Initiation
Weeknd (The) Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh yeah

Got you drinking out them white cups, sodas
All this shit sounds foreign to you, thick smoke, choking
Baby get familiar with the order
Just crack it, then pour it, then sip slow, then tip low
My eyes red but my brim low, that XO, she climbing
Straight to the top, forgettin' why she there in the first place
No more crying, heart rate slow, put that rum down you don't wanna die tonight
I promise, when you’re finished we’ll head to where I’m living
The party won’t finish, it’s a fucking celebration, oh yeah
For my niggas out tonight
Ah, and they high off Shakespeare lines
There's enough to pass around, you don't gotta wait in line
And the clocks don't work, you don't gotta check the time
And the blinds don't work, you don't gotta check the sky
We be going all night, 'til light

I got a test for you
You say you want my heart
Well, baby you can have it all
There's just something that I need from you
Is to meet my boys

You've been going hard, baby
Now you rolling with some big boys, baby
Got a lot you wanna show off, baby
Close that door before you take your fucking clothes off, baby
Don't mind
All my writings on the wall
I thought I passed my peak, and I'm experiencing fall
And all I wanna do is leave 'cause I've been zoning for a week
And I ain't left this little room, trying to concentrate to breathe
'Cause this piff so potent, killing serotonin
In that two floor loft in the middle we be choking
On that all black voodoo, heavy gum chewing
Go on if you testing, baby if you dancing
Grab a cup of that XO, baby I been leaning
Back from the come down, girl I been fiending
For another round, don't you blame it on me
When you're grinding up them teeth
And it's fucking hard to sleep

I got a test for you
You said you want my heart
Well baby you can have it all
There's just something I need from you is to meet my boys
I got a lot of boys
And we can make you right
And if you get too high
Baby come over here and ride it out, ride it out

Work that back til I tire out
Roll that weed, bring that fire out
Taste that lean when you kiss my mouth
Bed so wet when I eat you out
Girl's friend screaming that I'm creeping out
If they're not down, better keep 'em out
Ex-man hollering, keep him out
Hard to let go, I could teach you how
Take a puff of this motherfucking weed for now
Take a shot of this cognac, ease you out
Just one night, trying to fucking leave you out
Baby, baby

I got a test for you
You said you want my heart
Well baby you can have it all
There's just something that I need from you is to meet my boys
I got a lot of boys
And we can make you right
And if you get too high
Baby come over here and ride it out (ooh yeah, ooh yeah, ooh yeah)
Ooh yeah
Come over here and ride it out (ooh yeah, ooh yeah, ooh yeah)
Ooh yeah

(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) oh
(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) ooh
(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) ah yeah
(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) X-O
(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) ooh yeah
(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO)




(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO)
(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO, that)

Overall Meaning

The Weeknd's song, Initiation, is a song about a drug-fueled party with the singer introducing the listener to the culture of the party. The song starts with a person being introduced to the party culture and given instructions on how to prepare and drink the drugs. The lyrics describe the party as a celebration and a chance to forget the reasons why they are at the party in the first place. The singer promises to take the listener home after the party is finished. The chorus talks about how the person interested in the singer must meet his boys to be accepted by the singer. During the song, there is a reference to Shakespeare as people are high off Shakespeare lines.


The second part of the song is about the singer's experiences at the party. The lyrics talk about how potent the drugs are, and how people are smoking so much that they are choking. The singer encourages the listener to participate in the party, take drugs and to meet his boys. At the end of the song, the singer asks the listener to come over and ride out the high while also referencing OVO, a record label co-founded by Canadian artist Drake.


Line by Line Meaning

Got you drinking out them white cups, sodas
The song's narrator has made the listener a drink and they are drinking it from a white cup.


All this shit sounds foreign to you, thick smoke, choking
The atmosphere is unfamiliar to the listener and there is thick smoke that is making them cough.


Baby get familiar with the order
The song's narrator is asking the listener to become more familiar with the way things are done at the party.


Just crack it, then pour it, then sip slow, then tip low
The song's narrator is giving the listener instructions on how to drink the beverage that has been prepared for them.


My eyes red but my brim low, that XO, she climbing
The song's narrator's eyes are red, his hat is low, and the listener, who is drinking alcohol mixed with XO, is becoming more intoxicated.


Straight to the top, forgettin' why she there in the first place
The listener is becoming more intoxicated and is losing sight of the reason for her being at the party in the first place.


No more crying, heart rate slow, put that rum down you don't wanna die tonight
The singer is instructing the listener to stop crying, her heart rate is slowing and she should not drink too much rum as it could be dangerous.


I promise, when you’re finished we’ll head to where I’m living
After the party, the song's narrator promises to take the listener to his home.


The party won’t finish, it’s a fucking celebration, oh yeah
The party will continue at the artist's house, it's a long celebration.


For my niggas out tonight
The song is dedicated to the artist's friends who are out partying with him.


Ah, and they high off Shakespeare lines
The partygoers are under the influence of drugs and are experiencing a heightened state of consciousness.


There's enough to pass around, you don't gotta wait in line
There is an abundance of drugs and alcohol at the party, so no one needs to wait to be served.


And the clocks don't work, you don't gotta check the time
Time has become irrelevant at the party and no one needs to keep track of it.


And the blinds don't work, you don't gotta check the sky
The singer is saying that time of day or night does not matter at the party.


We be going all night, 'til light
The party will continue throughout the night and into the morning.


I got a test for you
The artist is about to challenge the listener to do something.


You say you want my heart
The listener has expressed an interest in the artist's feelings for her.


Well, baby you can have it all
The singer is willing to give the listener his heart.


There's just something that I need from you
The singer has a request to make of the listener.


Is to meet my boys
The artist wants the listener to meet his group of male friends.


You've been going hard, baby
The artist acknowledges that the listener has been partying hard.


Now you rolling with some big boys, baby
The listener is socializing with a group of influential people.


Got a lot you wanna show off, baby
The listener has something to prove and wants to show off in front of the singer and his friends.


Close that door before you take your fucking clothes off, baby
The artist asks the listener to close the door before removing her clothing, to maintain privacy.


All my writings on the wall
The singer has written something on his wall that holds significance for him.


I thought I passed my peak, and I'm experiencing fall
The singer is feeling as though he has reached his peak and now is in decline.


And all I wanna do is leave 'cause I've been zoning for a week
The singer is feeling as though he has been stuck in the same place for too long, and wants to move on.


And I ain't left this little room, trying to concentrate to breathe
The artist has not left his room, where he has been trying to focus on his breathing.


'Cause this piff so potent, killing serotonin
The drugs the artist has been using are very strong and are affecting the levels of serotonin in his brain.


In that two floor loft in the middle we be choking
The singer and his friends are smoking drugs together in a two-story room.


On that all black voodoo, heavy gum chewing
The singer and his friends are using strong drugs and are chewing gum to help cope with the side effects.


Go on if you testing, baby if you dancing
The artist is inviting the listener to join in on the party, either by participating in a test or by dancing.


Grab a cup of that XO, baby I been leaning
The artist asks the listener to have some XO, a type of liquor that he has been drinking and is feeling the effects of.


Back from the come down, girl I been fiending
The artist has come down from the effects of the drugs he has been using and is now wanting more.


For another round, don't you blame it on me
The singer is offering to keep the party going, but does not want to be blamed if the listener becomes too intoxicated.


When you're grinding up them teeth
The listener is grinding her teeth as a side effect of using drugs.


And it's fucking hard to sleep
The side effects of the drugs are making it difficult for the listener to fall asleep.


Work that back til I tire out
The singer wants the listener to dance for him until he is exhausted.


Roll that weed, bring that fire out
The singer asks someone to roll a joint and light it on fire.


Taste that lean when you kiss my mouth
The artist wants the listener to taste a concoction called 'lean' when they kiss.


Bed so wet when I eat you out
The artist implies that the listener is so turned on that her bed is wet when they have sex.


Girl's friend screaming that I'm creeping out
The singer has made one of the listener's friends upset that he is making advances on her.


If they're not down, better keep 'em out
If anyone is not comfortable with the situation, they should leave.


Ex-man hollering, keep him out
The listener's ex-boyfriend is upset and should be kept out of the situation.


Hard to let go, I could teach you how
The artist suggests that he could teach the listener how to let go of any emotional baggage from past relationships.


Take a puff of this motherfucking weed for now
The artist offers the listener a joint to smoke.


Take a shot of this cognac, ease you out
The singer offers the listener a shot of cognac to help them relax.


Just one night, trying to fucking leave you out
The artist is only interested in a one-night stand with the listener and has no intention of pursuing a relationship.


Ooh yeah
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm.


Come over here and ride it out
The singer asks the listener to come closer and ride out the effects of the drugs and alcohol with him.


(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) oh
A reference to Drake's record label OVO and The Weeknd's XO label.


(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) ooh
A repetition of the previous line.


(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) ah yeah
A repetition of the previous line, expressing agreement or excitement.


(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) X-O
A combination of the two record labels referenced in previous lines.


(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO) ooh yeah
A repetition of the previous line.


(That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO)
A final repetition of the reference to the record labels.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carlo Montagnese, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Abel Tesfaye, Martin Wong

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

@linguini6126

[Verse 1]
Oh, yeah, got you drinking out them white cups, sodas
All this shit so foreign to you, thick smoke, choking
Baby, get familiar with the order
Just crack it, then pour it, then sip slow, then tip low
My eyes red but my brim low, that XO
She climbing, straight to the top, forgetting why she there in the first place
No more crying, heart rate slow, put that rum down you don't wanna die tonight
I promise, when you’re finished, we’ll head to where I’m living
The party won’t finish, it’s a fucking celebration, oh yeah
For my niggas out tonight
And they high off Shakespeare lines
There's enough to pass around, you don't gotta wait in line
And the clocks don't work, you don't gotta check the time
And the blinds don't work, you don't gotta check the sky
We'll be going all night, 'til light

[Hook]
I got a test for you
You say you want my heart
Well, baby, you can have it all
There's just something that I need from you
Is to meet my boys

[Verse 2]
And you've been going hard, baby
Now you rolling with some big boys, baby
Got a lot you wanna show off, baby
Close that door before you take your fucking clothes off, baby
Don't mind, all my writings on the wall
I thought I passed my peak, and I'm experiencing fall
And all I wanna do is leave cause I've been zoning for a week
And I ain't left this little room, tryna concentrate to breathe
Cause this piff so potent, killing serotonin
In that two floor loft in the middle we be choking
On that all black voodoo, heavy gum chewing
Go on if you thirsty, baby, if you dancing
Grab a cup of that XO, baby, I been leaning
Back from the come down, girl, I've been fiending
For another round, don't you blame it on me
When you're grinding up your teeth and it's fucking hard to sleep

[Hook]
I got a test for you
You said you want my heart
Well, baby, you can have it all
There's just something that I need from you
Is to meet my boys
I got a lot of boys
And we can make you right
And if you get too high

[Verse 3]
Baby, come over here and
Ride it out, ride it out
Work that butt 'til I tire out
Roll that weed, bring that fire out
Taste that lean when you kiss my mouth
Bed so wet when I eat you out
Girl's friends scream that I'm creeping out
If they're not down, better keep em out
Ex-man hollering, keep him out
Hard to let go, I could teach you how
Take a puff of this motherfucking reefer now
Bet a shot of this cognac, ease you out
Just one night, trying to fucking leave you out
Baby, baby

[Hook]
I got a test for you
You said you want my heart
Well, baby, you can have it all
There's just something I need from you
Is to meet my boys
I got a lot of boys
And we can make you right
And if you get too high
Baby come over here and ride it out
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah
Come over here and ride it out
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah

[Outro]
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO
That north north, that up top, that OVO and that XO



All comments from YouTube:

@user-ve3qx2di4d

The weeknd's old music taught me to cope with depression, and that being lonely wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He taught me to enjoy what most people would consider negative emotions

@kirilpopov9542

Something like enjoying sadness and loneliness/negativity...
at least that's what i got

@user-ve3qx2di4d

Kiril Popov Damn, didn't realize people could relate to this.

@nappyheadedself1038

Thought I was the only one! Never mind...

@noalynn6382

agreed!

@OneDifferentBeauty

I like how you were able to make his music into something positive for yourself. His music would feed my depression, making it worse.

129 More Replies...

@chop1234ification

He glorified the low life. The depression, addiction, the insecure, the anxiety, all seems ok when you listen to XO

@DrCrimson_

Nah. I think it’s quite the opposite. His songs actually shows how really messed up this lifestyle is. If you think about it, β€œTrilogy” is actually pretty good anti-advertising of such lifestyle.

@sonias9722

Low life for life.

@ethannaka1822

@@DrCrimson_ nah man tons of 19 year old girls are tryna live this life while screaming XO till we overdose LMAO. I love the Weeknd my favorite artist, but come on now.

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