Timeless: The Weeknd and Playboi Carti's Retro-Futuristic Hit
A Blast from the Past
The Weeknd's collaboration with Playboi Carti on "Timeless" is a surprising yet exhilarating sonic journey that blends nostalgia with cutting-edge production. From the moment the track begins, the listener is transported back to the 80s with a wave of retro synths that sound like they were ripped straight from a classic video game soundtrack. This sets the stage for the lyrical interplay between The Weeknd and Carti, where both artists deliver breathy vocals that float effortlessly over the instrumental.
Carti's Charismatic Presence
Carti takes the reins in the first half, referencing his acclaimed album "Die Lit" and showcasing his signature nonchalant flow. His verses are filled with braggadocious bars about his lavish lifestyle and nonchalant attitude towards relationships.
The Weeknd's Smooth Touch
The Weeknd then enters halfway through the song, bringing a smooth and melodic touch to the track. His vocals, layered over cinematic synths, create a sense of longing and introspection.
A Hypnotic Soundscape
One of the most captivating moments in "Timeless" is the repetitive section towards the end, where The Weeknd's hypnotic vocals intertwine with Carti's ad-libs. This creates a mesmerizing soundscape that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
A Timeless Collaboration
"Timeless" is a refreshing departure for The Weeknd, showcasing his versatility as an artist. The collaboration with Playboi Carti injects a playful energy into the track, resulting in a dynamic and memorable listening experience. This song is a testament to both artists' ability to push boundaries and create music that transcends genres. It's a timeless anthem that will resonate with fans of both The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, and it's sure to leave a lasting mark on the music scene.
Listen to Timeless by The Weeknd Featuring Playboi Carti
The Weeknd Timeless Lyrics Meaning Explained
"Timeless" by The Weeknd, featuring Playboi Carti, explores the themes of lasting influence, fame, and emotional struggle. The track reflects on the idea of being "timeless," both in terms of personal legacy and the enduring effects of fame. For The Weeknd, this timelessness comes with a sense of introspection, as he grapples with the pressures of stardom and the emotional toll it takes on relationships. His lyrics convey a deeper meaning, examining how fleeting moments of fame can contrast with the lasting emotional scars they leave behind. At its core, "Timeless" is about navigating the complexities of fame while striving to leave a lasting mark, both in personal relationships and in one’s career.
Intro: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd
In "Timeless", Playboi Carti opens with a powerful statement of self-confidence: “Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Yeah).” This phrase reflects his early belief in his potential, using “jit,” a Southern slang term for a young person, to indicate that he has always been aware of his future success. The reference to his long-standing self-assuredness is similar to his sentiment in his 2024 track H00DBYAIR, where he raps about being an OG from a young age. He continues with “Shawty keep wanna come 'round, she wanna get hit (Yuh, yeah),” a double entendre that plays on both the woman’s desire for sexual intimacy and her attraction to his fame and success. This sets the tone for the rest of the track, emphasizing Carti's allure and status.
Chorus: Playboi Carti
The chorus further reinforces this theme of self-assurance and wealth. Carti repeats, “Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Yeah),” a clear reminder of his early confidence. He also refers to the women drawn to him, suggesting their proximity gives them the false belief that they are special: “She think she the main because I keep her by my side (Yeah).” This highlights the transient nature of these relationships. The lyric “Double-O, bust down the watch, you know that I'm timeless” plays on the luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet, known for the Royal Oak “Double Balance Wheel Openworked” watch. The “bust down” modification refers to encrusting a watch with diamonds, and Carti uses this to make a pun on the word “timeless,” suggesting both the enduring value of the watch and his own lasting legacy in the rap game.
Verse 1: Playboi Carti
In Verse 1, Carti dives deeper into his luxurious lifestyle and street credibility. “I put my son in some Rick” references Rick Owens, a high-fashion designer, showcasing how even his child is immersed in wealth. Carti continues with “I pull that gun off the hip (Aah),” a nod to his connection to street culture and readiness to defend himself. His affluence is further highlighted by the lyric “Pockets on 22K (Schyeah),” referring to carrying $22,000 in cash or possibly a reference to 22-karat gold. Carti then adds “I break her heart, Comme Garçons,” referencing the iconic Comme des Garçons brand. He likens his heartbreaks to the stylish and impactful designs of the brand, suggesting that even his emotional actions are executed with flair. This lyric also recalls Lil Uzi Vert’s line from 2017’s “Sauce It Up,” where Uzi referenced Carti in the context of Comme des Garçons, cementing their shared fashion-conscious persona.
Carti continues with metaphors that emphasize his power and influence. In the line “She singing my songs, she wanna die lit (Homixide, Homixide, Homixide),” Carti refers to his 2018 debut album Die Lit, which has become an anthem for his fans. The repetition of “Homixide” highlights his close ties with the Homixide Gang, a duo signed to his Opium label, adding an edgy, street-credible layer to his otherwise glamorous life. Carti also plays with wordplay in the line “Tryna get hit / Passed like a vape (Yeah),” suggesting that his relationships are as casual and disposable as passing around a vape at a party. This metaphor reflects his detached attitude toward intimacy and relationships.
The verse takes a more personal turn when Carti mentions his father: “Pops see the check (Ah) / Smile on my face (Yeah), aim for your shit (Huh).” The smile symbolizes the pride Carti feels in being able to provide financial success for his father, and “aim for your shit” adds a menacing edge, reminding listeners of his aggressive stance toward rivals. Carti then delves into his inner struggles, using a metaphor in “I'm wrestling all of my demons, I feel like The Rock (Yeah, feel like The Rock)” to compare his battles with personal demons to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s wrestling career, blending vulnerability with strength.
Verse 2: The Weeknd
The Weeknd enters in Verse 2, shifting the mood to a more emotional and introspective tone. His lines, “I wait by the phone / I knew you would call,” reveal a sense of longing and vulnerability, contrasting with Carti’s bravado. The Weeknd’s verse explores the effects of fame on personal relationships, as he mentions how the person he’s waiting for has been featured on blogs, a reflection of the public scrutiny that often comes with celebrity. The line “Go outside shoot up, now you poppin' your own” could reference self-destructive behavior or the lengths some people go to achieve fame.
Throughout The Weeknd’s verse, he continues to examine emotional turmoil and the facade people create to cope with fame. In “I know it's hard to act like that / Nigga, you are really gone bad,” The Weeknd critiques the destructive choices made by the person he’s addressing. His verse adds depth to the track by exploring themes of fame, self-destruction, and emotional detachment, providing a counterpoint to Carti’s more materialistic and confident approach.
Bridge: The Weeknd
The bridge continues The Weeknd’s reflection on timelessness: “You timeless, ooh-aah.” This repetition underscores the lasting influence of the person being addressed, whether in terms of personal impact or legacy.
Chorus: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd
The chorus then returns, with both artists echoing the themes of confidence, wealth, and lasting influence. Carti and The Weeknd blend their styles seamlessly, offering a multifaceted view of success and legacy—Carti through material wealth and bravado, and The Weeknd through emotional depth and reflection. Together, they create a track that balances self-assuredness with vulnerability, highlighting their respective artistic personas.
[Intro: The Weeknd]
XO
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, no
[Verse 1: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd]
Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Ooh, yeah)
Shorty keep wanna come 'round, she wanna get hit (Wanna get hit so hard)
She think she the main because I keep her by my side
Double-O, bust down the watch, she know that I'm timeless (Timeless)
I put my son in some Rick
I pull that gun off the hip
Pockets hold twenty-two clips (Ah)
I break her heart, Comme Garçon
Put on a shirt, get put on a blimp
Bitch like a stain, get ready to lick
I had to tell her that ever since I was a jit, knеw I was the shit (Oh)
She singin' my songs, she wanna diе lit, tryna get hit
House like a bank, deposit this bitch, 'posit that check
Smile on my face, ain't playing shit, come and get checked (Uh)
Ice on my neck, double-O wrist
She in the Scat, hell of a 'Cat
Fresh out the trench, four hundred packs
Uh, yeah, I'm spinnin' in Paris (Uh)
Dress for these hoes, they finna flock
Just poured a four in a soda, it pop
Them drugs finna hit, I'm feelin' ill
I'm wrestlin' all of my demons, I feel like The Rock
[Chorus: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti]
(Shit, uh, yeah)
Ever since I was a kid, I been legit (Jit, ooh, nah)
If I was you, I would cut up my wrist (Dumb bit')
XO tatted all over her body, yeah (Yeah)
She just wanna roll and I don't mind it, yeah
Ever since I was a jit, I been legit (Ooh, nah, uh)
You should let her go, she wanna be it (Oh, yeah)
Double-O tatted on her body, yeah
It don't matter what they say, I'm timeless, yeah (Schyeah)
[Verse 2: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti]
Oh, city on fire when I'm comin' home
Fill up the sky (Yeah), I fill up the Dome
They'll play it one day (Yeah), it's a hell of a show
But it's gonna hurt 'cause we did it first
Feel like Skateboard P, BBC boys on the creep
Feel like it's '03, Neptune drum with a beam (Yeah)
She hippie-flippin' a bean, she wanna fuck with the team
She fell in love with the cream (Yeah), she fell in love with the scene
Ooh, yeah, her man quiet, not a peep (Oh, nah)
Broke his heart, PTSD (Oh, nah)
Hold his chest, let it breathe
Let it breathe, niggas scheme
And I got a priest, he got a cross
Get out of line, send him to God
I shed a tear, pray for a loss, ooh, yeah (Yeah)
[Chorus: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti]
Ever since I was a kid, I been legit (Homixide, Homixide, Homixide, oh, oh)
If I was you, I would cut up my wrist (Ah)
XO tatted all over her body, yeah (Body, yeah)
She just wanna roll and I don't mind it, yeah
Ever since I was a jit, I been legit (Yeah, ooh, nah)
You should let her go, she wanna be it (Oh, nah)
Double-O tatted on her body, yeah (Body, yeah)
It don't matter what they say, I'm timeless
[Outro: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti]
Timeless (Oh), timeless, timeless
Timeless, timeless, timeless, we timeless, oh
Timeless, timeless, timeless (Yeah), timeless
Timeless (Yeah), timeless, timeless, we timeless, oh
Oh (Blatt)
Oh (Yuh, lit)
The Weeknd Timeless Live Lyrics
[Intro: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd]
Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Yeah) (Timeless, timeless, timeless)
Shawty keep wanna come 'round, she wanna get hit (Yuh, yeah) (Timeless, timeless, timeless)
[Chorus: Playboi Carti]
Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Yeah)
Shawty keep wanna come 'round, she wanna get hit (Yuh)
She think she the main because I keep her by my side (Yeah)
Double-O, bust down the watch, you know that I'm timeless
[Verse 1: Playboi Carti]
I put my son in some Rick
I pull that gun off thе hip (Aah)
Pockets on 22K (Schyeah)
I break hеr heart, Comme Garçons
Put on a shirt, get put on a blimp
Just like a stain, you fell in the lake
I had to tell her that ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (What, what)
She singing my songs, she wanna die lit (Homixide, Homixide, Homixide)
Tryna get hit
Passed like a vape (Yeah), yo' posse get bit (Yeah)
Pops see the check (Ah)
Smile on my face (Yeah), aim for your shit (Huh)
Come in your chick
Ice on my neck, double-O wrist
She in the sky, hell of a kind
Push out the chest, foreign implant
Uh, yeah, I'm spinnin' in Paris
Just for these hoes, they finna fuck
Just poured a four in a soda, it popped
I'm just finna hit, I'm feelin' Hell
I'm wrestling all of my demons, I feel like The Rock (Yeah, feel like The Rock)
Since I was a jit, no life for my opps
Still, free my slime, run from them cops
Rolls Royce Cullinan, wait for that chop'
Homixide Gang, it's finna pop (Wow)
It's finna pop (yeah)
Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Yee, yuh)
(Yee, yee, yee)
[Verse 2: The Weeknd]
I wait by the phone
I knew you would call
You been on the blogs
You wanna come out
Go outside shoot up, now you poppin' your own
You trynna fight for me, nobody chasing you, dawg
I know it's hard to act like that
Nigga, you are really gone bad
You just lying to yourself
It's just circles [?]
You can keep me out your head
You just sound like you don't care
What's your problem with me girl
You should tell me where you at
Ever since I was a kid, knew I was the shit, ooh
Shawty all around, just trynna get clicked
You [?] out of my life for [?], uh
Cause shawty overdone me
You're timeless, timeless, timeless
Timeless, timeless, timeless
You timeless, you timeless, ooh-aah
[Bridge: The Weeknd]
Oh-ah, oh-ah-ah
Oh-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Ho-ah, ho-ah, ho-ah
You timeless, ooh-aah
[Chorus: Playboi Carti & & The Weeknd]
Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Yeah)
Shawty keep wanna come 'round, she wanna get hit (Yuh, yeah)
She think she the main because I keep her by my side (Yeah)
Double-O, bust down the watch, you know that I'm timeless
Timeless