The Weeknd gained widespread critical acclaim for his three mixtapes: House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, which he later compiled to make a remastered, three-disc album titled Trilogy after signing his record deal with Republic. In 2013, he released Kiss Land, which was considered to be his debut studio album.
In 2014, he dropped “Often,” a remix of Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love,” and “King of the Fall.” The Weeknd released two songs in collaboration with the film Fifty Shades of Grey, with Earned It becoming his solo breakout hit.
His second studio album became highly-anticipated, with riveting singles like The Hills and Can’t Feel My Face leaving fans hungry for more. Beauty Behind the Madness was released on August 28, 2015.
His third studio album, Starboy, was released on November 25, 2016. The Daft Punk-assisted title track led the project as its first official single, released on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, before becoming his third number one track in the United States, as also his home country, Canada. The effort was a commercial success, topping the Billboard 200 albums chart with over 348,000 copies sold in its first week, all eighteen tracks debuting on the Billboard Hot 100, receiving a GRAMMY Award for the Best Urban Contemporary Album, category at the 60th annual ceremony, overall for the second time in his music career and being ranked as the third most popular album of 2017 in the U.S.
Next came the My Dear Melancholy EP, released on March 30, 2018 and revolving around his breakups with Bella Hadid during summer of 2016 and Selena Gomez in October 2017. With the lead single, Call Out My Name, the Canadian singer earned the largest first-day Spotify stream count of any song released in 2018 at that time and his eighth Top 10 entry on Hot 100.
Tesfaye’s fourth studio album (and his first in three years), After Hours was officially released on March 20, 2020, and is named after a 1985 movie directed by his idol, Martin Scorsese. It was primarily supported by November 2019-released singles Heartless and Blinding Lights, with the pair becoming his fourth and fifth #1 singles in the US and the latter his first #1 single in the UK. The title track and In Your Eyes were also released as singles.
Although widely expected to receive multiple nominations for After Hours, Tesfaye failed to receive any nominations for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (2021). Tesfaye took to his social media to criticize the Recording Academy, claiming corruption. Speculation arose that the announcement of his then-upcoming Super Bowl performance as well as the discrepancy of being nominated as pop music versus R&B contributed to the snubs. On February 5, 2021 The Highlights was released, as his second greatest hits album. Tesfaye performed at the Super Bowl LV halftime show on February 7, 2021 after announcing he would perform in November 2020. He reportedly spent $7 million on his performance at the show. Despite having a mixed response, the show resulted in a surge in streaming and downloads for Tesfaye's After Hours album as well as for the seven other songs he performed.
His fifth album, Dawn FM was released on January 7, 2022, continuing the writing and production work with Swedish pop svengalis Max Martin and Oscar Holter. The album was preceded by the single Take My Breath in August 2021, with Sacrifice announced as the second single.
What You Want
The Weeknd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I got what you want
You just wanna spend my cash and smoke my weed
I got what you want
You've been up for days, can't get no sleep
I got what you want
See the sauce drippin' off from the heart that's on my sleeve
I got what you want
I got what you want
See it in your eyes, you just tryna get on
I know what she wants
She got more issues than a magazine
I had a girl named Mercedes, used to love it when she bends
When she make me mad, I leave her ass on read
I never let these girls get to my head
I'm too busy countin' all of this bread (oh, yeah)
What can they say to me? (Say to me)
'Cause if I left then they wait for me (then they wait)
What can they say to me? (What can they say?)
I keep it G and she knows it
I will never be what you need
But I got what you want
You just wanna spend my cash and smoke my weed
I got what you want
You've been up for days, can't get no sleep
I got what you want
See the sauce drippin' off from the heart that's on my sleeve
I got what you want (oh yeah)
Pin drop (pin drop) ten o' clock (ten o' clock)
Hit the inbox, I'll be in the box (I'll be in the box)
Oh she so bad (so bad) got 'em all shook (all shook)
Say she wanna ball, she get the hardwood (get the hardwood)
Oh yeah she super dope (super dope), I'm still high (still high)
I can't even tell you what this feels like (I can't) (feels like)
Oh, oh, real life (real life) wake up every morning and I feel high (live up)
I got a bitch in the projects, yeah, she faithful and honest
Never went to college, she got collagen in her body
You don't need that type of knowledge when you pretty and polished
She don't even drive a car but she been racking up mileage (yeah)
I got everything, lows, highs, she worth anything
Told her, "Hold tight, go light with them heavy things"
I'm not what you need, can't front
Back up, baby, I got what you want (what you want!) (Yeah)
I will never be what you need
But I got what you want
You just wanna spend my cash and smoke my weed
I got what you want
You've been up for days, can't get no sleep
I got what you want
See the sauce drippin' off from the heart that's on my sleeve
I got what you want
(Oh yeah)
I got what you want
I got what you want
I got what you want
I got what you want
The Weeknd’s “What You Want” describes a toxic and superficial relationship where the singer is aware that he will never be what his partner needs, but he has what she wants. The woman in question is interested in spending the singer's money and smoking his weed, and he is aware that she has more issues than a magazine, but he still indulges her. The Weeknd's signature smooth voice and dark sound paint a picture of the singer's relationship, which he knows is not right but is still worth it.
The song's lyrics suggest that the Weeknd is aware of his partner's intentions, yet he is still attracted to her infatuation, which offers a temporary escape from the sobering reality of their toxic relationship. The singer is conflicted by his need for companionship and his awareness that the relationship is not authentic, as he cannot fulfill the woman's emotional needs. Ultimately, the song portrays a relationship caught between desire and reality, where the singer knows he cannot be what his partner needs, but he can provide her with what she wants for a time being.
Line by Line Meaning
I will never be what you need
I can't fulfill your emotional needs.
But I got what you want
I have the material things you desire.
You just wanna spend my cash and smoke my weed
You only want to use me for money and drugs.
I got what you want
I do have the money and drugs you desire.
You've been up for days, can't get no sleep
You've been partying too much and are now sleep deprived.
See the sauce drippin' off from the heart that's on my sleeve
I'm dripping with style that comes from my heart.
I got what you want
Again, I do have what you want.
Oh yeah
Expressing confidence in my offerings.
See it in your eyes, you just tryna get on
I can tell from your eyes that you're just trying to use me.
I know what she wants
I understand what you're really after.
She got more issues than a magazine
You have a lot of personal problems.
I had a girl named Mercedes, used to love it when she bends
I used to date a girl named Mercedes who was very flexible.
When she make me mad, I leave her ass on read
When she angers me, I ignore her messages.
I never let these girls get to my head
I don't let these women's attention affect me emotionally.
I'm too busy countin' all of this bread (oh, yeah)
I'm too focused on making money.
What can they say to me? (Say to me)
What negative things can anyone say to bother me?
'Cause if I left then they wait for me (then they wait)
Because if I left, they would wait for me.
What can they say to me? (What can they say?)
Again, I'm asking what could be said to bother me.
I keep it G and she knows it
I always keep it real and my partner knows that.
Pin drop (pin drop) ten o' clock (ten o' clock)
Quiet time at ten in the evening.
Hit the inbox, I'll be in the box (I'll be in the box)
Send me a message, I'll reply soon.
Oh she so bad (so bad) got 'em all shook (all shook)
She's very attractive and everyone's intimidated.
Say she wanna ball, she get the hardwood (get the hardwood)
She wants to play basketball.
Oh yeah she super dope (super dope), I'm still high (still high)
She's amazing and I'm still feeling the effects of the drugs.
I can't even tell you what this feels like (I can't) (feels like)
I can't clearly articulate how I'm feeling.
Oh, oh, real life (real life) wake up every morning and I feel high (live up)
This is real life, and every day I wake up feeling intoxicated.
I got a bitch in the projects, yeah, she faithful and honest
I have a partner who lives in the projects and is loyal.
Never went to college, she got collagen in her body
She didn't go to college but has had collagen injections.
You don't need that type of knowledge when you pretty and polished
You don't need an education when you're beautiful.
She don't even drive a car but she been racking up mileage (yeah)
She doesn't have a car but has still travelled a lot.
I got everything, lows, highs, she worth anything
I have everything and my partner is valuable to me.
Told her, "Hold tight, go light with them heavy things"
I told her to take it easy and not stress over weighty issues.
I'm not what you need, can't front
I'm not the emotional support you require, I can't lie about that.
Back up, baby, I got what you want (what you want!) (Yeah)
Move back, I have the material possessions you're after.
I got what you want
Again, I have what you desire.
I got what you want
Repeat of the earlier statement.
I got what you want
Repeat of the earlier statement.
I got what you want
Repeat of the earlier statement.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Faris Al-Majed, Henry Walter, Navraj Goraya, Richard Munoz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-vx9jk5xo4t
[Intro: Aaliyah]
There, now hold me close
There, now hold me close
There, now hold me close
There, now hold me close
There, now hold me close
There, now hold me close
[Verse 1: The Weeknd]
I just want to take you there
He don't gotta know where
Does he touch you here like this?
Let me take the friction from your lips
[Hook: The Weeknd]
And I'mma love you girl, the way you need
Ain't no one gon' stop us, ain't no one gon' stop us
And I'm gon' give you girl, what you fiend
I'm the drug in your veins, just fight through the pain
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
[Verse 2: The Weeknd]
I got everything you want with me
I do everything he does times three
And he don't gotta know
I got you on the floor, doing things you never thought you'd do
Baby, leave them high heel shoes
Cause I love it when you're looking down at me, I'm looking up at you
And I don't give a damn shorty, watch me knock your boots off
[Hook: The Weeknd]
And I'mma love you girl, the way you need
Ain't no one gon' stop us, ain't no one gon' stop us
And I'm gon' give you girl, what you fiend
I'm the drug in your veins, just fight through the pain
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
@NanaSilander
I just want to take you there
He don't gotta know where
Does he touch you here like this, this, this, this?
Let me take the friction from your lips (Ooh, woah)
And I'ma love you girl
The way you need
Ain't no one gon' stop us
Ain't no one gon' stop us
And I'm gon' give you girl
What you fiend
I'm the drug in your veins
Just fight through the pain
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I got everything you want with me
I do everything he does times three
And he don't gotta know
I got you on the floor
Doin' things you never thought you'd do
Baby, leave them high heel shoes
'Cause I love it when you're looking down at me
I'm looking up at you
And I don't give a damn shorty
Watch me knock your boots off
And I'ma love you girl
The way you need
Ain't no one gon' stop us
Ain't no one gon' stop us
And I'm gon' give you girl
What you fiend
I'm the drug in your veins
Just fight through the pain
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
He's what you want, he's what you want
He's what you want, he's what you want
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
I'm what you need, what you need, what you need
Woah
Woah, woah, woah
Woah-oh-oh, oh-woah, ah-ah
@domthevisionary4035
I remember when he was unknown. Like nobody knew what he looked like. I remember when his music was for the underground. Dark. Emotional. Drugs. Euphoria. 10 years later I wouldn’t have guessed this for him but I’m glad he’s successfully a star.
@bchild10
Me too he purposely wouldn’t be in his videos for longest
@CleanLogo
"Dark. Emotional. Drugs. Euphoria." and thats why hes famous.
@jaydevvadodaria6628
Yes, he said he never did interviews or wanted to show his face as he wanted to be known for his music and nothing else.
@d0wnward_sp1ral
I remember an old picture of him standing in a creepy looking hallway, leaning against the wall. That's one of my favorite photos of him so far.
@jhonnyhernandez7283
Man tell me about it. Thanks to drake he got a little more known but he had great songs before drake.
@JeanPierreBro
The old Weeknd was something else man
@valuvv
MidnightMagnolia Fr
@Nebdev
For real
@bakercorps
Frosted