trip by Yung Lean Lyrics Meaning – Exploring the Layers of Desire and Duality

Lyrics

(Uh, uh)
(Uh)
Stardust, dust, dust, dust
(Uh, uh)
(Uh)

She in the shower getting dressed, she smell like peppermint
Covered in Benjamins, stars made by cinnamon
I feel like 50 Cent, I’m hated, yes, by many men
She look me dead up in my eyes, baby, do you love
Him, or me (or me)
Not one (not one), I love all three (I love all three)
Cheat on me (cheat on me), I’ll leave you (cheat on you)
You fuck me over (fuck me over), fuck you too

Take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a, take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a, take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit

We ain’t, we ain’t, we ain’t gotta fuck all day, let’s go outside
Let’s get some food and coffee and just go ahead, talk with our mouths
Loudmouth, mouth wired outside, let me change your life
Southside, motorcycles in the summer, leather jacket

She in the shower getting dressed, she smell like peppermint
Covered in Benjamins, stars made by cinnamon
Him, or me
Not one, I love all three
Cheat on me, I cheat on you
You fuck me over, fuck you too

Take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a, take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a, take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit

We in Stockholm, close amphetamines with sketelines
Big girl set ’em in, talk your shit like Letterman
She smell like peppermint, we be going hard like Eversince
Uh like ever since, we be going hard like Eversince
Only got brothers, I ain’t got no friends
Room be spinning like the ceiling fan
Spinnin’, spinnin’, spinnin’, spinnin’
Yeah, we go hard like veterans
Licorice lips, licorice lips
Let me have a kiss
Lick your lips, baby, lick your lips
Let me have a fling

She in the shower getting dressed, she smell like peppermint
Covered in Benjamins, stars made by cinnamon
I feel like 50 Cent, I’m hated, yes, by many men
She look me dead up in my eyes, baby, do you love
She in the shower getting dressed, she smell like peppermints
Covered in Benjamins, stars made by cinnamon
I feel like 50 Cent, I’m hated, yes, by many men
She look me dead up in my eyes, baby, do you love

Take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a, take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a, take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit
Take a trip, take a trip, babe, let’s make a hit

Is it her? All three
I can’t choose, ayy
I can’t choose, make your move
Leandoer, Leandoer, ay
2021, ayy

You’re listening to Yung Lean

In the realm of cloud rap, few artists have been as emblematic and enigmatic as Yung Lean, the Swedish rapper who shot to global recognition for his lethargic flow and dreamlike beats. Among his extensive repertoire, the track ‘trip’ stands as a notable entry for its cryptic lyrics and hypnotic rhythm that encapsulate the struggles of human desire, the pitfalls of excess, and the ephemeral nature of fame and relationships.

With its lush soundscapes and introspective musings, ‘trip’ offers listeners a journey through the mind of Yung Lean, whose artistry often blurs the lines between the visceral and the abstract. This deep dive unveils the layers beneath the ostensibly simple chorus, examining the symbolic imagery Lean employs to convey messages of disillusionment, yearning, and the search for authenticity amidst a life that’s anything but ordinary.

Peppermint Scents and Benjamin Bills: Status Symbols or Red Herrings?

The recurring imagery of peppermint, Benjamins (referring to money), and cinnamon-stars in ‘trip’ seems at first to paint a picture of luxury and sensuality. As Lean takes us through a scene where the scent of peppermint follows a figure getting dressed, these symbols become anchors for the themes of opulence and decadence that often accompany a successful musical career.

However, these markers of wealth and desire also point to a deeper dissonance. The freshness of peppermint juxtaposes the materialism of being ‘Covered in Benjamins,’ suggesting a yearning for something purer, something untainted by the complications of fame. Lean grapples with this duality, exposing the superficial allure of the high life while still acknowledging its intoxicating grip.

50 Cent’s Shadow: Fighting Fame’s Double-Edged Sword

Invoking ’50 Cent’ isn’t just a throwaway reference to another artist. For Yung Lean, it signifies solidarity with a fellow rapper who’s tasted both the bitterness and sweetness of stardom. The line ‘I feel like 50 Cent, I’m hated, yes, by many men’ hits on the paranoia and isolation that fame can foster, a stark contrast to the communal roots of Hip-Hop culture.

Like 50 Cent, whose history includes feuds and survival through sheer resilience, Lean seems to acknowledge the cost of celebrity—where adoration and animosity are two sides of the same coin. This line serves as an affirmation of the inner turmoil masked by the glamorous exterior portrayed by the media.

The Love Triangle Trope: A Concealed Cry for Authentic Connection

When Lean raps about a complicated love triangle, ‘Not one, I love all three,’ it resonates as more than an admission of infidelity. Here, the artist touches on the fragmentation of self that the music industry often demands—the public figure, the artist, and the person behind the music. This confession hints at the inner conflict and disconnection caused by a life lived in the spotlight.

Whether it’s a literal relationship or a metaphor for Lean’s multiple facets, the complexity of such a connection stands as a testament to the pressures of retaining authenticity. The ambivalence in his voice speaks to the audience’s own struggles in choosing between different life paths and personas in a society that urges us to play various roles.

Memorable Lines that Echo in the Mind: ‘Licorice Lips, Let Me Have a Kiss’

Throughout ‘trip,’ Yung Lean delivers lines that linger, but ‘Licorice lips, let me have a kiss’ is particularly evocative. It’s a moment where the artist allows himself to indulge in the sweetness of a relationship, turning away from the superficial elements that so heavily define his environment. The sensual nature of the phrase and the intimacy it evokes show a vulnerability that can often be lost in the bravado of rap culture.

By choosing such a vivid and specific image—a lover’s licorice-flavored lips—Lean captures the fleetingness of genuine connection, a stark departure from the hedonistic bravado and emotional detachment prevalent in much of his oeuvre. This desire for closeness and the momentary respite it provides from a fast-paced life becomes a recurring theme for reflection.

Unraveling ‘trip’s’ Hidden Meaning: A Descent into the Psyche

On the surface, ‘trip’ radiates with Lean’s signature combination of catchy, melodic hooks and laid-back beats. But beneath the haze, the song is a psychological excursion through the rapper’s personal narrative—one that laces his crooning with contemplations on the ephemeral nature of love, the relentless pursuit of success, and the inevitable loneliness it can bring.

Lean’s travelogue weaves through Stockholm streets and shadowy backdrops, a locale for introspection as much as for storytelling. The trips he beckons us on are less about the physical journey and more about the mental voyages one undertakes while navigating the liminal spaces between fame, personal fulfillment, and the universal quest for identity. In this sense, ‘trip’ invites the listener into a meditative state, guiding them through the layers of Yung Lean’s artistic persona and perhaps, peering through the lens, into their own inner workings.