According to Broadway World, Nathaniel Banks says the song tells the story of a pregnancy scare that brought an already tumultuous relationship to the breaking point.
[Verse 1]
It was raining when you came in
You said, "Sorry, I'm all wet"
I said, "You don't have to be sorry
I'll help you take care of that"
You lay it all out on the table
I said there's no need to make a mess
We try to study, don't get a lot done
All busy worried about that test
[Chorus]
College hall's no place for a study date
You couldn't look yourself straight through the mirror
Wasn't my fault to egg you on, I couldn't wait
I shoulda known you couldn't hold your own liquor
It's a surefire, but your daddy wouldn't pay
He finds out, I'm going down undercover
You know the truth is loving you was not a mistake
But that's a lotta bad karma
Oh, I wouldn't make a bad father
[Verse 2]
Now you're saying you're gonna leave me
It took a long time to get you thеre
You're still a hot mess in your whitе dress
I'm busy trying not to stare
Oh, and freedom, oh, freedom
Like a heartbeat, could drive you mad
The thunder outside drowning out my visions
Of what we lost and what we had
[Chorus]
College hall's such a cold place to be awake
You couldn't look yourself straight through the mirror
Wasn't my fault to egg you on, I couldn't wait
I shoulda known you couldn't hold your own liquor
It's a surefire, but your daddy wouldn't pay
He finds out, I'm going down undercover
You know the truth is loving you was not a mistake
But that's a lotta bad karma
Oh, I wouldn't make a bad father (Yeah)
[Bridge]
I'm afraid that I'm to blame if you give up, Cassie
If I ever make out of my head
You can have me
Maybe I could stick around
Yeah, I could shape up, settle down (Shape up, settle down)
But tonight, I'm freaking out
'Cause you won't call
[Outro]
Cold shoulder, pulled over on the interstate
Double take, saw a little face in the mirror
Knew we couldn't tell your mother when I saw your plates
Heated seats, but you couldn't speak through the shivers
You zip your jacket, try to hide your red letter A
Half-mast, scatter ashes in the water
You know the truth is you could cut this any other way
It's just a lotta bad karma (Hey)
I wouldn't make a bad father
But you won't call, no
But you won't
You won't
You won't call
karma was written by JT Daly & Ryan Savage & Nathaniel Banks.
karma was produced by Adam Lochemes & JT Daly & Ryan Savage & Nathaniel Banks.