Airplanes
BoB ft. Eminem & Hayley Williams Lyrics

Can we pretend that airplanes
Pretending that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars.

In the night sky
The idea of airplanes symbolizes hope.

Is like shooting stars
Comparing airplanes to shooting stars that make wishes come true.

I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Desperately in need of hope.

Let's pretend like its '98
Taking the listener back to the 90s.

Like I'm eating lunch off of Styrofoam trays
Referring to a humble beginning.

Trying to be the next rapper coming out the A
Striving to be a successful rapper out of Atlanta.

Hoping for a record deal, to re-know my pain
Wishing for a chance to share his story and pain through music.

Now let's pretend like I'm on the stage
Imagining a scenario where the artist is performing on stage.

And when my beat drops everybody goes insane (ok)
Envisioning the artist's music making an impact.

And everybody know my name (B.o.B)
The artist gains recognition and success.

And everywhere I go people wanna hear me sang
The artist's music is popular.

Oh yea and I just dropped my new album
Announcing the release and success of a new album.

On the first week I did five hundred thousand
The album sales exceeded expectations.

Gold in the spring and diamond in the fall
Achieving massive commercial success.

And then a world tour just to top it all off
Going on a world tour after achieving success.

And let's pretend like they call me the greatest
Imagining the artist being recognized as the greatest.

Selling out arenas with big ass stages
Achieving massive success in the music industry.

And everybody loved me and no one ever hated
The artist being universally loved.

Let's try to use imagination
Encouraging the listener to imagine these scenarios.

Okay, let's pretend like this never happened
Shifting the focus to a different scenario.

Like I never had dreams of being a rapper
Imagining a life where the artist never pursued music.

Like I didn't write raps in all of my classes
Imagining a life where the artist never honed his skills.

Like I never used to runaway into the blackness
Imagining the artist never sought solace through music.

Now let's pretend like it was all-good
Imagining a life where everything is going well.

Like I didn't live starring in a notebook
Imagining the artist never wrote about his life experiences.

Like I did the things I probably knew I should
Imagining the artist made different choices.

But I didn't have neighbors that's why they call it hood
Imagining a different upbringing.

Now let's pretend like I ain't got a name
Imagining the artist never found success.

Before they ever called me B.o.B or a.k.a Bobby Ray
Reflecting on the artist's pre-fame days.

I'm talking back before the mixtapes
Recalling an earlier time in the artist's career.

Before the videos and the deals and the fame
Recalling the artist's early struggles and challenges.

Before they ever once compared me to Andre
Recalling a less successful time for the artist.

Before I ever got Myspace
Reflecting on a time before social media.

Before they ever noticed my face
Imagining the artist never gained visibility.

So let's just pretend and make wishes out of airplanes
Returning to the idea of airplanes symbolizing hope.

Let's pretend Marshall Mathers never picked up a pen
Shifting focus to Eminem.

Let's pretend things would've been no different
Imagining a life where Eminem did not pursue music.

Pretend he procrastinated, had no motivation
Imagining a different outcome for Eminem.

Pretend he just made excuses that was so paper thin they could blow away wit the wind
Imagining an Eminem who made excuses.

Marshall you never gone make it
Reflecting on the possibility of Eminem not achieving success.

Makes no sense to play the game it ain't no way that'll you win
Encouraging Eminem to give up on his dreams.

Pretend he just stand out side all day and play with his friends
Imagining a different life for Eminem.

Pretend he even had a friend to say was his friend
Imagining a different social life for Eminem.

And it wasn't time to move in school no changing again
Imagining a different schooling experience for Eminem.

He wasn't socially awkward and just strange as a kid
Imagining a different personality for Eminem.

He had a father and his mother wasn't crazy as shit
Imagining a different family life for Eminem.

And he never dreamed he can ripped stadiums he just lazy as shit
Imagining an Eminem who never believed in himself.

Fuck a talent show in the gymnasium bitch
Reflecting on a past event in Eminem's life.

You won't amount to shit quit day dreaming kid
Reflecting on the possibility of Eminem not achieving success.

You need to get ya cranium check you thinking like an alien
Criticizing Eminem's thoughts and ideas.

It just ain't realistic
Criticizing Eminem's dreams.

Now pretend they ain't just make him angry with this shit
Returning to the idea of pretending.

And there was no one he could even aim when he's pissed with
Imagining a scenario where Eminem has no one to blame.

And his alarm went off to wake him but he didn't make it to the rap Olympics
Reflecting on the possibility of Eminem not achieving his goals.

He slept through his plane and he missed it
Imagining a different outcome for Eminem.

He's gonna have a hard time explaining to Haley and Laney these food stamps and W-I-C shit
Imagining a different financial situation for Eminem.

'Cause he never risked shit, he hoped and he wished it
Reflecting on the possibility of Eminem never taking risks.

But it didn't fall in his lap so he ain't even hear it he pretends that
Concluding the song with the idea of pretending and wishing upon airplanes.