Discover the story of the song > Dark Times – The Weeknd

The song is about a man who wakes up with a bruised eye and blood on his pillow, indicating that he has been involved in some kind of violent altercation due to his excessive drinking. He warns his partner that now is not the right time for her to fall in love with him, as he is going through dark times where he is only able to offer her promises that he cannot keep. In the end, the protagonist acknowledges that only his mother is capable of loving him for who he really is during his dark times.