Our Song of the week for (10/03) this Friday is Broken Clocks by SZA. This song came out of SZA’s Ctrl album in 2017. This song is in the R&B /Soul genre. Definitely can feel the soul when you sing it with her. This song can be found on all music streaming platforms.
Best Scenario for this song: When you want to vibe out with yourself, need some motivation and a reminder of how valuable you are.
(Our first R&B Song YAAAY.)
Lyrics
Runnin’ fast from the way it was
Jump quick to a paycheck
Runnin’ back to the strip club
I’m never going back, never going back
No you can’t make me
Never going back, never going back (nah)
They never take me (yeah)
I’ve paid enough of petty dues
I’ve had enough of shitty news
I’ve had a thing for dirty shoes since I was 10
Love dirty men alike
Better day than yesterday (keep cuttin’ up)
Ooh
I just take it day by day
Ooh oh oh
Never hearing what they say
Ooh ooh
I just do it my way
I ain’t got no time
Just burning daylight
Still love and it’s still love, and it’s still love
It’s still love, still love (still lovin’), still love x2
Nothin’ but love for you x3
Talking a lot, sorry I’m faded
Think I forgot, you love me
You love me
You love me
Gotta dip at 10 PM
Gotta get that cash
Won’t get past the lunch break
I ain’t had a smoke break
In about two days don’t break
Been about three years since I dated you
Why you still talking ’bout me like we together?
I moved on for the better
You moved on to whoever
I was down for whatever and then some
You gon’ make me late to work again
Better day than yesterday
Ooh
I just take it day by day
Ooh oh oh
Never hearing what they say
Ooh ooh
I just do it my way (just do it)
I ain’t got no time
Just burning daylight
Still love and it’s still love, and it’s still love
It’s still love, still love, still love (still lovin’) x2
Nothin’ but love for you
Nothin’ but love (nothin’ but)
Nothin’ but love
Heartbeat make me feel young again (like a snail, like a)
Can’t beat ’em just join the party (come and join the party)
I don’t wanna, don’t need nobody
Talking a lot, sorry I’m faded
Think I’ve forgot, you love me
You love me x5
This song to me is about getting the money. Go to work and handle business and go home. Time feels like it’s running out though, like she doesn’t have enough time for relationships or entertaining anyone. From the lyrics I bolded you can see she talks about how she has nothing, but broken clocks and no time. She also talks about someone making her late to work again, preferably an ex. In SZA’s chorus she says “Nothin but love for you”. She has a lot of love for this person,but not a lot of time. She’s moved on. She also says “ Never going back,never going back” and then says later in the song “ I was down for whatever”. She’s contradicting herself, because even though she knows this isn’t good for her, she would in fact go back. We all have moments like that where were like “oh yeah I would never do that again”, but if the opportunity ever came back up we more than likely would. It’s unhealthy, but we can’t help ourselves. SZA has no time for anything besides getting to work and focusing on that. She loves him, but ultimately has no time for him anymore and she’s breaking free of that negative pattern. This song has definitely gotten me in my feels every once in a while and what I love about SZA so much is how relatable she is.
I’ve just recently started listening to SZA’s CTRL album even though it’s been out for a while and out of all the songs on the album, this one really stood out. Not only does it have a great music video that helps with understanding the song, but it feels so realistic and honest. Some may not be able to relate to this, but this song feels so vulnerable and raw.
I absolutely love SZA’s voice and emotion in this song. This is one of the songs where I also enjoy them lyrically too. I should take some of SZA’s advice and take it day by day. We all should. When you need some motivation to remember the ultimate goal and remember how good you are, I’d listen to this song. No matter how you’re feeling, it’ll have you feeling empowered afterwards. SZA always puts me in a mood, whether it’s a good one, a sad one or an extremely productive one. You can always count on SZA to make you feel something. This song is for you no matter what mood you’re in because it will tailor to that.
Give Broken Clocks a listen and tell me what you think!
I really like this song, so hearing your interruption of the lyrics was so interesting. As you suggest, I will take SZA’s advice when I need motivation. I love that you described the perfect situation to listen to this song in the beginning of your post.
Alyssa, this analysis is so accurate! Your analysis of the relationship between SZA and the alluded ex helps develop the message of the song perfectly. I also love how you include the lyrics in the post and bold specific lines you feel are important the song’s theme. I am definitely going to listen to this song in a new way now!
I hadn’t heard of this song before now! I like the melody and feel like its retro feel aides the motif of time in the song. I also like how she makes references to different periods of time, ranging from when she was ten to her present life. I really liked your analysis and I’m happy you introduced me to this song!
I definitely had heard this song before but never knew what it was called. It definitely is a vibey song but it also has a well-thought out message behind it which you explained really well. This is probably my sign that I should listen to SZA more.
I love this song chat