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  1. Tracks
  2. SZA
  3. SOS
  4. Special
Special by SZA

TRACK

SZA

Special

Release date: 9th December 2022

From SOS
Track 16
2:39
R&B/SoulMusic
Spotify Apple Music More on SZA

About This Track

SZA turns the gaze inward on 'Special', a standout from her A Dork five-star record 'SOS'. The track strips away the bravado found elsewhere on the album to examine self-worth through the lens of a relationship that demanded she become someone else. She contrasts an idealised woman with her own perceived flaws, cataloguing insecurities with unflinching specificity before arriving at the bitter realisation that she gave her specialness away to someone unworthy of it.

The production supports the emotional arc with a soulful restraint, allowing the lyrics to carry the weight. SZA credits the journey itself as what makes someone special, not the approval of another person. The chorus refrain becomes an accusation: the relationship didn't just end, it fundamentally altered her sense of self, leaving her resentful of the transformation.

It's a song about empowerment arrived at through damage, self-worth reclaimed after it's been surrendered. The messiness on display is what makes it resonate, a necessary rawness that refuses to tidy up the emotional aftermath.

"Special" is a track by SZA, from the album SOS, released 9th December 2022. The track is 2:39 long. It's filed under R&B/Soul. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 20 articles about SZA.

About the Artist

SZA

SZA

Lyrics

Special

I wish I was that girl from that Gucci store
She never wore any makeup and she owns couture
I got pimples where my beauty marks should be
I got dry skin on my elbows and knees

I never liked her, wanted to be like her
Hate how you look at her 'cause you never saw me
Like I was an art piece, like I was an ordinary girl

I wish I was special
I gave all my special away to a loser
Now, I'm just a loser

I used to be special
But you made me hate me
Regret that I changed me
I hate that you made me just like you
Just like you

I wanted to be thick, now I wanna be thin
Heard Pilates is in, bash your windows out
You gon' hear my mouth, you could kick me out
You say I'm too wild, you gon' hate me now

Boy, you got me fucked up, now I'm gettin' fucked up
Thinkin' 'bout us fucking, why you'd have fuck her?
I don't wanna see you, why'd you have to treat me like I was an ordinary girl?

I wish I was special
I gave all my special away to a loser
Now, I'm just a loser

I used to be special
But you made me hate me
Regret that I changed me
I hate that you made me just like you
Just like you

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From SOS

2:392022
Listen
Album
SOS
SOS
SZA
9th December 2022
Track number
16
Release year
2022
  1. 1SOS
    1:58
  2. 2Kill Bill
    2:34
  3. 3Seek & Destroy
    3:24
  4. 4Low
    3:01

More from SZA

Albums & EPs

SOS Deluxe: LANA
SOS Deluxe: LANA
2025
Saturn - Single
Saturn - Single
2024
Kill Bill - Single
Kill Bill - Single
2023
Ctrl (Deluxe)
Ctrl (Deluxe)
2022
Ctrl
Ctrl
2017
Z
Z
2014

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More tracks by SZA

  1. BOY IN RED
    3:10
  2. girl, get up.
  3. Bell Atlantic
  4. Call Me Back
  5. Camp Freestyle*
  6. ChoiceSZA3*
  7. Collect
  8. Die for You (Solo Version)
  9. Drill Me*
  10. Fantasize*

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5Love Language
3:04
  • 6Blind
    2:31
  • 7Used (feat. Don Toliver)
    2:27
  • 8Snooze
    3:22
  • 9Notice Me
    2:41
  • 10Gone Girl
    4:04
  • 11Smoking on my Ex Pack
    1:24
  • 12Ghost in the Machine (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
    3:39
  • 13F2F
    3:05
  • 14Nobody Gets Me
    3:01
  • 15Conceited
    2:31
  • 16Special
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  • 17Too Late
    2:44
  • 18Far
    3:01
  • 19Shirt
    3:02
  • 20Open Arms (feat. Travis Scott)
    4:00
  • 21I Hate U
    2:54
  • 22Good Days
    4:38
  • 23Forgiveless (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)
    2:22
  • —Open Arms
  • —Ghost in the Machine
  • —Used
  • —Forgiveless

    • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, Rob Bisel, Shellback, SZA
    Producer
    benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, Shellback
    Engineer
    benny blanco, Dave Schwerkolt, Rob Bisel
    Guitar
    Blake Slatkin
    Keyboards
    benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi
    Assistant Engineer
    Hayden Duncan, Jeremy Dilli, Syd Tagle
    Assistant Mastering Engineer
    Katie Harvey, Noah McCorkle
    Background Vocals
    benny blanco, Rob Bisel
    Engineered At
    555 Studio Pee Pee Palace, Cosmonaut Studio, Westlake Studios
    Instrumentation
    benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, Shellback
    Mastering Engineer
    Dale Becker
    Mixing Engineer
    Bryce Bordone, Șerban Ghenea
    Programmer
    benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, Shellback
    READ MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZA
    READ MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZAREAD MORE ABOUT SZA
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    15 Sept 2026 • 9:30 am
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