I THINK by Tyler, The Creator Lyrics Meaning – Diving Into the Complexities of Love and Distraction
Lyrics
(Skate, fuck)
(Skate, fuck)
(Skate, fuck)
I don’t know where I’m going (Skate)
But I know what I’m showing (Fuck)
Feelings, that’s what I’m pourin’ (Skate)
What the fuck is your motive? (Fuck)
Man, I wish you would call me (Skate)
By your name ’cause I’m sorry (Fuck)
This is not apology (Skate)
You are such a distraction (Fuck)
Mess with Tion, off (Skate)
Fuckin’ up my ambiance, pause (Fuck)
You drive me cuckoo and I cough (Skate)
‘Cause I want you like Leon Ware (Fuck that)
Okay, say, dinner (Fuck that)
Okay, wait a minute (Woah)
I drip that shit, I am on (Skate)
While curiosity killed the feline, gone (Fuck, skate)
I think I’m falling in love (Skate)
This time I think it’s for real (Fuck, skate)
I think I’m falling in love (Fuck, skate)
This time I think it’s for real (Fuck)
How can I tell you? (Skate) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
How can I tell you? (Skate) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
How can I tell you? (Skate) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
How can I tell you? (Skate) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
I notice that you’re there, but I’m always in your hair
And you’re always in my mind, maybe so (Fuck)
Wasted, boy, I need your attention (Skate)
I’m off balance, I need some fixin’ (Fuck)
I’m your puppet, you are Jim Henson (Skate, fuck)
Fall in love now (Skate)
I think I’m falling in love (Fuck)
Fell in love now (Skate)
This time I think it’s for real (Fuck)
I think I’m in love now (Skate)
I think I’m falling in love (Fuck)
I think I’m in love now (Skate)
This time I think it’s for real (Fuck, fuck)
How can I tell you? (Shut the fuck up) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
How can I tell you? (You fuckin’ bitch) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
How can I tell you? (Skate) How can I tell you? (Fuck)
How can I tell you? Take ’em to the bridge
(Fuck, fuck)
(Fuck)
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck (Fuck, skate)
I think I’m falling in love (Fuck)
Fell in love now (Skate)
This time I think it’s for real (Fuck)
I think I’m in love now (Skate)
I think I’m falling in love (Fuck, skate)
This time I think it’s for real (Oh, oh, yeah, yeah)
(Fuck, skate, fuck, skate)
Tyler, The Creator is known for his masterful blending of beats, bars, and intimate confessions. His track ‘I THINK’ is no exception, inviting us into a dizzying space of vulnerability and emotional complexity. This isn’t just a song; it’s an auditory journey guided by raw sentiments and ingeniously coded lyrics.
Peeling back the layers of ‘I THINK’ reveals a narrative much deeper than the infectious beat might suggest. Tyler is not just creating music; he’s scripting an introspective analysis of love’s tumultuous landscape. Let’s deconstruct the crafted chaos that encapsulates the captivating message behind ‘I THINK’.
The Oscillation of Love and Annoyance
Tyler navigates the ebb and flow of affection and frustration pointedly throughout ‘I THINK.’ The repeated interjections of ‘Skate’ and ‘Fuck’ serve as a metaphor for the push and pull in a relationship, embodying the oscillation between depth and distraction. It’s a candid glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies the early stages of falling in love.
The repetition symbolizes the recurring thoughts and distractions that can plague one’s mind when infatuated. This creates an aural representation of Tyler’s internal conflict, struggling between the desire to be near someone and the fear of what that closeness entails.
A Heart’s Uncertainty in a Loop
The hook ‘I think I’m falling in love’ is purposefully uncertain with the inclusion of ‘I think.’ It creates a space of ambiguity and relatability – a universal reflection of love’s unsure nature. Unlike definitive statements, the lyrical choice to include ‘I think’ paints a picture of someone on the cusp of emotional surrender, all the while acknowledging the trepidation that comes with it.
This indecisiveness in the hook is crucial to the song’s authenticity. Rather than presenting a fantasy of love that’s sure-footed and unfaltering, Tyler gives us a realistic portrayal, one where love is as confusing and uncertain as it is beautiful.
Metaphors That Weave a Narrative
Cleverly crafted metaphors lace ‘I THINK.’ When Tyler likens himself to a puppet with his love interest as Jim Henson, he is accentuating the control and influence that this person has over him. It’s a striking image of vulnerability and submission to someone else’s will, indicative of the power dynamics that can play out in romantic entanglements.
The metaphor extends beyond love to explore the concept of personal agency within relationships. By depicting himself as a literal plaything, Tyler is commenting on how love can sometimes leave us feeling helplessly infatuated, to the point where we lose a sense of our autonomy.
The Labyrinth of a Lover’s Mind
One cannot discuss ‘I THINK’ without acknowledging how it intertwines the cerebral with the sentimental. The brainstorm is evident in the repeated line ‘How can I tell you?’ – a plea for emotional expression beyond the confinement of thoughts. This rhetorical question underscores the difficulty of verbalizing deep-seated emotions, hinting at the internal struggle that often accompanies vulnerability.
Tyler’s lyrical prowess turns what could be a straightforward love song into a probing exploration of the mind of someone in love. The track doesn’t just skim the surface of love’s joy and pain but plunges into the silent reveries and mental debates that haunt those grappling with their feelings.
Unpacking The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Amidst the bluntness and the seemingly overt references to love and infatuation, ‘I THINK’ carries a discrete subtext about the concept of identity and self-perception in the throes of love. The repeated directives to ‘Skate’ may allude to moving forward, suggesting progress and momentum, while the expletive ‘Fuck’ could signify the abrupt stops and the frustrations that hinder our personal journeys.
Furthermore, the phrase ‘curiosity killed the feline’ not only ties into the song’s chorus but also toys with the idea of risk-taking. Tyler hints at the gamble involved in opening oneself up to another, exploring how curiosity and attraction can lead to situations that may either invigorate or ‘kill’ parts of our inner selves.
