The beauty of song lyrics is that they can be left totally open to interpretation and they usually contain some nugget of truth. The most authentic lyrics take inspo from real life, with some poetic license. Beyoncé's new album Lemonade debuted with an hour-long HBO special that felt like a documentary x corresponding music videos. It was full of palpable passion, fury, frustration, and forgiveness. It left the Internet speculating about whether or not Beyoncé's husband Jay Z cheated on her, whether he was the recipient of her wrath, and whether he was lucky enough to earn or deserve her forgiveness. Is the new song "Hold Up" about Jay Z straying?
Here's a sample lyric to get you thinking. Beyoncé pointedly sings, "Hold up, they don't love you like I love you / Slow down, they don't love you like I love you / Back up, they don't love you like I love you / Step down, they don't love you like I love you / Can't you see there's no other man above you? / What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you."
We don't know for sure if Jay Z was actually unfaithful or if "Hold Up" is an extended metaphor about rebuilding their relationship after other issues or if Lemonade and its songs refer to her parents and their splintered union. There are more questions than answers and we may never know, actually. Bey may keep that close to the vest or she may open up in an interview. That's all TBD.
But with "Hold Up," the speaker sounds like she has been cheated on by a man that she has made numero uno through and through. She has seen the signs and it has her doubting herself. Notice she makes reference to her perceived flawlessness. She also asks if anyone else would be interested in him if he weren't so famous. #Burn.
Whatever happened has gotten her so mad that she's about to get physical and lay a hurtin' on someone. So it had to be something really big to get her this hopping mad.
Have a look at the rest of the "Hold Up" lyrics and see what you come up with. I mean, who else would it be about?
Something don't feel right
Cause it ain't right
Especially comin' up after midnight
I smell your secret, and I'm not too perfect
To ever feel this worthless
How did it come down to this?
Going through your call list
I don't wanna lose my pride, but I'ma f--k me up a bitch
Know that I kept it sexy and know I kept it fun
Something that I'm missing might be my head for once
What's worse, lookin' jealous or crazy?
Jealous and crazy
I've like been walked all over lately, walked all over lately
I'd rather be crazy
Hold up, they don't love you like I love you
Slow down, they don't love you like I love you
Back up, they don't love you like I love you
Step down, they don't love you like I love you
Let's imagine for a moment that you never made a name for yourself
Or mastered wealth, they never had you labeled as a king
You never made it out the cage, to locked up, movin' in the streets
Never had the baddest woman in the game up in your sheets
Would they be down to ride?
No, they used to hide from you, lie to you
But y'all know we were made for each other
So I find you and hold you down
Miss Bey sing
It is such a shame
You let this good love go to waste
I always keep the top tier, 5 star
Backseat lovin' in the car
Make that wood like make that wood
I leave like a boulevard
What's worse, lookin' jealous or crazy?
Jealous and crazy
I've like been walked all over lately, walked all over lately
I'd rather be crazy
I hop up out the bed and get my swag on
I looked in the mirror, said, "What's up?"
What's up, what's up, what's up
I hop up out the bed and get my swag on
I looked in the mirror, said, "What's up?"
What's up, what's up, what's up
