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).
Joyride
Tinashe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you lookin' at now baby?
Won't you use your mind, oh
I been on a long ride, baby
Can't do a sober drive, no
Found love in November nights
Cold weather in the winter time, oh, woah
Let's go on a little joyride, oh
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Tell me what you lookin' at baby?
Been in this club for a long time, no
Need another shot now baby (la, la)
Roll another joint, let go
I been rock and rollin' with my ex (living)
We be gettin' closer to the x (living)
We be always poppin' like the ex (living)
Crossin' out the haters with the x (living)
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Tell me what you're lookin' at, oh (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Let's go on a little joyride, oh (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Let's go on a little joyride (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Let's go on a little, on a little
Whoa
Let's go on a little joyride
Don't watch me
Don't watch me
Don't watch me
Don't watch me
Don't watch me
Don't watch me
Don't watch me
Don't stop lookin' at me
Livin' life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin' life, la, la, la (free my inhibitions in the seasons)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin' life, la, la, la (this is what adventure's made of)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Ain't lookin' back on the old me
No more waitin' 'round for a sign
'Cause my life is mine
Livin' life
It's a joyride
The song "Joyride" by Tinashe is a pop-R&B anthem about living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest. The first verse talks about finding love on cold November nights and knowing when the time is right to go on a joyride. The second verse describes being in a club for a long time and needing another shot or joint to let go and enjoy the moment. The chorus emphasizes the theme of living life to the fullest with the repeated phrase "living life la, la, la" before leading into the titular phrase's repetition, "let's go on a little joyride."
The bridge of the song takes a turn and repeats "don't watch me" before leading back into the chorus's repetition, stating that the singer is not looking back on the old version of themselves and is instead focusing on living life in the present.
Overall, the song is about living life in the moment and embracing adventure, with joyriding as a metaphor for taking the reins of one's own life and enjoying the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Introducing the start of the song
What you lookin' at now baby?
Asking the person to stop staring and start thinking
Won't you use your mind, oh
Continuing the request to think for themselves
I been on a long ride, baby
Acknowledging the long journey of the artist’s life
Can't do a sober drive, no
Admitting that it’s hard to travel through life without certain substances
Found love in November nights
Expressing that love can be found at any time
Cold weather in the winter time, oh, woah
Describing the harsh realities of winter weather
Guess you know when the time is right
Trusting in the power of intuition to make the right choice
Let's go on a little joyride, oh
Proposing the idea of taking an exciting journey
Living life la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Expressing joy and the carefree nature of life
Tell me what you lookin' at baby?
Repeating the question from earlier to reiterate the importance of thinking for oneself
Been in this club for a long time, no
Acknowledging that they've spent a long time in a certain environment
Need another shot now baby (la, la)
Suggesting that they need something to loosen up and enjoy themselves
Roll another joint, let go
Advocating for the relaxing quality of marijuana to let go of stress
I been rock and rollin' with my ex (living)
Relating their experience of living with an ex while still enjoying life
We be gettin' closer to the x (living)
Suggesting that they're trying to move on from their ex and live life better
We be always poppin' like the ex (living)
Relating experiences of having good times and the ‘popping’ quality of their life like they had with their ex
Crossin' out the haters with the x (living)
Making sure that they enjoy life to thee fullest by leaving behind people who don't want them to thrive
Don't watch me
Avoiding detractors who might take away from their own happiness
Don't stop lookin' at me
Asking people to view their success rather than attempting to take it away
Ain't lookin' back on the old me
Deciding to move forward rather than dwelling in the past
No more waitin' 'round for a sign
Being proactive and deciding to take life into own hands
'Cause my life is mine
Empowering themselves to take control of their own destiny
It's a joyride
Expressing the happiness and thrill that comes with living life to the fullest
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Allen Ritter, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Robyn Fenty, Tinashe Kachingwe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vinícius Massalai
JOYRIDE LYRICS
[Intro]
Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh
[Verse 1]
What you lookin’ at now baby?
Won't you use your own mind, oh
I’ve been all alone, right baby
Can't do a sober drive, no
Fall in love in November nights
Cold weather in the winter time, oh
Guess you know when the time is right
Let’s go on a little joyride, oh
[Chorus]
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
[Verse 2]
Tell me what you’re lookin’ at baby
Been in this club for a long time, no
Need another shot now baby
Rollin’ out a joint, let go
I been rock n’ rollin’ with my ex
We’ve been gettin’ closer to the X
We be always poppin’ like the X
Crossing out the haters with a X
[Chorus]
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
[Bridge]
Tell me what you’re lookin’ at, oh (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Let’s go on a little joyride, oh (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Let’s go on a little joyride (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Woah
Let’s go on a little, on a little
Woah
Let’s go on a little joyride
Don’t watch me
Don’t watch me
Don’t watch me
Don’t watch me
Don’t watch me
Don’t watch me
Don’t watch me
Don’t stop lookin’ at me
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Free my inhibitions and decisions
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
This is what adventure's made of
Livin’ life, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
[Outro]
Ain't looking back on the old me
No more waiting round for a sign
It’s my life, it’s mine
Livin’ life
It's a joyride
Son of Jesus
She really nailed the low vocals.
darthestaaar
@Victoria Lpb lmfao at this comment, clearly not rih rih
not andi
That’s what she does 😌🤍
King Of Kings
@chum🤎 this is not Rihanna this is tinashe.
Aubrey_ Reignz
@Paris Throne it’s not. It’s tinashe voice but the Rihanna influence is clear. Trust me I’m a huge Rihanna fan I know Rihanna’s voice from afar she has a very distinctive voice but these vocals here are tinashe’s for sure.
Adds X
The vocal arrangement on this is SYCK! She did that!
Laika G6
I can totally hear why Rihanna wanted this song
Brando Pike
@annie yes the demo of this song with travis scott was circulating on YT and SC for like 3 years before the oficial released
E
Not even two seconds in I heard Rihanna
Ti 438
@annie JOYRIDE was meant to be released I. 2016, and at the time where this was meant to be released Travis scott was trying to sell this song to rihanna at the time because he is a writer on the song