In April 2013, SZA released her S EP to good critical reviews— in July of that same year, it was announced she was signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and began working on her Z EP, which would eventually become a full-fledged album. Z was released in April 2014. Her debut album, CTRL, was released in June 2017. Her second album, SOS, was released in December of 2022 which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
babylon
sZa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crucify, cru-cru
I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
Shaped like the figure eight, who trusts pretty girls anyway?
And I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
I'm sure I'll be the death of me
And I can't recall the last time I took love from anyone
Not me
Are you hating yourself?
Do you really hate me?
Are you hating yourself?
Was it worth it?
Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making amends? (oh)
I know you hate me now (hate)
I bet you hate me now (hate)
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
Cross my heart then I hope to die with a peace of mind (a peace of mind)
Piece together my brain soon as this beat rewind (beat rewind)
Nitrogen and propane I spike your drink at times (turn up, turn up)
I make it hard to swallow this game, you throw up every line
I notice people got Napoleon complex but that's my confession
You said that we're equal but I know
You're beyond gassing that I'm beyond desperate (yeah that)
6AM on a Friday morning, my darkest hours
Them heartless hours
My apartment is lost in a coffin
I'm dead to the world like I popped me a couple downers
Down and out on my luck
Salt water all on my tux and I call, she don't pick up
Then I fall when summer is endin'
I mean there's no pretendin' I'm stuck in my ways and you're offended
That's life, that's you, this me, that's vice
You're wrong, I'm right, that's right
I belong somewhere on ice
I'm colder a new blood type? Even colder
Cold shoulder, Born Sinner, you know? Cole showed us
I have nothing to lose, my dark side been well in-tuned
A Gemini go show them faces
And this here just one of my moves, Babylon
Was it worth it?
Would you do it again?
Aren't you tired of always making amends?
I know you hate me now (hate)
I bet you hate me now (hate)
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
Crucify me, crucify
Cru-crucify me, crucify, cru-cru
Crucify, cru-cru-crucify me
Crucify, cru-cru
The lyrics to sZa's song Babylon seem to reflect a sense of self-destructiveness and defiance, as the singer refuses to take advice from anyone and seems to revel in the idea of being their own downfall. The repeated refrain of "crucify me" reinforces this idea – it's almost as if they want to be punished or martyred for their own sins. The imagery of the thorny crown also suggests a religious or sacrificial element to this self-destructive behavior.
Interestingly, the song also features a reference to Napoleon complex, which is a psychological condition that causes people to feel inferior or inadequate due to their height. This could suggest that the singer feels somehow inferior or small, and is seeking to compensate for this by acting out in a self-destructive way.
Line by Line Meaning
Crucify, cru-crucify me
The singer is pleading to be punished, possibly in a religious or metaphorical sense
I can't recall the last time I took advice from anyone
The singer does not trust others' opinions or guidance
Shaped like the figure eight, who trusts pretty girls anyway?
The singer questions the credibility and motives of those who are physically attractive
I'm sure I'll be the death of me
The artist acknowledges their own self-destructive tendencies
I can't recall the last time I took love from anyone
The artist has not willingly accepted love in a long time
I called daddy, who's got one anyway?
The singer is skeptical that anyone truly has a loving and supportive father figure
Are you hating yourself?
The singer questions if their audience is struggling with self-loathing as they are
Do you really hate me?
The artist wonders if their audience truly dislikes them or if it is a projection of self-hatred
Was it worth it?
The artist questions the value of certain actions or decisions
Would you do it again?
The artist asks if their audience would make the same mistake or choice twice
Aren't you tired of always making amends? (oh)
The singer is frustrated with constantly having to apologize or make things right
I know you hate me now (hate)
The artist is certain that their audience currently dislikes them
I bet you hate me now (hate)
The singer is making an assumption that their audience despises them
Bring on the thorny crown (here)
The singer is prepared to bear the consequences of their actions with humility or sacrifice
Cross my heart then I hope to die with a peace of mind (a peace of mind)
The singer hopes for a sense of closure or contentment before they die
Piece together my brain soon as this beat rewind (beat rewind)
The artist is planning to sort out their thoughts or emotions while listening to music
Nitrogen and propane I spike your drink at times (turn up, turn up)
The artist admits to partying or engaging in risky behavior by spiking beverages with compressed gases
I make it hard to swallow this game, you throw up every line
The singer's words or actions can be overwhelming or difficult to accept
I notice people got Napoleon complex but that's my confession
The singer admits to a tendency to belittle or underestimate others
You said that we're equal but I know
The artist believes that they are inherently better or superior to their audience
You're beyond gassing that I'm beyond desperate (yeah that)
The artist implies that their audience often flatters or exaggerates their worth, but the artist still feels unsatisfied or hopeless
6AM on a Friday morning, my darkest hours
The artist is experiencing emotional or mental turmoil during what is typically a happy or exciting time
Them heartless hours
The singer is feeling empty or despondent
My apartment is lost in a coffin
The artist's living space feels like a prison or a place of death
I'm dead to the world like I popped me a couple downers
The singer feels emotionally or mentally numb or drained
Down and out on my luck
The singer is facing misfortune or difficulties
Salt water all on my tux and I call, she don't pick up
The singer is experiencing a grim or embarrassing situation while trying unsuccessfully to contact someone
Then I fall when summer is endin'
The artist feels depressed or hopeless when good times come to an end
I mean there's no pretendin' I'm stuck in my ways and you're offended
The artist is not pretending to change or improve their behavior, even if it upsets others
That's life, that's you, this me, that's vice
The singer accepts the harsh realities of life and their identity or habits as being morally problematic
You're wrong, I'm right, that's right
The singer believes that they are correct and others are mistaken
I belong somewhere on ice
The artist feels isolated or disengaged from the rest of society
I'm colder a new blood type? Even colder
The artist is even more detached and apathetic than before
Cold shoulder, Born Sinner, you know? Cole showed us
The artist is referencing the album 'Born Sinner' by J. Cole, which explores themes of guilt, sin, and redemption
I have nothing to lose, my dark side been well in-tuned
The singer feels they have nothing to gain or lose and is very comfortable with their dark, negative emotions or personality traits
A Gemini go show them faces
The artist references their astrological sign and their ability to display multiple personalities or personas
And this here just one of my moves, Babylon
The singer implies that their current behavior or words are part of a larger strategy or game
Crucify me, crucify
The singer repeats their desire to be punished or judged
Cru-crucify me, crucify, cru-cru
The repetition emphasizes the singer's willingness to accept consequences or blame
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dacoury Natche, Kendrick Lamar, Solana Rowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lelainerduh
This is how I found SZA. She was a tumblr girl and I literally thought she was one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. So cool to see how much shes grown in the industry
@arlenearnau6197
Ugh I miss this era of her . I miss this style the hair 😓
@yadiranajera4538
She's almost unrecognizable now which is unfortunate because she was more beautiful with her natural features :/
@jok382
They way I messaged her on tumblr asking her for the musical notes for icemoon after a life tragedy. Lol
@Jasmine-se1mn
Only steps like that
@mariemonstre
I feel like SZA is the manifestation of all of the souls of lonely girls who survived trauma and came out stronger in the other side.
@staceycameron4157
♥
@RFlex-vw9fc
This may be one of the most beautifullest things I've ever seen written about her. Ty 💖
@alyssiaharden9462
Yo her music description is that no lie G✨
@justlilith5040
She is in fact, my unsolved traumas and SZA as the soundtrack of the nights I allow myself to cry those traumas.... Girl.