Dark Times by The Weeknd Lyrics Meaning – A Journey Through the Shadows of the Soul

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for The Weeknd's Dark Times at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Mhm (mhm)
Mhm (mhm)
Mhm, mhm, mhm (mhm)
Mhm

Waking up, half past five
Blood on pillow and one bruised eye
Drunk too much, you know what I’m like
But you should’ve seen the other guy

This ain’t the right time for you to fall in love with me
Well baby I’m just being honest
And I know my lies could not make you believe
We’re running in circles that’s why

In my dark times I’ll be going back to the street
Promising everything I do not mean
In my dark times, baby this is all I could be
And only my mother can love me for me
In my dark times (dark times)
In my dark times (dark times)

Light one up, let me bum a smoke, uh
Still coming down, dripping throat, uh
I got another man’s blood on my clothes
But it ain’t his fault, it’s the life I chose

This ain’t the right time for you to fall in love with me
My baby I’m just being honest
And I know my lies could never make you believe
Running in circles that’s why

In my dark times I’ll be going back to these streets
Promising everything I do not mean
In my dark times, baby this is all I could be
Only my mother could love me for me
In my dark times (dark times)
In my dark times (dark times)

In my dark times I’ve still got some problems I know
Driving too fast but just moving to slow
And I’ve got something I’ve been trying to let go
Pulling me back every time

In my dark times (oh) taking it back to the street (oh)
Making those promises that I could not keep
In my dark times, baby this is all I could be
Only my mother could love me for me

In my dark times taking it down to the street
Making those promises that I would never keep
In my dark times this is all I could be
Only my mother could love me for me
In my dark times (dark times)
In my dark times, no (dark times)
In my dark times

In the universe of contemporary music, it’s rare to encounter a song that strips down the façade of fame to reveal the gritty underbelly of personal struggle. The Weeknd, known for his velvety voice and lyricism steeped in nocturnal hedonism, offers a raw outpouring of his soul’s darker confrontations in the song ‘Dark Times.’

Collaborating with the heart-wrenching echo of Ed Sheeran’s raw vocal prowess, ‘Dark Times’ is presented as a compelling ballad of internal turmoil and redemption that feels both haunting and deeply confessional. Now, we delve into the intricacies of ‘Dark Times,’ exploring its layered complexity and the profound echoes that resonate with anyone who has ever faced their own shadow.

Struggle Etched in Melody: Dissecting Dark Times’ Musical Canvas

The Weeknd’s gift for blending R&B with a brooding atmosphere is evident in ‘Dark Times’, where his musical composition mirrors the lyrical confessionals. The track starts with a haunting hum that sets up a scene of isolation before giving way to a bluesy groove that embody the cyclical nature of suffering. The music moves like the ebb and flow of inner darkness, sometimes subdued, sometimes rising up with intensity, echoing the unpredictable nature of one’s demons.

Ed Sheeran’s collaboration brings an additional layer of raw emotion, his gritty vocal timbre infusing the song with a desperation and humanity that complements The Weeknd’s smoother, more polished delivery. The contrast between the two voices plays like a dialogue between the varying facets of vulnerability, driving home the song’s contemplative mood.

Reflections in the Night: A Glimpse into Personal Demons

Lyrically, ‘Dark Times’ serves as a confessional booth where The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran reckon with their personal demons. The mention of ‘blood on pillow and one bruised eye’ juxtaposed with ‘light one up, let me bum a smoke’ paints a vivid portrait of self-destructive behavior stemming from an inner struggle. More than just the physical battle, it’s a symbolic sparring with the darker aspects of oneself.

This song does not romanticize these moments of darkness; instead, it seeks to expose the ugliness and the hard truth of facing oneself in the lowest moments. It’s a brutally honest acknowledgment that sometimes, we revert to our lesser selves, fighting the darkness with darkness.

The Unconditional Love Amidst Turmoil: Motherhood’s Enduring Embrace

In the recurring refrain ‘only my mother could love me for me,’ The Weeknd taps into the universal theme of maternal love as the ultimate form of unconditional acceptance. It speaks to the profound idea that even in our worst iterations, stripped of pretense and glory, there is an unwavering source of love that will hold us in our most broken state.

The mention of a mother’s love amid the bleakness of ‘Dark Times’ isn’t just a fleeting thought; it’s a powerful beacon of hope and redemption. This motif serves as a testament to the power of familial bonds and their capacity to ground us when we lose touch with our best selves.

Decrypting the Hidden Moving Forces: The Song’s Subtextual Narrative

Beneath the surface of self-conflict and the explicit narrative of ‘Dark Times’ lies a subtextual current about the consequences of fame and excess. The Weeknd is known for his themes of hedonism, but this song takes a sobering look at what lies on the flip side—the alienation, the emptiness, and the moral disorientation.

It’s a warning of sorts, tale-telling the price to be paid when indulgence casts a long, deep shadow on the soul. The hidden meaning in The Weeknd’s ‘Dark Times’ is not in the explicit confessions but in the disenchanted voice that underlies the entire melody, questioning the high cost of a life lived in the fast lane.

Echoes of The Weeknd: The Song’s Most Memorable Lines

Every song has its linchpin lines that carve into the collective memory of its listeners, and in ‘Dark Times,’ the poignant confession ‘In my dark times I’ve still got some problems I know, Driving too fast but just moving too slow’ encapsulates the essence of the song’s central struggle. It’s a vivid illustration of the paradoxical nature of the singer’s predicament.

These lyrics resonate as a juxtaposition of forward momentum and stagnancy, casting a light on the chaotic attempt to outpace one’s personal issues that stubbornly lag behind. The Weeknd captures that universal feeling of intending to change while being held back by the invisible threads of old habits and inherent nature.