Higher

by Rihanna

This whiskey got me feelin' pretty

So pardon if I'm impolite

I just really need your ass with me

I'm sorry 'bout the other night

And I know I could be more creative

And come up with poetic lines

But I'm turnt up off sizz' and I love you

Is the only thing that's in my mind

You take me higher, higher than I've ever been, babe

Just come over, let's pour a drink, babe

I hope I ain't calling you too late, too late

You light my fire

Let's stay up late and smoke a J

I wanna go back to the old way

But I'm drunk instead, with a full ash tray

With a little bit too much to say

Interpretations

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User Interpretation

# Elevating Desire: Decoding Rihanna's "Higher"

In "Higher," Rihanna delivers a raw, unfiltered confession of longing that transcends the typical pop love song format. The track's brevity—barely two minutes long—belies its emotional depth and artistic significance. At its core, "Higher" is an unvarnished late-night plea for connection, capturing that universal moment of vulnerability when inhibitions dissolve and emotional truths emerge. The song's central message revolves around emotional authenticity in the face of desire—Rihanna isn't crafting elaborate metaphors or dressing up her feelings, but rather embracing the messy, imperfect nature of wanting someone.

The emotional landscape of "Higher" is richly textured with intoxicated longing, regret, and unapologetic desire. Rihanna's admission that "this whiskey got me feelin' pretty" establishes the emotional context immediately—she's in that liminal space where alcohol has lowered her defenses and heightened her emotional honesty. There's a palpable yearning throughout, particularly when she confesses that "I just really need your ass with me." This isn't romanticized yearning but rather a visceral, physical need for presence. The remorse expressed in "I'm sorry 'bout the other night" adds complexity, suggesting a relationship with history and complications.

What makes "Higher" particularly compelling is its meta-awareness about artistic expression itself. When Rihanna acknowledges "I know I could be more creative/And come up with poetic lines," she's rejecting the artifice often found in love songs in favor of emotional directness. This self-referential moment brilliantly undercuts expectations of what a love song should be, creating a deeper authenticity. The imagery of being "turnt up off sizz'" with "a full ash tray" paints a vivid picture of intoxicated contemplation that many listeners can relate to—those late nights when substances amplify emotions rather than numb them.

The song's brilliance lies partly in its intentional simplicity that reveals complex truths about human connection. The chorus's repetition of "higher" works as both literal reference to intoxication and spiritual/emotional elevation through love. When she sings "I wanna go back to the old way," Rihanna taps into universal nostalgia for earlier, perhaps simpler times in relationships. The juxtaposition of this desire with her current state—drunk with "too much to say"—creates tension between idealized past and messy present, a contradiction many relationships contain.

Contextually, "Higher" represents a significant artistic departure within Rihanna's catalog. Released on her 2016 album "Anti," the track showcases her evolution toward more experimental, personal work. Her vocal performance is particularly noteworthy—raspy, strained, and pushing the upper limits of her range, mirroring the emotional strain expressed in the lyrics. This stylistic choice positions the song within the tradition of raw, confessional R&B while pushing boundaries of vocal vulnerability in mainstream pop music.

What ultimately makes "Higher" resonate so deeply is its unflinching honesty about human desire and connection. The song captures that universal late-night moment when, guards down, we reach for connection with unpolished sincerity. There's something profoundly moving about Rihanna—a global superstar—presenting herself not as a polished performer but as someone messily human, drunk-dialing a lover with nothing but unvarnished truth to offer. In an era of carefully curated social media personas and relationship presentations, "Higher" stands as a testament to the beauty found in emotional imperfection, reminding listeners that sometimes our most authentic moments of connection come not when we're at our best, but when we're simply at our most real.

Posted on Jul 18, 2025 by Athena