To me, i feel like this song represents an inner struggle, particularly in regards to how others perceive you and how it affects the way you feel about yourself.
The opening lines---I'm off on a adventure... (we're good)/"This here is dedicated to all of the kids like me"/I'm on my way to heaven/"Wherever you are...Now"---signify Kid Cudi at the beginning of his journey to try and find his identity. It's especially meaningful because early and mid twenties is the time in which we mold our identities and that process can be particularly painful both personally and professionally. When we're young adults, we're still in that phase where we look up to certain figures but we're simultaneously trying to break free of others in the pursuit of finding our authentic self.
Often, finding one's authentic self begins with imitating or borrowing aspects of those we look up to. In the lines--Birds seen flying around, you never see them too long on the ground/You want to be one of them...(yeaah) x2/You might hear the birds singing flying around, you never see them too long on the ground/You want to be one of them...(yeaah) x2--I can really hear that pang and desire in looking up to certain figures and wishing you were that person instead of yourself.
In the next part--
Woah Now, HEY!, Mr.Raaager, Mr.Rager
Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed
I'm off on a adventure, Mr. Raaager
Tell me some of your stories, Tell us of your travels
HEY!, Mr.Raaager, Mr.Rager
Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed
I'm on my way to heaven, Mr. Raaager
Can we tag along, Can we take the journey
--the lyrics allow for a multitude of varied interpretations. Personally, I think this part demonstrates how Kid Cudi may have become, at one point in his life (or maybe even in the present) wrapped up in a certain image that doesn't fit with his authentic self and he has demons that he's fighting off--maybe through actual fighting, self-medication, his music, controlling certain aspects of his life in an attempt to keep his identity crisis from seeping into is conscious--the possibilities are limitless. Who knows?
When I watched the music video, I saw a dream sequence in which ever person in it was a part of himself (he gets beaten up, blinded and stabbed--all of which hints toward him fighting off parts of himself and eventually losing because he dies at the end of his dream and 'wakes up' in a therapist's office, suggesting he is finally getting help. Also telling is the jacket he wears at the end)
Then--
Knocked down round for round
You're feeling like you're shot down on the ground
When will the fantasy end, When will the heaven begin (yeaah)
You might be knocked down round for round
You're feeling like you're shot down on the ground
When will the fantasy end (yeaah), When will the heaven begin (yeaah)
--this part really solidifies it for me. He's fighting against himself and wondering 'when will the fantasy end' suggesting he is coming out of denial and realizing that what he is doing to himself personally is taking an immense emotional, mental and physical toll on him. He wants to break out of his persona that he forced on himself and find inner peace 'when will heaven begin?' and so forth.
Lastly, the repeated lines that play throughout the song--
Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed
I'm on my way to heaven, Mr. Raaager
Can we tag along, Can we take that journey..........Can we take that journey
I'm off on a adventure
--are extremely important because they mean different things at the beginning and end of the song. At the beginning, I think kids looking up to Kid Cudi are asking him, Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed...Mr. Rager" and Kid Cudi responds with "I'm on my way to heaven" because he genuinely believe he actually on the path to heaven since his definition of paradise is framed around being an impossible, larger-than-life figure that will be able to indulge in every excess and know every so-called 'happiness' that comes from living that rockstar lifestyle. At the end though, it seems to me he's losing the notion that being someone you aren't, even if you get all those so-called 'wonderful things,' is the path to heaven or happiness. At the end, he's just trying to focus one who he is without interference from such bullsh*t.
To me, i feel like this song represents an inner struggle, particularly in regards to how others perceive you and how it affects the way you feel about yourself.
The opening lines---I'm off on a adventure... (we're good)/"This here is dedicated to all of the kids like me"/I'm on my way to heaven/"Wherever you are...Now"---signify Kid Cudi at the beginning of his journey to try and find his identity. It's especially meaningful because early and mid twenties is the time in which we mold our identities and that process can be particularly painful both personally and professionally. When we're young adults, we're still in that phase where we look up to certain figures but we're simultaneously trying to break free of others in the pursuit of finding our authentic self.
Often, finding one's authentic self begins with imitating or borrowing aspects of those we look up to. In the lines--Birds seen flying around, you never see them too long on the ground/You want to be one of them...(yeaah) x2/You might hear the birds singing flying around, you never see them too long on the ground/You want to be one of them...(yeaah) x2--I can really hear that pang and desire in looking up to certain figures and wishing you were that person instead of yourself.
In the next part--
Woah Now, HEY!, Mr.Raaager, Mr.Rager Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed I'm off on a adventure, Mr. Raaager Tell me some of your stories, Tell us of your travels
HEY!, Mr.Raaager, Mr.Rager Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed I'm on my way to heaven, Mr. Raaager Can we tag along, Can we take the journey
--the lyrics allow for a multitude of varied interpretations. Personally, I think this part demonstrates how Kid Cudi may have become, at one point in his life (or maybe even in the present) wrapped up in a certain image that doesn't fit with his authentic self and he has demons that he's fighting off--maybe through actual fighting, self-medication, his music, controlling certain aspects of his life in an attempt to keep his identity crisis from seeping into is conscious--the possibilities are limitless. Who knows?
When I watched the music video, I saw a dream sequence in which ever person in it was a part of himself (he gets beaten up, blinded and stabbed--all of which hints toward him fighting off parts of himself and eventually losing because he dies at the end of his dream and 'wakes up' in a therapist's office, suggesting he is finally getting help. Also telling is the jacket he wears at the end)
Then--
Knocked down round for round You're feeling like you're shot down on the ground When will the fantasy end, When will the heaven begin (yeaah) You might be knocked down round for round You're feeling like you're shot down on the ground When will the fantasy end (yeaah), When will the heaven begin (yeaah)
--this part really solidifies it for me. He's fighting against himself and wondering 'when will the fantasy end' suggesting he is coming out of denial and realizing that what he is doing to himself personally is taking an immense emotional, mental and physical toll on him. He wants to break out of his persona that he forced on himself and find inner peace 'when will heaven begin?' and so forth.
Lastly, the repeated lines that play throughout the song--
Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed I'm on my way to heaven, Mr. Raaager Can we tag along, Can we take that journey..........Can we take that journey I'm off on a adventure
--are extremely important because they mean different things at the beginning and end of the song. At the beginning, I think kids looking up to Kid Cudi are asking him, Tell me where you're going, Tell us where you're headed...Mr. Rager" and Kid Cudi responds with "I'm on my way to heaven" because he genuinely believe he actually on the path to heaven since his definition of paradise is framed around being an impossible, larger-than-life figure that will be able to indulge in every excess and know every so-called 'happiness' that comes from living that rockstar lifestyle. At the end though, it seems to me he's losing the notion that being someone you aren't, even if you get all those so-called 'wonderful things,' is the path to heaven or happiness. At the end, he's just trying to focus one who he is without interference from such bullsh*t.