1998 TRUMAN by BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Fight for Identity and Freedom
Lyrics
You’re doing just exactly what the Man wants you to do
Buy his goods, so you’ll never have any real economic freedom
He wants you to buy everything he- he advertises on TV
So he’ll keep you perpetually owing your soul to the company store
You’re not free, you’re a slave!
Gimme no drugs, lend me some love
Tonight, while I’m in this club
Lonely as fuck, with my thugs
And we looking for that buzz
Gimme no drugs, lend me some love
Tonight, while I’m in this club
Lonely as fuck, with my thugs
And we looking for that buzz
What’s with these superficial people from my past?
Dancin’ ’round the fact that I did everything the motherfuckers bet against
They be like, “Gather ’round, place your bets
This young man won’t ever be shit”
Well my bad, I guess I just pursued this shit
While you chose to settle down to have some kids
I mean, it’s okay to fall in line, just don’t look back
That’s a long-ass line that I’m not in
I just never found the time, or had the chance
Truth is, you can kiss my ass
Never been the one to bow down
Never been the one to air out
Any situation but right now
When it’s all your fault, I’m here now
Gimme no drugs, lend me some love
Tonight, while I’m in this club
Lonely as fuck, with my thugs
And we looking for that buzz
Gimme no drugs, lend me some love
Tonight, while I’m in this club
Lonely as fuck, with my thugs
And we looking for that buzz
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Thrift like a five hundred discount
I move it, I move it, like Madagascar
Flip it like eight ball to inside of nose, it get raw
Blood and leaf color like fall
When you were callin’, they said I’d be nothing
Well, suck on my dick and then lick on my balls
They try to pin me down, they try to bind me
And they try to kill me like Anna Nicole
Th-th-they want the boot of my car
Pussy boy like booty call
Money quick like auctioneer
Look what we did in a year
You need a neutral career
I hate on myself when I look in the mirror
Hear all the voices all up in my ear
Why do I care how I look?
Why do I care what they say?
I do not care what they say
Nowadays, everybody wanna talk (too much)
They forgot how to listen (listen)
‘Til the prophets arisen
We mix new edition with nuclear fission
I don’t do auditions
I don’t ask permission, ain’t no politician
Don’t ask my opinion, you got an addiction
To what ain’t your business
Make the admission, I make like magicians and hit my Houdini
Why they so soft like linguine?
I murder this music routinely
I know that you see me
Don’t see you search for the meaning
I think that’s why you ain’t believing
The future is leaning
Revolutions started streaming
The reason why you see me beaming
I’m dreaming of making moves like the government
You better think about who you fuckin’ with
Get back
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Don’t talk back
Don’t talk back, boy, don’t
Freak
Who you love
Won’t you come this close to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Be with me now that you’re free (free, free)
Oh yeah
Won’t you come this close to me
Baby, baby, yeah
And if I could erase who you thought I was
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
And if I could erase who you thought I was
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
In an era where music transcends mere rhythm and melody, BROCKHAMPTON’s ‘1998 TRUMAN’ emerges as a poignant narrative, dissecting the complexities of identity and the shackles of societal expectations. This track, more than a lyrical escapade, serves as an introspective expedition into the hearts and minds of the collective, while boldly challenging its audience to decipher its layered meanings.
With its aggressive beats juxtaposed with anguished cries for authenticity, ‘1998 TRUMAN’ does more than entertain; it agitates and provokes thought. It is a battle cry against materialism, a reassurance for the loner, and a rebuke of conventionality. Let’s dive into the enigmatic depths of BROCKHAMPTON’s creation, exploring the undercurrents of rebellion, self-worth, and the search for genuine connection.
The Cadillac Metaphor: Challenging Materialistic Bondage
The song kicks off with an invigorating blitz against materialism, using the metaphor of a ‘Cadillac’ to critique the illusion of freedom within capitalism. This opening tirade is a revelation that owning luxury items like a car is not freedom, but a new form of enslavement—economic bondage dictated by societal norms and consumerism.
The members of BROCKHAMPTON aren’t just artists; they’re modern-day philosophers questioning the very fabric of financial liberty. As they depict a world where individuals are coerced into a perpetual cycle of debt and dissatisfaction, they tear down the veil that has long blinded the masses to the true cost of ‘keeping up with the Joneses.’
Yearning for Connection: The Anthem of the Isolated
Central to the song is the repeated plea for ‘some love,’ a request that echos through the chaotic soundscape of ‘1998 TRUMAN.’ This juxtaposition of vulnerably expressed loneliness within the crowded environment of a club illustrates the paradox of modern social settings: one can be surrounded by people yet feel utterly alone.
In a world saturated with fleeting pleasures and artificial social bonds, BROCKHAMPTON reaches out for something real, raw, and meaningful. The song speaks both to the club circuit’s thrill-seekers and to the quiet observers on the sidelines, the invisible souls searching for a connection that transcends the superficial buzz of nightlife.
Defiance and Nonconformity: The Hidden Meaning Revealed
Beneath the enigmatic lyrics of ‘1998 TRUMAN’ lies a deeper, hidden narrative of defiance and nonconformity. The song becomes a defiant rejection of the predetermined path laid out by society, as the lyricists pride themselves on pursuing their own passions regardless of others’ skepticism and judgment.
This subversive message not only resonates with the outsider but also questions the integrity of conforming to societal pressure. The collective shuns the traditional lifestyle of settling down and declares living life on their own terms as the ultimate act of rebellion and personal authenticity.
Powerful Lines that Echo the Generational Conflict
‘What’s with these superficial people from my past?’ The song does not hold back as it lashes out at critics and naysayers. Every word serves as a counterpunch to those who doubted the group, and brings to light the internal struggle between what has been inherited and what is desperately sought after—respect.
These powerful and accusatory lines cut deep into the fabric of generational divides, capturing the all-too-familiar tension between ambition and expectation. Call it a battlefield of legacy versus innovation, where BROCKHAMPTON refuses to surrender to the narrow visions of their predecessors.
The Call for a Personal Revolution
As the track builds to a crescendo, ‘1998 TRUMAN’ morphs into a rallying call for personal revolution. Echoing protest and unrest, the group summons the strength to break free from the fetters of the expected, the mundane, and the roles assigned by the powers that be.
Through lines like, ‘Revolutions started streaming,’ and ‘The future is leaning,’ the song captures the zeitgeist of a generation poised to redefine the world. With the rise of digital platforms and the ability to connect and mobilize like never before, BROCKHAMPTON presents a vivid vision for the future—one where individuality and authentic expression reign supreme.
