Meaning and Lyrics of want by Dua Saleh

Interpreting Dua Saleh’s song “Want” is akin to dissecting a melancholic tapestry of transitory romance and unshaken temptation. What we have here is a poignant narrative on the perpetual cycle of desire meshed with the awareness of its inevitable demise. Let’s dive deeper into the lyrical and emotional landscape that Saleh masterfully crafts.

Intro

Almost had it
Then you went and threw it all away
Keep backtracking
Even though the feeling ain’t the same
Now every time I’m back in LA
You up in my bed, it’s late
I know we probably shouldn’t but

From the first lines, Saleh draws us into a world of near misses and squandered chances, with a profound sense of retrospection. The phrase “Almost had it” encapsulates the tantalizingly close yet invariably elusive nature of this relationship. The act of “backtracking” signifies a regression, an inability to move forward while being painfully aware that “the feeling ain’t the same.” Each reunion in LA, a city often symbolic of fleeting dreams and transient realities, is not just a physical meeting but a symbolic return to an old, emotionally charged space. The “shouldn’t but” phrasing sets the stage for the recurring temptation and the emotional tug-of-war that follows.

Refrain

I think I want, want, want to
I think I want, want, want to

This simple yet powerful refrain is the heartbeat of the song. The repetition of “want” accentuates the internal conflict—a desire that is persistent and undeniable, despite the knowledge of its futility. It’s an evocative capture of human vulnerability.

Chorus

Tryna keep it in the past
Way we love it never lasts
But I want, want

Here, Saleh lays bare the crux of the internal struggle: attempting to confine this turbulent emotion to the past, recognizing that their love never stands the test of time, yet the want persists. The chorus mirrors the emotional seesaw between rationality and longing.

Verse 1

I got you stroking on my ego
You wanna flex on your ex
Give me heat stroke
And you know
I like it better when you dance slow
Say you want another chance
You got high hopes

In this verse, Saleh delves into the intricate dynamics of their interactions. “Stroking on my ego” suggests an element of flattery and validation, while “flex on your ex” introduces a notion of competition and one-upmanship. The imagery of “heat stroke” evokes an intense, almost unbearable passion. The preference for dancing slow captures a yearning for a more intimate, thoughtful connection, juxtaposed against the backdrop of “high hopes,” a painfully optimistic desire for reconciliation.

Verse 2

And when we in it, it feel right though
You don’t even wanna keep it on the down low
But you pressing on your luck, that’s a no, go
Can’t be tippin’ off the edge of the tight rope

The second verse examines the momentary rightness of their union—where despite the fragility, the connection feels genuine and perfect. Yet, the reluctance to “keep it on the down low” speaks to a desire for authenticity and openness. However, “pressing on your luck” signals a precariousness; the relationship is hanging by a thread (“tight rope”), teetering on the brink of collapse.

Interlude

Oh, and I know we probably shouldn’t but
Oh

The interlude punctuates the narrative with a sigh-like acknowledgment—a momentary pause that emphasizes the futility yet inevitability of their actions.

Refrain and Chorus Reprise

I think I want, want, want to
I think I want, want, want to
Try to keep it in the past
Way we love it never lasts
But I want, want

These repetitions reaffirm the ongoing conflict, the ceaseless push and pull between desire and reality.

Outro

Now every time I’m back in LA
(Want, want to)
You up in my bed, it’s late
(Want, want)
I know we probably shouldn’t but
I think I want, want, want
Want to

The outro loops back to LA and the bed—symbols of recurring temptation and fleeting intimacy. The ultimate repetition of “want, want, want” in the face of “shouldn’t” crystallizes the core theme: an unending cycle of passion, regret, and an almost masochistic surrender to desire despite the futility.

In “Want,” Dua Saleh navigates the labyrinth of desire with poetic eloquence. The song is a masterclass in capturing the human propensity for chasing after ephemeral connections, even when logic and experience trumpet the inevitable heartache. It’s a somber yet beautifully rendered ode to the intoxicating power of want, and the human condition that remains enslaved by it.