"Down Low" is a song by the controversial American singer-songwriter R. Kelly. Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd recorded an unreleased cover of it, intended for the scrapped 2014 album. (
listen)
Background[]
The original song by Kelly (featuring The Isley Brothers) was released as a single on December 11, 1995, and one of the tracks on his self-titled album released a month prior. Tesfaye recorded his cover between late 2013-2014 for the now-unreleased album, later replaced by Beauty Behind the Madness. He performed it live as a mash-up with "Or Nah" at a September 19, 2014 concert of the King of the Fall Tour in Barclays Center, New York.[1] As it ultimately wasn't released, it was later sold to and played at Drake's OVO Sound Radio Apple Music show on September 9, 2017.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Oh, oh, yeah
[Verse 1]
You want me, but he needs you
Yet you're telling me, that everything is good
Trying to convince me, baby, to do as you say
Just go along, girl, and see things your way
[Chorus]
And keep it on the down low (Down low, babe)
(Nobody) Nobody has to know
(Oh, ooh, oh, yeah)
[Verse 2]
Secret lovers is what you wanna be (Wanna be, wanna be)
While making love to him, girl, you're silently calling on me
What is a man to do in a situation like this? (Again)
I feel there is something, that I
I don't wanna miss
[Chorus]
And keep it on the down low (Down low)
(Girl, nobody) Nobody has to know (Oh, girl, I go)
(Oh, ooh, oh, yeah)
Keep it on the down low (Down low)
(Girl, nobody) Nobody has to know (Ooh)
(Nobody, nobody, nobody)
[Verse 3]
Beautiful you are, but you're his by far
Coming by my way, driving his fancy car
Making plans to be in my life forever
Tell me, tell me, that we'll always be together
[Chorus]
And keep it on the down low (Oh, ooh, oh, yeah)
(Nobody) Nobody has to know (Oh, yeah)
(I go, oh, ooh, oh, yeah)
(Oh, ooh, oh, yeah)
Keep it on the down low (Down low)
(Girl, nobody) Nobody has to know (Ooh)
(Nobody, nobody, nobody)
[Outro]
Keep it on the down low
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa
Down low, down low, down low, babe
Keep it on the down low
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa