Live For by The Weeknd Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Pursuit of Hedonistic Truths in Modern Anthems
Lyrics
They tryna make me slow down, tryna tell me how to live
I’m about to lose control (lose control)
Well they can watch me fuck it up all in one night
I’m in my city in the summer, camo’d out
Leather booted, kissing bitches in the club
They wanna threesome (threesome)
Then some (then some)
Spend whatever come in, fuck an income
Me and my niggas we ain’t never going broke
And you, have to
Do it all just to know where it gets you
Living dreams we can never afford
Now we sitting in the back saying
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
Yeah
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I’d die for
This the shit you can’t fake dawg
This the shit you need God for
How long do you think
It’s gon’ take for y’all to fall?
That’s a serious question ’cause I’m seriously questioning all of y’all
Been touring the world man, I’ve done spent racks in all the malls
And they know my story, flaws and all, I still got plaques hanging wall to wall dawg
She just offered a strip tease, but she don’t look like Demi Moore
Hips all on 45, waist all on 24
And it’s all love in the city, still scream XO, when that Henny pour
But I’m that boy, not just any boy, what the fuck you think that I’m in it for
Roll up in that thing, got hoes like Prince, but they know I’m king
Chubbs might hold that thing, if he get caught, he’ll be home by spring
Things I shouldn’t share, I mean for the sake of my career
I’m not trynna stunt, I’m just tellin’ you the truth, I swear
This the shit that I live for with the people I’d die for
This the shit you can’t fake dawg, this the shit you need God for
This that shit we really gotta talk about in person
There’s some shit I need to work on, but I know you see me working
Nigga, champagne
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
This the shit that I live for
With the people I’d die for
In the glitz of contemporary R&B and the dark velvety rhythms that have become synonymous with The Weeknd, ‘Live For’ emerges as an unapologetic anthem of decadence and loyalty. The 2013 track from the artist’s album ‘Kiss Land’ dips into a reverie draped in night’s deepest shadows, exploring the intoxicating blend of vice and virtue.
The Weeknd, known for his enigmatic persona and lyrical bravado, seduces listeners with a tale spun around the ephemeral highs of city life, the quest for pleasure, and an unwavering bond with his inner circle. Peering into his world, ‘Live For’ isn’t merely a track—it’s a manifesto etched into the night sky, daring listeners to unravel its deeper meanings.
Beyond the Flash: The Pillars of ‘Live For’
On the surface, ‘Live For’ revels in the familiar territory of material excess and nocturnal escapades. It’s a sensory overload, intertwined with urban landscapes, indulgent spending, and alluring figures in dimly-lit clubs. Yet, amidst bravado, The Weeknd crafts a testament to loyalty and camaraderie—professing a die-hard allegiance to those he holds dear.
His gritty narrative doesn’t shy away from the consequences either. Acknowledging the lifestyle’s toll, Abel Tesfaye confronts the notion of ‘living dreams we can never afford,’ a recognition of chasing desires that may always be just out of reach, even as he sits firmly in the backseat of success.
Deconstructing the Hedonism in The Weeknd’s Verses
The hedonistic attitudes The Weeknd portrays are a poignant reflection of society’s infatuation with immediate gratification. The lyrics evoke a certain existential rebellion, a conscious decision to embrace the momentary pleasure despite the looming shadow of regret. This is hedonism painted with a dark brush; where vice isn’t a casual affair, but a lifestyle chosen with eyes wide open.
Getting ‘sober for a day’ only to dive deeper into a sensory feast, the deliberate pace of the music supports The Weeknd’s embrace of a ‘slow down’ everyone else seems to be cautioning against. The song becomes a blurry snapshot of what it means to live for the sake of experience, the thirst for life’s most intoxicating moments.
The Cryptic Chorus: A Dive into the Song’s Hidden Meaning
The chorus of ‘Live For’ bears repetition like a mantra. Simple, yet addictive, the lines ‘This the shit that I live for / With the people I’d die for’ serve as the heartbeat of the song. But what lies beneath the repetition? It’s a stark distillation of The Weeknd’s ethos: a life worth living is nothing without the bonds of those you’d sacrifice everything for.
It’s a nuanced glimpse into the dichotomy of vulnerability and invincibility. While exuding an air of all-consuming confidence, The Weeknd implicitly admits that the same things giving life meaning are what make it fragile.
Unforgettable Lines: ‘This the Shit You Need God For’
In one of the song’s most memorable lines, ‘This the shit you need God for,’ The Weeknd isn’t just discussing the moral maze he meanders—it’s an existential plea, the gravity of moments when the human spirit craves divine intervention. This elevates the nocturnal narrative to a spiritual plane, acknowledging a yearning for redemption amidst the revelry.
Grasping at the divine while ‘touring the world’ and hanging ‘plaques wall to wall,’ there’s an inherent search for meaning. The Weeknd strikes a chord with those who know that success and substance don’t always fill the void, painting an intricate portrait of fame’s hollow corners.
The Allegory of Modern Love and Materialism
In a woven tale of romantic and fiscal exploits, ‘Live For’ becomes an allegory of modern love entangled with materialism. With a nod to Demi Moore and a metaphorical ‘roll up’ in luxury, The Weeknd links romantic endeavors to the power and pitfalls of wealth—two forces that consistently pull at the fabric of our society.
The comparison of his lovers’ physical features to iconic measurements highlights a culture obsessed with aesthetic perfection, often at the expense of deeper connection. The Weeknd’s narrative is a mirror to the audience, refracting our own obsessions with perfection and possession.
