Macklemore

Otherside

7 Meanings

Add Yours

Q&A

Otherside Lyrics

	


He rolled up, asked him what he was sippin' on
He said lean, You want to hit it, dawg?
That's the same stuff 
Weezy's sippin' huh?
And tons of other rappers that be spittin' hard
Yup yup five a bone
When he passed him that styrofoam
The easter pink, heard a rhyme before
Finally got to see what all the hype was on
And then he took a sip, sittin' in the Lincoln thinkin' he was pimpin' as he listen to the system
Little did he know that it was just as addictive as base
Not the kind of hit from the kick drum
Hot box, let the base bump
Take it to the face, gulp
Months later the use went up
Every blunt was accompanied by the pink stuff
But Goddamn he loved that feelin'
Purple rain coated in the throat
Just so healin'
Medicine alleviate the sickness
Liquid affix and it comes with a cost
Wake up, cold sweat, scratchin', itchin'
Trying to escape the skin that barely fit him
Gone, get another bottle just to get a couple swallows
Headed towards the bottom couldn't get off it
Didn't even think he had a problem
Though he couldn't sleep without gettin' nauseous
Room spinnin', thinkin' he might of sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup
His eyelids closed shut
Sat back in the chair clutchin' that cup
Girlfriend came and a couple hours later said his name, shook him but he never got up

He never got up, he never got up
We live on the cusp of death thinkin' that it won't be us
It won't be us, it won't be us, it won't be us
Nah, it won't be us

He just wanted to act like them
He just wanted to rap like him
Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects that we have on these kids
Blunt passed, ash in a tin, pack being pushed, harassed by the feds
The fact of it is most people that rap like this talkin' about some shit they haven't lived
Surprise, you know the drill
Trapped in a box, declined record sales
Follow the formula: violence, drugs, and sex sells
So we try to sound like someone else
This is not Californication
There's no way to glorify this pavement
Syrup, Percocet, and an eighth a day will leave you broke, depressed, and emotionally vacant
Despite how Lil Wayne lives
It's not conducive to being creative
And I know 'cause he's my favorite
And I know 'cause I was off that same mix
Rationalize the shit that I'd try after I listen to dedication
But he's an alien, I'd sip that shit, pass out or play Playstation
Months later I'm in the same place
No music made, feeling like a failure
And trust me it's not dope to be 25 and move back to your parents' basement
I've seen my people's dreams die
I've seen what they can be denied
And "weed's not a drug" - that's denial
Groundhog Day life repeat each time
I've seen Oxycontin take three lives
I grew up with them, we used to chief dimes
I've seen cocaine bring out the demons inside
Cheatin' and lyin'
Friendship cease, no peace in the mind
Stealin' and takin' anything to fix the pieces inside
Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere
Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying
That rush, that drug, that dope
Those pills, that crumb, that roach
Thinkin' I would never do that, not that drug
And growing up nobody ever does
Until you're stuck, lookin' in the mirror like I can't believe what I've become
Swore I was gonna be someone
And growing up everyone always does
We sell our dreams and our potential
To escape through that buzz
Just keep me up, keep me up
Hollywood here we come

	

Submitted by

italianleathersofa On Jan 13, 2011

Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

7 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Sort by

by Woody5151

14y ago

its good to know that there are still people such as macklemore, atmosphere, grieves, common market, and artists like them that rap about more then just pussy, money, and weed. This song is awesome and is how rap should be.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by dd3073

12y ago

Tis song is about the cough syrup epidemic, and more importantly the outbreak of it. This song simply preaches the effects that high profiled rappers have on their followers and the way that aspiring musicians can be so influenced by the messages of their idols. Macklemore preaches the fact that those who sing about drugs and alcohol are not necessarily singing from experience and despite the popularity of cough syrup within this demographic " It's not condusive to being creative". Macklemore sings fro an unglamorized perspective and attempts to nulify the effects of previous rappers by emphasising the point that cough syrup is deadly, and despite how it is portrayed, should not be condoned (And trust me it's not dope to be 25 and move back to your parent's basement) Macklemore also emphasises the point that we will always be tempted by negative influences, despite how much we resent them when young. Terrific song.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by ActionManNZ

12y ago

Amazing, powerful song. The meaning has already been stated pretty clearly. It's sad hearing live versions of this song and noticing "I've seen Oxycontin take three lives" has changed to four.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by sewok15

12y ago

Years ago when I heard this song I was floored...I am glad to see him getting big now because he has a very important message to spread.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by irandom97

13y ago

how the hell is there no comments about what this song is about..

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by l33tmaster12

11y ago

I think I know what this song means because I have been through it. the see my peoples dreams diepart reminded me of mexico, my home country. I see the kids say they want to become something more than a farmer. and it make me sad to see them play around and know what is going to happen to these kids. I have been around death since I was 3 years old. my mom died when I was 3, my closest grandmaa/mom at 5, and then my grandpa at 10. theres more people that I haven't seen dead. and its sad to see some of my friends do drugs in front of me. I just relate this song to my life. it just makes me sad to hear this song.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by intersecting|realities

8y ago

amazing song that not just about sex and drugs like most other rap songs

Users:

Reply · 0 Share