Babylon
SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crucify, cru-crucify me
Crucify, cru-cru

I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
Shaped like the figure eight, who trusts pretty girls anyway?
And I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
I'm sure I'll be the death of me
And I can't recall the last time I took love from anyone
I called daddy, who's got one anyway?
Not me
Are you hating yourself?
Do you really hate me?
Are you hating yourself?

Was it worth it?
Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making amends? (oh)
I know you hate me now (hate)
I bet you hate me now (hate)
Bring on the thorny crown (here)

Cross my heart then I hope to die with a peace of mind (a peace of mind)
Piece together my brain soon as this beat rewind (beat rewind)
Nitrogen and propane I spike your drink at times (turn up, turn up)
I make it hard to swallow this game, you throw up every line
I notice people got Napoleon complex but that's my confession
You said that we're equal but I know
You're beyond gassing that I'm beyond desperate (yeah that)
6AM on a Friday morning, my darkest hours
Them heartless hours
My apartment is lost in a coffin
I'm dead to the world like I popped me a couple downers
Down and out on my luck
Salt water all on my tux and I call, she don't pick up
Then I fall when summer is endin'
I mean there's no pretendin' I'm stuck in my ways and you're offended
That's life, that's you, this me, that's vice
You're wrong, I'm right, that's right
I belong somewhere on ice
I'm colder a new blood type? Even colder
Cold shoulder, Born Sinner, you know? Cole showed us
I have nothing to lose, my dark side been well in-tuned
A Gemini go show them faces
And this here just one of my moves, Babylon

Was it worth it?
Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making amends?
I know you hate me now (hate)
I bet you hate me now (hate)
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
Crucify me, crucify
Cru-crucify me, crucify, cru-cru




Crucify, cru-cru-crucify me
Crucify, cru-cru

Overall Meaning

In “Babylon”, SZA sings about the struggles of fame and the societal constraints on women to be perfect and conform to beauty standards. Throughout the song, SZA questions the value of advice and love from others, acknowledging that it may ultimately lead to her downfall. The repetition of “Crucify me” emphasizes the pressure women face to be flawless and how society will tear them down if they make a mistake. The line, “Shaped like the figure eight, who trusts pretty girls anyway?”, exemplifies the idea that women are only valuable for their looks and sets up the message of the song - that the world is a cruel place, especially for women.


Kendrick Lamar's verse reflects on his own struggles with fame and the pressures that come with it. He mentions his "darkest hours" and how the "heartless hours" have left him feeling dead to the world. The line "I'm stuck in my ways and you're offended / That's life, that's you, this me, that's vice / You're wrong, I'm right, that's right" shows how people will judge and criticize him but he knows who he is and will stay true to himself. He ends his verse with "I have nothing to lose, my dark side been well in-tuned / A Gemini go show them faces / And this here just one of my moves" which represents his acceptance of his imperfections and how he won't let the haters bring him down.


Overall, “Babylon” addresses the difficult realities of fame and the societal constraints placed on women, as well as the importance of staying true to oneself and not seeking validation from others.


Line by Line Meaning

Crucify, cru-crucify me
The singer is willing to be punished or criticized for what they have done.


I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
The singer doesn't remember the last time they took someone's advice, suggesting that they don't trust others' opinions.


Shaped like the figure eight, who trusts pretty girls anyway?
The singer implies that physically attractive people are not trustworthy and may use their looks to their advantage.


And I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
The artist repeats that they don't remember taking anyone's advice, emphasizing their independence.


I'm sure I'll be the death of me
The artist acknowledges that their actions may lead to their downfall or harm.


And I can't recall the last time I took love from anyone
The singer suggests they haven't accepted love or affection from anyone in a while.


I called daddy, who's got one anyway?
The singer questions the importance of having a father figure when they haven't had one present in their life.


Not me
The artist emphasizes that they don't have a father figure.


Are you hating yourself?
The artist questions whether the listener has negative feelings towards themselves.


Do you really hate me?
The artist questions whether the listener truly hates them.


Are you hating yourself?
The singer repeats their earlier question, possibly suggesting that self-hate and hatred towards others are connected.


Was it worth it?
The artist asks whether a past action or decision that was made was worth the consequence or outcome.


Would you do it again?
The singer asks whether the listener would make the same decision again if given the chance.


Aren't you tired of always making amends? (oh)
The singer questions whether the listener is tired of always trying to fix or reconcile with others.


I know you hate me now (hate)
The singer acknowledges that the listener may hate them currently.


I bet you hate me now (hate)
The artist suggests that they're confident in the listener's hatred towards them.


Bring on the thorny crown (here)
The artist is ready to face the consequences or punishment for their actions, symbolized by a crown of thorns.


Cross my heart then I hope to die with a peace of mind (a peace of mind)
The singer is making a promise and hoping to die with a clear conscience.


Piece together my brain soon as this beat rewind (beat rewind)
The singer needs to gather their thoughts and reflect as the music stops and starts over again.


Nitrogen and propane I spike your drink at times (turn up, turn up)
The artist references drugs that can be slipped into a drink, possibly suggesting that they're capable of getting the better of someone.


I make it hard to swallow this game, you throw up every line
The artist is skilled at playing mind games and making others feel uncomfortable.


I notice people got Napoleon complex but that's my confession
The artist is revealing that they see others as insecure and compensating for it by appearing dominant or aggressive.


You said that we're equal but I know
The singer suggests that the listener claims that everyone is equal, but they don't believe it to be true.


You're beyond gassing that I'm beyond desperate (yeah that)
The artist suggests that the listener is mistaken if they believe that the artist needs their validation or approval.


6AM on a Friday morning, my darkest hours
The singer is experiencing a particularly difficult time, possibly linked to depression or anxiety.


Them heartless hours
The singer is referencing a time when they felt particularly uncaring or emotionally detached.


My apartment is lost in a coffin
The singer's living space feels like a tomb or a place of mourning.


I'm dead to the world like I popped me a couple downers
The artist feels disconnected or numb from reality, as if they've taken sedatives.


Down and out on my luck
The artist is feeling hopeless or unlucky.


Salt water all on my tux and I call, she don't pick up
The singer is in emotional distress and is trying to contact someone, but they don't answer.


Then I fall when summer is endin'
The singer's emotional state worsens as the seasons change.


I mean there's no pretendin' I'm stuck in my ways and you're offended
The artist acknowledges that they're set in their ways and that others may take offense to their behavior.


That's life, that's you, this me, that's vice
The artist is accepting that this is how life and people are, and that they have their own faults as well.


You're wrong, I'm right, that's right
The artist is suggesting that they're confident in their beliefs and decisions, even if it conflicts with others' opinions.


I belong somewhere on ice
The singer feels like they don't fit in, possibly suggesting that they should be frozen or removed from society.


I'm colder a new blood type? Even colder
The artist is suggesting that they're so cold or distant that they're like a new type of blood.


Cold shoulder, Born Sinner, you know? Cole showed us
The singer references rapper J. Cole's album 'Born Sinner' to suggest that they're giving someone the cold shoulder.


I have nothing to lose, my dark side been well in-tuned
The singer suggests that they don't have much to lose, and that they already embrace their darker side.


A Gemini go show them faces
The singer is referencing their astrological sign and suggesting that they have different sides or personas.


And this here just one of my moves, Babylon
The artist suggests that their behavior or actions are just one of many ways they express themselves, using the word 'Babylon' to reference a place of chaos or sin.


Was it worth it?
The artist repeats the earlier question, asking if a past action was worth the consequences.


Would you do it again?
The singer repeats the earlier question, asking the listener if they would make the same decision again.


Aren't you tired of always making amends?
The singer repeats the earlier question, asking if the listener is tired of constantly trying to make things right with others.


I know you hate me now (hate)
The artist repeats the earlier line, stating that they're aware of the listener's current hatred towards them.


I bet you hate me now (hate)
The artist repeats the earlier line, suggesting that they're confident in the listener's hatred towards them.


Bring on the thorny crown (here)
The artist repeats the earlier line, suggesting that they're ready to face the consequences for their actions.


Crucify me, crucify
The singer repeats the earlier line, seeming to accept punishment or criticism for their actions.


Cru-crucify me, crucify, cru-cru
The artist repeats the earlier line, possibly symbolizing their willingness to be punished or scrutinized for their choices.


Crucify, cru-cru-crucify me
The singer repeats the earlier line, emphasizing their willingness to face consequences for their actions.


Crucify, cru-cru
The singer repeats the earlier line, possibly suggesting that they're willing to be punished or criticized for their choices.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dacoury Natche, Kendrick Lamar, Solana Rowe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@solenriquez4430

[Hook]
Crucify, cru-crucify me
Crucify, cru-cru

[Verse 1: SZA]
I can't recall the last time I took, advice from anyone
Shaped like a figure eight, who trusts pretty girls anyway?
And I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
I'm sure I'll be the death of me
And I can't recall the last time I took love from anyone
I called daddy, who's got one anyway? Not me
Are you hating yourself? Do you really hate me?
Are you hating yourself?

[Bridge]
Was it worth it? Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making a man sore?
I know you hate me now (here)
I bet you hate me now (here)
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
Crucify me

[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
Cross my heart then I hope to die with a peace of mind (a peace of mind)
Piece together my brain soon as this beat rewind (beat rewind)
Nitrogen and propane I spike your drink at times (turn up, turn up)
I make it hard to swallow this game, you throw up every line (every line)
I notice people got Napoleon complexes, that's my confession (yeah that)
You said that we're equal but I know you're beyond guessing that I'm beyond desperate (yeah that)
6AM on a Friday morning, my darkest hours
Them heartless hours
My apartment is lost in a coffin
I'm dead to the world like I popped me a couple downers
Down & Out on my luck
Salt water all on my tux and I call, she don't pick up
Then I fall when summer is ending
I mean there's no pretending I'm stuck in my ways and you're offended
That's life, that's you, this me, that vice
You're wrong, I'm right, that's right
I belong somewhere on ice
I'm cold, I'm a new blood type, even colder
Cold shoulder, Born Sinner, you know? Cole showed us!
I have nothing to lose, my dark side been well in-tuned
A Gemini go show them faces
And this here just one of my moods, Babylon
[Bridge]
Was it worth it? Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making a man sore?
I know you hate me now (here)
I bet you hate me now (here
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
Crucify me

[Hook]
Crucify, cru-crucify me
Crucify, cru-cru
Crucify, cru-crucify me
Crucify, cru-cru

[Verse 3: SZA]
I'm really over the cryin' thing, wipin' my tears
Who cries anyway? Spread like disease all over me
We did ungodly ghastly things, last night I mean
Who's God anyway? You're mine any day
It's burning, take me
I wanna feel your power, this final hour, tell me
Are you losing yourself? Will you lose it for me?
Are you losing yourself?

[Bridge]
Was it worth it? Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making a man sore?
I know you hate me now (here)
I bet you hate me now (here
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
Crucify me



All comments from YouTube:

@ZeeGnarly

From 2:23 through the rest of Kendrick's verse is not only one of his best and most underrated verses but one of the coolest sounding rap verses I have EVER heard

@below3912

I agree bro

@kobron1559

Tyler Durden Kendrick really knows how to rap on any featured beat

@sukka4pain

Silver Path usually trap-autotune fans are saying that. they don't know anything about Hip Hop.

@sukka4pain

Silver Path I agree.

@issasecret3440

Silver Path your name 😍😘❤️

11 More Replies...

@EliteFuture06

Kendrick can never do wrong on a feature......

@EliteFuture06

Yeah in an interview he said he is just doing alot of diff things..trying out different sounds...he doesnt even hav shit for his next album...i think mainly because him and j.cole are dropping a joint album and also because schoolboy q dropped his album so hes letting him shine...the thing bout TDE is that who ever is "up at bat" they put all their energy on them..thats what they did with kendrick ....so right now the move is to push schoolboys album to full potential after im sure we will get more kendrick songs plus watch for ab soul because he is probably up next..

@jfraz1992

Jesus Alejos top dawg said kendrick's album is slated for a september release 

@PaintedHoundie

Ronnie Hobson he does have material for his next album. i predict it'll be pushed. they said fall release but idk. Anyway, this is a snppet from some song idk if it's to be on the next album or what but....

h ttp://vocaroo.com/i/s1LhT92w5MX6 its a little quiet

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