Cold Sweat
Tinashe Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I like being alone
I'm out here, spend plenty of time on your own
'Cause the city ain't kind, other people who sign up
For judgin' but I can't take no
Complacent, this ain't a place to be making friends
They all got agendas these eyes on your back, hands on your neck
Thinkin' I've been fienin' for a taste of this shit
Seem so thirsty, smell fresh meat in the air (blood in the floor)
So the real test, after breakfast
We'll see who's to be here

This pressure ain't for everybody
Why you ain't so heavy on my body, body

Spine, shivers, eyes, met
Head, in it, heart, set
Cold, on my mind, yeah
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat

Can't choose the situation and friend
Always got to co-sign, everything's a ten
Damn I hate a yes man
I know while this buzzing gotta be ringing in your ear
One thing I forgotten, you was always here
Tell me where was you last year?
And I doubt you was last here
It's your last year

This pressure ain't for everybody
Why you ain't so heavy on my body, body

Spine, shivers, eyes, met
Head, in it, heart, set
Cold, on my mind, yeah
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat

(No no no no no no no no, uh uh uh uh uh ooh ooh uh uh)

Bodies dripping

Wish it was goodbye
Time for me to accept a few of my hands are tied
Like to dine in the lights on us tonight
Don't trip, everything will end up just fine

The summers they ain't the same
These lovers they ain't the game
These feeling, they don't mean nothing
These ceilings can keep the pain
Explanations you say I deserve it
Why after all this time I'm finally worth it
Ain't it funny, a power comes with money
And how now I'm out here poppin'
They come back like they're an option
Man this shit is hella scummy
They claimin' that they love me
'Cause they realize that my time is finally comin'
They know it

'Cause my night is young




Moon is high
The stars are all aligned

Overall Meaning

In "Cold Sweat," Tinashe grapples with the isolation and pressure that comes with being a rising star in the music industry. She reflects on the loneliness she feels as she spends a lot of time alone, recognizing that this is necessary to avoid the judgment and agendas of people around her who only want to use her for their own gain. Tinashe is aware of how the industry works, with its tendency to chew up and spit out its stars. The pressure is not for everybody, and Tinashe questions why others around her do not feel the weight that she does. She is also aware that some people in her life only want to be around her now that she is successful, and she does not trust their motives. The song ends on a hopeful note, however, as Tinashe acknowledges that everything will end up fine; even though the pressure is high and the game is rough, the stars are aligned and the night is young.


One interesting fact about "Cold Sweat" is that it was written by Tinashe and her longtime collaborator Joel Compass, along with Paul Phamous and Vasco. The song was co-produced by Ritz Reynolds and Vasco, with additional production from Sasha Sirota. "Cold Sweat" is the third track on Tinashe's sophomore album, Joyride, which was released in 2018. The song was not released as a single, but it received critical acclaim as one of the standout tracks on the album. Other notable tracks on Joyride include "No Drama" featuring Offset and "Ooh La La," which features guest vocals from French Montana.


Another interesting fact about "Cold Sweat" is that Tinashe has said that the song was inspired by a short story she read about a woman who was kidnapped and held captive for 10 years. Tinashe was struck by how the woman described feeling both frozen and on fire at the same time, which she felt was a powerful metaphor for the pressure and anxiety she was feeling as a rising star in the music industry. In an interview with Rap-Up, Tinashe said, "The contrast of feeling cold and feeling hot and feeling nervous and feeling on fire and wanting to go for it but also feeling frozen and petrified, I felt like that encapsulated the whole creative process of making the record".


Line by Line Meaning

I like being alone
I prefer my own company over others'


I'm out here, spend plenty of time on your own
I often spend time by myself


'Cause the city ain't kind, other people who sign up
The city life isn't friendly, and people have hidden motives


For judgin' but I can't take no
I cannot tolerate being judged


Complacent, this ain't a place to be making friends
I'm comfortable by myself here, and it's not an ideal place to form friendships


They all got agendas these eyes on your back, hands on your neck
People have their own motives, and they're keeping a close watch on me


Thinkin' I've been fienin' for a taste of this shit
They're assuming I want something from them


Seem so thirsty, smell fresh meat in the air (blood in the floor)
They are thirsty for something new, and they're ready to pounce


So the real test, after breakfast
The actual challenge comes after the easy part


We'll see who's to be here
We'll find out who is committed to staying


This pressure ain't for everybody
This level of intensity can't be handled by all


Why you ain't so heavy on my body, body
Why aren't you putting much pressure on me?


Spine, shivers, eyes, met
I get chills, and my eyes meet someone else's gaze intensely


Head, in it, heart, set
I am focused on it with my mind, and I am determined with my emotions


Cold, on my mind, yeah
I am calculating and cautious


Ice dripping, cold sweat
I am nervous and anxious


Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
I am trembling and extremely anxious


Can't choose the situation and friend
I can't pick the perfect scenario and true friends always


Always got to co-sign, everything's a ten
I always have to agree and everything always has to be perfect


Damn I hate a yes man
I cannot tolerate someone who doesn't have their own opinion


I know while this buzzing gotta be ringing in your ear
I'm aware this must feel overwhelming to you


One thing I forgotten, you was always here
The one thing I forgot is that you have always been here with me


Tell me where was you last year?
Can you tell me where you were last year and why you weren't here?


And I doubt you was last here
I doubt you were present here last time


It's your last year
This is your last chance


The summers they ain't the same
The summers don't feel the continue the same way


These lovers they ain't the game
These relationships don't feel the same way as before


These feeling, they don't mean nothing
These emotions don't hold any importance or significance


These ceilings can keep the pain
These limitations and obstacles can only add to the problems


Explanations you say I deserve it
You provide justifications by stating that I have brought it upon myself


Why after all this time I'm finally worth it
You wonder why after all these years, you feel that I am deserving


Ain't it funny, a power comes with money
It's ironic that with wealth and power comes control


And how now I'm out here poppin'
Now that I am successful, I am popular and relevant


They come back like they're an option
They come back, now that I am important, treating me like an option


Man this shit is hella scummy
This is bad and unclean


They claimin' that they love me
They're saying they love me


'Cause they realize that my time is finally comin'
They've now realized that I'm finally getting successful


They know it
They understand it


Moon is high
The moon is very high in the sky


The stars are all aligned
Everything has come together perfectly




Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Matthew Samuels, Tinashe Kachingwe, Joshua Scruggs, Kai Asa Savon Wright

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

@imaanhammam8220

I like being alone
I'm out here, spend plenty of time on your own
'Cause the city ain't kind, other people who sign up
For judgin' but I can't take no
Complacent, this ain't a place to be making friends
They all got agendas these eyes on your back, hands on your neck
Thinkin' I've been fienin' for a taste of this shit
Seem so thirsty, smell fresh meat in the air (blood in the floor)
So the real test, after breakfast
We'll see who's to be here
This pressure ain't for everybody
Why you ain't so heavy on my body, body
Spine, shivers, eyes, met
Head, in it, heart, set
Cold, on my mind, yeah
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Can't choose the situation and friend
Always got to co-sign, everything's a ten
Damn I hate a yes man
I know while this buzzing gotta be ringing in your ear
One thing I forgotten, you was always here
Tell me where was you last year?
And I doubt you was last here
It's your last year
This pressure ain't for everybody
Why you ain't so heavy on my body, body
Spine, shivers, eyes, met
Head, in it, heart, set
Cold, on my mind, yeah
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice, Ice dripping, cold sweat
Ice dripping, cold sweat
Bodies dripping
Wish it was goodbye
Time for me to accept a few of my hands are tied
Like to dine in the lights on us tonight
Don't trip, everything will end up just fine
The summers they ain't the same
These lovers they ain't the game
These feeling, they don't mean nothing
These ceilings can keep the pain
Explanations you say I deserve it
Why after all this time I'm finally worth it
Ain't it funny, a power comes with money
And how now I'm out here poppin'
They come back like they're an option
Man this shit is hella scummy
They claimin' that they love me
'Cause they realize that my time is finally comin'
They know it
'Cause my night is young
Moon is high
The stars are all aligned



@Luna-wm4rc

The summers they ain't the same
These lovers they ain't the game
These feeling, they don't mean nothing
These ceilings can keep the pain
Explanations you say I deserve it
Why after all this time I'm finally worth it
Ain't it funny, a power comes with money
And how now I'm out here poppin
They come back like they're an option
Man this shit is hella scummy
They claiming that they love me
Cause they realize that my time is finally coming
They know it
Cause my night is young
Moon is high
The stars are all, alligned



All comments from YouTube:

@Faceof_justice

When she said “I like being alone” I felt that !💯💯💯

@jamesrambo728

Your not alone

@kendrawilliams198

Me too being alone doesn't bother me .

@shimeih2287

Being alone is the best. Noone to bother you...

@CreativeSTS

That hit different under quarantine

@maxbrown9335

Wow

44 More Replies...

@BlackGirlWithSocialAnxiety

I feel like this is who she really is musically but she makes the 'pop' songs just to keep her label happy and for popularity reasons, loving this futuristic r&b sound.

@ashfaqmughal4877

puno266

@JohnnyOutlaw100

puno266 no, she actually loves pop music and that is why she makes it. she doesn't want to limit herself to just r&b. that's why she was so stoked to work w britney.

@KA-hc9un

But you can see more of someone's soul in R&B than in pop, that's where more of her mature audience is probably at and as someone who has been a fan since the beginning she started out with R&B so I understand branching out.

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