Gravel to Tempo
Hayley Kiyoko * Track #1 On Citrine
Download "Gravel to Tempo"
Gravel to Tempo by Hayley Kiyoko
Release Date
Performed by
Hayley KiyokoProduced by
4e & Cecil Bernardy & Jono DorrAbout
“Gravel To Tempo” is the lead single from Hayley Kiyoko’s third EP, Citrine. The empowering anthem tells of self-acceptance and coming to terms with her attraction to women in spite of societal expectations. This is made clearer in the official music video (directed by Kiyoko) which was premiered on...
Gravel to Tempo Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Catch my name for kicks
Thinking I would be right by your side
I don't feel adequate
Thinking I'm a monster in disguise
[Verse 2]
We've gone down every list
Stuck but I have got to begin to resist
Caught up with the fact that life will be dark
But can we handle being kids?
[Pre-Chorus]
I'll do this my way, don't matter if I break
I gotta be on my own
Lost in this feeling, don't never need a reason
I gotta be on my own
[Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
I gotta be on my own
[Verse 3]
Try to stand the test
But the night is crawling through my eyes
I thought I was depressed
But I think I just needed to cry
[Pre-Chorus]
I'll do this my way, don't matter if I break
I gotta be on my own
Lost in this feeling, don't never need a reason
I gotta be on my own
[Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
I gotta be on my own
[Pre-Chorus]
I'll do this my way, don't matter if I break
I gotta be on my own
Lost in this feeling, don't never need a reason
I gotta be on my own
[Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Ooh-oh, oh
Gravel to Tempo Q&A
Who wrote Gravel to Tempo's ?
Gravel to Tempo was written by Hayley Kiyoko & Cecil Bernardy & Jono Dorr.
Who produced Gravel to Tempo's ?
Gravel to Tempo was produced by 4e & Cecil Bernardy & Jono Dorr.
When did Hayley Kiyoko release Gravel to Tempo?
Hayley Kiyoko released Gravel to Tempo on Fri Aug 05 2016.
What has the artist said about the meaning of the song?
In an interview with Refinery29, Kiyoko said that the song is about realizing when you’re older that “the only validation [you] need is from [your]self.”
She mentioned this idea again in a later interview with Fuse:
“So many people, we are dependent on approval, from your parents or your crushes o...
What is the inspiration behind the music video?
In an interview with Refinery29, Kiyoko said that she knew the music video that she wanted to create “from the beginning of writing [Gravel To Tempo].” The music video’s mean girls are inspired by “all the girls [Kiyoko] had crushes on in high school.” The main message in the music video is about se...
What has the artist said about writing the song?
After the music video was released, Kiyoko spoke to Refinery29:
“From the beginning of writing that song, I envisioned myself in front of all the girls I had crushes on in high school,” she says. “I remember so well what it was like to idolize other people and look for validation from them. But the...
What is the meaning of the title, "Gravel to Tempo"?
The title is a reference the sound of walking on gravel that is heard isolated at the beginning and end of the song. The beat (“tempo”) provides the basis for the song. The recording is actually from Hayley walking on a gravel path. This is recreated in the opening of the music video.