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.
WINGS
SZA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on the edge
I feel your power on my back
You're murderous, you're murderous
Swept and I fall, euphoria
Breeze in my eyes
Wake me when it's over
Wake me when it's over
So painless, I feel the fall
Power trip, I need it all
I need it all
When you're around, I feel it
When I'm alone, I feel the waves
Crashing, down down
Here in your arms, surround me
I feel your wings
The lyrics of sZa's song WINGS describe the feeling of being under someone's powerful influence and the desire to be released from it. The singer is pleading to be let go, comparing their situation to being on the edge and feeling the weight of the other person's power on their back. The person is described as murderous, suggesting a dangerous and deadly aura. Despite the danger, the singer is feeling euphoric and is swept away by the sensation. They ask to be woken up when it's over, suggesting that they feel like they are in a trance or dreamlike state.
The second verse starts with the singer describing the fall as painless and expressing the need for the power trip, reinforcing the idea that they are addicted to the feeling of being under this person's influence. When the person is around, the singer feels the power and when they are alone, they feel like they are drowning. However, when they are in the person's arms, they feel safe and protected, as if they are surrounded by the person's wings. This suggests that although the person's influence is dangerous, the singer is still craving it and finding a sense of security in it.
Overall, the lyrics of WINGS are a complex portrayal of the power dynamics in a seductive and dangerous relationship. The song highlights the feeling of being addicted to someone's power, even if it means putting oneself in harm's way.
Line by Line Meaning
Wouldn't you like to believe
The singer is questioning if the listener wants to believe their performance is sincere.
I'm on the edge
The singer is on the brink and feeling vulnerable.
I feel your power on my back
The listener's influence is felt strongly by the singer.
You're murderous, you're murderous
The listener's actions are harmful and potentially deadly.
Swept and I fall, euphoria
The singer experiences a sense of ecstasy and bliss during their descent.
Breeze in my eyes
The singer feels the wind, but they're blinded and can't see where they're headed.
Wake me when it's over
The singer wants to be freed from their current circumstances.
So painless, I feel the fall
Despite the danger, the singer is experiencing the fall in a surprisingly smooth and easy manner.
Power trip, I need it all
The singer is on a journey and needs all the power to succeed.
When you're around, I feel it
The singer can feel the listener's presence and is affected by it.
When I'm alone, I feel the waves
When the singer is not with the listener, they still sense the intensity of emotion around them.
Crashing, down down
The overwhelming tide of emotions is crushing the singer.
Here in your arms, surround me
The singer longs to be held and protected by the listener.
I feel your wings
The listener is seen as an angel that can help the singer escape from their current challenge.
Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Jogo19999
Old SZA really hit different
@priinccessspeachh7580
i cant get enough of this song
@campbellsouptm
Production goes crazy
@TheClosetRatchet
She needs to put this on her next album I forgot about how I used to love this fucking song!!! I’m looking at old tweets!
@070_luna
I wish she would remaster this for her next release 🥺🖤
@dessyb4294
Omg yes!
@matthewherrera5985
🤩
@ILLyseOnTheBeat
My favorite song from her 🔥
@J0SHUARAY
One of her best
@najmafallenstar
💫👼💫