Busdriver guested on upward of 20 singles, and by 2001 he could no longer be contained by guest spots, releasing his first full-length, Memoirs of the Elephant Man (1999). There were just as many detractors as supporters for his singular style, which was so densely packed it made his chosen name seem a reference for multiple-personality disorder, and the lo-fi production also left more listeners scratching heads than nodding them.
His next album, This Machine Kills Fashion Tips (2002), continued in a similar manner before being trumped by better production and more focused rhymes on Temporary Forever the same year. Joined by another West Coast avant-garde MC, Radioinactive, and the breezy, fractured pop of electronic producer Daedelus, Busdriver released yet another odd puzzle piece in 2003, The Weather. Fear of a Black Tangent followed on Mush in 2005. After moving to Anti-/Epitaph, the rapper issued RoadKillOvercoat, which featured production from Nobody and Boom Bip. His second Anti- release, Jhelli Beam, appeared in 2009. In 2010 he put out a full-length mixtape of unreleased gems and illegal remixes called Computer Cooties. It was released as a free album. 2010 saw Bus toiling over a new album that will shock fans and confuse the unconverted into unwilling servitude. It is called Beaus$Eros and was released on February 21, 2012 on Fake Four. Beaus$Eros forgoes the lightening-speed rhyming that defined his style in favor of a diverse, off-kilter brand of pop and post-hip-hop.
Beaus & Eros
Busdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I know everything
All the time, absolutely
And you knew this when you fell in love with what was left of me
So let's give it another shot, young missy
Come on)
I must think I'm some
Saving you from
Your awkward years
Gaping holes look like diamond mines
Through the ethos of a young man's dying mind
Ooh, I don't know the way
Ooh, I'm just in the way
Parting your patterned shirt
Setting off the amber alert
And leap from your brow into
A heat-distorted me
Beaus and eros, beaus and eros
Yeah
Commit my body to the undergrowth
Cause life as I knew it has gone up in a puff of smoke
We embroidered clouds with pillow talk and thunderbolts
Broke child labor laws putting in work as young adults
Now you catch feelings, I catch planes
To avoid any meaningful exchange
My embrace is the icy grip of a mortician's
Speed dating with me, you scream out "Abort Mission"
(x2) Ooh, I don't know the way
Ooh, I'm just in the way
Parting your patterned shirt
Setting off the amber alert
And leap from your brow into
A heat-distorted me
Ooh, I don't know the way
Ooh, I'm just in the way
Parting your patterned shirt
Setting off the amber alert
"Beaus & Eros" is a song by Busdriver that conveys a sense of cynicism and detachment towards romance. The lyrics revolve around an individual who has lost faith in love and believes they know everything, while also acknowledging that the relationship they are in might still be salvageable. The opening lines of the song, "I won't listen, because I know everything all the time, absolutely," set the tone for this detached perspective. The singer seems to lack emotional depth and relies on intellectual superiority. However, this mindset is ironically juxtaposed with the attempt to kindle a relationship by saying, "let's give it another shot, young missy. Come on."
The song also touches upon the singer's role in the relationship, portraying them as a savior who is saving their lover from their "awkward years." However, this superiority soon gives way to insecurity as the singer is aware of their flawed self and is lost in the relationship. Busdriver's song highlights the difficult aspect of relationships where people feel inadequate and lost while trying to navigate the complicated emotions involved.
The chorus, "Beaus and eros, beaus and eros, yeah," is a play on words. "Beaus" refers to a male admirer or lover, while "eros" is often used to mean love or sexual desire. The use of the word "eros" could also allude to the Greek god of love, who was sometimes depicted as a mischievous child.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't listen
I am closed off to other perspectives or ideas
Because I know everything
I believe I have complete understanding and knowledge
All the time, absolutely
My understanding and knowledge is always correct and unwavering
And you knew this when you fell in love with what was left of me
You were aware of my flaws and limitations when you fell in love with me
So let's give it another shot, young missy
Let's try to make it work again, girl
I must think I'm some
I have an inflated sense of self-importance
Sort of Rocketeer
Like some superhero
Saving you from
Protecting you from
Your awkward years
A time of discomfort and unfamiliarity
Gaping holes look like diamond mines
Despite significant deficiencies, I perceive something valuable and rare
Through the ethos of a young man's dying mind
My perception is shaped by a naive and immature worldview
Commit my body to the undergrowth
Give up on my former self and allow it to deteriorate
Cause life as I knew it has gone up in a puff of smoke
My life has drastically changed and is unrecognizable
We embroidered clouds with pillow talk and thunderbolts
We romanticized or embellished our conversations and experiences
Broke child labor laws putting in work as young adults
We worked excessively hard in our youth, potentially sacrificing our well-being
Now you catch feelings, I catch planes
You develop strong emotions, whereas I try to avoid emotional attachment
To avoid any meaningful exchange
I seek to evade genuine connections or interactions with others
My embrace is the icy grip of a mortician's
My embrace lacks warmth or emotion
Speed dating with me, you scream out "Abort Mission"
Dating me is undesirable and ends quickly
Beaus and eros, beaus and eros
A reference to romantic relationships
Ooh, I don't know the way
I lack direction or purpose
Ooh, I'm just in the way
I feel like I am obstructing others
Parting your patterned shirt
Revealing something hidden or protected
Setting off the amber alert
Triggering a warning or alarm
And leap from your brow into
Moving from one state to another
A heat-distorted me
A distorted, unclear version of myself
Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
epicfrog
everybody goes through changes and musicians (rappers included) like to mix things up from time to time, it's a creative process. personally, i like that he's adding more melody with his voice as opposed to just spitting out lyrics 100 mph on every song. he's a true artist in every sense.
ZXC77777
@icecrem34 It really is a strange release, and his style's made quite the metamorphosis. I'm not sure just how I think about this album yet...
kentucky nightmare
I do really like his old stuff but this is a different sound and is still unique and fresh. Very good busdriver. Ivreally hope I get to see him live sometime.
SgtRorek
as much as cool as this is.....I miss old Busdriver this sounds like he's trying to be too pop! :(
Kyle Skinner
what his new art doesn't have commonality with his old... GO_oD cuz when an artist normally tries to replicate what they previously put out it ends up being worse than if they had tried something different... and who knows it could even mean a sign of growth
epicfrog
you might as well write off anything he does in the future, as well, because he's evolving his sound more and more and not everyone is going to like it.
epicfrog
@icecrem34 check out Flash Bang Grenada
martin joseph
where is the rap? im probably the biggest fan you will ever meet but i do not like this album so far he barely actualy raps and when he does the beat is too loud to hear his lyrics.