GIVE ME A REASON Lyrics – NF

GIVE ME A REASON Lyrics Meaning

[Verse 1]
In this part, NF is talking about craving the kind of challenge and criticism that pushes him to his limits. He feels like being surrounded by love and praise has made things too easy, and he misses the fire that comes from being doubted and hated. He wants someone to call him out, tell him he’s not talented, or even try to hurt his success. Every insult, every doubt, every failure that others throw at him acts like fuel, motivating him to prove them wrong. NF even wants people to bring up his past failures or act like he doesn’t matter anymore, because that gives him a reason to show that he’s still here, still improving, and still hungry. He’s seeking conflict and opposition because it’s what made him push harder and stay creative in the past. Without it, he feels bored and unmotivated, like he’s lost that edge that once made his art real and raw. He needs that harshness to remind him why he works so hard and why he loves proving himself through his music. The energy of being challenged and tested is what keeps his drive alive.

[Chorus]
Here, NF is expressing a desire to feel that intense struggle again. He admits he’s forgotten what it’s like to work hard, face obstacles, and stay humble while grinding for his dreams. He’s asking for something—or someone—that will shake him, push him, and reignite that hunger that made him fight for every step of his success. It’s about wanting a spark that brings back the fire.

[Verse 2]
In this verse, NF goes deeper into the feeling of missing the grind and the struggle. He says he isn’t forgetting his past, but right now he feels bored because things have become too smooth. He wants to go back to when he had no fans, no awards, and people doubted his talent. He wants to experience being underestimated again, being told he isn’t good enough, or hearing people walk away from him. He even wants critics and fans to turn against him, because that pressure reminds him of the hunger and determination that drove him early on. NF craves honest opinions, arguments, and criticism because it pushes him to improve. He wants the raw, real interactions that make him fight to stay relevant and creative. All of this is his way of reconnecting with the challenges that inspired his passion and motivated him to prove himself, keeping him sharp and grounded in his music.

[Chorus]
NF repeats that he wants a reason to feel motivated again. He’s acknowledging that he’s lost touch with the hustle, the struggle, and the humility that made him work hard in the first place. He’s asking for challenges, criticism, or doubt that will spark that fire inside him again and remind him why he loves what he does.