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).
Stranger
Tinashe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where's my one in a billion?
Would you even notice me
Five floors down in the building?
Holdin' on to my fantasies
Find that right kinda healin'
I know you're out there somewhere
With me, myself and I
But I love someone to love
Even if just for the night
I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine
With me myself and I
But I love somebody else
To turn off all the lights
Right now I'm missin' a stranger
I crave that imaginary touch
Didn't know I could miss a stranger
This much, this much
Now I couldn't put your face on paper
But I could almost taste you
Couldn't put your face on paper
But right now I'm missin' a stranger
I crave that imaginary touch so much
Swear I heard your name in my dreams
I forget by the morning
Swear I can smell you on my sheets
Hear you shower in the morning
Holding on to my fantasies
Trying to cure the lonely
I know you're out there somewhere
I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine
With me, myself and I (me, myself and I)
But I love someone to love
Even if just for the night
I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine
With me, myself and I (me, myself and I)
But I love somebody else
To turn off all the lights
Right now I'm missin' a stranger (I'm missin' you)
I crave that imaginary touch
Didn't know I could miss a stranger
This much, this much (this much)
No I couldn't put your face on paper
But I could almost taste you
Couldn't put your face on paper
But now I'm missin' a stranger
I crave that imaginary touch so much
Yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I know you're out there somewhere (yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I know you're out there somewhere
Right now I'm missin' a stranger
I crave that imaginary touch
Didn't know I could miss a stranger
This much, this much
Right now I'm missin' a stranger
I crave that imaginary touch
Didn't know I could miss a stranger
This much (oh yeah, oh yeah)
This much (oh yeah, oh yeah, this much)
No I couldn't put your face on paper
But I could almost taste you
Couldn't put your face on paper (no)
Right now I'm missin' a stranger
I crave that imaginary touch so much
I know you're out there
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
I know you're out there somewhere
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
In Tinashe's song "Stranger," the lyrics explore the longing for a connection with someone who is not yet known or familiar. The singer expresses a desire to encounter someone special, someone who stands out from the crowd, even if it's just for a brief moment. The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and the need for companionship, as the singer admits to being fine on their own but yearns for the presence and touch of another person.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's yearning for this unknown person, describing them as a "stranger" with whom they have an imaginary connection. The singer confesses that they cannot picture the stranger's face clearly but can almost taste their presence. This represents a deep longing for an emotional and physical connection.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of fantasy and yearning for something more. The singer mentions hearing the stranger's name in their dreams and even smelling them on their sheets, further emphasizing their intense longing. The lyrics suggest that this longing is an attempt to cure their loneliness and find solace in the idea of someone out there who can bring them comfort and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever pass you by on the street
Have we ever crossed paths randomly on the street?
Where's my one in a billion?
Where is the unique and special person meant for me?
Would you even notice me
Would you even acknowledge my presence?
Five floors down in the building?
If I were five floors below you in a building, would you still notice me?
Holdin' on to my fantasies
I'm clinging onto my dreams and desires
Find that right kinda healin'
I long to discover the healing power of finding the right person
I know you're out there somewhere
Deep down, I believe that you exist somewhere
I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine
I may appear okay, but deep down I'm struggling
With me, myself and I
I can handle being alone with just myself
But I love someone to love
Yet, I yearn for someone to love and be loved by
Even if just for the night
Even if it's just a temporary connection
Right now I'm missin' a stranger
Currently, I am longing for an unknown person
I crave that imaginary touch
I desire the sensation of a touch that only exists in my imagination
Didn't know I could miss a stranger
I didn't realize I could feel such longing for someone I've never met
This much, this much
To this extent, to such a degree
Swear I heard your name in my dreams
I strongly believe I heard your name in my dreams
I forget by the morning
But by morning, the memory fades
Swear I can smell you on my sheets
I genuinely believe I can detect your scent on my bedding
Hear you shower in the morning
I even imagine hearing you showering in the morning
Trying to cure the lonely
I'm attempting to alleviate my loneliness
Yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of affirmation and agreement
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
A melodic reinforcement of affirmation
Right now I'm missin' a stranger (I'm missin' you)
At this moment, I am longing for the presence of someone I don't even know (I miss you)
But now I'm missin' a stranger
However, at present, I yearn for an unknown individual
I crave that imaginary touch so much
I intensely desire the feeling of an imagined touch
No I couldn't put your face on paper
I am unable to accurately depict your face on paper
But I could almost taste you
But I can almost imagine the sensation of tasting you
Right now I'm missin' a stranger
Currently, I long for the presence of someone unknown to me
I crave that imaginary touch so much
I strongly desire the feeling of a touch that only exists in my imagination
I know you're out there
Deep down, I have faith that you exist
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
An expression of affirmation and belief
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tinashe Jorgenson Kachingwe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arsheia Davis
I love her 😩😍😍
6Rn-colin
love this unreleased single so much, it make me thinking of my crush😞
Bored 123—
why isn’t Tinashe releasing any music, I miss her :(
Divine and Blessed
She's acting at the moment in a musical called 'Rent' but she said she might be releasing an album this year
truthseeker07
I miss you making videos for Tinashe you have the best fanmade videos I've seen! Please make more in the future!
SuperChiko4000
This is a beautiful song 👋👋👋
Nate
Thank you so much Nashe for leaking these
Ahmad Yousif
Nice like rollin dice!
Elizabeth Morris
💋