02 Furthest Thing by Drake Lyrics Meaning – Navigating the Haze of Fame and Intimacy
Lyrics
Somewhere between I want it and I got it
Somewhere between I’m sober and I’m lifted
Somewhere between a mistress and commitment
But I stay down, girl, I always stay down
Get down, never lay down
Promise to break everybody off before I break down
Everyone just wait now
So much on my plate now
People I believed in, they don’t even show they face now
What they got to say now?
Nothin’ they can say now
Nothin’ really changed but still they look at me a way now
What more can I say now?
What more can I say now?
You might feel like nothin’ was the same
I still been drinkin’ on the low, mobbin’ on the low
Fuckin’ on the low, smokin’ on the low
I still been plottin’ on the low, schemin’ on the low
The furthest thing from perfect, like everyone I know
I just been drinkin’ on the low, mobbin’ on the low
Fuckin’ on the low, smokin’ on the low
I just been plottin’ on the low, schemin’ on the low
The furthest thing from perfect, like everyone I know
And I hate that you don’t think I belong to ya
Just too busy runnin’ shit to run home to ya
You know that paper my passion
Bittersweet celebrations, I know I can’t change what happened
I can’t help it, I can’t help it
I was young and I was selfish
I made every woman feel like she was mine and no one else’s
Now you hate me, stop pretendin’, stop that frontin’, I can’t take it
Girl, don’t treat me like a stranger
Girl, you know I seen you naked
Girl, you know that I remember, don’t be a pretender
Gettin’ high at the condo, that’s when it all comes together
You know I stay remniscin’ and make-up sex is tradition
But you been missin’, girl
And you might feel like nothin’ was the same
I still been drinkin’ on the low, mobbin’ on the low
Fuckin’ on the low, smokin’ on the low
I still been plottin’ on the low, schemin’ on the low
The furthest thing from perfect, like everyone I know
I just been drinkin’ on the low, mobbin’ on the low
Fuckin’ on the low, smokin’ on the low
I just been plottin’ on the low, schemin’ on the low
The furthest thing from perfect, like everyone I know
Drinkin’, smokin’, fuckin’, plottin’
Schemin’, plottin’, schemin’, gettin’ money
Drinkin’, fuckin’, smokin’, plottin’, schemin’
Plottin’, schemin’, gettin’ money
Uh, this the life for me
My mama told me this was right for me
I got ’em worried, like make sure you save a slice for me
I should have Spoons serve you up with a fork and knife for me
Your actions make us doubt you
Your lack of effort got me rappin’ different
This the shit I wanna go out to
Play this shit at my funeral if they catch me slippin’
Naked women swimmin’, that’s just how I’m livin’
Donate a million to some children, that’s just how I’m feelin’
A nigga fillin’ up arenas, who the fuck can see us?
I had to Derrick Rose the knee up ‘fore I got the re-up
Yours truly, the boy
I just build and build more, y’all niggas build and destroy
Y’all niggas party too much, man, I just chill and record
No filler, you feel it now if you ain’t feel it before
Yes, Lord, this the shit I wanna go out to, yeah
Yeah, this the shit I wanna go out to
Drinkin’, smokin’, fuckin’, plottin’
Schemin’, plottin’, schemin’, gettin’ money
Drinkin’, fuckin’, smokin’, plottin’
In the pantheon of Drake’s introspective tracks, ‘Furthest Thing,’ nestled comfortably in his critically lauded album ‘Nothing Was the Same,’ stands out as a candid revelation of a man caught between the dichotomies of his existence. The song is a reflection on the complexities of personal evolution amidst the spectral glare of the spotlight.
As one dives into the multi-layered textures of Drake’s verses, an intimate portrayal of the artist as a flawed human emerges—a man grappling with his vices and virtues, escapades and earnestness, and solitude amid stardom. Here’s a discerning look into the deeper meanings and vital lines that define ‘Furthest Thing.’
The Intoxicating Grip of Duality
In the opening lines, we become privy to an internal tug-of-war within the artist: a balancing act between extremes like ‘psychotic’ and ‘iconic,’ and ‘mistress’ and ‘commitment.’ This tension is a metaphor for the compromises that success demands and the personal cost it entails. By keeping his feet on the ground (‘But I stay down’), Drake underscores a commitment to authenticity amidst the moral ambiguity.
As he transitions into the hook, ‘I still been drinkin’ on the low, mobbin’ on the low,’ Drake allows us a glimpse of the clandestine side of celebrity—one that engages in the secret indulgence of vices as a reaction or perhaps a coping mechanism to the pressures of fame and the isolation it can bring.
Baring the Unseen Emotional Cost
Drake’s lyrical confessions often reveal the paradox of his desires versus his actions. Despite the melancholic undertones, there’s an acceptance that his choices, while leading to regret (‘I was young and I was selfish’), were part of a journey necessary for artistic and personal growth.
His narrative explores the impact of fame on relationships—how the pursuit of ‘paper’ and the intoxication of success can estrange loved ones. The phrase ‘you might feel like nothin’ was the same’ seems to encapsulate a rift that has grown between his past life and his new reality.
Decoding the Heartfelt Admissions Between the Lines
Peeling back the layers of bravado, the ‘schemin’ on the low’ and relentless quest for success reveal an individual starkly aware of their imperfections. Through his chorus repetition, Drake hammers home the point that despite his lofty status, he identifies with the struggle of being ‘the furthest thing from perfect, like everyone I know.’ It’s a unifying sentiment that seeks to bridge the gap between the artist and his audience.
These admissions resonate as a reminder that even at the zenith of success, the experiences and emotions of famed individuals are not so different from those of their listeners. Drake skillfully balances his confessions of indulgence with the assurance of his rooted, hardworking values.
The Hook: A Memorable, Haunting Refrain
The cyclic hook with its list of vices: ‘Drinkin’, smokin’, fuckin’, plottin”, serves not only as a catchy earworm but a piercing insight into the repetitive nature of excess that often shadows fame. With each iteration, the hook becomes more than just part of the song’s structure—it emerges as the central pulse of its message, a hypnotizing and desperate chant of someone mired in hedonism yet fully cognizant of its shallowness.
In its hypnotic repetition lies an implied question about the sustainability of such a lifestyle, a rhetorical query that hangs over the listener, begging for introspection about the real cost of pleasure and the pursuit of materialism.
Unveiling the Hidden Meaning in Drake’s Self-Reflection
Beyond the litany of personal confessions and moments of vulnerability, ‘Furthest Thing’ also dissects the repercussions of public perception. Drake’s lyrics ‘People I believed in, they don’t even show they face now’ can be interpreted as the disillusionment with fair-weather friends and the fickleness of fame.
Deep within the song is the subtext of survival and the resilience it takes to navigate the music industry’s labyrinth. Drake uses his platform not just to entertain but to stimulate a dialogue on success’s duality—underscored by the clever aphorism ‘I had to Derrick Rose the knee up ‘fore I got the re-up’, referencing the NBA star’s comeback from a significant injury, perhaps metaphorically likening his own setbacks and subsequent rise to stardom.
