Terrified

Album: Awaken, My Love! (2016)
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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.

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