The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Twenty Eight" by the artist "Weeknd, The"

The song "Twenty Eight" by The Weeknd uses the metaphor of drug addiction to illustrate a complex and toxic relationship with a woman.

Title:

The very title "Twenty Eight" is a reference to the slang term for a standard measure of marijuana (28 grams). This metaphor permeates the entire song, suggesting that the relationship with this woman is as addictive and consuming as a drug.

Verse 1:

The lyrical protagonist acknowledges that the relationship is unhealthy ("You're not welcome in this house").

Despite this, the woman is persistent and gradually takes over more and more of his life ("But you don't back down, you just lay there and get comfortable").

He sees how much she has changed and realizes he is trapped ("Words can't describe how much you've changed... I should have known I'd met my match").

Chorus:

The protagonist recognizes his mistake in letting this woman into his life and opening up to her ("I'm wrong, I'm way too gone, lettin' you in, lettin' you into my home").

He feels vulnerable and exposed before her ("Now you know all my secrets, I've never felt so vulnerable").

Verse 2:

This verse unveils the true nature of the woman – selfish and unconcerned about the protagonist's feelings.

She boasts about their relationship to her friends, putting him in a negative light ("Did you have to tell your friends, what you screamin' out my name for? Did you have to run your mouth at all?").

Her behavior leads to him being hounded by other women, destroying any chance of a healthy relationship ("Now all your friends want to fuck me, you could've been the one").

He is forced to constantly change his phone number to avoid unwanted attention, highlighting how chaotic his life has become ("Now I gotta change my number twice a month, could've been us").

Verse 3:

The lyrical protagonist regrets his honesty and letting the woman into his life.

He realizes their relationship was doomed from the start ("If I knew back then, baby, what I know now, that you were gonna be up in my bed, I wouldn't have told you that I loved you, we would've left it right there in the club").

He doubts her honesty, sensing falsehood in her words ("You told me you were single, now you're sayin' that you're seeing nobody, and you got nowhere to go, then who's that keep callin' your phone?").

The verse ends with the repeated phrase "I'm way too gone," emphasizing the depth of his regret and hopelessness.

The repetition of the chorus amplifies the atmosphere of despair and addiction to this destructive relationship.

In conclusion: "Twenty Eight" is a dark and honest song about toxic love that, like a drug, leaves the protagonist broken and empty.