• Brazilian Portuguese Translation*
• French Translation

Initially it was a warm-up record. I love the song. I love the message in the song. It’s funny, because ‘Over’ is the fourth song on the album and it’s the turning point in the album. It’s like, you get three songs of me sort of trying to paint the picture of what the last year has been like for me — trying to fill you in, almost let you into my world as much as I can. “Over” is that moment where you’re almost worried on the album. ‘Is this kid about to…? What’s happening? Is he changing?’ I wanted that to come out first. I wanted people to be a little nervous. This whole journey could have changed me drastically. Fortunately, I’m able to step out of my shoes and reflect on it and give you some great music. “Over” is a great alter-ego moment. It’s the dark side of things and I really wanted that to come out first.
We took a trip to Jamaica, where I did a lot of work for my album. There was this calm before the storm, and “Over” represented the storm to me. It’s the moment. I wanted to emerge at first from this album and just let people know ‘This is how I’m coming out in the public eye. I’m ready for anything.’ Then when you get the album, it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s still human. He’s still thinking the same way.’ I wanted people to understand I could have lost it. ‘Over’ could have been my entire album. Just ‘cause that’s what this industry and game will do to you if you lose yourself.

• Drake via MTV News

He also told, according to Songfacts, to The Flow:

I went with “Over” as the first look because of the words in the hook. The hook being the most repetitive part. I got a lot of great songs on my album. I got songs for women who wanna feel special. I got songs for dudes – if you ever thought my music was too soft, this is one you will enjoy. I got a lot of variety on there, but the biggest thing was that opening line on the hook: ‘I know way too many people here right now that I didn’t know last year. This record sums up where I am right now in my career.

It offers up a whole different look for the song. The song — to a lot of people — is ignorant, it’s club. This video is what I was really thinking about. The song is like a bad dream — but it’s not a bad dream, it’s not a terrible dream. It’s a little evil. The video really reflects that. It’s a struggle between the purities of my past life and what this new life has to offer. Even in the video, you see me looking back and forth between the two and deciding. At the end of the video I don’t necessarily make a decision, but when you get the album, you’ll see what choice I make.

• Drake via MTV News