Uh, I'm just so far gone
October's on, Please leave me alone
Drunk off champagne screamin' in the phone
See my house is not a home, fuck is goin' on
Where did we go wrong? Where do we belong?
Caught up in the game and it's one I can't postpone
Meaning if it rains, I'm the one it's raining on
When my diamond chain is on still nothing set in stone
Women borrow sweaters that I spray with my cologne
And tell me don't forget 'em and I promise that I won't
Feelin' so distant from everyone I've known
To make everybody happy I think I would need a clone
Places we get flown, parties that we've thrown
I've done more for this city then these rappers that have blown
It's only been three years, look at how I've grown
I'm just in my zone, I call this shit the calm
Yea, but I'm the furthest thing from calm
Dedicated to my mom, and I swear my word is bond
Everything will be okay and it won't even take that long
You can see it in my face or even read it on my palm
Leader of the new school it's proven and it's known
I'm sittin' in a chair but in the future it's a throne
I know you like to worry it'll be better if you don't 'cause

You know
Everything gone be alright
I promise
Apologize to you know
To put ya'll in this position and vent to ya'll but
40 Mom always say
Don't ask permission, just ask forgiveness, you know, so
Forgive me
Yea
Yeah I say

Uh
And life is so insane
Look what I've became,
Tryna make a name
All my first dates are interrupted by my fame
Because every picture taken is a fan that you can gain
They love it when you smile unaware that it's a strain
It's a curse you gotta live with when you born to entertain
Women need attention, therefore women will complain
Develop hatred for men and say that you're the one to blame
Tryna enjoy myself with Taz in Miami at the game
I just wish he knew how much it really weighed like Dwayne
It's a weight that's on my chest whoever spottin' me is playin'
So I'm liftin' all alone try not to get a sprain
Hopin' Western Union doing currency exchange
'Cause my dad called and got me feelin' guilty and ashamed, like
How I had a Rolls and I went and got a Range
And he payin' for his cigarettes with dollars and some change
Damn, and I could only feel his pain
'Cause in Memphis, Tennessee there's only so much to attain
So I'm fillin' out the form at the counter once again
He say he love me, I just hope he doesn't say that shit in vain
I'm why yo' girl heart is in a slang
Call me Heartbreak Drake, I'm the hardest one to tame
As a man I'm just honest, as a artist I'm a king
With my own set of problems that be sittin' on my brain
Yea, And see this is the thang
What they viewing as braggin' is the way that I maintain
The shit I write while staring out the window of a plane
Is the single handed reason I remain

Me
Yea
Uh, I said I call this shit the calm.
But I'm the furthest thing from calm.
I swear I'm puttin' on
But they always wanna ask what type of act you puttin' on like
Man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Drake’s song The Calm, which appears on his debut album Thank Me Later, reflect the artist’s state of mind at the time he wrote them. The song is introspective, detailing the ups and downs he has experienced since he became famous. Drake is questioning where he belongs and what went wrong along the way, a theme that resonates with many artists who find themselves famous overnight. He is acutely aware of the distance that has arisen between him and the people he knows, and feels that he would need a clone to make everyone happy. While he calls this state of being “the calm,” he admits that he is the “furthest thing from calm.” However, he promises that everything will be alright, and that he is putting on a brave face despite the challenges he faces.

The song’s lyrics also detail some of the obstacles that Drake has had to overcome since becoming a famous artist. He describes how his every moment is under scrutiny, and how women need attention and will always complain. The pressures of fame can be a strain, and he notes that every picture is taken is a fan he can gain, but he adds that it is also a curse that comes with entertainment. In the end, Drake admits that he is the reason people’s hearts break, calling himself Heartbreak Drake. He is honest about his struggles as an artist, and fully aware of the pressure to maintain his status. The Calm is a reflective, insightful rap that resonates with anyone who has ever found themselves questioning their own success.

Line by Line Meaning

Uh, I'm just so far gone
Drake feels like he's lost his way.

October's on, Please leave me alone
Drake is feeling overwhelmed and just wants some space.

Drunk off champagne screamin' in the phone
Drake is drinking and letting out his emotions on the phone.

See my house is not a home, fuck is goin' on
Drake's house is not a home because he's struggling with something.

Where did we go wrong? Where do we belong?
Drake is questioning where things went wrong.

Caught up in the game and it's one I can't postpone
Drake is caught up in the rap game and can't just drop out.

Meaning if it rains, I'm the one it's raining on
Drake has a lot of weight on his shoulders.

When my diamond chain is on still nothing set in stone
Even with success there's still uncertainty in Drake's life.

Women borrow sweaters that I spray with my cologne
Drake has love interests who he gives his personal belongings to.

And tell me don't forget 'em and I promise that I won't
Drake promises to not forget the people he cares about.

Feelin' so distant from everyone I've known
Drake is feeling disconnected from the people he's always known.

To make everybody happy I think I would need a clone
Drake is trying to please everyone but it's impossible.

Places we get flown, parties that we've thrown
Drake is traveling and living a lavish lifestyle.

I've done more for this city then these rappers that have blown
Drake feels like he's done more for his hometown than other successful rappers.

It's only been three years, look at how I've grown
Drake is proud of how far he's come in a short amount of time.

I'm just in my zone, I call this shit the calm
Drake is focused and in control of his life.

Yea, but I'm the furthest thing from calm
Despite being in control, Drake still feels anxious.

Dedicated to my mom, and I swear my word is bond
Drake's loyalty to his family is non-negotiable.

Everything will be okay and it won't even take that long
Drake is optimistic about the future.

You can see it in my face or even read it on my palm
Drake's emotions are written all over his face.

Leader of the new school it's proven and it's known
Drake is confident in his position as a new leader in the rap game.

I'm sittin' in a chair but in the future it's a throne
Drake knows that his hard work will pay off in the future.

I know you like to worry it'll be better if you don't 'cause
Drake is telling someone not to worry about him too much.

You know
A casual interjection, emphasizing that the listener already knows what Drake is talking about.

Everything gone be alright
Drake is trying to reassure someone about their future.

I promise
Drake is making a firm commitment.

Apologize to you know
Drake is apologizing to someone for venting to them.

To put ya'll in this position and vent to ya'll but
Drake is venting to someone about his struggles.

40 Mom always say
A reference to his producer and his mother.

Don't ask permission, just ask forgiveness, you know, so
Drake's mother taught him to go for it and seek forgiveness later.

Forgive me
Drake is apologizing again.

Yea
A casual interjection, emphasizing that the listener should agree with what Drake is saying.

Yeah I say
Drake is about to start another verse.

And life is so insane
Drake is feeling overwhelmed again.

Look what I've became,
Drake is reflecting on how far he's come.

Tryna make a name
Drake is still trying to solidify his place in the industry.

All my first dates are interrupted by my fame
Drake's fame gets in the way of having normal relationships.

Because every picture taken is a fan that you can gain
Drake is constantly meeting new fans.

They love it when you smile unaware that it's a strain
Drake smiles for the fans but it can be exhausting.

It's a curse you gotta live with when you born to entertain
Drake acknowledges the downside to his career.

Women need attention, therefore women will complain
Drake is referring to women who need constant attention from him.

Develop hatred for men and say that you're the one to blame
These women tend to blame men for their issues.

Tryna enjoy myself with Taz in Miami at the game
Drake is hanging out with a friend in Miami.

I just wish he knew how much it really weighed like Dwayne
Drake wishes his friend knew how much his burdens weigh on him.

It's a weight that's on my chest whoever spottin' me is playin'
Drake is working out and someone is spotting him at the gym.

So I'm liftin' all alone try not to get a sprain
Drake is trying to lift weights by himself.

Hopin' Western Union doing currency exchange
Drake is hoping to send money to someone.

'Cause my dad called and got me feelin' guilty and ashamed, like
Drake's dad is making him feel guilty for his success.

How I had a Rolls and I went and got a Range
Drake's dad is criticizing him for buying fancy cars.

And he payin' for his cigarettes with dollars and some change
Drake's dad is struggling financially.

Damn, and I could only feel his pain
Drake is empathizing with his dad.

'Cause in Memphis, Tennessee there's only so much to attain
Drake's dad is from a place with less opportunity.

So I'm fillin' out the form at the counter once again
Drake is likely filling out paperwork to send money to his dad.

He say he love me, I just hope he doesn't say that shit in vain
Drake's dad says he loves him and Drake wants to believe it's true.

I'm why yo' girl heart is in a slang
Drake knows he can make girls fall in love with him easily.

Call me Heartbreak Drake, I'm the hardest one to tame
Drake has a reputation for breaking hearts.

As a man I'm just honest, as a artist I'm a king
Drake prides himself on being honest and successful.

With my own set of problems that be sittin' on my brain
Drake has his own issues to deal with despite his success.

Yea, And see this is the thang
Drake is emphasizing a point he's about to make.

What they viewing as braggin' is the way that I maintain
People think Drake is bragging, but he's just trying to keep up his image and success.

The shit I write while staring out the window of a plane
Drake gets a lot of inspiration while traveling.

Is the single handed reason I remain
Drake's ability to write great music is what keeps him on top of the rap game.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Aubrey Drake Graham, Noah James Shebib

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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