GAMBA by BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics Meaning – Untangling the Threads of Vulnerability and Desire

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for BROCKHAMPTON's GAMBA at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I don’t know why I wanna fuck with you
But all I know is that I really fuck with you
Really wish you didn’t like to fuck with me
Wish you took that energy and trusted me
I get so exhausted when you fuss with me
‘Cause all the time, could be spent in love with me
I know I need it and you deserve it
You like to size me up and see if it’s all worth it
I don’t know where it is now but I’m searchin’
I think you want what I don’t ever want be perfect
‘Cause I ain’t perfect, I just wanna be good to you
I would take my heart right out the hood for you
Wanna do the things I know I should for you
Standing by myself until I stood for you
If I knew this love I woulda looked for you
But I’m glad you found me, I’m glad you found me

Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
What you gonna do when you older?
What you gonna do when you grow?

Spit the diamond with us
‘Fore I’m taking the bus
I wanna whip to call my own
And my home call my own
All fourteen fifteen of my niggas
To figure, ooh, that’s a step-back
Ooh, my nigga, that’s a step-back
If I had to choose I would not choose you
If I had to stop I would turn around and choose glue
If I had to hit the breaks I’ma stop right
If I had to choose I’ma not choose you
If I had to turn around, I’ma turn into some glue
If I had to hit the breaks I’ma stop right here, yeah

Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
What you gonna do when you older?
What you gonna do when you grow?

You’re all I love, washing on my hands
You’re all I love, washing on my hands
You’re all I love, washing on my hands

Don’t waste your mind
I’ll be the one to settle
To do what I am
To say what I am
Don’t waste your mind
I’ll be the one to settle
To do what I am
To say what I am

Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far
Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip
What you gonna do when you older?
What you gonna do when you grow?

Yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

In a sonic landscape where introspection and raw emotion often take the backseat to pulsing beats and catchy hooks, BROCKHAMPTON’s ‘GAMBA’ emerges as a poignant exception. Tucked within the eclectic mixtape of their 2017 album ‘Saturation II,’ the track unravels a tapestry of personal reflections characterized by an arresting vulnerability that captures both the essence of desire and the complexities of human connection.

The song, with its seemingly straightforward lyrics, delves deeper than surface-level desires, echoing a yearning that is both confessional and conflicting. Through ‘GAMBA,’ BROCKHAMPTON illuminates the intricacies of relationships, the struggle for self-identity, and the bittersweet pursuit of ideal love, all while retaining their distinctive artistry and group dynamic that have catapulted them into the modern zeitgeist.

A Symphony of Contradictions: The Push and Pull of Intimacy

‘GAMBA’ not only dips into the well of yearning but also exposes the underlying friction within that desire. The opening lines introduce us to a narrator engaged in an emotional tug-of-war: they ‘wanna fuck with you’ but are simultaneously aware of the emotional toll such a turbulent relationship entails. Throughout the song, a narrative unfolds that speaks to the universal human experience of wanting to connect deeply with someone, yet facing the reality of what that connection actually entails.

By laying bare the ups and downs of intimacy—expressing both an irresistible pull towards a lover and a longing to be free from the pain they cause—the song frames love not as a simple fairytale but as an ongoing negotiation between personal freedom and interpersonal depth.

Lost In Translation: Deciphering BROCKHAMPTON’s Unique Language

The lyrics of ‘GAMBA’ are embroidered with BROCKHAMPTON’s signature vernacular—a confluence of streetwise realism and poetic abstraction. As the song progresses, we’re immersed in a stream of consciousness: ‘Callin’, callin’, callin’, callin’, trip far.’ These calls and trips might easily represent attempts to communicate, the longing for understanding, as well as the literal and figurative journeys one undertakes within a rocky relationship.

BROCKHAMPTON has always wielded language as an instrument for revealing deeper truths while still retaining a layer of mystique. In ‘GAMBA,’ each phrase invites listeners to interpret and relate to the experiences shared, making the song relatable even when its words beg for a more nuanced interpretation.

The Haunting Questions: Aging and Identity Amidst Love’s Chaos

The recurring refrain ‘What you gonna do when you older? What you gonna do when you grow?’ injects a sense of urgency and existential contemplation into the mix. These questions are directed as much towards the self as they are towards the lover, prompting both the listener and the characters within the song to confront the idea of change and growth amidst the chaos of their emotions and experiences.

Amidst the swirling emotions conveyed through the song, these lines serve as an anchor—a reminder that time presses onward and the selves we are in relationships will evolve, for better or worse. It is a meditation on the fleeting nature of youth and love, and the shadow cast by the inevitability of maturity.

An Ensemble Cry for Authenticity: The Hidden Meaning of ‘GAMBA’

Delving into the undercurrents of ‘GAMBA,’ one may unearth a veiled dialogue about authenticity and the masks we wear. ‘You like to size me up and see if it’s all worth it,’ bespeaks the idea that even within close relationships, there is an element of performance, a need to prove one’s worth to both oneself and others.

In the pursuit of love and acceptance, there lies an unspoken fear of inadequacy, a theme that resonates throughout BROCKHAMPTON’s work. Here, ‘GAMBA’ is speaking about the longing to shed those layers of doubt and to be seen for who one truly is, without the charade.

An Ode to Self-Love Amidst Turmoil: Clinging to the Pillars of Hope

In its final act, ‘GAMBA’ takes a turn from desire to introspection: ‘You’re all I love, washing on my hands.’ Amidst the disarray of sentiments, there lies a message of self-reliance and clarity. It can be read as a realization that before one can fully surrender to love another, there must be a grounded sense of self-love and purpose—an idea echoed in the mantra to not ‘waste your mind.’

BROCKHAMPTON has crafted more than just a song; they have offered an anthem that holds a mirror to our own complexities and the notion that within the storm of emotions and relationships, we must not forget the anchor of self-care and self-preservation. ‘GAMBA,’ therefore, is less a narrative of infatuation and more a profound exploration of the resilience of the human spirit.