist intends to live a long life
I'mma be on, off anyway, woah
The singer's mood and state of being will fluctuate
I've been through like six Swishers
The singer has smoked a lot of Swisher Sweets cigars
In one day with one grape and one blueberry
The artist is describing a specific smoking experience
What would my mother say, she'd want me to be married
The artist is considering what their mother would want for them
And happy and whole, not high and alone
The artist believes that their mother would want them to be happy and healthy
That Xanax make you trip, I still ain't got no whip
The singer is familiar with the effects of Xanax but does not currently have a car
I still ain't got no friends
The artist is lamenting a lack of close relationships
At least I got my family, bullshit
Despite family being important, the singer is skeptical of familial support
My daddy still can't stand me
The singer has a strained relationship with their father
That hate don't make you hard
Hate is not a source of strength
Hate'll make you old
Hate is mentally exhausting and will age you prematurely
Haters gone too far
Criticism and negativity has reached an unacceptable level
Hate is all I know
The singer is familiar with feelings of hatred
And I can't stay sober
The singer is struggling with substance abuse and addiction
You should see the look on your face
The artist is amused or satisfied with how their behavior is affecting someone else
Just can't stay sober
The artist is unable to maintain sobriety
I'm just trying to stay alive
The artist is dealing with serious issues that affect their well-being
I don't know man
The singer is expressing confusion or uncertainty about their situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Solana Rowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shandianderson6796
powerful verse for anyone who has ever been angry or hurt and went to alcohol or drugs to ease that hurt anger is toxic to us and drains youth
stay positive but always real
anger can become bitterness ,being alienated by family
& loved ones hurts more than anything
My daddy still can't stand me
That hate don't make you hard
Hate'll make you old
Haters gone too far
Hate is all I know
And I just can't stay sober
I can't stay sober
@some18youknow
It's been 6 years since I heard this song, and I just heard it this morning again and I went down crying.
Been 6 years since the love of my life left me because I was weak, and after that I went almost 6 years struggling with alcohol.
I recognize that it was my fault the relationship didnt work and alcohol did not help me get through my problems.
But now I've been getting better, finally fighting back. This song is very beautiful, hope it helps more people put there.
You can live a happy life without these things, just dont drink for the wrong reasons, it will kill you slowly.
@everythingsbetterinpink2649
I been through like six Swishers
In one day with one grape and one blueberry
What would my mother say? She want me to be married
And happy and whole, not high and alone
Whoa, that Xanax make you trip, I still ain't got no whip
I still ain't got no friends
At least I got my family, bullshit
My daddy still can't stand me
That hate don't make you hard
Hate'll make you old
Haters gone too far
Hate is all I know
And I can't stay sober
I can't stay sober
@jupitersaurusxd
SZA got me through the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship. I am grateful. I still struggle to this day, but she seems to read my soul and relay every part of me in her lyrics. She captures the complexity of human emotion in every single song. I am grateful.
@maribeththompson6657
STAY STRONG. XO.
@TheBeanas12
Aww damn your gonna make it, stay tough
@niqpindigo979
listen to aftermath by her
@justinsibley1
Keep your head up! All is love
@argentino39
<3
@charnaycromwell2540
this was my go-to song when I was dealing with severe depression. This version of SZA was raw and uncut. I love CTRL but I sometimes miss this.
@shakiid7
and we’ll never get this under the radar sza again how sad is that? any song she puts out now will be everywhere ughhh
@mcdooders6579
@@shakiid7 we can always come back to it <3
@lenalee5939
I miss this version of her all the time