Cruz Beckham
About This Track
'Broken Clocks' was released as the first promotional single from SZA's debut album 'Ctrl' on 2nd June 2017, later sent to urban contemporary radio as the album's fourth single that December. Written by SZA and producer Cody 'ThankGod4Cody' Fayne, the track builds its narrative around the tension between low-wage shift work and the pull of old habits, old lovers, old versions of the self.
The lyrics catalogue the grind with precision: the day job, the strip club, the lunch break never taken, the smoke break overdue. SZA frames escape as both aspiration and ongoing failure, the broken clocks of the title standing in for time that won't move forward cleanly. The chorus loops its mantra of residual affection over the admission that all she has are fragments, pages, the faded edges of a life still under construction. The verses toggle between defiance and apology, the bridge admitting sleeplessness and a heartbeat that feels young again even as the routine grinds on.
The production holds space for the contradictions, letting the vocal sit close whilst the arrangement stays sparse. It's a song about being stuck that refuses to sound defeated, the repetition of 'still love' carrying weight precisely because it acknowledges what hasn't been left behind.
"Broken Clocks" is a single by SZA, from the album Ctrl, released 8th June 2017. The track is 3:51 long. It's filed under R&B/Soul. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 20 articles about SZA.
About the Artist
Lyrics
Lyrics provided by LRCLIB
View full lyrics page →Track details
More from SZA
Explore
Credits
READ MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZA
From Taylor Swift’s vault to SZA, Kid Cudi, The 1975 and Hayley Williams, these collaborations offer five routes beyond Phoebe Bridgers’ best-known group projects.
The R&B collaborators link up ahead of his album 'Oh yeah?'.
'Middle of Nowhere' arrives on 1st May through Lost Highway Records.
There’s a pop dungeon where artists live, sometimes for years, where they say, “it’s coming!” about an album that’s in the works (ahem, Rihanna, ahem, Sky Ferreira). SZA did a stint down there after releasing her cult and critical fave debut ‘Ctrl’ in 2017.
A great leap forward from now indisputable pop superstar.
The clip follows SZA as she exacts her revenge on her ex-boyfriend.
On the playlists
