‘Worst Way’ by Riley Green - Lyrics & Meaning

With Riley Green releasing his Way Out Here EP on April 12, fans were immediately drawn to its closing track titled ‘Worst Way’, which was released shortly beforehand on April 1.

Deemed by many as his sexiest tune yet, ‘Worst Way’ is a standout on the project, being joined on the seven-song tracklist by a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Atlantic City’, his chart-climbing hit, ‘Damn Good Day To Leave’, and more.

Produced by Dann Huff, Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen, ‘Worst Way’ utilizes minimal production from start to finish, using only a simple drum beat and some twangy guitar strums to make its intense and passionate lyrics the star of the show.

With this fire being reflected in each and every line that Green sings, ‘Worst Way’ has been deemed a baby-making jam by country music lovers worldwide due to its sexual ambience.

[Verse 1]

“Tonight, I ain't bringin' no wine

Tonight, I ain't bringin' no roses

Talkin' would take too much time, I think I just better show you

Just turn the lights down, let's get right down to it

As soon as I walk in the door

I don't wanna be out of line, but girl, I can't wait anymore”

As mentioned previously, ‘Worst Way’ showcases Riley Green’s scandalous side. Opening the song with the lines “Tonight, I ain't bringin' no wine / Tonight, I ain't bringin' no roses”, Green reveals his plans to forgo traditional romantic gestures and get physical instead, a storyline that continues throughout the entirety of ‘Worst Way’.

This storyline is reinforced in the lines to follow, as Green sings that he wants to get hot and heavy as soon as his significant other walks in the door, as he cannot wait any longer. Wanting her in the ‘Worst Way’, these physical desires escalate in the chorus of the track, causing us to break a sweat just while streaming the song.

[Chorus]

“I want you in the worst way, my hands are needin' your hips

Want the first taste of whiskey to be off your lips

So close all the blinds, lock all the doors

Put away anything that'll break

Baby, I need you tonight

Let's see how much love we can make

I want you in the worst way”

In the chorus, Riley Green details these desires using some highly descriptive language. After closing all the blinds and locking all the doors to make the room as dark as can be – as well as putting away any fragile items that might break while he and his significant other do the deed – he shares that he wants to feel both her hips and her lips.

In the last few lines of the chorus, Green states that he wants to make love, something that has been implied throughout the entirety of ‘Worst Way’ but never mentioned explicitly.

[Verse 2]

“Oh, baby, that don't mean that I don't love to go wine and dine you

That ain't on the menu tonight 'cause I think I need to remind you

That your skin on my skin feels just like heaven to me

You look like an angel tonight

But you might wanna slip off those wings”

The second verse sees a shift in Green. While he appears to have only a physical relationship with this woman, he admits that he has an emotional relationship with this woman too by stating that he loves to “wine and dine” her as well. He continues this restaurant-themed imagery as he emphasises “That ain't on the menu tonight”.

Singing that his significant other looks like an angel in the last few lines, he follows this up with the lyric “You might wanna slip off those wings,” implying that she should take her clothes off before delving into two more choruses and an extended outro.

In a Holler interview, Green joked about adding more romance to his catalogue with ’Worst Way’, “I used to say at shows before playing ‘When She Comes Home Tonight’ that this is my only love song. Now I gotta say, ‘I've got two!’ I'm just trying to write better versions of some of these songs, and stylistically draw on things that have worked for me in the past. I think about it from a live show standpoint - that song fits in well in the show, it's a nice break from the beers-in-the-air ballads”.

[Verse 1]

“Tonight, I ain't bringin' no wine

Tonight, I ain't bringin' no roses

Talkin' would take too much time, I think I just better show you

Just turn the lights down, let's get right down to it

As soon as I walk in the door

I don't wanna be out of line, but girl, I can't wait anymore

[Chorus]

I want you in the worst way, my hands are needin' your hips

Want the first taste of whiskey to be off your lips

So close all the blinds, lock all the doors

Put away anything that'll break

Baby, I need you tonight

Let's see how much love we can make

I want you in the worst way

[Verse 2]

Oh, baby, that don't mean that I don't love to go wine and dine you

That ain't on the menu tonight 'cause I think I need to remind you

That your skin on my skin feels just like heaven to me

You look like an angel tonight

But you might wanna slip off those wings

[Chorus]

I want you in the worst way, my hands are needin' your hips

Want the first taste of whiskey right off of your lips

So close all the blinds, lock all the doors

Put away anything that'll break

Baby, I need you tonight

Let's see how much love we can make

I want you in the worst way

I want you in the worst way

[Chorus]

'Cause I want you in the worst way, my hands are needin' your hips

Want the first taste to be whiskey right off of your lips

So close all the blinds, lock all the doors

Put away anything that'll break

Baby, I need you tonight

Let's see how much love we can make

I want you in the worst way

I want you in the worst way

[Outro]

The worst way”

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