"Next Lifetime" is a song by Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu

Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...

. It is the second single from her début album Baduizm

Baduizm

Baduizm is the debut album of R&B and neo soul musician Erykah Badu, released February 11, 1997 on Kedar Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during January to October 1996 at Battery Studios in New York City, Sigma Sounds & Ivory Studios in Philadelphia, and Dallas Sound Lab in...

 (1997). It was written by Badu and A. Scott. It is a low-tempo ballad

Ballad

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...

 with lyrics that describe being in a relationship but longing for another man. At the start of the song, Badu is heard talking to a man about how they can't be together even though they both have feelings for one another.

Release and reception

Next Lifetime was released as a single on the 6th of May, 1997, and peaked at number 3 on the US Hot R&B Chart chart

Music video

The music video for "Next Lifetime" starts with the title 'a story by Erykah Badu'.
It then shows Badu and the man she longs for in several different time frames or 'Lifetimes' including 'Motherland, 1637 A.D.', 'The Movement, 1968' and 'Motherland, 3037'

Chart history

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Hot R&B/Hot Hip Hop Chart	1
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	30
Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...	100
New Zealand Top 40	40