Open Arms

Lyrics Meaning of Open Arms by SZA, and what it is about

The song's lyrics are directed at a past romantic partner, whom the protagonist abandoned for her own self-worth, even though she still harbours strong emotions for him. A skit-style opening of the song pays homage to SZA's late grandma, Norma Rowe.

She acknowledges in the song's lyrics that she is ready to stay with her ex-boyfriend despite the fact that their relationship is genuinely unhealthy and that it negatively affects her mental state to the point that she sings, "Who needs self-esteem, anyway?" in one line. She confesses, "I hate myself to make you stay / Push me away, I'll be right here," in the hopes that remaining with her ex-boyfriend will satisfy her yearning to be liked for the first time.

Open Arms lyrics by SZA

When you do your best you ca—, I done told you

When you do your best, hell, that's all you can do

You and me and anybody else

So they always start talkin'

I'm runnin' away from where I'm from

Never can stay with no one

Lovin' you almost feels like somethin'

When no one's around me

You lost and found me

I was surrounded

With open, open, open

Open arms (Ooh), open arms

You give me open, I'm so devoted

You keep me open (Ooh), open arms

I'm so devoted to you, to you, to you

Spent your life bein' hopeless

Chokin' on insecurity

I know, oh, this is bad

But, please, put a leash on me anyway

Who needs self-esteem anyway?

I hate myself to make you stay

Push me away, I'll be right here (Here)

With open, open, open

Open arms (Ooh), open arms

You give me open, I'm so devoted

You keep me open (Ooh), open arms

I'm so devoted to you, to you, to you

No matter what come between us, yeah, I decided (Ayy)

I'm forever ridin' (Ride), you're forever guidin' (Ayy)

Pull up on an opp, hit his curve up, slidin' (Brr)

Notice when you mad, ain't no words, just silence (Ooh)

You my favorite color, now you seein' every shade of me

You say that I'm trippin', I hit back like, "Where you takin' me?"

Locked in for life, on God, no replacin' me

Consequences, repercussions, karma keep on changin' me (Ooh yeah)

For you I trust, face card, valid ID (Ooh)

C'est la vie, go to Paris, it ain't five-star, it ain't me

Over-solid, keep it concrete (Ahh), I'ma bet it on your whole fee

Just don't switch sides, I could buy a piece, your wrist AP (Ahh)

Through the ups and downs and all the heat

Take a turn and tell you what it be

Backshots make you feel relief, anythin', just don't you ever leave

I guess I gotta go (Ooh)

I guess it's time to go

I gotta let you go

(I'm so devoted)

You keep me open (Ooh)

Gotta let you go, gotta let you go

I gotta let you go, I must

You the only one that's holdin' me down (Ooh)

Only one holdin' me down (Ooh, only one)

'Cause you the only one that's holdin' me down