The Real Meaning Behind The Weeknd's Sacrifice

Wow, The Weeknd really likes to beat himself up. The prolific singer with a flair for the dramatic has set fans buzzing with his appearance and videos, often going full tilt on violent images and enigmatic situations. And he's done it again with his latest single, "Sacrifice."

Since he burst onto the music scene 12 years ago, singer Abel Tesfaye, as The Weeknd is otherwise known, has dominated the charts with his '80s-nostalgic sounds and dance floor-ready beats. He's had an equally successful past couple of years, as March 2020 saw the debut of his fourth album — and fourth Billboard Top 200 No. 1 release — "After Hours," and its massive single "Blinding Lights." Now less than two years later, on January 7, he released his fifth album, "Dawn FM," a 16-track collection of songs framed like a radio show narrating a strange journey through the underworld.

While The Weeknd made headlines with his look for "After Hours," which featured the singer in a sharp, red suit and a severely beat-up face, he's now switched to black for the new album. But the concept behind this album seems just as dark and violent as before — perhaps more so. Whether The Weeknd is beat up by external forces in his videos or practicing self-torture through his lyrics, he visits similar relationship- and drug-related themes as he has in previous albums. Especially if the video for his second single, "Sacrifice," is any indication.

"Sacrifice" was first heard briefly at the end of the first single and video from "Dawn FM," released in summer 2021, "Take My Breath." After the Weeknd is asphyxiated by a sexy lover and collapses on a nightclub dance floor, "Sacrifice" plays softly as the scene fades. Now, the new video, released January 7 (the same day as the album), picks up from this moment after a radio introduction by none other than Jim Carrey, fellow Canadian and Abel Tesfaye's friend and current neighbor in Los Angeles.

We again see The Weeknd lying on the ground of the crowded dance floor. He catches his breath, and is carried off and chained crucifix-style to a giant wheel as hooded dancers groove around him in some bizarre cult ritual — perhaps foreshadowing his forthcoming HBO cable series about a nightclub cult leader. He sings, "I sacrificed your love for more of the night ... Can't tie me down." These lyrics, according to Genius, relate to his self-view sung about in previous albums, including "After Hours," illustrating his desire to be with many women rather than "chained down" (if you will) to one. The Weeknd continues to beat himself up over his toxic approach to romance (per Pitchfork), such as in the lyric, "Every time you try to fix me / I know you'll never find that missing piece." He solidifies his desire to be alone through the lyrics, "I don't wanna sacrifice for your love / I try but I love my time."