The Feeling

Album

Oh Yeah?

Label

RCA Records

Genre

Neo-Soul

Media Type

DD

Duration

4:35

Composer(s)

Steve Lacy;Alice Smith;Matthew Castellanos

Entered Chart

Jun 20, 2026

Peak Date

Aug 29, 2026

Released

June 5, 2026

Catalog #

RCA

"The Feeling" is Steve Lacy's synth-pop track about the ache of emotional uncertainty in a relationship on the verge of collapse. Lacy recounts the frustration of wanting closure while being unable to force someone to feel the way they once did. The whole song builds toward a single, vulnerable question dropped on the chorus: "Am I ya baby?" Lacy isn't asking for a definition of the relationship so much as confirmation that he's still wanted in it. One of the song's sharpest moments arrives on the bridge: Uh, when you start writing songs just to stop thinking 'bout him Oh, then you start writing songs and you make 'em about him The lyric serves as a self-aware commentary on the creative process itself. Lacy recognizes the irony that art often becomes the very thing that preserves the memories it's supposed to help erase. It's a predicament familiar to songwriters everywhere: attempting to exorcise a ghost only to accidentally give it a recording contract. Though Lacy hasn't named the person who inspired "The Feeling," the lyrics offer some telling clues. He uses male pronouns on the track ("when you start writing songs just to stop thinking 'bout him") consistent with Lacy's openly bisexual identity. In his August 2025 Rolling Stone cover interview, Lacy revealed he had gone through a breakup the previous fall, suggesting the song draws on that relationship. The outro's reference to shared memories in "an Airbnb in 2019" implies the bond stretched back several years. Lacy acknowledged the emotional spiral directly, telling Rolling Stone that he was now dating someone new, but the unnamed ex at the heart of this song clearly left a lasting mark. Lacy wrote "The Feeling" with Alice Smith and Matthew Castellanos, while handling production duties himself. Alice Smith also sang background vocals. The American singer-songwriter is renowned for her four-octave vocal range and her ability to blend R&B, soul, rock, jazz, and blues into a distinctive style. She first gained widespread attention with her 2006 debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, and has collaborated across a wide range of genres throughout her career, including co-writing "Last Time (I Seen the Sun)" for Ryan Coogler's acclaimed 2025 film Sinners. Matthew Castellanos is one of Lacy's key creative collaborators, including co-writing "Bad Habit." Alongside co-writing "The Feeling," he directed its music video and has built a reputation as a songwriter, producer, and visual director within the alternative-pop world. His credits also include extensive work with singer-songwriter Malcolm Todd, contributing to several tracks on Todd's 2026 album Do That Again, most notably the Hot 100 hits,"Breathe" and "I Saw Your Face." The music video keeps the focus squarely on Lacy's performance. Filmed at the Groove Factory Santa Monica Warehouse, it shows him shirtless, playing guitar and wandering through the industrial space.

Na-na-na-na
Da-da-da-da

Something's burning, I smell fire
The Devil's working hard to keep me alone, mm
I know we're down to the wire
Oh, I can't be without you
I often wonder where your head is, so confused

The heart takes what it wants (heart takes what it wants)
I'm not scared to bleed, you know our history
After all, there's one thing I don't know

Am I your baby? Am I your baby?
(Am I your baby)
Am I your baby? Am I your baby?
(Oh, oh)

Staring at your pictures, wishing I was with you
Drunker than a bitch, sure'd be nice to kiss you
I could let it go, but I'm not a quitter
I can't let you go, I'm in love with you

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Sending all the signals, pay me some attention
Fuck it, I'ma call you, I'ma tell you I been hurting
Kept it to myself 'cause I ain't wanna be a burden
This ain't gonna heal if we don't make a deal

Why the fuck you gotta test my patience? Mhm
'Cause I could spend my whole life waiting
I'd rather not, so baby, let's get on
Oh, please come take me, please come take me

The heart takes what it wants (heart takes what it wants)
I'm not scared to bleed, you know our history
After all, there's one thing I don't know

Am I your baby? Am I your baby?
Baby, baby
Am I your baby? Am I your baby?
Baby, baby, baby

When your heart's on your sleeve, but it don't even matter (baby, baby)

When you're only a friend, don't it just make you sadder? (baby)
Uh, when you start writing songs just to stop thinking 'bout him (baby)
Oh, then you start writing songs and you make 'em about him
Uh, when we fucked on your rug, had me floating like Aladdin (baby, baby)
When we tripped in the Airbnb, 2019 (baby)
When it seems it was some kind of dream, but it happened (baby, baby)
That's the feeling tonight
That's how I'm feeling tonight, oh