Open Arms

Album

SOS

Label

Top Dawg Entertainment

Genre

Neo-Soul

Composer(s)

SZA;Rob Bisel;Michael Uzowuru;Teo Halm,;Travis Scott;Dougie F

Entered Chart

Dec 24, 2022

Peak Date

Dec 24, 2022

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

B-Side

N/A

"Open Arms" is a soulful ballad where SZA sings about her devotion to her romantic partner. On the second verse, the R&B singer's insecurities creep in. She tells her lover that even if he pushes her away, she'll still be there for him with open arms. Travis Scott contributes a laid-back Auto-Tuned verse from the perspective of SZA's man. He too is devoted to his sweetheart. The Texan assures her he's "locked in for life." Scott previously featured on SZA's CTRL track "Love Galore." He also contributed background vocals on another SOS tune, "Low." "Open Arms" starts with a spoken-word intro by SZA's late grandmother, Norma Rowe. She reminds her granddaughter that trying your hardest is all that can be expected of anyone. SZA previously featured her nana's advice on the CTRL tracks "Love Galore," "Garden (Say It Like Dat)," and "20 Something." She also opens the SOS song "Used." SZA and Travis Scott co-wrote "Open Arms" with: Scott's friend and onetime tourmate Dougie F. SZA's go-to collaborator Rob Bisel. Producer and songwriter Michael Uzowuru (Frank Ocean's "In My Room," Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl," Rosalia's "Saoko"). Actor and songwriter Teo Halm (Rosalia's "Con Altura," Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Childish Gambino's "Mood 4 Eva"). Bisel, Uzowuru and Halm produced the song. Halm also played all the instruments (drums, guitar, keyboards) and Bisel sang the background vocals.

When you do your best you ca-, I done told you
When you do your best, hell, that's all you can do
You and me and anybody else
So they always start talkin'

Ooh
Runnin' away from where I'm from
Never can stay with no one
Loving you almost feels like something
When no ones around me, you lost and found me
I was surrounded

With open, open, open, open arms (ooh)
Open arms, you keep me open
I'm so devoted
You keep me open, open arms
I'm so devoted to you, to you, to you

Spent your life bein' hopeless
Chokin' on insecurity
I know all this is bad
But, please, put a leash on me anyway
Who needs self-esteem anyway?
I hate myself to make you stay
Push me away, I'll be right here

With open, open, open, open arms (ooh)
Open arms, you keep me open
I'm so devoted
You keep me open, open arms
I'm so devoted to you, to you, to you

No matter what come between us, yeah, I decided (ayy)
I'm forever ridin' (whoa), you're forever guidin' (ayy)
Pull up on an opp, hit his curve up, slidin' (brr)
Notice when you mad, ain't no words, just silence (ooh)
You my favorite color, now you seein' every shade of me
You say that I'm trippin', I hit back like, "Where you takin' me?"
Locked in for life, on God, no replacin' me
Consequences, repercussions, karma keep on changin' me
For you I trust, face card valid, ID
C'est la vie, go to Paris, it ain't five-star, it ain't me
Over-solid, keep it concrete, I'ma bet it on your whole fee
Just don't switch sides, I could buy a piece, your wrist AP
Through the ups and downs and all the heat
Take a turn and tell you what it be
Backshots make you feel relief, anythin', just don't you ever leave

I guess I gotta go
I guess it's time to go
I gotta let you go
(I'm so devoted)
You keep me open
Gotta let you go, gotta let you go
I gotta let you go, I must
You're the only one that's holdin' me down
(You're the only one holdin' me down)
('Cause I'm the only one that's holdin' me down