"Desert Rose" is the eight track on Lolo Zouaï's debut album, High Highs to Low Lows.
Background
In Lolo Zouaï's interview with Dazed, she talked about the story behind the inspiration on this song. The day before her flight to Algeria for a wedding, she posted a picture of herself showing the middle finger which set off a chain reaction of events which she still feels to this day.
I was supposed to go for the wedding. Then my mum was like, ‘Make your Instagram private!’
The post had enraged her conservative extended family members which then led to angry DMs asking Lolo to change her last name on the app. An American cousin which was also going to the wedding warned her not to come. Her flight to Algeria was mysteriously cancelled by a well-connected family member that knew the details of her flight. Despite Algeria being a prominent spot in her imagination, she doesn't know if she would ever be able to return on her own terms. After the incident happened, she got back to New York City and wrote the song. She also dismissed the comments on it being a sexual song.
“Some people think it’s a sexual song. There’s no sex involved, please relax! It was number one on Spotify’s ‘Bedroom Jams’ playlist, so I joked that the song went Magnum. But it’s my favourite song I’ve ever written.”
The 2018 version of the song also appears to have different instrumental and audio mixing.
In 2021, the song went viral on TikTok and sparked a trend which gained the popularity of the song. On a TikTok, she also said that the song is about family trauma and religious differences. Desert Rose is Lolo Zouaï's most streamed song on music streaming platforms.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
"Inshallah," that's what you say
You think I lost my faith
You won't speak my name
Forbidden, won't see you again
I chose a life of sin
Wish you could forgive
[Pre-Chorus]
I got sharp edges, I get defensive
Too lost to care, middle finger in the air
I'm sorry that I scared ya
Be my protector when I cross the Sahara
Take me there, take me there and
[Chorus]
Love me like a desert rose
Hold me like you can't let go
Keep me safe when I come home
Love me like a desert rose
[Verse 2]
Regarde nous
Les mêmes joues
Toi et moi, tous les deux les mêmes
Plus de joie, en rentrant dans le bled
[Pre-Chorus]
I got sharp edges, I get defensive
Too lost to care, middle finger in the air
I'm sorry that I scared ya
Be my protector when I cross the Sahara
Take me there, take me there and
[Chorus]
Love me like a desert rose
Hold me like you can't let go (Like you can't let go)
Keep me safe when I come home
Love me like a–
[Bridge]
Love me, that's all I want (Habibi)
Hold me, is that too much? (Habibi)
Keep me safe when I come home (Habibi)
Love me, ah, love me like a–
[Chorus]
Love me like a desert rose
Hold me like you can't let go
Keep me safe when I come home
Love me like a–
[Outro]
Like a desert
Habibi, habibi (Habibi)
Habibi, habibi, ah (Habibi)
Habibi, habibi, ah
Love me
Won't you love me?
Videos
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