Good Days

"Good Days" is a profound exploration of mental health, emotional healing, and the introspective journey toward inner peace. The song captures the delicate balance between clinging to hope and being weighed down by past trauma and anxiety. SZA articulates the struggle of trying to maintain a positive mindset while battling intrusive thoughts about a past relationship and feelings of regret. The central message is one of resilience; despite the internal "war" and feelings of despair, there is an unwavering belief in the possibility of "good days" ahead. The song suggests that this positivity is a state of mind that must be cultivated internally, a sanctuary built within oneself against the chaos of the world and the weight of past sorrows. It's a meditation on self-love, letting go, and the difficult but necessary process of freeing oneself from emotional burdens to move forward.

The song begins with the narrator cautiously stepping into a positive headspace, a "good day" within her own mind. She seeks fresh air and a release from her anxieties. However, this peace is fragile, as thoughts of a past lover quickly become a heavy presence, making her feel overwhelmed and bummed out. She acknowledges a period of feeling mentally empty, a state she's been actively in. There's a recurring worry that she has wasted her prime on this person who, she feels, doesn't care. This thought is urgent and persistent, a nuisance she can't shake.

She describes an internal conflict, a "war in my mind," and recognizes the need to let go of the emotional "weight" that is holding her back. There's a sense of passive despair as she watches her world crumble around her, choosing to be a spectator to her own downfall. This is followed by biblical allusions to Jericho and Job, figures associated with collapse and immense suffering, to articulate the depth of her struggle. She feels she must bear this cross alone, and the heavy reality of her situation kills any positive mood she tries to cultivate.

Despite this internal battle, a resilient spirit shines through. She is determined to find mental clarity and peace, asserting her independence from past connections. She declares she doesn't miss her ex or their messages, choosing not to engage. This is part of her effort to get right with herself before a metaphorical "end of the world." The central theme emerges as a mantra: a deep-seated belief in and longing for "good days." This is not just a fleeting hope, but a conviction that these better times reside within her, in her mind. The outro, featuring Jacob Collier's layered vocals, reinforces this idea of seeking and holding onto the good days, even when external or internal circumstances are challenging. It’s a final, hopeful plea and affirmation, focusing on the future and the sunshine she believes is still ahead.

The creation of "Good Days" was a multi-year process. The foundational instrumental, a 16-bar guitar loop, was created by producer LosHendrix in 2018 during a session for another major artist who ultimately passed on the beat. After the idea was rejected, LosHendrix sent the voice memo to producer Nascent, who added drums. The beat circulated among various artists before producer Carter Lang played it for SZA in her Malibu home. SZA recorded a verse in early 2019, but the song remained incomplete for nearly a year and a half. She eventually wrote a hook in early 2020. Struggling with the harmonies for the outro, SZA sent the track to musician Jacob Collier, who added his signature layered background vocals. Excited by the result, SZA teased a snippet of the song on her Instagram in July 2020 and later included it at the end of the music video for her single "Hit Different" in September 2020. After clearing the necessary samples and permissions, "Good Days" was officially released as a surprise on Christmas Day, December 25, 2020. It served as the lead single for her highly anticipated second studio album, SOS (2022).

"Good Days" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its themes of mental struggle and hope.

• War in my mind: This is a direct metaphor for the internal conflict SZA experiences, representing the intense battle between negative, intrusive thoughts and the desire for peace and positivity.
• Jericho and Job: SZA uses biblical allusions to convey the depth of her suffering. "Feeling like Jericho" refers to the biblical city whose walls came crashing down, symbolizing a feeling of complete collapse and vulnerability. "Feeling like Job when he lost his shit" alludes to the biblical figure who endured immense suffering and loss but maintained his faith, reflecting SZA's attempt to hold onto hope amidst despair.
• Cross to bear alone: This metaphor emphasizes the personal and solitary nature of her struggle, suggesting a burden that she feels she must carry by herself.
• Armored fate: This phrase symbolizes a protected or resilient destiny. It suggests that despite her current struggles, she is preparing herself with emotional armor to face the future with a smile, confident in her eventual triumph.

The emotional landscape of "Good Days" is complex and multifaceted, primarily characterized by a feeling of hopeful melancholy. The song opens with a tranquil and dreamy atmosphere, created by the gentle guitar and SZA's soft vocals, suggesting a desire for peace. However, this tranquility is juxtaposed with lyrics expressing anxiety, regret, and mental exhaustion ("Got me a war in my mind"). This creates a powerful tension between the calm sonic texture and the turbulent emotional content. As the song progresses, the emotion shifts from weary introspection to a more determined and resilient optimism. The chorus and especially the soaring, multi-layered vocal outro by Jacob Collier, introduce a powerful feeling of hope and spiritual release, leaving the listener with a sense of catharsis and the belief that better days are not just possible, but imminent.

Upon its release, "Good Days" was met with critical acclaim and significant commercial success. It became SZA's first solo top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine, and also reached the top ten in several other countries. The song was certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA, signifying massive commercial success. It received a nomination for Best R&B Song at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. The song's themes of mental health, self-care, and hope resonated deeply with listeners, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many describing it as a therapeutic anthem. The music video, a psychedelic and whimsical visual inspired by Alice in Wonderland, further cemented the song's dreamlike aesthetic. "Good Days" is considered a standout track in SZA's discography and a pivotal single that bridged the gap between her debut album Ctrl and the record-breaking success of SOS.

"Good Days" utilizes a fluid, conversational rhythm that mirrors the song's introspective and stream-of-consciousness lyrical style. The song largely employs a free verse structure, avoiding a strict, predictable rhyme scheme. This allows the lyrical narrative to feel more natural and heartfelt. However, SZA makes use of slant rhymes (e.g., mind/time) and internal rhymes to maintain a sense of musicality and connection between lines. The tempo is relaxed, contributing to the song's overall chill and contemplative atmosphere. The rhythmic interplay between SZA's laid-back vocal phrasing and the steady, looping guitar and percussion creates a hypnotic effect. The song's rhythmic complexity increases in the outro with Jacob Collier's layered vocals, introducing a more intricate, polyrhythmic texture that lifts the song to its hopeful conclusion.

Musically, "Good Days" is built on a serene, looping electric guitar riff that creates a dreamy, atmospheric soundscape, which contrasts with the lyrical themes of inner turmoil. The production, handled by Carter Lang, Nascent, and LosHendrix, features gentle percussion and ethereal background sounds like birdsong and children laughing, enhancing its tranquil yet melancholic feel. SZA's vocal delivery is a key element; she moves between a soft, conversational tone and soaring, layered harmonies, conveying both vulnerability and strength. The song's structure builds gradually, culminating in a complex and uplifting outro featuring Jacob Collier's intricate, multi-tracked vocal harmonies, which act as a powerful release of the song's tension. Lyrically, SZA employs a narrative voice that is introspective and raw, using direct address and rhetorical questions to explore her mental state. The use of vivid imagery and biblical allusions adds layers of meaning to her personal reflections.

What is the meaning behind SZA's song 'Good Days'?

'Good Days' is an introspective song about healing from past heartbreak and battling inner turmoil. It's about SZA's struggle to maintain a positive outlook and her conscious effort to focus on the hope for better days ahead, finding peace within her own mind despite feelings of anxiety and regret.

Who is singing the background vocals at the end of 'Good Days'?

The layered, harmonious background vocals in the outro of "Good Days" are performed by the acclaimed musician Jacob Collier. SZA enlisted him to help with the harmonies, and he also shares a writing credit on the song.

What do the lyrics 'Feeling like Jericho, Feeling like Job' mean?

These are biblical allusions SZA uses to express deep suffering. 'Feeling like Jericho' refers to the city whose walls collapsed, symbolizing feeling broken down. 'Feeling like Job' alludes to a man who lost everything but kept his faith, representing her struggle to remain hopeful through immense hardship.

When was 'Good Days' by SZA released?

SZA released 'Good Days' on December 25, 2020. It was a surprise Christmas release for her fans and served as the lead single for her second studio album, 'SOS'.

What genre of music is 'Good Days'?

"Good Days" is primarily categorized as Alternative R&B and Neo-Soul. It also incorporates elements of alternative pop and has a hip-hop influenced beat, creating a dreamy and atmospheric sound.

How was the song 'Good Days' created?

The song's instrumental was created in 2018 but was passed on by another artist. SZA recorded a verse to it in 2019 but left it incomplete for over a year. She finished the lyrics and melody in 2020 and collaborated with Jacob Collier for the outro harmonies before its release.