Meant to Be (feat. Florida Georgia Line)

"Meant to Be" explores themes of destiny, vulnerability, and the surrender to fate within a romantic context. The song presents a dialogue between two individuals at the beginning of a relationship. One partner, voiced by Florida Georgia Line, has a relaxed, fatalistic approach, believing that if their love is destined, it will naturally flourish without force or worry. The core message is encapsulated in the simple, yet profound line, "If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be, baby, just let it be." This sentiment encourages letting go of control and trusting the journey.

Conversely, the other partner, voiced by Bebe Rexha, expresses caution and vulnerability due to past heartbreaks. She is tired of "fake love" and needs reassurance and authenticity before she can fully commit. Her lyrics, "I don't mean to be so uptight, but my heart's been hurt a couple times / By a couple guys that didn't treat me right," articulate a relatable fear of being hurt again. The song's meaning, therefore, lies in the convergence of these two perspectives. It's about finding a middle ground between guarding one's heart and having faith in the unknown. It suggests that true love might require a leap of faith, an acceptance that some things are out of our hands, and if a connection is real, it will withstand challenges and prove itself over time. The song resonated widely because its simple, honest message of hope and destiny provided comfort and a sense of reassurance to listeners.

The song unfolds as a conversation between two lovers with differing perspectives on love, shaped by their past experiences. The narrative is initiated by the male voice, representing Florida Georgia Line, who paints a picture of serene, carefree intimacy. He invites his partner to relax and simply exist in the present moment with him, suggesting a slow, easy-going drive with no particular destination. His core message is one of reassurance and calm confidence; he tells her that as long as they are together, everything will be alright. He embodies a relaxed, fatalistic view on life and love, encapsulated by the recurring phrase, "If it's meant to be, it'll be." This perspective encourages letting go of anxieties and trusting in the natural course of events.

In response, the female voice, Bebe Rexha, reveals her hesitation and vulnerability. She explains that her guardedness stems from past heartbreaks caused by men who treated her poorly. This history has made her weary of superficial affection, which she terms "fake love." She expresses a deep-seated need for authenticity and proof of genuine feelings. She challenges her new partner to show her his true character and to give her a reason to believe in their connection. Her verse introduces a counterpoint to the easy-going fatalism, highlighting the fear and caution that come from being hurt. She isn't ready to simply "let it be" without some form of emotional security and proof of sincere intentions.

The chorus serves as the thematic and melodic heart of the song, where both perspectives merge. It becomes a shared mantra, "If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be, baby, just let it be." For him, it's a reaffirmation of his core philosophy. For her, it represents a tentative step towards embracing his perspective, a willingness to try and let go of her fears. The repetition of this phrase throughout the song acts as a powerful, hypnotic hook that reinforces the central theme of destiny and surrender. It’s a dialogue that resolves into a shared conclusion: despite past pains and future uncertainties, the best course of action is to trust in fate and allow the relationship to unfold naturally. The song captures the delicate balance between the desire to protect one's heart and the hope of finding a love that feels destined and true, ultimately settling on a hopeful note of acceptance and letting go.

The creation of "Meant to Be" was a serendipitous event, born from a last-minute, unplanned songwriting session. Both Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard were having difficult, unproductive writing days with other collaborators. Rexha's session had fizzled out, and FGL's scheduled session had been canceled. Despite feeling burnt out, Rexha's manager encouraged her to take the meeting with the country duo.

In the studio, Hubbard shared something his wife, Hayley, had told him earlier that day to ease his frustration: "If it's meant to be, it'll be that we write a hit or not." This phrase immediately struck a chord with Rexha, who declared, "That is the song." The track was written very quickly, in about 40 minutes, by Rexha, Hubbard, Josh Miller, and David Garcia. The process was described as organic and magical, with the song seeming to "fall out of the sky." Rexha, a pop artist from New York, had never anticipated having a country hit, but the collaboration was built on both artists staying true to their respective roots, blending pop and country elements seamlessly. The song was initially included on Rexha's EP "All Your Fault: Pt. 2" and wasn't planned as a country single, but strong fan demand led to it being sent to country radio.

The rhyme scheme in "Meant to Be" is relatively simple and effective, primarily using couplets (AABB) and easy, perfect rhymes to enhance its catchy, song-like quality. For example, in Bebe Rexha's verse, "uptight" rhymes with "right" and "lie" rhymes with "lie," creating a straightforward and memorable pattern. The chorus relies heavily on the repetition of the word "be," which acts as its own internal rhyme and rhythmic anchor.

The song's rhythm is defined by a laid-back, mid-tempo beat driven by a pop/R&B style drum machine and finger snaps. This creates a relaxed, 'feel-good' vibe that aligns with the lyrical theme of letting go and not worrying. The vocal rhythm contrasts between the artists; Florida Georgia Line's verses have a relaxed, almost spoken-word cadence, while Bebe Rexha's lines are delivered with a more melodic, flowing rhythm typical of pop music. The interplay between the steady, simple musical rhythm and the conversational lyrical delivery makes the song feel both contemporary and timelessly reassuring.

"Meant to Be" achieves its crossover appeal through a meticulous blend of musical and literary styles. Musically, it fuses country-pop with elements of R&B and hip-hop/trap. The song is built upon a simple, memorable piano melody and a relaxed tempo, complemented by a modern drum machine and digital finger snaps, which are more typical of pop and R&B. The instrumentation includes a subtle steel-like guitar sound to add a country flavor. The vocal delivery is a key stylistic feature, functioning as a dialogue or duet between Rexha's pop/R&B-inflected vocals and Tyler Hubbard's characteristic country twang. This conversational structure makes the narrative engaging and relatable.

Literarily, the song's primary technique is repetition. The chorus, with its insistent "If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be," becomes a powerful, memorable hook. This repetition drills the song's central philosophy into the listener's mind, making it an earworm. The lyrical style is simple and direct, using conversational language (e.g., "I ain't gon' lie") to create a sense of authenticity and intimacy. The song's structure is a classic verse-chorus form, which is straightforward and accessible to a broad audience, further enhancing its massive appeal.

"Meant to Be" had a monumental cultural impact, becoming a record-shattering crossover hit that blurred the lines between pop and country music. It spent a historic 50 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the longest run in the chart's history. The song's success was a testament to the power of genre-blending, introducing pop star Bebe Rexha to a massive country audience and further cementing Florida Georgia Line's status as crossover titans. The song peaked at #2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, held from the top spot only by Drake's "God's Plan."

It was certified Diamond in the US by the RIAA and became the bestselling country song of the 2010s decade in the US. The music video has amassed over 1.1 billion views on YouTube. The song received numerous accolades, including a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and the ACM Music Event of the Decade Award. Its widespread popularity saw it used extensively across media and solidified its place as one of the most significant and successful crossover hits of the 21st century, as recognized by Billboard.

While not heavily laden with complex metaphors, the primary symbolic element in "Meant to Be" is the concept of the open road. The lyrics "Baby, lay on back and relax, kick your pretty feet up on my dash" and "So, won't you ride with me, ride with me?" use the imagery of a car journey with no specific destination to symbolize the relationship's path. This journey represents life and the unfolding of their romance. The act of "riding" together becomes a metaphor for navigating the future as a couple, embracing the uncertainties and enjoying the present moment without a fixed plan. The focus is on the shared experience rather than the destination, reinforcing the song's central theme of letting fate take the wheel. The road symbolizes the unknown, and their willingness to travel it together signifies a commitment to letting their relationship develop organically.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is its title and central lyrical hook: "If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be, baby, just let it be." This line is repeated extensively throughout the chorus and serves as the song's core philosophical statement. Its constant repetition transforms it from a simple phrase into a powerful mantra, encapsulating the theme of surrendering to destiny. This hook is highly memorable and is the main reason for the song's stickiness and widespread appeal.

A secondary recurring motif is the invitation, "So won't you ride with me, ride with me?" This phrase appears in the pre-chorus and outro, reinforcing the metaphor of the relationship as a journey. It acts as a gentle, persistent plea for companionship and shared experience in the face of an unknown future. The repetition of this question highlights the transition from individual uncertainty to a shared path, emphasizing the desire for connection despite any reservations.