Twenty Eight
The Weeknd Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

This house is not a home to you
But you decide to go ahead and lay down, lay down
There are no words to describe the depth of your indifference
'Cause I see you're here to stay
Should've known to pick my fate, oh

I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak) oh, oh

Hey there, lonely girl
Did you have to tell your friends
About the way I got you screaming my name?
Did you have to tell the world? Ooh
Now your girls all wanna fuck
Girl, you could've been the one
Gotta change my number twice a month
When you could have simply kept it on the down low

I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak) oh (oh) oh

And baby if I knew
you'd be living in my sheets
I wouldn't have shown you any love
I would have left you in the club
You said you don't belong
You keep saying there's no one
And there's no where to go, ooh
But who keeps calling on your phone?
I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong

I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong (ooh)
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak)
Oh (oh), oh (ooh, baby, oh)

I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong (girl, if your man call your phone again)
(To let you in my) oh
To let you in my home (girl, if your man call your phone again)
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep




(Never felt so damn weak)
Oh, oh (baby, ooh, hey)

Overall Meaning

The Weeknd's song Twenty Eight is a tale of regret over letting someone into his life and his home. The song starts off with an acknowledgment that the person doesn't feel at home in his house, yet they still lay down in bed. He understands the depth of the person's indifference and reckons he should have picked his fate wisely. He then dives deep into his insecurities as he recalls how they met and how much it pains him that she went around telling everyone, even her friends, about their encounters. This has led to an influx of women trying to get with him, which makes him even more unsettled. He regrets showing any love and wishes he had left her at the club where they met. She keeps insisting she has nowhere to go, but someone keeps calling her phone, which leads to him confronting her about this.


The lyrics show a man in turmoil and regret over letting someone he shouldn't have into his life. The line "never felt so damn weak" encapsulates this regret perfectly. He regrets his decision and feels shame for allowing someone into his home, where he should feel most secure. The song's somber undertones coupled with the Weeknd's signature falsetto voice make it a haunting yet beautiful song that deals with the consequences of letting someone into your life.


Line by Line Meaning

This house is not a home to you
You don't feel comfortable or at ease in this house.


But you decide to go ahead and lay down, lay down
Despite feeling uncomfortable, you choose to stay and rest.


There are no words to describe the depth of your indifference
Your lack of interest or emotion is impossible to fully express or describe.


'Cause I see you're here to stay
I can tell that you don't plan on leaving anytime soon.


Should've known to pick my fate, oh
I should have been more careful in choosing my path or destiny.


I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
I made a mistake, a serious error in judgment.


(To let you in my)
To allow you into my life, to become involved with you.


To let you in my home
To invite you into my personal space, my sanctuary.


(Now you know where I sleep)
Now that you've been in my home, you know where I rest and am vulnerable.


Now you know where I sleep
Now you know where I rest and am vulnerable.


(Never felt so damn weak) oh, oh
I have never felt so powerless or helpless before.


Hey there, lonely girl
Addressing a woman who is feeling lonely or isolated.


Did you have to tell your friends
Did you really need to inform your peers or companions?


About the way I got you screaming my name?
Did you feel the need to disclose intimate details about our relationship?


Did you have to tell the world? Ooh
Did you need to reveal private information to a wider audience?


Now your girls all wanna fuck
Now your friends are all interested in having sexual relations with me.


Girl, you could've been the one
You had the potential to be my significant other, but you ruined it.


Gotta change my number twice a month
I need to alter my phone number frequently to avoid unwanted contact or harassment.


When you could have simply kept it on the down low
You could have kept our relationship a secret and avoided complications.


And baby if I knew
If only I had known beforehand.


you'd be living in my sheets
That you would become so involved in my personal life and relationship.


I wouldn't have shown you any love
I would have avoided getting involved with you at all.


I would have left you in the club
I would have abandoned you in the social setting where we first met.


You said you don't belong
You expressed feelings of not fitting in or not being accepted.


You keep saying there's no one
You keep insisting that there is no one for you.


And there's no where to go, ooh
You feel lost or trapped without any options or opportunities.


But who keeps calling on your phone?
Raising the question of why someone else keeps contacting and disturbing you.


I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
Reiterating the fact that I made a severe mistake.


(girl, if your man call your phone again)
If your partner contacts you again.


Now you know where I sleep
I am vulnerable and exposed when I am sleeping.


(Never felt so damn weak)
Feeling powerless or helpless in this situation.


Oh, oh (baby, ooh, hey)
Expressing emotions of sadness or despair with an emphasis on the word 'baby'.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abel Tesfaye, Martin Daniel McKinney, Carlo Montagnese

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

@ani.xvi_6970

Twenty eight - the song title itself, has a double entendre. Firstly, there are twenty eight grams in one ounce of cocaine.
Abel is known to be a user so
this could be of reference to his drugs. Secondly, twenty eight is officially the first bonus track of HOB (27 songs altogether in HOB/EOS/THURSDAY with twenty eight being the 28th bonus and last song from HOB.

Video interpretation - the girl on the bed represents valarie “I left my girl back home” valarie is depicted in this menacing ghostly figure haunting Abel throughout the video in which at the end he is seen walking back to her. In this way, valarie also represents his old OG fans - without us, Abel wouldn’t be where he is, so in a way he is thankful to us but also upset because the fame won’t leave him.

The nude women - represent the mainstream world, they only want him for his fame and he doesn’t seem phased by it. He simply just sits back and observes them, he sees these females as sexual objects, to feel good and nothing more. In the lines “Hey, there lonely girl did you have to tell your friends about the way I got you screaming my name” - a literal reference to his older fans. Abel wishes that his fans kept his music on the “down low” because now he can’t get out of the spotlight. Similarly, this can be used as a sexual reference to females sharing their encounters with their friends.

The Line - “I shouldve left you in the Club” has two meanings. A) his fans, they could’ve been the “one” if they didn’t share his music w the world. B) cocaine, Abel being a heavy cocaine user can’t get enough of it, his addiction is following into his everyday life and he can’t escape it.

Lastly, the interview - Abel has never been the type to hold interveiws and hates being in the public eye. With his first performance being the Toronto mod club July 2011, He didn’t think he would blow up. From House of balloons, no one even knew what he looked like. After the ‘girl’ (his fans) shared his music with the world, he is receiving this unnecessary undivided attention in which he doesn’t not show any interest to. Towards the end of the video he rolls his eyes. - This, showing how being in the spotlight and media bores him.

This being my very first Abel song (since I was 11/12) holds a very close place to my heart. So, this is my analysis on the video.



@neer_chaudhary_17

Certainly, here's a breakdown of each line:

1. "His house is not a home to you": Suggesting that the partner's residence doesn't feel welcoming or comfortable.
2. "But you decide to go ahead and lay down, lay down": Despite the discomfort, the person chooses to stay or be intimate with their partner.
3. "There are no words to describe the depth of your indifference": Describing the partner's lack of care or concern.
4. "'Cause I see you're here to stay": Realizing that the partner intends to remain in the relationship despite the issues.
5. "Should've known to pick my fate, oh": Reflecting on past decisions and the consequences they now face.
6. "I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong (To let you in my)": Acknowledging regret for allowing the partner into their life.
7. "To let you in my home (Now you know where I sleep)": Regretting letting the partner into their personal space and life.
8. "Never felt so damn weak": Feeling vulnerable and powerless in the situation.
9. "Hey there, lonely girl": Addressing the partner, possibly suggesting a sense of isolation or sadness.
10. "Did you have to tell your friends": Questioning the partner's decision to share personal details with others.
11. "About the way I got you screaming my name?": Referring to intimate moments shared between the singer and the partner.
12. "Did you have to tell the world? Ooh": Expressing frustration that the partner has spread private information to a wider audience.
13. "Now your girls all wanna fuck": Indicating that others are now interested in the partner due to the shared information.
14. "Girl, you could've been the one": Suggesting that the partner had potential to be special.
15. "Gotta change my number twice a month": Implying that the partner's actions have led to unwanted attention or harassment.
16. "When you could have simply kept it on the down low": The singer wishes the partner had kept things private.
17. "And baby if I knew you'd be living in my sheets": Expressing regret for allowing the partner into their bed.
18. "I wouldn't have shown you any love": Implying that the singer would have avoided getting involved with the partner.
19. "I would have left you in the club": Suggesting that the singer would have avoided the relationship altogether.
20. "You said you don't belong": Indicating that the partner felt out of place or misunderstood.
21. "You keep saying there's no one and there's nowhere to go": Suggesting that the partner feels trapped or without options.
22. "But who keeps calling on your phone?": Implies that the partner may not be as alone or trapped as they claim.
23. "I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong": Reiterating the feeling of regret and fault.
24. "(Girl, if your man call your phone again)": Possibly addressing the partner directly or warning them about unwanted attention.
25. "Oh, oh (baby, ooh, hey)": Ending the song with a mix of frustration and resignation.



@klaashuntelaar1096

This house is not a home to you
But you decide to go ahead and lay down, lay down
There are no words to describe the depth of your indifference
'Cause I see you're here to stay
Should've known to pick my fate
I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak)
Hey there, lonely girl
Did you have to tell your friends about the way I got you screaming my name?
Did you have to tell the world?
Now your girls all wanna fuck
Girl you could've been the one
Gotta change my number twice a month
When you could have simply kept it on the down low
I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak)
And baby if I knew you'd be living in my sheets
I wouldn't have shown you any love
I would have left you in the club
You said you don't belong
You keep saying there's no one
And there's no where to go
But who keeps calling on your phone?
I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Now you know where I sleep)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak)
I'm so wrong, I'm so wrong
(Girl, if your man call your phone again)
(To let you in my)
To let you in my home
(Girl, if your man call your phone again)
Now you know where I sleep
(Never felt so damn weak)



All comments from YouTube:

@grandma4885

I'm glad this nigga exists.

@big_bad_vergudo9646

yo daddy

@ceyss.mp3

Shurima?

@kai_jaggerjack9107

@@ceyss.mp3 What ?

@Famousestephen

@@ceyss.mp3wth is a shurima

@Taxthepoors

👴🏻 ahhh if only we were back in the day grandma

4 More Replies...

@dubb8265

Who else heard “This house is not a home” on After Hours and came straight here? You definitely a true XO fan🖤🖤

@saroojanvasanthakumar1510

Yeah same lyrics but the complete inverse meaning.

@CAR3ONTRAP

me too

@thestarcard1581

Youre awesomee #XOTWOD

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