Airplanes
B.o.B. ft Eminem & Hayley Williams Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Is like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)

(Dreamin', of fallin, dreamin', of fallin')

Let's pretend like its '98
Like I'm eating lunch off of Styrofoam trays
Trying to be the next rapper coming out the A
Hoping for a record deal, to re-know my pain
Now let's pretend like I'm on the stage
And when my beat drops everybody goes insane (ok)
And everybody know my name (B.o.B)
And everywhere I go people wanna hear me sang
Oh yea and I just dropped my new album
On the first week I did five hundred thousand
Gold in the spring and diamond in the fall
And then a world tour just to top it all off
And let's pretend like they call me the greatest
Selling out arenas with big ass stages
And everybody loved me and no one ever hated
Let's try to use imagination

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Is like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)

Okay, let's pretend like this never happened
Like I never had dreams of being a rapper
Like I didn't write raps in all of my classes
Like I never used to runaway into the blackness
Now let's pretend like it was all-good
Like I didn't live starring in a notebook
Like I did the things I probably knew I should
But I didn't have neighbors that's why they call it hood
Now let's pretend like I ain't got a name
Before they ever called me B.o.B or a.k.a Bobby Ray
I'm talking back before the mixtapes
Before the videos and the deals and the fame
Before they ever once compared me to Andre
Before I ever got Myspace
Before they ever noticed my face
So let's just pretend and make wishes out of airplanes

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Is like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)

(And it seems like yesterday it was just a dream
But those days are gone, they're just memories
And it seems yesterday it was just a dream
But those days are gone)

Let's pretend Marshall Mathers never picked up a pen
Let's pretend things would've been no different
Pretend he procrastinated, had no motivation
Pretend he just made excuses that
Was so paper thin they could blow away wit the wind
Marshall you never gone make it,
Makes no sense to play the game it ain't no way that'll you win
Pretend he just stand out side all day and play with his friends
Pretend he even had a friend to say was his friend
And it wasn't time to move in school no changing again
He wasn't socially awkward and just strange as a kid
He had a father and his mother wasn't crazy as shit
And he never dreamed he can ripped stadiums he just lazy as shit
Fuck a talent show in the gymnasium bitch
You won't amount to shit quit day dreaming kid
You need to get ya cranium check you thinking like an alien
It just ain't realistic
Now pretend they ain't just make him angry with this shit
And there was no one he could even aim when he's pissed with
And his alarm went off to wake him but he didn't make it to the rap Olympics
He slept through his plane and he missed it
He's gonna have a hard time explaining to Haley and Laney these food stamps and W-I-C shit
'Cause he never risked shit, he hoped and he wished it
But it didn't fall in his lap so he ain't even hear it he pretends that

Airplanes
In the night sky
Is like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky




Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)

Overall Meaning

The song "Airplanes Pt 1" by B.o.B. Ft Hayley Williams is about the struggle to achieve success and the power of imagination. The lyrics are broken into three parts, each exploring a different aspect of imagination. The first part asks whether one can pretend airplanes in the night sky are shooting stars and express a wish that they desperately want to come true. This can mean that the person is struggling with something and wants it to change.


The second part of the song is about the rapper's own imagination. B.o.B. is daydreaming about what life would have been like if he had become a successful rapper in 1998, before he was known to the world. He speaks about dropping albums and touring worldwide, becoming a popular rapper with a following amongst his fans. He ends the second section of the song by asking the listener to use their imagination.


The third part of the song is a nod to Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem. It aims to show the power of imagination by asking listeners to imagine what life would be like for the popular rapper if he hadn't taken the risks necessary to achieve success.


Overall, the song encourages the listener to dream and to use their imagination to visualize achieving success.


Line by Line Meaning

Can we pretend that airplanes In the night sky Is like shooting stars I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
The singer is wishing that airplanes at night can grant wishes, just like shooting stars.


Let's pretend like its '98 Like I'm eating lunch off of Styrofoam trays Trying to be the next rapper coming out the A Hoping for a record deal, to re-know my pain
The singer is using his imagination to pretend that he is still a struggling rapper in Atlanta, hoping to become famous and successful.


Now let's pretend like they call me the greatest Selling out arenas with big ass stages And everybody loved me and no one ever hated Let's try to use imagination
The singer is imagining that he is a superstar rapper with a huge following, selling out arenas and loved by everyone.


Okay, let's pretend like this never happened Like I never had dreams of being a rapper Like I didn't write raps in all of my classes Like I never used to runaway into the blackness
The artist is pretending that he never had a dream of becoming a rapper, never wrote raps in class, and never needed to escape to cope with life's difficulties.


Can we pretend that airplanes In the night sky Is like shooting stars I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
The artist reiterates his previous wish that airplanes at night can grant wishes, just like shooting stars.


Let's pretend Marshall Mathers never picked up a pen Let's pretend things would've been no different Pretend he procrastinated, had no motivation Pretend he just made excuses that Was so paper thin they could blow away wit the wind
The singer is using Eminem as an example of pretending history could have been different if he never pursued his rap career, and how his success was not a result of luck, but of his hard work.


Fuck a talent show in the gymnasium bitch You won't amount to shit quit day dreaming kid You need to get ya cranium check you thinking like an alien It just ain't realistic
The singer is referencing the negative thoughts and criticism that he encountered on his journey to becoming a rapper, and how it was unlikely that he would succeed.


Airplanes In the night sky Is like shooting stars I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
The artist repeats his wish that airplanes at night can grant wishes, just like shooting stars.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeremy Dussolliet, Alexander Junior Grant, Marshall B Mathers, Luis Edgardo Resto, Bobby Ray Jr Simmons, Timothy Paul Sommers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@klinssi8201

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now

Dreaming of falling
Dreaming of falling

[B.o.B:]
(Ya) Ya let's pretend like it's '98 (98)
Like I'm eating lunch off of Styrofoam trays (ya)
Trying to be the next rapper coming out the A (A-town)
Hoping for a record deal to ignore my pain (yeah)
Now let's pretend like I'm on a stage (stage)
And when my beat drops everybody goes insane (woo)
Okay
And everybody know my name (Bob)
And everywhere I go people wanna hear me sing (oh)
Oh yeah and I just dropped my new album
On the first week I did Five-Hundred Thousand (yes)
Gold in the spring and diamond in the fall (okay)
And then a world tour just to top it all off (ah)
And let's pretend like they called me the greatest (yap)
Selling out arenas with big ass stages (ow)
And everybody loved me and no one ever hated (mmhm)
Just try to use imagination

[Hayley Williams:]
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now

Okay let's pretend like this never happened (never)
Like I never had dreams of being a rapper (rapper)
Like I didn't write raps up in all of my classes (classes)
Like I never used to run away into the blackness (now)
Now let's pretend like it was all good (good)
Like I didn't live staring in a notebook (notebook)
Like I did the things that I probably knew I should (should)
But I ain't have neighbours that's why they call it hood (yeah)
Now let's pretend like I ain't got a name (nah)
Before they ever call me BOB aka Bobby Ray (Ray)
I'm talking back before the mix-tapes (laugh at)
Before the videos and the deals and the fame (yeah)
Before they ever once (oh oh) compared me to Andre
Before I ever got on myspace (yeah)
Before they ever noticed my face (yeah)
So let's just pretend and make wishes out of airplanes

[Hayley Williams:]
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now

And it seems like yesterday (day) it was just a dream
But those days are gone (gone) they're just memories
(Oh oh)
And it seems like yesterday (day) it was just a dream
But those days are gone (gone)

[Eminem:]
Alright let's pretend Marshall Mathers never picked up a pen
Let's pretend things would have been no different
Pretend he procrastinated, had no motivation
Pretend he just made excuses that were so paper thin they could blow away with the wind
Marshall, you're never gonna make it makes no sense to play the game there ain't no way that you'll win
Pretend he just stayed outside all day and played with his friends
Pretend he even had a friend to say was his friend
And it wasn't time to move and schools weren't changing again
He wasn't socially awkward and just strange as a kid
He had a father and his mother wasn't crazy as shit
And he never dreamed he could rip stadiums and just lazy as shit
Fuck a talent show in a gymnasium, bitch, you won't amount to shit quit daydreaming kid
You need to get your cranium checked you thinking like an alien and just ain't realistic
Now pretend they ain't just make him angry with this shit
And there was no one he could even aim when he's pissed it
And his alarm went off to wake him but he didn't make it to the Rap Olympics
Slept through his plane and he missed it
He's gon' have a hard time explaining to Hailie and Lainie these food stamps and this WIC shit
'Cause he never risked shit he hoped and he wished it but it didn't fall in his lap so he ain't even here
He pretends that

[Hayley Williams:]
Airplanes in the night sky like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now



All comments from YouTube:

@garywright4106

The whole point of Em's verse is not to wish for things, just go do them. Great message.

@hunor6

I just came to youtube to see if anyone highligthed this point in the comments and yours was on the top. Great! Take care man!

@justinjones3464

Just like in 8 mile when all them niggas was saying man when we do this and this and eminem character said thats "all we do is talk shit"

@jaydavid3602

Wtf are you talking about day walker??? This is a call to the fallen the jinii that picks the fraction to lead and succeed the golden wrath 🙄 theyre daemonas asking for wings or removal of the chains they want to repent for selling their souls for their achievements in the 3d ting tings

@morfe13whu16

That Guy don't think it's dreams he's following!!

@blackxxxstar

Dude it's the whole point of the ENTIRE song 🤣

104 More Replies...

@sozen3212

The way Eminem clears his throat before he gets started like "yeah, watch me kill this shit" never fails to get me.

@leonshoemark7121

He’s like “ let’s fucking end their careers “

@sleezebxllshorts4428

Bobs verse was better lol

@sleezebxllshorts4428

Don’t get my wrong this probably one of my favorite songs rn just like it was 10 years ago back then I thought em stole the song but listening back bobs verse was better flow wise em definitely had the best flows

More Comments

More Versions