It is a song about nihilism and escapism, discussing one's lamentations about why bad things happen to good people and wishes to leave Earth for another planet, Saturn, where they could possibly live a better life.

[2][3] The album opened with a score of 94 on the review aggregate website Metacritic,[4] debuted atop the Billboard 200, broke a string of chart records, and spawned several career milestones.

"[7] On September 8, 2023, SZA held an exclusive surprise concert at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in celebration of SOS, where she revealed that the previously announced deluxe edition grew into its own studio album called Lana (2024).

[14] A fusion of R&B, pop, alternative,[15] and psychedelic styles,[16] the production combines a slow,[17] smooth-flowing boom bap rhythm with arpeggiation, beaming synthesizers,[18] stacked harmonies,[16] and vocal runs.

[note 1] Billboard critics deemed "Saturn" a continuation of SOS in terms of not only its atmospheric soundscape but also its various lyrical narratives, such as self-deprecation and reconciliation with difficult emotional struggles.

"[35] SZA, in the chorus, entertains the idea of leaving Earth for a potentially better life on Saturn, a place where she could possibly break free from toxic habits and the pain of heartbreak;[36][22] she signals for help from another universe earlier in the first verse.

The performance was part of an advertisement for Mastercard's Priceless Planet Coalition initiative, a campaign that seeks to plant 100 million trees across the world to fight climate change by restoring forests worldwide.

[45][46] Starting in mid-March 2024, SZA included "Saturn" in some set lists of her SOS Tour, beginning with her Latin American Lollapalooza headlining concerts such as in Chile.