Terrified

Album: Awaken, My Love! (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Childish Gambino sings on this slow burner about the fear of falling in love, as he pleads with the girl he's pursuing not to run.

    People want you underground
    Do you misbehave?
    Haunt you to your grave
    I'm going to eat you alive


    No wonder she is terrified of the predatory Gambino and wants to hide.
  • 10-year-old singer and actor JD McCrary croons the outro. Donald Glover first got to know the youngster from a taped recording of him singing The Jackson 5's "Who's Lovin' You" during a game of Finish the Lyrics at a Los Angeles Clippers game. He recalled to The Fader:

    "I sang Michael Jackson's 'Who's Loving You' and I guess [Gambino] liked it so he invited me to a studio in Glendale, California. I never actually met him in person because he was in Europe, but he was on Skype the whole time I was there."

    The pair later worked together on the filming of the live-action remake of The Lion King. (Gambino plays Simba and McCrary voices the young Simba).
  • Gambino performed the song in a white suit at the 2018 Grammy Awards. He was helped by McCrary, whose powerful vocals wowed the Grammy audiences.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.