Between 2007 and 2011, Tinashe was a member of the girl group the Stunners. Following their disbandment, she released the positively-reviewed self-recorded mixtapes In Case We Die (2012) and Reverie (2012). Following their success, Tinashe signed with RCA Records and released her third mixtape, Black Water (2013). Her debut single, "2 On" (featuring Schoolboy Q; produced by Mustard), reached number one on the Rhythmic airplay chart, and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] Her debut studio album, Aquarius (2014), was noted by music critics as one of the most "solid" debuts by a new female artist in years. The album garnered her nominations for Soul Train and BET Awards.[5] Her collaboration with Snakehips and Chance the Rapper, "All My Friends", won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2016.[6] The same year, Tinashe appeared on Britney Spears' single "Slumber Party", which topped Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. Tinashe's second studio album, Nightride (2016), reached number eight on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the US. Joyride (2018), her third studio album, peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached number six on the UK R&B Albums chart. After departing RCA, Tinashe independently released the albums Songs for You (2019), 333 (2021) and BB/Ang3l (2023).
Bated Breath
Tinashe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would it still hurt you?
Would you still feel the same?
Said its impossible-possible
So impossible
But you're still waiting on the moment breath is bated
I wish I could hold you, I can't take it
I'm too faded
Praying that tomorrow I'll be braver
Maybe I can tell you, maybe we can do this
Kisses on my forehead we can fall into it
Love you like the rain, falls much faster
Living in a piece of ever after
Forever after
Living in the piece of ever after
Ever after, ever after
If you will you have me
I'll make you happy
Need someone to whom I can belong
Here's my confession
Saving it special
Hoped it would be you all along
All along
But you're still waiting on the moment breath is bated
I wish I could hold you, I can't take it
Tell you all my secrets
I'm too faded
Praying that tomorrow I'll be braver
Maybe I can tell you, maybe we can do this
Kisses on my forehead we can fall into it
Love you like the rain, falls much faster
Living in a piece of ever after
The lyrics of Tinashe's song "Bated Breath" are filled with longing and uncertainty about love. The artist is singing about a deep desire to share her secrets with someone special, hoping that they will reciprocate her love. However, she is also fearful of being vulnerable, and is waiting for the right moment when her breath is bated to make her move. She wishes she could hold this person and reveal everything to them, but she is too faded from the weight of her emotions. The artist then makes an offer to be someone's special, hoping that they can share a piece of ever after together.
The lyrics of the song express the kind of emotions that come with a budding relationship, where the possibility of heartbreak is just as real as the prospect of blissful happiness. It's a feeling that everyone can relate to, one where they want to pour their hearts out to someone, but are too afraid of the consequences. The phrase "breath is bated" suggests that the artist is holding her breath, waiting for the right moment when everything will fall into place. This creates a sense of tension and anticipation throughout the song, as the artist's emotions ebb and flow.
Overall, Tinashe's "Bated Breath" is a powerful ode to the complexities of love, desire and fear. It speaks to the part of us that wants to be completely open and vulnerable, and yet is afraid of the consequences. The artist's raw emotions are captured perfectly in the song, making it a deeply personal and relatable experience for listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
What if I told you that it was all in vain?
Asking if it would matter if she told the truth
Would it still hurt you?
Asking if the truth would still be painful
Would you still feel the same?
Asking if the feelings would be unchanged
Said its impossible-possible
Acknowledging that something seems impossible, but still hoping for it
So impossible
Reiterating the difficulty of the situation
But you're still waiting on the moment breath is bated
Describing the anticipation for a significant moment
I wish I could hold you, I can't take it
Expressing desire to physically comfort the person
Tell you all my secrets
Wishing to share innermost thoughts and feelings
I'm too faded
Admitting to feeling exhausted and emotionally drained
Praying that tomorrow I'll be braver
Hoping to find courage to face a difficult situation
Maybe I can tell you, maybe we can do this
Hoping for a positive outcome from the confession
Kisses on my forehead we can fall into it
Describing a romantic moment shared with the person
Love you like the rain, falls much faster
Expressing deep affection that is strong and fast like rain
Living in a piece of ever after
Wishing to live in a happily ever after scenario
Forever after
Hoping for a love that lasts forever
If you will you have me
Offering herself to the person
I'll make you happy
Promising to bring happiness to their relationship
Need someone to whom I can belong
Describing a desire for a deep emotional connection with someone
Here's my confession
Announcing that she has something important to reveal
Saving it special
Keeping the confession as something significant and meaningful
Hoped it would be you all along
Admitting to having feelings for the person for a long time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brent Reynolds, Tinashe Kachingwe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BrandonLesleeTV
Tinashe takes matter into her own hands with her brand new video for “Bated Breath,” off her debut album Aquarius. The nearly nine-minute clip was shot in the Mojave Desert with videographer Stephen Garnett.
“It was pretty DIY,” Tinashe told W Magazine of the five-hour shoot. “It wasn’t a big production or anything.”
The label didn’t finance the video, so she decided to produce it herself. “I don’t like to sit around waiting for people to do things for me,” she said. “So when I know my label’s not going to produce music videos, I’ll either make them myself or I’ll find people that I think are cool and reach out to them directly. I’m like, ‘Fuck it. I’ll just do it.’”
She forwent the big-budget luxuries and roughed it. “You have to fix your own hair, there’s no catering, and there’s no bathroom, but the challenges became benefits in this case, because they made the video a whole lot grungier. I was incredibly dirty, really dragging myself through the dirt. And it wasn’t like I could shower before I had to drive home.”
Tinashe will join Iggy Azalea on her “Great Escape Tour,” which kicks off April 14 in Fresno, Calif.
@karolinape3673
Lyrics
What if I told you that it was all in vain?
Would it still hurt you?
Would you still feel the same?
Said its impossible-possible
So impossible
But you're still waiting on the moment breath is bated
I wish I could hold you, I can't take it
Tell you all my secrets
I'm too faded
Praying that tomorrow I'll be braver
Maybe I can tell you, maybe we can do this
Kisses on my forehead we can fall into it
Love you like the rain, falls much faster
Living in a piece of ever after
Forever after
Living in the piece of ever after
Ever after, ever after
If you will you have me
I'll make you happy
Need someone to whom I can belong
Here's my confession
Saving it special
Hoped it would be you all along
All along
But you're still waiting on the moment breath is bated
I wish I could hold you, I can't take it
Tell you all my secrets
I'm too faded
Praying that tomorrow I'll be braver
Maybe I can tell you, maybe we can do this
Kisses on my forehead we can fall into it
Love you like the rain, falls much faster
Living in a piece of ever after
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Brent Reynolds / Tinashe Kachingwe
@Aurorarose911
It's crazy how your thoughts and feelings can attract you to certain explanations in life. This is how I've been feeling about a particular someone for 3 years, and I've been a big Tinashe fan for about 1 year now, and I didn't even process that this song is sort of about wanting to tell someone you love them but standing in fear that they won't love you back, so you create a place in your mind where you can both share each other's love and happiness. It's like a mental tugger war. You are constantly fighting with yourself over an idea. An idea that love could exist between yourself and the one you love, but your uncertainty anchors you to the ground. You feel alone, lost, bottled up. This song in every aspect, demonstrates the feeling, the sound, and the thoughts that come with your internal struggle. It makes you feel how you would feel when you're struggling to tell that one person, that you love them more than anything or anyone in your lifetime. And that is a feeling that is so rarely demonstrated with such accuracy. I have never been so in love with an artist - her creativity, poetical lyrics, down to earth attitude, ambition, energy, it brings so much raw truth about the music industry, love, and life itself. I love you Tinashe. Thank you.
@Bmp1112
+rose crystal123 I am OBSESSED with your comment. So on point and you explained exactly how this feels for me. "But you're still waiting on the moment..." Such a horrible rut to be in. Thank you for explaining :)
@Aurorarose911
+Bmp1112 Wow. Thank you so much:) it's so lovely to have such a beautiful yet an unexpected response:) so much love your way, may the best only come♡♡♡ xxx
@rioseville6626
x
@babyphatgirl9o3
beautifully said
@joltik8376
rose crystal123 I think you meant tug of war
@afterglowinrose1267
This song never fails to make me cry. It's best to listen to it with headphones with your eyes closed at night.
@ryancourts2726
I used to do this. But w weed as well
@Faith_Plus_One
Gay
@ruth123x5
This young woman, Tinashe, is what I call an ARTIST. Her cohesive piece of work is a force to be reckoned with. The future of music is right here. Well done girl. You did it again.