Mockingbird
Eminem Lyrics

Yeah
Opening agreement that sometimes things may not make sense

I know sometimes Things may not always make sense to you right now But hey
Acknowledgement of how his daughter may feel regarding mother/ father absence

What daddy always tell you? Straighten up little soldier Stiffen up that upper lip What you cryin' about?You got me
Giving words of encouragement during tough times

Hailie, I know you miss your mom and I know you miss your dad When I'm gone, but I'm tryna give you the life that I never had I can see you're sad, even when you smile, even when you laugh I can see it in your eyes, deep inside you want to cry 'Cause you're scared, I ain't there? Daddy's with you in your prayers No more cryin', wipe them tears Daddy's here, no more nightmares We gon' pull together through it, we gon' do it
Reassurance that despite his absence and her feelings of sadness, he is always there for her and will support her through it all

Lainie, uncle's crazy, ain't he? Yeah, but he loves you, girl, and you better know it We're all we got in this world When it spins, when it swirls When it whirls, when it twirls Two little beautiful girls Lookin' puzzled, in a daze I know it's confusin' you Daddy's always on the move, mama's always on the news I try to keep you sheltered from it but somehow it seems The harder that I try to do that, the more it backfires on me All the things growin' up as daddy that he had to see Daddy don't want you to see but you see just as much as he did We did not plan it to be this way, your mother and me But things have got so bad between us I don't see us ever bein' together ever again Like we used to be when we was teenagers But then of course everything always happens for a reason I guess it was never meant to be But it's just somethin' we have no control over and that's what destiny is But no more worries, rest your head and go to sleep Maybe one day we'll wake up and this'll all just be a dream
Acknowledgement of the challenges his daughters face while reassuring them he loves them; also reflecting on his personal life and the hardships it has created for his children

Now hush, little baby, don't you cry Everything's gonna be alright Stiffen that upper lip up, little lady, I told ya Daddy's here to hold ya through the night I know mommy's not here right now, and we don't know why We fear how we feel inside It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby But I promise, mama's gon' be alright
Words of affirmation and encouragement to his daughter that things will be okay

Ha, it's funny I remember back one year when daddy had no money Mommy wrapped the Christmas presents up And stuck 'em under the tree and said some of 'em were from me 'Cause daddy couldn't buy 'em I'll never forget that Christmas, I sat up the whole night cryin' 'Cause daddy felt like a bum, see daddy had a job But his job was to keep the food on the table for you and mom And at the time every house that we lived in Either kept gettin' broken into and robbed Or shot up on the block and your mom was savin' money for you in a jar Tryna start a piggy bank for you so you could go to college Almost had a thousand dollars 'til someone broke in and stole it And I know it hurt so bad it broke your mama's heart And it seemed like everything was just startin' to fall apart Mom and dad was arguin' a lot, so mama moved back On the Chalmers in the flat, one bedroom apartment And dad moved back to the other side of 8 Mile on Novara And that's when daddy went to California with his CD And met Dr. Dre and flew you and mama out to see me But daddy had to work, you and mama had to leave me Then you started seein' daddy on the TV and mama didn't like it And you and Lainie were too young to understand it Papa was a rollin' stone, mama developed a habit And it all happened too fast for either one of us to grab it I'm just sorry you were there and had to witness it firsthand
Recounting a difficult time in his family's life while offering an apology that his daughters had to endure it

'Cause all I ever wanted to do was just make you proud Now I'm sittin' in this empty house Just reminiscin' lookin' at your baby pictures, it just trips me out To see how much you both have grown, it's almost like you're sisters now Wow, guess you pretty much are and daddy's still here Lainie, I'm talkin' to you too, daddy's still here I like the sound of that, yeah It's got a ring to it, don't it? Shh, mama's only gone for the moment
Reflecting on his love for his daughters, how much they mean to him, and assuring them he is still supporting them despite their mother's absence

Now, hush little baby, don't you cry Everything's gonna be alright Stiffen that upper lip up, little lady, I told ya Daddy's here to hold ya through the night I know mommy's not here right now, and we don't know why We fear how we feel inside It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby But I promise mama's gon' be alright
Reassurance to his daughter to be strong and that her mother will be okay

And if you ask me to Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird I'ma give you the world I'ma buy a diamond ring for you I'ma sing for you I'll do anything for you to see you smile And if that mockingbird don't sing and that ring don't shine I'ma break that birdie's neck I'll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya And make him eat every carat, don't f*** with dad (haha)
Promising to always take care of his daughter and ensure she has everything she needs while also leveraging his fierce protective nature towards anyone who tries to hurt her