What Lovers Do
by Maroon 5 (featuring SZA)

Album: Red Pill Blues (2017)
Charted: 12 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Adam Levine and SZA both calling out to their lovers to stop playing around and be real. The Maroon 5 frontman starts the song off by asking his love interest what her true feelings for him are.

    Tell me if you love me or not
    I bet the house on you
    Am I lucky or not, lucky or not, lucky or not?


    SZA is also wondering if the love she has is an enduring one. During the TDE artist's brief, sultry second verse, she demands her lover fulfills her needs.

    Say say say, hey hey now baby
    You know what I need, out the gate now baby


    SZA rejoins later for another verse and some backup vocals as Levine tries "to do what lovers do."
  • This is Maroon 5's second collaboration with a TDE artist, following their 2016 hook up with Kendrick Lamar for "Don't Wanna Know."
  • Adam Levine penned the song with Starrah, who has helped write a wide range of hit songs including Rihanna's "Needed Me," Kevin Gates' "2 Phones," Drake's "Fake Love" and Big Sean's "No Favors."
  • The upbeat, dance-y track features spooky synths and digital handclaps, courtesy of Florida-based musician Ben Billions Yo Gotti's ("Down in The DM") and Los Angeles born producer Jason Evigan ("Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack").
  • The song contains an interpolation of Swedish producer NEIKED's 2016 UK Top 5 hit "Sexual," which features vocals by English singer Dyo. As a consequence, the two European artists are also credited as songwriters.

Comments: 1

  • Lyzza from PhilippinesShe fell first but he fell harder.... She is not ready that's why?! she can't reveal her love for him, but she preparing herself for him to become together someday!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.