Lizzo is one of the most influential singers in the music industry today, creating much of her image and brand around positive body imagery. Through her social media platforms, she admits that there have been and continue to be times when she is not “feeling good as hell,” and has called out body shamers. She explains that she does work out and is happy with her body as a strong, beautiful, and successful woman.
Digging deeper into her newest song, “About Damn Time,” the official music video tells a story in itself. The video starts with a group of people, including Lizzo, in a support group. The members are encouraged to share and compare something that both stresses them out and makes them feel sexy. When Lizzo gets called on, she flees from the room and begins singing her inspirational lyrics.
Body Positivity: Core of Lizzo’s Lyrics
She begins by addressing her feelings and asking how the rest of the members are healing. She states that she has “been so down and under pressure.” Lizzo says she is “way too fine to be this stressed.” Lizzo has a huge following based on her acceptance and love for her body. Regardless of her wealth and popularity due to this, she still struggles with her appearance, like everybody. Lizzo is loved but does get a lot of hate for what she stands for. The meaning behind these lyrics is that she knows she will have her moments of self-doubt but knows it will pass and she will be okay.
“‘Cause I give a f*ck way too much
I’ma need like two shots in my cup.”
Even though this artist portrays a strong and confident person, she is human and cares about what people have to say. Her constant repetition of “it’s about damn time” means that her moment of self-doubt is over, and it is time to celebrate herself and those like her!
Sexy Doesn’t Have to Be Skinny
Lastly, Lizzo sings, “I’m not the girl I was or used to be.” Therefore, she is preaching to all people that have self-doubts about their bodies. She is telling them that it is okay to have their moments, but then it is time to get back up and tell themselves that they are beautiful and to love themselves! Once people learn to love themselves, they have become a new and better version of what they once were, and that is something Lizzo wants to celebrate with this song!
Lizzo has gone on record, saying she hated the song while it was being written. On Howard Stern: So, in other words, you were not going to put this on the album? Lizzo: I wrote this shit in February. My album came out in April. I was like, ‘my album is done. I don’t need no more songs. I’m good.’ And they were like, ‘we think we made something special.’ And I was like, play it over the phone. And if it’s good, I’ll come to the studio. And I heard it and I was like, I’ll be there in ten minutes. And I came. And it took so many rewrites to nail this chorus. And literally like, well, the verses were freestyled, so that was easy. But the chorus took forever because we had all of these lyrics in there that were just so overly thought and so too niche and too mean and unnecessary. And finally, I was just like, I’m going to be okay. Okay. All right. It’s about damn time. It used to be about that time. And then we were like, Damn is, like, cooler. So, I, like, wrote this chorus a zillion times. So, I was like, on, like, version 207. I was like, I f*cking hate this song because now I just love it.”
Additional Reception & Information
The song garnered massive popularity all over the charts, and was featured in numerous TV shows, including: The Sex Lives of College Girls, Love Island, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, America’s Got Talent. In addition, Lizzo performed it live on Saturday Night Live in 2022. Lizzo’s new song “About Damn Time” was released on April 14, 2022.
It’s bad bitch o’clock, yeah, it’s thick-thirty
I’ve been through a lot but I’m still flirty (okay)
Is everybody back up in the buildin’?
It’s been a minute, tell me how you’re healin’
‘Cause I’m about to get into my feelings
How you feelin’? How you feel right now?
Oh, I’ve been so down and under pressure
I’m way too fine to be this stressed, yeah
Oh, I’m not the girl I was or used to be
Uh, bitch, I might be better
Turn up the music, turn down the lights
I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright
Okay (okay), alright
It’s about damn time (time)
Turn up the music, let’s celebrate (alright)
I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be okay
Okay (okay), alright
It’s about damn time
In a minute I’ma need a sentimental
Man or woman to pump me up
Feeling fussy, walkin’ in my Balenci-ussy’s
Tryna bring out the fabulous
‘Cause I give a f*ck way too much
I’ma need like two shots in my cup
One to get up, one to get down
Mm, that’s how I feel right now
Oh, I’ve been so down and under pressure
I’m way too fine to be this stressed, yeah
Oh, I’m not the girl I was or used to be
Uh, bitch, I might be better
Turn up the music, turn down the lights
I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright
Okay (okay), alright
It’s about damn time (time)
Turn up the music, let’s celebrate (alright)
I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be okay
Okay (okay), alright
It’s about damn time
Bitch
‘Cause, uh, you know that time it is, uh
I’m comin’ out tonight, I’m comin’ out tonight (uh-huh)
I’m comin’ out tonight, I’m comin’ out tonight (woo)
I’m comin’ out tonight, I’m comin’ out tonight
Okay (okay), alright (alright)
It’s about damn time
I’m comin’ out tonight, (let’s go) I’m comin’ out tonight (comin’ out tonight)
I’m comin’ out tonight, I’m comin’ out tonight (woo)
I’m comin’ out tonight, I’m comin’ out tonight (comin’ out tonight)
Okay (okay), alright
It’s about damn time
Oh
Bitch
Yeah, yeah
It’s about damn time
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Blake Slatkin / Eric Frederic / Larry Tyrone Price / Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren / Melissa Viviane Jefferson / Ronald Jerome Jr. Larkins / Stephen Eric Hague / Theron Makiel Thomas
About Damn Time lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Listeners that enjoy songs about Nostalgia may also be interested in the song I Ain’t Worried by OneRepublic
This article was first published August 10th, 2022 and last updated May 19th 2023
