Chewing Gum by Blood Orange Lyrics Meaning – Unwrapping the Layers of Desire and Identity

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Blood Orange's Chewing Gum at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

My man Rico MDB in the house
My dog Z man with the chain
My dog TC over here, grillin’ on gold, extended comma, grease rod

Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)
Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)
Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)
Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth)

Switchin’ up your style, but you’ve waited too long
Finally answer now so, it’s wrong
Pacing yourself from wasting yourself in the name of truth
But what’s true?
Brother, baby, we’ve seen it all
And we’re tired, so what you want from me? (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)

Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)
Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)
Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)
Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth
Tell me what you want from me (Lookin’ for the truth, for the truth)

Nothing can replace me if you’re not taking my lead
Better to be broken than in need, uh
Brother, baby, we’ve seen it all
And we’re tired, uh, so what you want from me? (What you want from me?)

Tell me what you want from me (what you want from me, baby)
Tell me what you want from me (yeah)
Tell me what you want from me
Tell me what you want from me (with the cameras on, woo)

Lookin’ for the tube, for the job
Blowin’ like the time, word to Mob
Shawty told me that this world is ours
Selfish with that pussy like it’s mine
Peppermint, devil mint, spearmint, type a
She the type of chick to get right on the dick
Ride on the dick, with no lights switchin’ it up
No relatives, sentimental
It’s detrimental, could compare to this relevance
She the type of chick to get right on the dick
Ride on the dick, with no lights switchin’ it up
Back and forth, wall to wall, use the jaw
Lose the drawers
In the sauce now
On the job
Never off, that pussy got
Won’t let her off, and it’s so good
Shout out my ex, though
She was the best, though
Got on my damn nerves
Hella fresh, though
I bought baggish shirts, she had a men’s shirt
I turn it to a sweatshirt, throw on that Sweatshirt
She fuck with Earl, too
She fuck with girls, too
I fuck with her too
Tell her quit the chattin’, jaws made for chewin’
And if you fuckin’ with me, best know what you’re doin’, like

(Fuck that, get the new CD, feel me before they kill me
Feel me before they kill me, you heard me?)

Pat hard
I like it dirty dirty
Been known to beat it, beat it
Tell her lies and I promise a whole lotta shit
She ain’t never get it
You never let me in
Or no miffy nigga bitch, hands they were slick
Fuck that can of beans
In the city, babe
The whole mogul rich
I got pretty cake
She treat it like she do
‘Cause she pretty fake
Women hate
I got chocos call me pretty Drake

In a music landscape sprawling with artists searching for genuine connection amidst a digital facade, Devonté Hynes, better known as Blood Orange, punctures through with piercing lyrical introspection. ‘Chewing Gum’ is no exception, floating on a dreamlike soundscape while unpacking a multitude of themes from desire to personal authenticity.

Initially, the track might feel like an effortless mesh of electronic beats and harmonic vocals, but upon deeper inspection, Hynes takes listeners on a vibrating journey of self-discovery and the constant quest for truth. Let’s peel back the layers of this tantalizing track to reveal the nuanced messages tattooed between its lines.

The Search for Authenticity in a Superficial World

‘Chewing Gum’ treads a resonant path through the wilderness of identity in a society obsessed with appearances. Hynes hymns about ‘lookin’ for the truth,’ which serves as an anthem for anyone haunted by the dissonance between who they are and who they feel pressured to become. The song reflects an era where style often precedes substance, and changing oneself to fit in is a seductive but ultimately futile endeavor.

Repeatedly, the song’s subject matter shifts like a chameleon, inviting listeners to explore the ways in which inner self and outward projection often conflict. It is in this excavation of authenticity where Blood Orange asks not only what we want from others, but also what we demand from ourselves.

Navigating Desires in the Dark – The Impulse Behind ‘Chewing Gum’

A pulsating undercurrent of the track is the exploration of carnal desire. The lyrical interplay skates a fine line between the empowerment found in owning one’s sexuality and the emptiness of momentary fulfillment. The mint-flavored metaphors – peppermint, devil mint, spearmint – are as much about the transient thrill of newness as they are about the fleeting nature of the experiences we often chase.

Hynes doesn’t shy away from the raw and explicit, painting vivid pictures that relay the simultaneous intensity and shallowness of physical relationships. In this light, ‘Chewing Gum’ becomes an expose on the sometimes unsavory truth that underpins our most basic instincts.

The Haunting Refrain – ‘Tell Me What You Want from Me’

The song’s recurring plea, ‘Tell me what you want from me,’ resonates as a haunting refrain. It speaks to the universal yearning for clarity amidst the noise of others’ expectations and our own tangled desires. This line isn’t just a question but a surrender, showcasing a soul tired of guessing games and seeking a raw, unfiltered connection.

Each repetition of this line by Hynes dives deeper into the psyche of a person, stuck between self-assertion and accommodating the will of others. It’s a cry for guidance just as much as it’s a lament over the lack of genuine communication that plagues modern relationships.

Unveiling The Hidden Meaning – A Commentary on Fame’s Facade

Beyond its apparent themes, ‘Chewing Gum’ subtly dissects the dichotomy of public versus private personas, particularly in the context of celebrity. The references to cameras and a shoutout to rapper Earl Sweatshirt insinuate a life under scrutiny, showcasing a different ‘chewing gum’ – the kind fans chew up and spit out when the flavor fades.

This layer of interpretation transcends personal intimacy, exploring how public figures are often chewed up by society’s relentless desire for novelty. Hynes invites us to contemplate the ephemeral nature of fame and the devouring appetite of the audience.

The Lasting Impressions – ‘Women Hate, I Got Chocos Call Me Pretty Drake’

These memorable lines serve as a perfect distillation of ‘Chewing Gum’s’ core themes. They encapsulate the irony and self-aware humor Blood Orange employs. Not simply about gender relations, these lines are a nod to the mislabeling and misconceptions bestowed upon individuals by society.

Blood Orange turns the mirror on the listener, challenging us to confront our prejudices and the absurdity of preconceived notions. Ultimately, ‘Chewing Gum’ isn’t just a catchy tune but a layered mosaic of modern life’s paradoxes, set to a beat that both grooves and provokes thought.