The meaning behind a song can take the music experience to the next level, and “Yebba’s Heartbreak” took us to a place of deep pain that left us with tears streaming down our faces. It’s a worthwhile one that will forever be etched in our hearts and yours, without any doubt.
First, let’s address the confusion. As you might have heard, the song was introduced as “by Drake and Yebba.” Yet, Drake didn’t sing or rap a single line in the song. So, how did this happen?
Drake is known as one of the biggest rap artists of his generation, with hits like “Hotline Bling” and “God’s Plan.” (If you haven’t heard of these songs, you might have been living under a rock.)
Of course, this isn’t the first time he featured other artists in his albums. In fact, it’s a running theme in his albums. He always has an artist do an interlude for his record. One of those songs is “Yebba’s Heartbreak” by Yebba.
“Yebba’s Heartbreak”
According to her fans and listeners, the soulful singer, who first went viral on YouTube, has a reputation for drawing them in with her storytelling, immersing them with lyrics about life, love, and everything in between. She knew how to connect with them and create a unique experience.
“Yebba’s Heartbreak” was no exception to that. The romantic interlude quickly became a fan-favorite and one of the most popular songs in Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album, released back in 2021.
The song starts with the lonely sound of a piano in minor and Yebba asking herself how she can better show someone that she loves them. The only thing she felt could ever come close to it was saying, “I do, I do, I do.”
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The intro immediately sets the tone of pain and grief in the song, and it almost feels like your heart is already breaking.
Yebba dedicated the soothing composition to her late mother, who ended her own life due to depression. Yebba had always been close to her mother, so much so that she even chose the nickname her mother always called her as her stage name.
That was why her mother’s death, which happened in the middle of a breakthrough in her career, definitely made an enormous impact on her music.
In this ode she wrote for her, Yebba sings that if given a chance, she would make it up to her mother by sharing her hidden burdens and how deep her love flows for her like a river. She then calls her mother a “single line of stars,” describing her as a shining light to look in the heavens as things get heavy.
The lament ends with another question asking if she could show her love and how she could’ve shown it more. The song plays the same chord progression throughout the whole song and could reflect how firm her love for her mother is.
Losing a loved one can truly be a gut-wrenching experience, especially when that loved one is the one who gave you a chance in this life.
The meaning behind “Yebba’s Heartbreak” perfectly encapsulates that feeling. So, if you’ve thought about listening to the song, this is your sign. You can click play in the video below.
PSA: If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).