Emerging in 2017 under the alias of Haroinfather, rapper Tommelik Ward debuted with a distinctly lo-fi rap sound: gloomy tracks like "Lonely Nights" and "Slave to the Hurt" were characterized by their muffled vocals, pained stories, and themes of inner turmoil. Through the early stages of 2018, the rapper tested new ideas, releasing the singer-songwriter style of "We're All Lost" and the confident, upbeat "Listen." But it was on "She's My Lover Girl" that the rapper would find his signature sound: converting short samples into mellow, looping production, Ward used his low-toned vocals to create one- to two-minute rap ballads, lamenting lost loves and pining after the objects of his affection. The rapper's second song in this style, the jazzier "Princess Bubblegum," became one of his breakout hits and by 2021, it had received over 100 million digital streams.
After closing out the year with similar tracks like "Mia Wallace" and "Table for Two," Ward adopted a cockier sound in the early stages of 2019, working with Savage Ga$p and Keshore for the hedonistic "It's Only Right to Fall in Love Twice" and dropping further tracks "Lavagirl" and "PEP$I." His creative synergy with Savage Ga$p would continue in a second major hit, the Legend of Zelda-sampling "Tunnel of Love," followed by the more melancholy stylings of "Please Pick Up" and "Us vs. the World." A third major hit, "Forever," arrived shortly after: with its evocative sample of Yuna's "Lullabies," the track spun troubled romances and personal struggles into an intoxicating blend and soon garnered more than 100 million streams online.
Ward moved into 2020 alongside Savage Ga$p: the duo dropped "Maybe It's for the Best," and the "Tunnel of Love (Remix)" in late 2019, before collaborating on tracks "Like Dat" and "I'm Drunk and I Miss You Too" in early 2020. A few solo tracks, including the vocally led "Jennifer's Body," closed out the year before the rapper continued into 2021 with tracks "Paris Hilton" and "Tinkerbell."
He built his love-driven rap sounds on bare-bones samples and narratives of conflicted romance. His mellow approach to the genre found a major following in the early 2020s, with tracks like "Forever" and "Princess Bubblegum" racking up more than 100 million streams apiece.
Table For Two
ilyTOMMY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Step into the club lights with me and your friends
Eighties romantics with me on your bed
I need you again, babe, I need you again
Sunbathe on the rooftop, I need you again
Step into the club lights with me and your friends
Eighties romantics with me on your bed
I need you again, babe, I need you again
I know you've been busy, I'll leave you alone (No)
I guess I'll get a new girl with sugar and spice (Yeah)
I treated you good but I'm treatin' her right (Yeah, right)
Go on cute dates then let's ride around town (Yeah, yeah)
In your red lip gloss, I'm liking your style
Girl, you're like gravity, holding me down (Yeah)
Marilyn Monroe don't got shit on your smile
Sunbathe on the rooftop, I need you again
Step into the club lights with me and your friends
Eighties romantics with me on your bed
I need you again, babe, I need you again
Sunbathe on the rooftop, I need you again
Step into the club lights with me and your friends
Eighties romantics with me on your bed
I need you again, babe, I need you again
In "Table for Two," ilyTOMMY sings about the intense longing he feels for someone he loved but who is no longer around. The opening lines of the song create a vivid image of summer, as he suggests sunbathing on a rooftop with his lover. He then invites her to step into the club lights with him and their friends, creating a party vibe. The 80s style romanticism plays into this spirit of youthfulness and carefree love. The lyrics reveal how much the singer misses the person they once had a close relationship with, as he repeats "I need you again, babe, I need you again." This chorus captures the desperation and intensity of the singer's longing for their former love.
However, the second verse of the song takes a darker turn. The singer sees missed calls on his phone and recognizes that the person they loved has been busy. The singer initially thinks he will move on and find someone else who may be sweeter, but then realizes that he misses his first love too much. The reference to Marilyn Monroe, "Marilyn Monroe don't got sh*t on your smile," reinforces the idea that this person was unique and irreplaceable in the singer's eyes.
Overall, "Table for Two" is a song about the persistence of love and the difficulty in moving on from someone who once held your heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunbathe on the rooftop, I need you again
I want to spend time with you and reconnect
Step into the club lights with me and your friends
Come out and have fun with me and our mutual friends
Eighties romantics with me on your bed
Let's have a romantic evening together
I need you again, babe, I need you again
I miss being with you and want to revive our relationship
(Hello?) Missed calls on your phone
I have been trying to reach you and wondering why you haven't been responsive
I know you've been busy, I'll leave you alone (No)
Although I realize you have been busy, I still want to be a part of your life
I guess I'll get a new girl with sugar and spice (Yeah)
I am considering moving on and finding someone new
I treated you good but I'm treatin' her right (Yeah, right)
I think I'm treating my new companion better than you were treated
Go on cute dates then let's ride around town (Yeah, yeah)
We can do simple and enjoyable activities together
In your red lip gloss, I'm liking your style
I find you attractive and appealing
Girl, you're like gravity, holding me down (Yeah)
You have a powerful influence on me and keep me grounded
Marilyn Monroe don't got shit on your smile
Your smile is far more beautiful and captivating than even a famous celebrity's
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.