Introduction
“Joni” featuring Don Toliver, from SZA’s album SOS Deluxe: Lana, brings an ethereal and emotional quality that reflects SZA at her most stripped down and vulnerable. The track opens with soft acoustic guitar strums, and SZA’s delicate, angelic vocals immediately captivate the listener. Her control and use of falsetto, along with her dynamic shifts, highlight the passion behind her words. There’s a wistfulness to her voice that sets a deeply emotional tone, allowing the listener to feel the raw vulnerability that SZA so effortlessly conveys. It's an entrancing introduction that pulls you in gently, yet powerfully.
Don Toliver's Contribution
At just under three minutes, the song's brevity enhances its intensity. Don Toliver's contribution in the latter part of the track offers a refreshing contrast, as his mellow, smooth vocals bring a different texture while still maintaining the song’s authentic, laid-back vibe. His voice complements SZA's beautifully, and together, they weave a harmonious back-and-forth that feels organic rather than forced. Toliver’s presence is subtle, but it shifts the mood of the song into something warmer, without losing the intimate atmosphere that SZA establishes from the outset.
Lyrical Depth and Themes
Lyrically, “Joni” feels like a heartfelt homage to Joni Mitchell, with whom SZA has previously expressed admiration. The song seems to touch on themes of love, time, regret, and familial connections. SZA sings of summer's end, missing her mother, and feeling the weight of expectations. These deeply personal reflections are anchored in a poetic narrative that ties back to Mitchell’s influence, as SZA channels a similar depth of introspection. There's a nostalgic quality to the lyrics, especially when SZA mentions her father calling her his favorite daughter, creating a vivid picture of familial love mixed with emotional complexity.
Emotional Significance
What makes “Joni” even more poignant is the backstory that SZA shared about her mother’s reaction to the track. Her mother’s heartfelt praise, calling it a sweet homage to SZA’s grandmother, adds a layer of sentimentality that elevates the song. It's clear that "Joni" holds a special place in SZA’s heart, making it more than just a song—it’s a piece of her personal journey and artistic evolution. The inclusion of her mother’s reaction reminds listeners of the emotional connections that fuel SZA’s music, making the track feel even more intimate.
SZA Joni Review
“Joni” is a beautiful, short, yet powerful piece that showcases SZA's incredible vocal control and lyrical depth. The song’s minimalistic production allows her voice to shine, while Don Toliver’s feature adds a contrasting element that keeps the song fresh. It’s a standout track that holds both personal significance and artistic value, giving fans a glimpse into SZA's heart and mind. Whether you’re drawn to the poetic lyrics, the angelic vocals, or the emotional depth, “Joni” is a track that resonates long after the last note fades.
Listen To SZA Joni Featuring Don Toliver
SZA Joni Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of "Joni" by SZA is a reflection on the complexities of time, relationships, and personal growth. Through the lens of perfect timing, the song explores the emotional highs and lows that come with striving for success, understanding oneself, and navigating love. SZA paints a picture of resilience, where both personal struggles and moments of reflection are key to finding clarity. With themes of patience and waiting for the right moment, "Joni" delves into the intricate balance between longing, regret, and the hopeful belief that everything will come together when it’s meant to.
Verse 1: Reflection on Hard Times and Relationships
In Verse 1, SZA begins by reflecting on the end of a prosperous period with the line, “Summer’s over, and the money gone.” Summer, a symbol of good times and wealth, has ended, and now the "money" or success has faded away, signaling a shift towards harder times. She continues with, “I miss my mama when the tide is low,” revealing how she misses her mother during emotional lows, with "low tide" metaphorically representing difficult moments. The moon, tied to emotions and intuition, “corrals us to the water,” drawing people towards introspection, while her father reaches out to her for emotional support, calling her his “favorite daughter” and expecting loving words from her. SZA hints at the complexity of relationships with the line, “If the money right, is the pussy good?”, questioning whether material wealth correlates with desirability. She then emphasizes her decision to save her emotional and physical intimacy for the right person, stating, “I keep it tight for the right one / Save it all for the right one / Call it perfect timing,” introducing the theme of waiting for the right moment to share her love.
Verse 2: Resilience and Perfect Timing
In Verse 2, SZA shifts the tone towards more physical energy, saying, “Make it bounce, baby, do a little more,” urging her partner to put in more effort. She reflects on her resilience, stating, “I’ve been wiped out like three times / Beat that shit, call me nine lives,” comparing her survival through hardships to a cat with nine lives. Again, she emphasizes the theme of timing with the line, “I got perfect timing,” reaffirming her belief that everything happens when it is meant to, despite her past struggles.
Verse 3: Drive for Success and Reflection on Mistakes
In Verse 3, SZA discusses her determination to succeed, saying, “I can’t stop ‘til my shit shine / I can’t stop ‘til I reach my perfect,” expressing her drive to achieve her personal and professional goals. She acknowledges the fleeting nature of time with the phrase, “Tic-toc, ‘til it go away / Time waits for nary man,” recognizing that time is limited and one must act before opportunities fade. SZA then reflects on past mistakes with, “I regret all the things we said in haste,” showing regret over words spoken too quickly. However, she remains optimistic, knowing that “the golden hour awaits for me,” believing that her moment of fulfillment and success is still ahead. She speaks of a transitional phase in her life, as “Twilight calls my name,” while her wealth and success are reflected in the line, “Wrist froze, let the ice call my name too loud,” with “ice” referring to expensive jewelry. SZA references her financial achievements with, “Double zeroes by my name now,” indicating that her success has brought significant monetary rewards. She recalls advice she’s received, “And it’ll all make sense in the end, that’s what they say to us,” implying that life's struggles will eventually be understood once everything falls into place. She concludes by touching on the theme of escapism with, “Spending our time smoking that angel dust,” using "angel dust" metaphorically to describe how people turn to vices to escape reality. Ultimately, she reaffirms the song’s theme of waiting for the right moment: “We on perfect time, perfect timing.”
Verse 4: Don Toliver’s Reflections on Relationships
In Verse 4, Don Toliver begins by reflecting on a fallout in a relationship, stating, “Okay, we fell out / But where I’ve been / See I can’t go, no, no, no, no, no more.” He acknowledges that the difficulties he has faced have made him not want to revisit those negative times. He continues with, “Been around, up and down, oh / Been around myself / Been down on a lonely road,” expressing the emotional highs and lows he’s experienced, including moments of loneliness and self-reflection. The line, “We spend the night and kept it tidy,” suggests a restrained or controlled emotional connection, where the couple didn’t fully explore their relationship. Despite the past, Toliver is ready for more, saying, “I’m so ready for many more, many more times,” indicating his desire for more chances at love and connection. He emphasizes his craving for a deeper emotional bond with, “Talk love, girl, I need me plenty more / For many more, many more times,” showing that he seeks more consistency and love in his relationship.
Overall Themes: Perfect Timing, Resilience, and Hope
The song "Joni" explores the themes of perfect timing, resilience, introspection, love, and success. Both SZA and Don Toliver reflect on personal challenges and the belief that everything will align when the time is right, balancing feelings of regret with the hope that their efforts and patience will eventually pay off.
SZA Joni Lyrics Featuring Don Toliver
[Verse 1: SZA]
Summer's over, and the money gone
I miss my mama when the tide is low
Moon corrals us to the water and my daddy calls on his
Favorite daughter for a host of loving words, I might oblige him
If the money right, is the pussy good?
I keep it tight for the right one
Save it all for the right one
Call it perfect timing
[Verse 2: SZA]
Make it bounce, baby, do a little more
I've been wiped out like three times
Beat that shit, call me nine lives
I got perfect timing
I got perfect timing
Per—
[Verse 3: SZA]
I can't stop 'til my shit shine
I can't stop 'til I reach my perfect
Tic-toc, 'til it go away
Time waits for nary man
I regret all the things we said in haste
Knowing the golden hour awaits for me
Twilight calls my name
Wrist froze, let the ice call my name too loud
Double zeroes by my name now
"And it'll all makes sense in the end," that's what they say to us
Spending our time smoking that angel dust
We on perfect time, perfect timing
We got per—
[Verse 4: Don Toliver]
Okay, we fell out
But where I've been
See I can't go, no, no, no, no, no more
Been around, up and down, oh
Been around myself
Been down on a lonely road, oh-oh-oh
We spend the night and kept it tidy
I'm so ready for many more, many more times
(Many more, many more, many more)
Talk love, girl, I need me plenty more (Plenty more)
For many more, many more times