"Saturn" is the lead single and fifteenth and final track by SZA from her the reissue of her sophomore studio album SOS, titled LANA. it was released through Top Dawg and RCA on February 22, 2024.
Background
On September 8, 2023, SZA held a surprise album celebration event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and revealed that the previously announced deluxe edition of SOS would actually be a whole new studio album. During the show, she would perform previously unreleased songs, including "Saturn", for the first time. In December 2023, the singer got more specific about the release, sharing different artworks for the album.[1][2][3]
On February 4, 2024, SZA performed the song as part of a Mastercard commercial during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. The "verdant" setting featured the singer in a top up of real tree seedsswinging among tress and flowers, which was compared to the imagery of a "forest nymph". Conceptually, the song sees SZA sharing thoughts on her "jaded, somber perspective on the world". Contrary to its title, "Saturn" talks about the desire to improve conditions on Earth. According to the singer, the lyrics observe the desire to "go somewhere else" but, unable to do so, "we have to find something worth saving here".[4]
Composition
This song explains SZA's confusion on the world. In SZA's mind, life is a pattern. The world is dull and she's tired of the same thing, and this song is a way she expressed this.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
If there's another universe
Please make some noise (Noise)
Give me amonotony sign (Sign)
This can't be life
If there's a point to losing love
Repeating pain (Why?)
It's all the same (Same)
I hate this place
[Pre-Chorus]
Stuck in this paradigm
Don't believe in paradise
This must be what Hell is like
There's got to be more, got to be more
Sick of this head of mine
Intrusive thoughts, they paralyze
Nirvana's not as advertised
There's got to be more, been here before
[Chorus]
Ooh (Ooh, ooh)
Life's better on Saturn
Got to break this pattern
Of floating away
Ooh (Ooh, ooh)
Find something worth saving
It's all for the taking
I always say
[Post-Chorus]
I'll be better on Saturn
None of this matters
Dreaming of Saturn, oh
[Verse 2]
If karma's really real
How am I still here?
Just seems so unfair
I could be wrong though
If there's a point to being good
Then where's my reward?
The good die young and poor
I gave it all I could
[Pre-Chorus]
Stuck in this terradome (Ooh)
All I see is terrible (Ooh)
Making us hysterical (Ooh)
There's got to be more, got to be more
Sick of this head of mine (Ooh)
Intrusive thoughts, they paralyze (Ooh)
Nirvana's not as advertised (Ooh)
There's got to be more, been here before
[Chorus]
Ooh (Ooh, ooh)
Life's better on Saturn
Got to break this pattern
Of floating away
Ooh (Ooh, ooh)
Find something worth saving
It's all for the taking
I always say
[Post-Chorus]
I'll be better on Saturn
None of this matters
Dreaming of Saturn, oh
[Outro]
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)