Released: 2019
Features: Ty Dolla $ign
“Nights Like This” is Kehlani’s soul-baring confession of an unnerving love cycle filled with deception and an unending cycle of hope and disappointment. Anchored by Ty Dolla $ign’s verse, the song delves into the depths of false love, toxic relationships, and the emotional turmoil it leaves in its wake.
“You act like you need remindin’/ Tryna do it over, bring it back and rewind it” she pours her heart out, revealing an ex who’s unwilling to let go, constantly inciting in her memories of a love that once was. This toxicity is further highlighted in “but all that glitters isn’t gold, I was blinded/ should have never gave you my heart on consignment.” It’s clear here that Kehlani regrets investing her love and trust in someone who didn’t value it – a narrative many listeners can resonate with.
The chorus: “On some nights like this, shawty, I can’t help but think of us/ I’ve been reminiscin’, sippin’, missin’ ya,” portrays a vulnerable Kehlani lost in thoughts of an old lover during the isolation of nighttime, amplifying feelings of loneliness and longing. The repetitive questioning; “If I called, would you pick it up?” further signifies her struggle to let go and moving on seems a daunting task.
Ty Dolla $ign’s verse, surprisingly introspective, adds a new dimension to the track by flipping the script. He exposes his feelings and perspective on the relationship, highlighting that even the one who’s blamed for the breakup can still feel resentment and struggle with a sense of loss.
The emotionally charged line, “You gon’ get my hopes high, girl/ Just gon’ tell me more lies, girl” is a universal sentiment expressing the torment of being caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment – a recurrent theme throughout the song.
In essence, “Nights Like This” is a poignant account of heartbreak, false hope, and the challenging journey to moving on from toxic relationships. The raw emotion Kehlani delivers, coupled with Ty Dolla $ign’s introspective perspective, encapsulates the pain of unreciprocated love and the struggle of extraction from a ceaseless loop of emotional warfare.
