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).
Ghetto Boy
Tinashe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slipping in and out 'til I see you
Don't wake me 'til I'm holding you
Still shaking from the fear of waking
I don't wanna live without you
I don't wanna live without you
Can I keep us locked in my room
I was running through the meadows
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
Come and see me in the shadows
I've been waiting in the corners for you
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Look around and see that we're alone
Don't you think it's time you noticed
This is everything that's waiting for you
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Lights shine in an instant
It makes it clearer to see you
For a moment its been overdue
But then I see just what I'm missing and know
I don't want to live without you
(No without you baby)
I don't want to live without you
Can I keep us locked in my room
Can I keep us locked in my room
I was running through the meadows
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
Come and see me in the shadows
I've been waiting in the corners for you
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Look around and see that we're alone
Don't you think it's time you noticed
This is everything that's waiting for you
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
No one needs to ever know
Just how deep our feelings go
No one's gonna tell them nothing
Nothing's gonna keep me from running, oh
I was running through the meadows
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
Come see me in the shadows
I've been waiting in the corners for you
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Look around and see that we're alone
Don't you think its time you noticed
This is everything that's waiting for you
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
The lyrics to Tinashe's "Ghetto Boy" depict a strong sense of longing and desire for a deep and intimate connection with someone. The song conveys a feeling of drifting and slipping, perhaps reflecting a state of uncertainty or disconnection the singer experiences when they are not with this person. They yearn for the comfort and security of being held by the person they love, while simultaneously being afraid of the vulnerability that comes with fully waking up to reality.
The chorus, "I don't wanna live without you, can I keep us locked in my room," speaks to the singer's desire to keep this connection with the person they love safe and protected, almost as if they want to create a bubble where the outside world cannot intrude. The lyrics suggest that the singer believes that this person is worth noticing and that they are everything the person needs, reassuring them that nobody will hurt them or do things for them the way they will.
The repetition of the line "I was running through the meadows with my ghetto boy" adds a sense of freedom and carefreeness to the relationship, suggesting that when they are together, they experience a deep happiness and joy. The overall message of the song seems to be about the power of love and the fear of losing it, as well as the desire to keep it hidden and protected from the outside world.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing I can say while I'm drifting
I'm at a loss for words as I am lost in my thoughts
Slipping in and out 'til I see you
Moving in and out of consciousness until I catch a glimpse of you
Don't wake me 'til I'm holding you
Please let me stay asleep until I am able to embrace you
Still shaking from the fear of waking
I'm still trembling with the apprehension of facing reality
I don't wanna live without you
I cannot imagine a life without you
Can I keep us locked in my room
Can I confine us within the safety and intimacy of my own space
I was running through the meadows
I was running freely through open fields
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
With my beloved, who comes from a different background
Come and see me in the shadows
Meet me secretly in hidden places
I've been waiting in the corners for you
I have been patiently anticipating your arrival in the unnoticed spaces
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Hey, darling, raise your head and look around
Look around and see that we're alone
Take a look and realize that it's just us here
Don't you think it's time you noticed
Don't you think it's about time you became aware
This is everything that's waiting for you
This is all the love and happiness that is patiently awaiting your acknowledgment
Lights shine in an instant
Bright lights suddenly illuminate the surroundings
It makes it clearer to see you
It becomes easier to see and perceive you
For a moment, it's been overdue
For a brief moment, I realize that this connection should have happened earlier
But then I see just what I'm missing and know
But then I realize what I have been lacking and understand
No one needs to ever know
There is no need for anyone else to know
Just how deep our feelings go
The intensity of our emotions is something only we need to comprehend
No one's gonna tell them nothing
No one will be able to reveal our secrets
Nothing's gonna keep me from running, oh
Nothing will prevent me from pursuing this connection
Come see me in the shadows
Visit me discreetly in the obscured areas
Don't you think it's time you noticed
Isn't it high time for you to become aware
This is everything that's waiting for you
This encompasses all the love and opportunities that await you
What you say? What you say?
Tell me, what do you have to say? What are your thoughts?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
You will be safe, nobody will harm you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
Nobody else will take care of this for you
What you say? What you say?
Tell me, what do you say? What is your response?
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Devonte Hynes, Nicola Maria Roberts, Scott David Hoffman, Tinashe Kachingwe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stocking Anarchy
Ghetto Boy"
Nothing I can say while I'm drifting
Slipping in and out 'til I see you
Don't wake me 'til I'm holding you
Still shaking from the fear of waking
I don't wanna live without you
I don't wanna live without you
Can I keep us locked in my room
Can I keep us locked in my room
I was running through the meadows
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
Come and see me in the shadows
I've been waiting in the corners for you
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Look around and see that we're alone
Don't you think it's time you noticed
This is everything that's waiting for you
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Lights shine in an instant
It makes it clearer to see you
For a moment its been overdue
But then I see just what I'm missing and know
I don't want to live without you
(No without you baby)
I don't want to live without you
Can I keep us locked in my room
Can I keep us locked in my room
I was running through the meadows
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
Come and see me in the shadows
I've been waiting in the corners for you
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Look around and see that we're alone
Don't you think it's time you noticed
This is everything that's waiting for you
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
No one needs to ever know
Just how deep our feelings go
No one's gonna tell them nothing
Nothing's gonna keep me from running, oh
I was running through the meadows
Through the meadows with my ghetto boy
Come see me in the shadows
I've been waiting in the corners for you
Come on, baby, lift your head up
Look around and see that we're alone
Don't you think its time you noticed
This is everything that's waiting for you
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Nobody's gonna do this for you
What you say? What you say?
Sabin Bik
There are a lot of ppl in this world that would appreciate her music, but they didn't discover her :(
Alraune
That was me until this year, discovered her July this year, been obsessed since, went to her Concert for 333 and have listened to her entire discography lol
More people will catch up soon, i hope.
Robb Jonnson
we cant save em all.. some will burn lol
Music Snob
Only the real ones were guided to find this 🙏🏿
sam bestie
or they just base her off her most popular songs and not her underrated gems ;(
Tiara W
Sabin Bik seriously
Kadence
my favorite one😍
M
Same
Xavier Black-Wiley
When she drippin in 2021 🤔🤔🙏🙏🙏
Saira _
I will never understand why she is so underrated. Pure talent. This is sooo good.