I was at home, listening to music, when "off the table" by Ariana Grande and the Weeknd began to play. I was enjoying the music when, a few songs later, "Save Your Tears" by the Weeknd began to play. The inner Redditor in me began to notice how similar they were to each other.
"off the table" is about Ariana wondering if the person she's with is worth risking other loves. Here are the lyrics:
(Ariana)
Will I ever love the same way again? (Way again)
Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you?
Never thought you'd be so damn hard to replace
I swear I don't mean to be this way
If I can't have you, is love completely off the table?
Do I sit this one out and wait for the next life? (Next life)
Am I too cold? Am I not nice?
Might not be quite yet healed or ready
Should I be goin' too steady? (Too steady)
But I just wanna know is love complеtely off the table?
Will you bе there? (Will you be there?)
Can I still love you? (Can I, can I, babe?)
Not yet healed or ready (not ready)
Shouldn't be goin' too steady (too steady)
Just wanna know is love completely off the table?
(The Weeknd)
I'll wait for you
Even though it always feels like I'll be number two
To someone you can't hold anymore
If you let me in, I'm ready to give you what I couldn't before
'Cause I got you, girl, let me help you through it
You're trying to fill the void with a couple boys
I can see right through it (You can see right through it)
I can you love you harder than I did before
Was in a dark place back then
I was toxic, then I was toxic to (both) someone else
(The Weeknd)
I was haunted by the hills (oh yeah, yeah)
I couldn't give you my all, but I will
If you let me in your arms (your arms)
If you let me in your heart
I don't think that love's completely off the table
(Both)
Will you be there? (Yes, I will be there for you)
Can I still love you? (Yes, I been hurt before, before)
Not yet healed or ready (not ready)
Shouldn't be goin' too steady (too steady, no, no)
Just wanna know is love completely off the table?
So can you hold me?
If I let you, can you prove it to me? (Oh, no-no, no)
'Cause I need you to calm me down, babe
Gotta get out of my head (oh, woah)
Tryna be healed from this pain (oh)
Just wanna know, just wanna know, can you, baby? (Hey)
Can you touch it like you believe in it, baby? (oh, hey)
Do you think you never gonna leave on me, baby?
'Cause I ain't her and you ain't him, thankfully (baby, don't leave)
But it's gon' be hard to let someone else in again (woah)
Baby, baby (Woo-hoo)
Will you be there? (Will you be there? I'll still wait)
Can I still love you?
Not yet healed or ready (ooh, not ready)
Shouldn't be goin' too steady (no, no, ooh)
Just wanna know is love completely off the table, baby?
I swear, I swear
I will wait for you, whenever you need
Ooh, ooh
The song on its own is incredible, but whoever decided to get the Weeknd in on it is a genius. It just makes the song that much better, especially with his new 80's-esque vibe.
"Now, how are they similar?" I can hear you wondering. Allow me to answer.
To summarize "Save Your Tears," it's basically a better version of "Happier" by Marshmellow and Bastille. It is about the main character breaking the girls heart because he feels that she deserves better.
In "off the table," The Weeknd sings about how he was "toxic" and "haunted by the hills". (An obvious reference to his song, "The Hills.") Because of his past behavior, he thinks the girl should be with someone better than him.
Ari's part in the song, however, is to wonder if this love is worth sacrificing other possible ones. If she can't be with this guy, is love impossible for her? Will this be the love to end all loves? Eventually, the answer is no, as chronicled in "Save Your Tears," in which Ari's character obviously cries over the breakup, because seeing him "catches her by surprise."
I guess she did have some tears left after all.
The Weeknd's character's behavior in the song has clearly been influenced by a past breakup, because in "off the table" he says he was "in a dark place back then" and in "Save Your Tears" says "yeah I broke your heart like someone did to mine".
"Save Your Tears" was released a month before "positions". I believe that "off the table is a prequel to "Save Your Tears." Also, I don't think Ariana Grande and the Weeknd are dating, I just mean the roles they play in the song.
What do you think? Do you believe "off the table is a prequel to "Save Your Tears"? Let me know!
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