CAROUSEL by Travis Scott Lyrics Meaning – Riding Through the Mind’s Amusement Park
Lyrics
You already know who it is
Ya’ boy, Big Tuck
Freight Train Tuck
Astroworld is now in session, ya understand?
I’m the dean of this here
I got this
Yeah, yeah
Parked at the Days Inn, ain’t takin’ no days in (yeah)
Don’t need a vacation, I need a replacement (alright)
Bustin’ the lights out as soon as we came in (it’s lit)
What’re they talkin’ ’bout, what’s it pertainin’ (yeah, yeah)
Need me a therapist to ask if I’m aging
This M-E-D it feel caved in
All of my demons invadin’
I live paranoid, hesitatin’
They bitin’, they bitin’, the cadence
Go out they way, it’s okay
Just lock the doors at the basement
I got a gate with my face in it
Brand new, brand new
This new place I got to
New world, new sky
That’s so blue, it’s black too
New growth, new growth
All these fakes I outgrew
Blue bands, blue bands
Get my cash from drive-thru
Boy, you’re too flash, too flash
Keep the flash minimal
Bitch, I’m too cold, too cold
See my breath visible
Yeah
Icy cold, it is so, it is so icy cold (yeah)
Mixing the water with cheeses, making the money get mold (yeah)
Tryna be like gang, you better go get it in Vogue (yeah)
Put 84’s on lanes, I ride by, you think it is spokes, spokes
We did it, we said it, we spoke, spoke, yeah
We put it out, thought it was smoke, this 504, uh
This is at home, right down the street, from Alamo
Moving in silence don’t mean it’s movin’ slow
Even though the speed got old
Sprinklin’ methamphetamines
On the leaves, like the snow
Bet they soak
I’m a new species, tail swings on the road
Come to reach, and lose both
Got springs like a toad
Sum’ for free in the tote
Saké drown like round white diamonds
Carats (yeah)
Copy sound, mic got two wings, parrot (alright)
Landing down wind, caught two wings (it’s lit)
Talons scrape, lift the stage, two wings (yeah, yeah)
Better pray, better pray in two wings (straight up)
Brand new, brand new
This new place I got to
New world, new sky
That’s so blue, it’s black too
New growth, new growth
All these fakes I outgrew
Blue bands, blue bands
Get my cash from drive-thru
Boy you’re too flash, too flash
Keep the flash minimal
Bitch, I’m too cold, too cold
See my breath visible
With the launch of Travis Scott’s ‘Astroworld’, we were gifted with a rollercoaster of hits, navigating through the spirals of fame, substance, and personal growth. Among these tracks, ‘CAROUSEL’ stands out as an enigmatic tune, encapsulating the vertiginous journey Scott takes through his own consciousness and success.
In ‘CAROUSEL’, Scott collaborates with the iconic Frank Ocean, making the track a vibrant mix of creativity. It’s a labyrinthine ride, one where each turn presents a metaphorical spin of Scott’s life. Let’s dissect the convoluted spokes of ‘CAROUSEL’ and unearth the deeper narrative that Scott spins.
Boarding the Carousel of Fame and Fortune
The track kicks into gear with Scott’s reference to staying at the Days Inn, an inn for the everyday traveler, now unnecessary because his life is a non-stop journey. There’s no ‘day in’ for Scott; his reality has subverted the norm. The relentless pace of life in the fast lane requires no pause, no vacation—only a replacement to maintain the momentum.
As the beats swell, so does the insight into his encounters with fame—the flashing lights as he makes an entrance, his brand visibility, and ‘blue bands’ of cash that come rapidly from a drive-thru level of transaction. This isn’t just success; this is success on hyperdrive, and the carousel never slows.
The Darker Shades of Blue Sky
‘Brand new, brand new, this new place I got to’, Scott sings, as we venture into his world where even the sky’s color is morphing. The duality of ‘so blue, it’s black too’ presents the contrasting experiences under fame’s spotlight. Herein lies the glamorous exposure and the looming darkness that accompanies relentless publicity and scrutiny.
The new world and sky Scott refers to are both promising and menacing, heralding growth yet also encasing him in a bubble where everything, including the air he breathes, becomes visible—a reference to the cold, biting nature of fame and all it entails.
Unraveling the Hidden Meaning: The Metaphor of Methamphetamines
Arguably the most subversive line comes as ‘Sprinklin’ methamphetamines on the leaves, like the snow’, painting a grim picture of drug use, which many artists report as a means of coping with the pressures and speed of fame. This metaphor extends to how substance abuse can spread through an individual’s life and roots—like Scott’s career—tainting all it touches.
The drugs become a chemical carousel, providing false respite from reality. The speed may have worn out for Scott, becoming a mundane aspect of his life, yet the carousel spins on, inescapably trapped by the effects and the image drugs add to his presence.
New Species, New Challenges: Self-Transformation in the Spotlight
Through the verse ‘I’m a new species, tail swings on the road’, Scott positions himself as an evolutionary product of his environment. He’s had to adapt, grow a thicker skin akin to the mythical creatures with whom he likens himself. His transformation into an industry titan is fraught with challenges—physical and emotional adaptations to survive in the ruthless habitat of fame.
The ‘new growth’ he celebrates marks his shedding of pretense, the faux relationships, and circumstances. Upgrading and evolving in the public eye has converted Scott into a creature—stage his habitat, and his voice the mating call to millions. Yet with new wings, the risks of falling are even greater.
The Carousel’s Most Memorable Spin: ‘Keep the Flash Minimal’
In a boastful yet weary confession, Scott alludes to his desire to keep theatrics to a minimum with ‘Keep the flash minimal’. Despite his grandiose lifestyle, there’s an emergence of a minimalist behind the maximalist’s mask. This line isn’t just memorable; it’s the thematic crux of Scott’s conflict—they yearn for glamour, countered by a plea for simplicity.
The mantra of minimalism threads through the finances and emotions of Scott’s verse. It’s as much a directive to himself as it is a command to the audience—advising both to sift through the superficial glitz and find substance, to sort through the noise and aim for authenticity. Even in the pulsating madness of Astroworld, or perhaps because of it, Scott seeks a core of calm.
