One in every of 2022’s greatest hits can be one of many oddest in current reminiscence. After years of creating genre-defying, web-savvy soul music as a member of The Web, Steve Lacy broke out as a solo artist with “Dangerous Behavior,” which landed him main Grammy nominations for Report of the 12 months and Music of the 12 months. The lead single from his solo sophomore album Gemini Rights is an adventurous R&B anthem containing so many quotable strains wrapped in quite a few hypnotic melodies that TikTok customers instantly latched onto the music, serving to it attain No. 1 on the Billboard Sizzling 100.
Whereas “Dangerous Behavior” sounds easy and confident sonically, the lyrics are nearly the final word embodiment of the expression “would’ve, may’ve, ought to’ve” (solely Taylor Swift has him beat, given her 2022 observe with that very same title). Lacy expresses his emotions of remorse proper on the outset. “Made a transfer, may’ve made a transfer,” he sings, earlier than asking, “Is it too late to pursue?” Within the refrain, Lacy mourns that he was romantically thinking about somebody however couldn’t construct up the heart to make a transfer, explaining that it’s at all times been a sample that he can’t break. “I chunk my tongue, it’s a foul behavior,” he sings. “Kinda mad that I didn’t take a stab at it / Thought you have been too good for me, my pricey / By no means gave me time of day, my pricey.” The catchy post-chorus makes his intentions loud and clear, pleading, “I want I knew, I want I knew you needed me.”
Lacy maybe will get essentially the most pensive and reflective because the music utterly drops out and the item of his eye returns and all of the sudden turns into accessible, leaving nothing however his personal disbelief. “You possibly can’t shock a Gemini,” he sings. “I’m in all places, I’m cross-eyed, and now that you just’re again, I can’t resolve.” Possibly there’s room for a cheerful ending in any case.
Throughout a current interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Lacy performed a snippet of an early model of “Dangerous Behavior,” which sounded way more stripped again and acoustic-based than the ultimate manufacturing, placing the lyrics of battle and remorse within the foreground. As he instructed Billboard in July 2022, “Dangerous Behavior” developed over the course of a yr, and the drums and refrain have been very completely different at first. Even his pal Tyler, the Creator obtained concerned, encouraging him to alter the post-chorus. “At first it was, ‘I want I knew you / I want I knew you needed me.’ After which he was like, ‘It’d really be extra memorable should you reduce that phrase [‘you’] out,’ so shout out to Tyler,” he mentioned.
Though Lacy might not have essentially the most public expertise with being too hesitant to pursue a crush, he doesn’t have a lot recommendation for these in the identical boat, as he instructed Grammy.com. “With regards to taking pictures your shot, that’s a great query, however I’d say simply do no matter feels good to you,” he mentioned. Learn the total lyrics of “Dangerous Behavior” beneath should you want some inspiration.
I want I knew, I want I knew you needed me
I want I knew, I want I knew you needed me
What you, ooh, uh, what you do?
Made a transfer, coulda made a transfer
If I knew I would be with you
Is it too late to pursue?
I chunk my tongue, it is a unhealthy behavior
Kinda mad that I did not take a stab at it
Thought you have been too good for me, my pricey
By no means gave me time of day, my pricey
It is okay, issues occur for causes that I believe are certain, yeah
I want I knew, I want I knew you needed me
I want I knew (oh), I want I knew you needed me
I want I knew (yeah), I want I knew you needed me (oh)
I want I knew, I want I knew you needed me
Say to me (please simply say to me)
For those who nonetheless need it
I want you would not play with me, I wanna know (oh no)
Uh, can I chunk your tongue like my unhealthy behavior?
Would you thoughts if I attempted to make a cross at it?
Have been you not too good for me, my pricey?
Humorous you come again to me, my pricey
It is okay, issues occur for causes that I am unable to ignore, yeah
I want I knew, I want I knew you needed me
I want I knew (want I knew), I want I knew you needed me (oh)
You possibly can’t shock a Gemini, I am in all places, I am cross-eyed, and
Now that you just’re again, I am unable to resolve, if I resolve should you’re invited
You at all times knew the way in which to wow me
Fuck round, get tongue-tied, and I flip it on, I make it rowdy
Then keep on, however I am not hidin’
You grabbin’ me onerous ‘trigger you understand what you discovered is biscuits, is gravy, babe, ah-ah
You possibly can’t shock a Gemini, however you understand it is biscuits, is gravy, babe
I knew you’d come again round ‘trigger you understand it is biscuits, it is gravy, babe
Let’s f*ck at the back of the mall, lose management, go silly, go loopy, babe
I do know I will be in your coronary heart ’til the tip
You will miss me, do not beg me, babe