“Less Than Zero” is the fifteenth track from The Weeknd’s fifth studio album, following the success of his previous album, After Hours.
On the disco-pop track, Abel sings about the way a girl that he used to be romantically involved with perceives him now, as less than zero.
As the cinephile Abel is, the title is likely a nod to the 1987’s Less Than Zero, starred by Robert Downey Jr. who plays Clay, a regretful 18-year-old freshman that returns to Los Angeles for a compressing and horrorful winter break.
This considerably serves as the outro of the album, as the next track, “Phantom Regret by Jim” is a spoken-word interlude by comedian and movie star Jim Carrey, who narrated the album and does not contain any of Weeknd’s vocals.
Lyrics of Less Than Zero
Remember I was your hero, yeah
I'd wear your heart like a symbol
I couldn't save you from my darkest truth of all
I know
I'll always be less than zero
Oh yeah
You tried your best with me, I know
I couldn't face you with my darkest truth of all
Oh
'Cause I can't get it out of my head
And no, I can't shake this feeling that crawls in my bed
I try to hide it, but I know you know me
I try to fight it, but I'd rather be free
Oh, oh
Oh yeah
Can we meet in the middle?
Oh yeah
'Cause you were just like me before
Now you'd rather leave me
Than to watch me die in your arms
Oh, whoa
But I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't shake this feeling that crawls in my bed
I try to hide it, but I know you know me
I try to fight it, but I'd rather be free
Oh, whoa (hey)
ooh
(I try to) ooh
(I try to)
I can't get it out of my head
No, I can't shake this feeling that crawls in my bed
I try to hide it, but I know you know me (know me)
I try to fight it, but I'd rather be free (be free)
Yeah
I'll always be less than zero
You tried your best with me, I know