NF - Like This Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
Yeah, holding back
Yeah, I've always been good at that, unattached (Yeah)
Waiting for what's coming next, things I know I should address
I feel more together when I am a mess (Whoa)
Got some moments that just came and went
Made amends with you, then you overstepped
That's a line you never shoulda crossed, you got no respect
Stop with all the threats
Like the more I get to know you, I just know you less (Yeah)
'Nother city I don't know well
Feeling too much like my old self
Backsliding, backsliding
Got me in the sad feels, got me at a standstill
Too much time alone is when it gets real (Ah)
Future doesn't pop up, then the past will
Outside, that's the rear view
Now I'm going downhill (Yeah)
Don't know who I'm close with
Going through the motions
Don't know who to trust when I (Yeah)
Pre-Chorus
I lie to myself and I, I can't handle it
Why do I waste so much time on things that I can't fix?
All these things I hold inside I just can't forget
Thought that I could let this go
Chorus
But I ain't know that it would be like this, yeah
Like this (Like this)
I ain't know that it would be like this
Yeah, like this
I ain't know that it would be like this
Verse 2
Yeah, maybe I'm impossible to be with
I know that you got a thousand reasons
You prolly wanna leave, but don't know how, yeah
I don't hear a thing when you yell
Guess you like to hear your own voice, yeah
Got me standing here with no choice
I see they tryna gas, they got me all wrong
Look, I'm doing my best to try to stay calm
But I can't deal (Can't deal)
Feeling too much like my old self
Backsliding, backsliding
I just let the phone ring
We ain't even close, please
Throwing out opinions from the nosebleeds (Ayy, yeah)
Lot of issues that you don't see
Texts that I just won't read
Play it off, it cuts deep though
When I don't know who I'm close with
Going through the motions
Don't know who to trust when I (Yeah)
Pre-Chorus
I lie to myself and I, I can't handle it
Why do I waste so much time on things that I can't fix? (Yeah)
All these things I hold inside I just can't forget (Nah)
Thought that I could let this go (Yeah)
Chorus
But I ain't know that it would be like this, yeah (Woo, yeah)
Like this (Ayy)
I ain't know that it would be like this
(I ain't know that it would be like this, woo)
Yeah, like this (Like this)
I ain't know that it would be like this (Like this), yeah (Yeah)
Like this (Like this)
I ain't know that it would be like this
Yeah, like this (Like this)
I ain't know that it would be like this
Video
NF - Like This (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
NF's track "Like This," released on July 26, 2019, delves into the profound struggle of internal conflict and the disorienting feeling of losing oneself amidst mounting personal issues. The song's narrative powerfully captures the experience of someone grappling with self-sabotage and the painful realization that their attempts to move forward have inadvertently led them to a place of greater difficulty. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of feeling unattached, yet paradoxically, more "together when I am a mess," highlighting a complex relationship with chaos and control. NF articulates a sense of backsliding, where familiar, negative patterns resurface, leaving him at a standstill, unable to see a clear future and feeling adrift in his relationships, uncertain of whom to trust. This resonates deeply with the biblical concept of wrestling with sin and temptation, as described in Romans 7:15-19, where the apostle Paul laments, "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." The pre-chorus, with its admission of lying to oneself and wasting time on irresolvable issues, echoes the human tendency toward self-deception and the futility of trying to fix things apart from divine wisdom. The recurring chorus, "I ain't know that it would be like this," powerfully expresses the shock and dismay of facing the consequences of one's actions or inactions, a sentiment that can serve as a wake-up call to re-evaluate our paths.
The song's exploration of feeling like an "old self" and the inability to deal with external pressures, even when trying to remain calm, speaks to the deep-seated nature of inner turmoil. The lines about others offering unsolicited opinions while being unaware of the true struggles are particularly poignant, reminding us of the importance of discernment in relationships and the need for authentic connection over superficial judgment. The biblical narrative frequently illustrates the challenges of navigating relationships and the pain of betrayal or misunderstanding. Proverbs 18:24 wisely states, "Some companions ruin each other, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother," underscoring the critical nature of true fellowship. NF's raw honesty about not knowing who to trust, even as he goes through the motions of life, invites reflection on the foundations of our trust. The struggle depicted in "Like This" is not merely about external circumstances but an internal war, a battle for self-understanding and spiritual grounding. It’s a powerful testament to the human condition, where the desire for peace and progress can be met with the unexpected reality of ongoing challenges, prompting a yearning for clarity and true deliverance. The song's message, though not explicitly religious, touches upon universal themes of struggle, self-awareness, and the search for a better way, themes that are richly explored and resolved within the framework of faith.