Chicago rapper/producer Saba first caught the attention of listeners as a frequent collaborator of Chance the Rapper. Saba's contributions to Chance songs like 2013's "Everybody's Something" and 2015's "Angels" showcased his range as both a rapper and vocalist and paved the way for his introspective debut studio album, Bucket List Project, in 2016. The loss of a close family member inspired 2018's Care for Me, a tragically beautiful album that explored death, mourning, and life after losing a loved one.
Saba (Tahj Malik Chandler) grew up on the West Side of Chicago, specifically within the Austin neighborhood, as part of a deeply musical family. That's also where he formed Pivot Gang, a group of longtime associates that has featured, among others, his brother Jerrel (aka Joseph Chilliams), cousin Walter Long (aka John Walt), Logan Yutters (aka MFn Melo), Frsh Waters, and DJ Damnage. Saba recorded several solo mixtapes -- his first were issued while he was an introverted high-schooler -- and gained traction with ComfortZone, a 2014 release inspired by his father's neo-soul recordings that capitalized on his contributions to awareness-raising tracks by fellow Chicagoans Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins. In 2015, Saba appeared as featured artist on several cuts, including Chance's "Angels," Jenkins' "Slumber," and Odd Couple's "What Kings Do." Additionally, he released the reflective Tink collaboration "Temporary," one of his most commercial songs to date.
In late 2016, Saba self-released the LP Bucket List Project, featuring artists like fellow Chicagoan rappers Noname and Twista. In February of 2017, Saba's cousin, mentor, and Pivot Gang collaborator Walter Long was violently murdered by a stranger. Saba reflected on the scars left by this horrible loss throughout his second album, CARE FOR ME, which was released in April of 2018. The vulnerable and emotionally complex album broke through with critics and took Saba's music to new audiences. He followed in November of that year with "Beautiful Smile," a collaborative single with Maryland rapper IDK.
Symmetry
Saba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My better half apart we like a pair
The rest the world can not come and compare
When you and me align,
A line will form of those that came before us
But they're mad they're unimportant
When I was 15 I would sit and fantasize
Bout the one day I could take my mom advice
This month a couple record deals gone get declined
'Cause you were hard to find,
To find and fall in love and spend my life
And die with by my side
That's symmetry, her with me, currently, oh
Simply, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, till we, old
That's symmetry, her with me, currently, oh
Simply, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, till we, old
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty, time before we old
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty time
Symmetric soul, my soul is longing for you
And I just want you, I don't want no other
My Exes I know you may know a couple of em
But you were never concerned with past lovers
I promise I'mma be here for a while
Only if you let me and I'm lucky
From up here we can see over the clouds
Baby what's your preference do you love me
I know what happens is fate
I know God don't make mistakes
I see my future with you
I'll do whatever it takes hey
That's symmetry, her with me, currently, oh
Simply, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, till we, old
That's symmetry, her with me, currently, oh
Simply, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, till we, old
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty, time before we old
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty time
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty, time before we old
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty time
If I tell you my story, would you then tell yours to me
And live to see the day
If I tell you my story, would you then tell yours to me
And live to see that day
In "Symmetry," Saba expresses his desire to find his perfect match or "symmetric soul" and live a fulfilling life with them. He believes that when he finds this person, they will fit perfectly together and will be unmatched by anyone else. Saba reminisces about fantasizing about finding this person when he was 15 and how they will complete each other. He emphasizes the importance of taking his time finding the right person and not rushing into a relationship.
Saba also mentions that he is not concerned with his past lovers, as his focus is on finding his perfect match. He acknowledges that finding the right person may not be easy, and he may face rejection from record labels while pursuing his music career, but he will not give up until he finds his symmetric soulmate.
In the end, Saba reflects on the power of storytelling and its ability to connect people on a deeper level. He highlights the importance of being able to share one's story with others and how that forms a bond that can last a lifetime.
Overall, "Symmetry" is a beautiful and introspective song that emphasizes the value of finding one's match and taking the time to build a meaningful relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Symmetric soul I know you are out there
I believe that there is someone out there who completes me and has a symmetric soul.
My better half apart we like a pair
We are two halves that complete each other, like a pair that belongs together.
The rest the world can not come and compare
No one else in the world can compare to what we have together.
When you and me align,
A line will form of those that came before us
But they're mad they're unimportant
We will be so powerful when we align that even those who came before us will be envious, but they will ultimately be insignificant in comparison to us.
When I was 15 I would sit and fantasize
Bout the one day I could take my mom advice
This month a couple record deals gone get declined
When I was younger, I dreamed about finding someone to love and take my mother's advice about relationships. Now that I have found you, I know I may miss out on opportunities, but I am willing to let them go for you.
'Cause you were hard to find,
To find and fall in love and spend my life
And die with by my side
You were difficult to find, but I know I was meant to fall in love and spend the rest of my life with you, even until death.
That's symmetry, her with me, currently, oh
Simply, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, till we, old
We have a symmetry that is currently unbroken, and I simply need you with me to enjoy the energy of life until we grow old together.
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty, time before we old
Baby don't rush, hey don't rush it though
'Cause we got plenty time
Don't rush our love, because we have plenty of time ahead of us to enjoy each other's company and grow old together.
Symmetric soul, my soul is longing for you
And I just want you, I don't want no other
My Exes I know you may know a couple of em
But you were never concerned with past lovers
My soul is longing for your symmetric soul because I only want you and no one else. Even though we may have had past lovers, we are only concerned with each other now.
I promise I'mma be here for a while
Only if you let me and I'm lucky
From up here we can see over the clouds
Baby what's your preference do you love me
I promise to be with you for a long time if you let me, and I am lucky to have found you. We are like a pair of lovers high up in the sky, and I am curious if you love me too.
I know what happens is fate
I know God don't make mistakes
I see my future with you
I'll do whatever it takes hey
I believe that our meeting was fate and that God doesn't make mistakes. I also see my future with you and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make our love last.
If I tell you my story, would you then tell yours to me
And live to see the day
If I tell you my story, would you then tell yours to me
And live to see that day
If I share my story with you, would you be willing to share your story with me too, and live to see the day when we both have each other's love and companionship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Tahj Chandler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Kantar
Symmetric soul I know you are out there
(I know you are out there, I know you are out there)
My better half apart, we like a pair
(apart, we like a pair, apart, we like a pair)
The rest the world cannot come and compare
(can not come and compare, can not come and...)
When you and me align, a line will form of those who came before us but they're mad they're unimportant
When I was 15 I would sit and fantasize
(sit and fantasize, sit and fantasize)
Bout the one day I could take my mom advice
(take my my mom advice, take my mom advice)
This month a couple record deals gon' get declined
Cause you were hard to find, to find and fall in love and spend my life and die with by my side, side...
That's the symmetry, her and me, currently, oh
Simile, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, 'till we, old
That's the symmetry, her and me, currently, oh
Simile, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, 'till we, old
Baby don't rush (baby don't rush)
Hey don't rush it though (hey don't rush it though)
Cause we got plenty (cause we got plenty)
Time before we old (time before we old)
Baby don't rush (baby don't rush)
Hey don't rush it though (hey don't rush it though)
Cause we got plenty time
Symmetric soul, my soul is longing for you
And I just want you, I don't want no other
My exes, I know you may know a couple of
But you were never concerned with past lovers
I promise I'ma be here for a while
Only if you let me and I'm lucky
From up here we can see over the clouds
Baby what's your preference? Do you love me?
I know what happens is fate, I know God don't make mistakes
I see my future with you, I'll do whatever it takes, hey
That's the symmetry, her and me, currently, oh
Simile, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, 'till we, old
That's the symmetry, her and me, currently, oh
Simile, really need, you with me, oh
Enjoy, energy, with me, oh
And we'll just, be complete, 'till we, old
Baby don't rush (baby don't rush)
Hey don't rush it though (hey don't rush it though)
Cause we got plenty (cause we got plenty)
Time before we old (time before we old)
Baby don't rush (baby don't rush)
Hey don't rush it though (hey don't rush it though)
Cause we got plenty time
Baby don't rush (baby don't rush)
Hey don't rush it though (hey don't rush it though)
Cause we got plenty (cause we got plenty)
Time before we old (time before we old)
Baby don't rush (baby don't rush)
Hey don't rush it though (hey don't rush it though)
Cause we got plenty time
If I tell you my story, would you then tell yours to me?
And live to see the day...
If I tell you my story, would you then tell yours to me?
And live to see that day...
My bucket list... my last minute bucket list, ok
I wanna write television shows, films, have movie premieres
Well hella just hood glamour ass sh-
I wanna... degentrify our neighborhoods,
like buy property and rent it back to the people who grew up there.
And last but no least... I want to smoke a blunt with Beyoncé,
that's the most important for sure
Starstruck Media
When my ex-wife and I started talking in 2016, she played this and we stayed up all night listening to this song and talking in her car. We ended up getting married to this in 2018. I still love this song and anytime I hear it, I think about her and how things could of been different for us but that’s all in the past and life moves on. 💫🌍💜
Evolution Alien
👌
Red
Oh my god. SABA is literally one of the best around. How has he still not blown? This is a grammy winning worthy album.
Myaaa
Fr
Chakara
This song made me fall in love when there wasnt even a physical being there to fall in love with. I often find myself listening to this song on repeat on days I feel alone. It’s hope that someone somewhere will feel this exact same way when we find each other❤️ Love feels like this....Thank you Tahj
itzrayyo
The beat on this song will always captivate me. Saba never ceases to amaze with production (and everything else)
Lindelani Mbangeni
My boyfriend first played me this after a night out while driving me home. I can vividly remember the base and the lyrics buzzing out the car speakers, I fell in love with him all over again covers eyes SO thank you Saba for a great song!
Galaxy-4-Life
Y'all still together lmao?
N/A
you really wrote "covers eyes" lmaoo
A1m
Y’all still together?