Airplanes
B.o.B ft Hayley Williams & Eminem Lyrics
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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)
The song "Airplanes" is about imagining different life scenarios and wishing for something better in the present. The chorus uses a metaphor to compare airplanes to shooting stars, implying that they are temporary, fleeting and unreachable, just like many people's dreams. The singer is desperate for a wish to come true and is seeking comfort in the thought that anything could happen, even something as unlikely as an airplane becoming a shooting star. The first verse and chorus represent the singer's dream of being a successful rapper, reminiscing about his rise to fame and the adoration of his fans. The second verse and chorus talks about the reality of his situation as an artist, where he's struggling to make it big and reminiscing about his past struggles. The third verse is Eminem's rap, which deconstructs the idea of wishful thinking and calls out the illusions of dreaming big.
The song was written by B.o.B, Eminem, and Hayley Williams (Paramore). B.o.B was inspired to write the song while on a plane ride and looking out the window, seeing other airplanes flying in the night sky. The song was initially meant to be a single by B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, but Eminem was later added to the song after hearing it and wanting to be a part of it. The song went on to become a commercial and critical success, reaching the number 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and winning several awards.
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 asking if they can imagine that airplanes flying in the night sky are like shooting stars, which are believed to grant wishes. The singer expresses a desire for a wish to come true.
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 wants to imagine back to 1998 when he was a struggling rapper, eating lunch off of Styrofoam trays, hoping for a record deal to share his pain with the world.
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
The singer imagines himself performing on stage to a huge crowd and everyone loves and knows his music. He also has just released a 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
The artist's album sales were very successful, and he went on a world tour to celebrate. He imagines being called the greatest at what he does.
Selling out arenas with big ass stages
And everybody loved me and no one ever hated
Let's try to use imagination
The artist's shows were sold out and he played on big stages. In his imagined reality, everyone loved him and he had no haters. He encourages the listener to use their imagination too.
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 singer imagines a reality where he never pursued a rap career, never wrote raps, and never tried to escape into the darkness.
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
The singer imagines a reality where everything is good, he didn't write raps, but did what he was supposed to do. But he realizes that he grew up in a different environment, which is why it is called the '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
The artist imagines a reality where he is unknown, without his B.o.B or Bobby Ray identity nor fame, mixtapes or deals.
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
The artist imagines a reality where Eminem didn't make it to the rap Olympics and was pissed off with no one to blame. He also missed his plane due to oversleeping.
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
Eminem imagines life had been tough for him, and he was unable to support his daughter. He had hoped for success, but never took any risks which led to his lack of success in reality. He pretends that his daughter will not notice, so he doesn't have to face the harsh reality of his failures.
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
The singer reminisces about how the past seems like just a dream and those days are now gone, just memories.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., ME GUSTA MUSIC, 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
@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
@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 🤣
@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