Hello by Eminem: Lyrics Meaning – Peering Beyond the Greetings in Shady’s Universe
Lyrics
Allow me to introduce myself (myself)
My name is Shady
It’s so nice to meet you (it’s so nice to meet you)
It’s been a long time (long time)
I’m sorry I’ve been away so long (so long)
My name is Shady
I never meant to leave you (I never meant to leave you)
Yeah
You see that chick in the gym, checkin’ me out?
Any second I’m ’bout to stick her neck in my mouth
I lose a pill and I’m recklessly wreckin’ the house
That was supposed to be breakfast, where the heck is it now?
Here’s the necklace I lost, right next to Stephanie’s blouse
Man, I should check to see if my mom left any out
Nope, guess I’ll re-route
Maybe somewhere in the depths of your couch
Oh, jackpot, yeah, open sesame mouth
Down the hatchet, the feelin’ you can’t match it
I rat-tat-tap on your door with a damn ratchet
Attack-tack-tackin’ a whore with a damn hatchet
A knapsack packed with like forty-some Xanaxes
Shorty, come back, I’m tryna score me some lap dances
I’m ’bout to relapse, so baby, pour me some Jack Daniels
Formula 44D and 40s with bad capsules
The bad apple spoils the bunch, I’m back at ya
Girl, I don’t mean any harm
All I wanted to do is just say hello
And are you menstruating, baby?
My little friend’s waiting to say hello
The way your titties are wigglin’
And your booty’s shakin’ like Jell-O
Girl, I don’t mean any harm
All I wanted to do is just say hello
Yeah
My equilibrium’s off, must be the Lithium
I don’t need to buy any drugs, man, people give me ’em
It just becomes everyday extra curriculum
No reason in particular, it was strictly fun
A fifth of rum and two bottles of 151
Fifty one people asleep in my damn livin’ room
Excuse me, hun, but what was your name, Vivian?
I woke up next to you naked and uh, did we, um?
Of course we did, but didn’t I strap Jimmy, hun?
I’m looking for the torn wrapper but there doesn’t seem to be one
No offense, baby girl, I don’t mean any harm
But disease is something I’m tryna keep my penis free from
I find the package and I’m cool, I immediately run
like Speedy Gonzales to see if I see anyone
Who might have a couple of 3s, I’m fiendin’ for some
My head is poundin’ to the beat of the drum
Girl, I don’t mean any harm
All I wanted to do is just say hello
And do you happen to have anything on you
To make my mood mellow?
Some are oval and some are pink
Some are blue and some are just yellow
Girl, I don’t mean any harm
All I wanted to do is just say hello
Oh, those were the days, they certainly were
It’s hurtin’ me to know that I’ll be closin’ the curtain for good
(Word-word, chk-word-word, chk-word, chk-chk-word)
I second that and I third, rushed to emergency surgery
To try to flush me because of the drugs that he purchased
He’s no longer gettin’ them free, hundred bucks for these Percodans
Plus it’s getting to be where he lustfully search the den
Pain is hitting his knee and his muscles be hurtin’ him
Tirelessly on the phone tryin’ to rustle up
Muscle relaxers for his back and a couple of Paxils
Now he’s doubling backwards and he’s stumblin’ back
Slipped and fell, hit his back, boom, heard somethin’ go crack
Now he’s up in the bathroom like he’s bustin’ a nap
Almost ended it that soon because of the fact
I’m just bustin’ my own chops while I’m bustin’ a rap
Resuscitated and rejuved, so fuck it, I’m back
Girl, I don’t mean any harm
All I wanted to do is just say hello
And do you happen to have anything on you
To make my mood mellow?
Some are oval and some are pink
Some are blue and some are just yellow
Girl, I don’t mean any harm
All I wanted to do is just say hello
And so I’m saying hello (hello)
Allow me to introduce myself (myself)
My name is Shady
It’s so nice to meet you (it’s so nice to meet you)
It’s been a long time (long time)
I’m sorry I’ve been away so long (so long)
My name is Shady
I never meant to leave you (I never meant to leave you)
Yeah, it’s like starting over
Clean slate, uh
Eminem’s ‘Hello’ from his chart-scaling album ‘Relapse’ delivers a track woven with introspection, wrapped in irony, and draped in the enigmatic charm that only Slim Shady can bring to the microphone. As listeners, we’re invited to a reunion that is as much about Eminem’s artistry as his inner confrontations.
The track ‘Hello’ is more than a mere greeting; it is a multi-layered unfolding of Eminem’s complex relationship with his alter ego, his addiction, and his audience. Deconstructing this linguistic jigsaw reveals a haunting narrative of struggle and self-awareness.
Harsh Welcome Back to Shady’s World
Eminem kickstarts ‘Hello’ with a reintroduction to his notorious alter ego, Slim Shady. It’s a chilling ‘nice to meet you’ that sets the stage for a self-reflective journey. This isn’t just an opening line—it’s a mirror reflecting the rapper’s tumultuous past and his paradoxical relationship with fame and his personal demons.
As he oscillates between addressing his audience and dialoguing with himself, the track becomes a meta-commentary on his career’s hiatus and return. Eminem uses ‘Hello’ to dive into the reality of his experiences, subtly addressing the expectations and pressures of being under the entertainment industry’s unforgiving spotlight.
A Visceral Descent Into Addiction
Throughout the song, Eminem doesn’t shy away from portraying the rawness of his addiction battles. The song’s speakeasy flow of pill-popping references and substance-fueled escapades is as candid as it is unsettling. This metaphor-rich narrative opens a window into the chaos that addiction brought into his life.
The vivid imagery drawn from words like ‘rat-tat-tap on your door with a damn ratchet’ and ‘knapsack packed with like forty-some Xanaxes’ isn’t just shock value—these are the dark poetic admissions of a man ensnared in the throes of a compelling need to escape reality.
The Deceptive Simplicity of ‘Hello’
On the surface, ‘Hello’ could be misinterpreted as Eminem simply using a typical greeting to engage with an imaginary girl. However, deeper analysis unearths a metaphor where the ‘hellos’ are pleas to substances and a lifestyle he’s both drawn to and repulsed by.
Each chorus serves as a euphemism for Eminem’s cyclical struggle with addiction. It’s not the wiggling femininity that holds Shady’s attention—it’s the allure of drugs and the addictive behavior disguised as familiar and innocuous.
Unveiling the Hidden Meaning Beneath the Beat
Between beats and bars, Eminem embeds a somber message about the perils of stardom and substance dependence. The joviality in saying ‘hello’ is overshadowed by the gravity of what it means to Shady: a resurfacing of toxic habits.
When digging beneath the surface, listeners discover that ‘Hello’ isn’t just an opening dialogue; it’s an echo of past choices and their implications, a haunting reminder that, for Eminem, every new ‘hello’ might lead to a dangerous downward spiral.
Memorable Lines That Sting with Reality
Eminem’s prowess in crafting phrases that stick with listeners is evident in lines like ‘Girl, I don’t mean any harm, all I wanted to do is just say hello.’ These words might seem light-hearted, but they carry a heavyweight, depicting the conflicting pull of Shady’s desires and better judgment.
It is in these shrewdly chosen lines where Eminem’s lyrical mastery shines, as he conveys the profound through the profane—a complex artist revealing the inky depths of addiction against the vibrant canvas of his music.
