The track’s title was first teased by Abel in one of his merchandise collections prior to the release of After Hours, which included the “Escape LA” work jacket.
“Escape from LA” is also the title of John Carpenter’s post-apocalyptic, cult ‘90s film. Abel references several other ‘90s and early 2000’s films throughout the rest of the track, including Speed and Constantine.
Escape from LA
The Weeknd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They buy you bags and jewelry, yeah
They think your kindness is so weak
Know you don't give it up so easy, baby
But you just wanted my attention
You just wanted my affection
You got me tattooed on your mind
You just want me all the time
When you say that you need space, I give you space (you space)
Girl, when you're ready, you know where I stay
When it comes to all these hoes, I'll never chase
But this world is such a, such an evil place
Man, these hoes will always find a way
'Cause when I'm on the liquor, I go crazy
And for that pussy, you know I'm a slave, yeah
This place is never what it seems
Take me out, LA
Take me out of LA
This place will be the end of me
Take me out, LA
Take me out of LA, yeah
Yeah
I'm in the Spyder Porsche cruisin' down the street
Black on black venom colored seats
Keanu Reeves, way a nigga speed
Diamond cross hangin' off of me
I'm fighting for my soul, Constantine
And it's slowly burning, it was never cheap
If you see what I seen, you wouldn't sleep
I can't sleep
'Cause I got everything I wanted
Got the money, got the cars, got the ceiling with the stars
Got everything I wanted
But I'd be nothing without you
Gave you everything you wanted
Gave you power, gave you life, gave you space so you can shine
Gave you everything you wanted (you wanted)
But none of that matters to you, oh-oh
This place (this place) is never what it seems
Take me out, LA
Take me out of LA (take me out, LA)
This place will be the end of me (oh, whoa-oh)
Take me out, LA (take me out of it)
Take me out of LA, yeah
Whoa, no, oh, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, ooh-whoa
Oh-ah, no, no, no, no, whoa-whoa
Oh, no, oh
(Hey)
She pulled up to the studio
Nobody's watching
She closed the door and then she locked it
For me, for me
We had sex in the studio
Nobody walked in
I cut my verse and then she popped it
For me, for me
LA girls all look the same
I can't recognize
The same work done on their face
I don't criticize
She a cold-hearted bitch with no shame
But her throat too fire
She got Chrome Hearts hangin' from her neck
And them shits going wild
When she ride, she hold tight
She gon' ride 'til sweat fall down her spine
She's all mine for the night
She's all mine until he calls her line
She pulled up to the studio
Nobody's watching
She closed the door and then she locked it
For me, for me
We had sex in the studio
Nobody walked in
I cut my verse and then she popped it
For me, for me
Oh-oh, oh-oh
The Weeknd's "Escape From LA" is a lament to a toxic relationship that's taking its toll on both partners. The song opens with the singer expressing frustration with third parties who are trying to come between him and his lover. While they offer her material things, they don't understand that she values commitment above all else. The singer's ladylove craves his complete attention and affection, even getting a tattoo of him on her mind. However, the world is full of temptation, and other women will always pose a threat. He confesses that he's powerless when it comes to her, even acting crazy and becoming a slave when he's inebriated.
The second verse paints a picture of the singer zooming through Los Angeles in a sports car, the wind in his hair, and a diamond cross dangling from his neck. He's invoking the film "Constantine," where Keanu Reeves played a demon hunter fighting for his soul. The singer feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, knowing that he paid a heavy price for his success. He says he can't sleep, haunted by the things he's seen, and the pain and emptiness he feels despite his outward show of wealth and power. He gave his lover everything she asked for, including space to grow and shine, but it wasn't enough to make her stay. The chorus repeats the plea to leave LA and the relationship, seeing it as the end of him.
Overall, "Escape From LA" is a melancholic but relatable song about the perils of modern romance, where love is hard to find, and trust is a rare commodity. The song's catchy melody and The Weeknd's signature falsetto vocals create a memorable tune that's sure to resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
You pillow talk to me about the men who try to get in between us
You confide in me about the men who try to interfere with our relationship
They buy you bags and jewelry, yeah
The other men try to impress you with material things
They think your kindness is so weak
Those men mistake your kindness for weakness
Know you don't give it up so easy, baby
I know you're not easily swayed by their advances
But you just wanted my attention
You only wanted my attention in the first place
You just wanted my affection
Your real motivation was to have my love and devotion
You got me tattooed on your mind
I occupy a permanent place in your thoughts and heart
You just want me all the time
You desire my presence constantly
We'll figure out our shit and find a way (oh way)
We will resolve our issues and make things work somehow
When you say that you need space, I give you space (you space)
I respect your need for space when you ask for it
Girl, when you're ready, you know where I stay
I'll be here waiting for you when you're ready to come back to me
When it comes to all these hoes, I'll never chase
I won't pursue other women like those other guys do
But this world is such a, such an evil place
The world is full of malice and wrongdoings
Man, these hoes will always find a way
It seems like women who are only interested in material things will always come around
'Cause when I'm on the liquor, I go crazy
Being drunk makes me behave recklessly
And for that pussy, you know I'm a slave, yeah
I am powerless to resist the temptation of sex
This place is never what it seems
Los Angeles is not the paradise it appears to be
Take me out, LA
I want to leave Los Angeles
This place will be the end of me
I feel like staying in LA will be my downfall
Yeah
Okay
I'm in the Spyder Porsche cruisin' down the street
I'm driving down the street in a luxurious sports car
Black on black venom colored seats
The car has black seats with venom-colored accents
Keanu Reeves, way a nigga speed
I'm driving fast like Keanu Reeves in an action movie
Diamond cross hangin' off of me
I'm wearing a cross necklace with diamonds on it
I'm fighting for my soul, Constantine
I'm struggling to hold onto my soul like the movie character Constantine
And it's slowly burning, it was never cheap
My soul is slowly draining away and the cost of keeping it has been high
If you see what I seen, you wouldn't sleep
If you witnessed what I have, you would have trouble sleeping too
I can't sleep
I have trouble sleeping
'Cause I got everything I wanted
I have achieved everything I desired
Got the money, got the cars, got the ceiling with the stars
I have wealth, fancy cars, and a lavish lifestyle
But I'd be nothing without you
Without you, my life would be meaningless
Gave you everything you wanted
I have given you everything you desired
Gave you power, gave you life, gave you space so you can shine
I have allowed you to be in control, given you a good life, and created room for you to succeed
Gave you everything you wanted (you wanted)
I have fulfilled all your desires
But none of that matters to you, oh-oh
However, none of that seems to be enough for you
Whoa, no, oh, no, no
Expressing disbelief and confusion
No, no, no, no, no, ooh-whoa
Repeatedly saying no with an expressive sound
Oh-ah, no, no, no, no, whoa-whoa
Saying no again in a slightly different way
Oh, no, oh
Expressing surprise and distress
(Hey)
Exclamation indicating transition to a new section
LA girls all look the same
The women in LA appear to be the same
I can't recognize
I can't tell them apart
The same work done on their face
They all have the same plastic surgery done on their faces
I don't criticize
I'm not judging them for their choices
She a cold-hearted bitch with no shame
She is a heartless woman with no sense of remorse
But her throat too fire
However, she is skilled in sexual activities
She got Chrome Hearts hangin' from her neck
She's wearing expensive Chrome Hearts jewelry
And them shits going wild
Those accessories are producing a strong reaction
When she ride, she hold tight
She holds on tightly when having sexual intercourse
She gon' ride 'til sweat fall down her spine
She will keep going until she gets sweaty
She's all mine for the night
She belongs to me for the night
She's all mine until he calls her line
She belongs to me until someone else contacts her
She pulled up to the studio
A woman arrived at the recording studio
Nobody's watching
We have privacy
She closed the door and then she locked it
She shut the door and locked it behind her
For me, for me
She did it for my sake
We had sex in the studio
We engaged in sexual activity at the recording studio
Nobody walked in
No one disturbed us
I cut my verse and then she popped it
I worked on my music and then she provided sexual pleasure
For me, for me
She did it for my benefit
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Repeating an expressive sound
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abel Tesfaye, Carlo Montagnese, Leland Tyler Wayne, Mike McTaggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trentmitchelliii3546
Los Angeles Lakers , 2020's champions ..
Don't go to sleep..no Ambien
Such ambiance,
Non chalant..
Door locked for me me,
XO popped for me
Ass drop for me...
No shame ,
Her soul to illuminating ,
Captivating;
Elevating.....Nigga, intoxicating...
For me...for me...
Cj -89
@docrussojr
Escape from LA - Breakdown
Verse 1: His lover tells him about all of the sexual advances that men make on her. The Weeknd shrugs it off, thinking that she's saying it for his attention and affection, and he knows she won't actually sleep around on him (which is why he's okay with "giving her space"). However, he openly admits that he's sleeping around whenever he's faded and out partying.
Hook: LA is known as the City of Dreams, and the City of Angels. All of his career, his goal was to make it to LA. Now that he's achieved his dreams, he's seeing that it isn't what he thought it was. He's also attributing all of his sleeping around and unfaithfulness to the circumstances of the nightlife in LA.
Verse 2: He's reflecting on all of the material things he have. He briefly refers to some of the dark stuff he's seen in the nightlife of LA. Towards the end of the verse, he's talking about how his lover doesn't care about the material things that he have, which is why he loves her (because she loves him for who he was before).
Verse 3: He details a fling he had with an LA woman (not his lover) in the studio. He then talks about how all of these LA women start to look the same (indicating that he's now numb to these women that he once thought were "women of his dreams"). He's so numb to these women, that the only differentiation he has is her necklace and oral sex abilities.
[End]
He left LA because he thought the change of scenery would change him. He felt that if the temptation of alcohol and LA women were gone, he'd be able to remain faithful in a stable relationship.
His lover (that needed space) tried to make him jealous with gifts from other men, but The Weeknd (calling her bluff) doesn't believe she'll actually sleep around even in their separation.
And instead of leaving LA to settle down, he ventures to Vegas.
@joshifereverlark8605
Abel: LA girls all look the same
LA girls: 👁👄👁
@dianad6464
Holy shit they don't have noses in LA?!
@gucciak-4740
Diana D The fake plastic pig size lips overshadow the nose to the point you don’t even notice it
@beepboop9519
Joshifer Everlark they kinda do
@urekmazino6800
@@gucciak-4740 shits starting here in FL to
@urRAWRsoundsfunnyLOL
lmao!!!
@Robot_Rebel
Producer: "Okay Abel we're recording.... and go"
Abel: "We had sex in the studio"
Producer: "I'm going to stop you right there"
@Mememisce
He's owner kkkkkkkkkkk
@krishijaladi6470
This comment made my day 😂
@Pajahro
LOL