“Broken Clocks” is the third single released from SZA’s debut album Ctrl, following “Drew Barrymore” and “Love Galore”.
SZA reminisces about the imbalance between her love and working life, with the epiphany that her romance interfering with her schedule only acted out as foreshadow of her eventual...
[Verse 1]
Run fast from my day job
Runnin' fast from the way it was
Jump quick to a paycheck
Runnin' back to the strip club
I'm never goin' back, never goin' back
No, you can't make me
Never goin' back, never goin' back (Nah)
They'll never take me
I've paid enough of petty dues
I've heard enough of shitty news
I've had a thing for dirty shoes since I was ten
Love dirty men alike
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh
Better day than yesterday (Keep cuttin' up)
Ooh
I just take it day by day
Ooh, oh
Never hearing what they say (Uh)
Ooh-ooh (Mm)
I just do it my way
[Chorus]
All I got is these broken clocks
I ain't got no time
Just burnin' daylight
Still love, and it's still love, and it's still love
It's still love, still love (Still love), still love
It's still love, it's still love
Nothin' but love for you (Nothin' but)
Nothin' but love (Nothin' but)
Nothin' but love
[Post-Chorus]
All that I've got, pieces and pages
Talkin' a lot, sorry, I'm faded (Turnin' up real good tonight)
Think I forgot you love me (Think I forgot the other night)
You love me, you love me
[Verse 2]
Got a shift at 10 AM (Yeah)
Gotta dip at 10 PM (Nah)
Gotta get that cash
Won't get past a lunch break
I ain't had a smoke break
In about two days, don't break (Ugh)
Been about three years since I dated you
Why you still talkin' 'bout me like we together?
I moved on for the better, you moved on to whoever
I was down for whatever and then some
You gon' make me late to work again
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh
Better day than yesterday
Ooh
I just take it day by day
Ooh, oh
Never hearing what they say
Ooh-ooh
I just do it my way (Keep doin' it)
[Chorus]
All I got is these broken clocks
I ain't got no time
Just burnin' daylight
Still love, and it's still love, and it's still love
It's still love, still love, still love (Still love)
It's still love, and it's still love (Still love)
Nothin' but love for you
Nothin' but love (Nothin' but)
Nothin' but love
[Bridge]
I don't eat, can't sleep past 9 AM
Heartbeat make me feel young again (Make me feel like a—)
Can't beat 'em, just join the party (Let me join the party)
I don't wanna, don't need nobody
[Post-Chorus]
All that I've got, pieces and pages
Talkin' a lot, sorry, I'm faded
Think I forgot you love me
You love me, you love me
[Outro]
You love me
You love me
You love me
Broken Clocks was written by Carter Lang & River Tiber & Daniel Caesar & Ging & ThankGod4Cody & SZA.
Broken Clocks was produced by ThankGod4Cody.
SZA released Broken Clocks on Fri Jun 02 2017.
In an interview with Vulture.com SZA said that her favorite memories of making CTRL are her times at Carter Lang’s grandmother’s Michigan lake house, and that Broken Clocks was one of the songs to come from these sessions
The beat/instrumental is both a sample of River Tiber’s song “West,” and ThankGod4Cody’s 808 production.
“Broken Clocks” was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA on August 17, 2022.