He formed Gnarls Barkley with Cee Lo Green and produced their albums St. Elsewhere and The Odd Couple. He produced the second Gorillaz album, 2005's Demon Days, as well as The Black Keys' acclaimed Attack & Release and Beck's 2008 record, Modern Guilt. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Producer of the Year category. In addition, Burton worked with rapper MF DOOM as DANGERDOOM, and released the albums The Mouse and the Mask and Occult Hymn.
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse present Dark Night of the Soul is his collaboration with Sparklehorse, David Lynch and a diverse cast of vocalists.
Broken Bells (formed in 2009) is his collaboration with James Mercer of the shins.
Because
Danger Mouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because you better not stay, you better not stay
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Because this love is so non-desirable, oh
I'm from where too many lives twenty-five years or fewer
Nothing we receive is brand new, it's just newer
While brothers drop down to their knees and make dua
The next American hangman sketched in crayon
Gangland all a façade that you can spray on
Killin' birds with one stone is what we stay on
Wingspan never too wide for you to fray on
The ways never cease to amaze or inspire
Illiterate, the signatures been forged in fire
Broken spirit, some assembly required
It confirmed the door of no return at Elmina
Screamin' into the ocean for emotional support
We never won awards, we was boards of the court
Puttin' swords to umbilical cords to cut 'em short
Translation, vacation is at a last resort
Because it's hard to find your love, I found, though
Because this love is so non-desirable, oh
We took shoestrings, lemon drops and chips from the deli
Knocked 'em out the box with spinner tops and skelly
"Do it, you'll get to it," what Mr. Womack would tell me
I was locked, my celly read Niccolo Machiavelli
This inheritance was negative, beverage is the devil's piss
State's evidence, give us anything instead of this drama
In the mirror like Yayoi Kusama
Had me turn into Muhammad, to Buddha, to Dalai Lama
If I would snatch a shoulder bag from somebody mama
Am I cancerous? Can't discuss what the short answer was
Hungriest ones take the money and run
Sometimes simultaneously taking one of your lungs
What I mean is, I've seen everything that's under the sun
Niggas below the poverty line live under the gun
We all schemin', savages ain't vegan, what the fuck is love?
Don't need a reason to die, we die just because
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Because you better not stay, you better not stay
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Because this love is so non-desirable, oh (uh)
I was on thirty-four cruisin' through Medina
I was just a Neo 'fore I had the nina
I had the snapback with the t-shirt
Practicin' my ollie, I could hardly get my feet up
Had to hit the staircase just to roll the reefer, uh
Now I'm smokin' big Cohibas out in Costa Rica like Portofino
Havin' flashbacks of niggas gettin' clapped at in front the cleaners
On 34th Street, until this day it haunts me
It's why I had to move raunchy
I know killers in Marcy, so please don't taunt me
I spent some summer times in Canarsie
Me and Quan gettin' stopped and frisked by Hutch and Starsky
They was lookin' for hard drugs an' armory
Mama told me not to let that shit bother me
Poppa said to move cautiously
So the streets would never father me
But you don't know that part of me
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Because this love is so non-desirable, oh (yeah)
Yeah
My girl told me I should watch my tongue
My skin gets red too easy
She don't wanna change her name like Washington
Wonders where I got it from
My parents' marriage was a toxic one
Mmm, oh well, I'm 'bout to cop a gun
Hope I get to use it, it'll help blow up the music
I know somethin' slightly off with me, drama is therapeutic
Ego hates feeling futile, sometime I move without scruples
Like havin' Mrs. Perfect with me and still chasin' approval
From other women, I'm a glutton, I can't run from who I become
Dad's around the corner, haven't seen him in like three months
We don't speak much, I don't handle balance well, got a fragile shell
My money split the king and queen up, then the castle fell
The tension in the air is still crisp
Sometimes I wish this game was over like I'm Lil' Flip (Flip)
Sometimes I'm wishing that my brain came with a kill switch
I don't vacation, dawg, I guilt trip, real shit, yeah
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Because you better not stay, you better not stay
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Because this love is so non-desirable, oh
The song "Because" by Danger Mouse and Black Thought is a deep and introspective reflection on life and love. Throughout the song, the lyrics touch on themes of struggle, hardship, and perseverance. The repeated phrase "Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though" speaks to the idea that love is something that can be difficult to attain but is ultimately worth fighting for. The repeated line "Because this love is so non-desirable, oh" suggests that even when love is hard to come by, it is still desirable and necessary for creating meaningful connections in life.
The verses in the song paint vivid pictures of life in the inner city, including vivid descriptions of poverty, violence, and struggle. The lines "We all schemin', savages ain't vegan, what the fuck is love?/ Don't need a reason to die, we die just because" speak to the sense of hopelessness that can pervade life in the inner city, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in such circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Because it's hard to find your love, I found it, though
Despite the difficulty of finding love, I managed to find it
Because you better not stay, you better not stay
It is advised that you leave, you should not stay
Because this love is so non-desirable, oh
This love is not desirable
I'm from where too many lives twenty-five years or fewer
I come from a place where too many people die before the age of 25
Nothing we receive is brand new, it's just newer
Everything we receive is not brand new, just slightly newer
While brothers drop down to their knees and make dua
Men around me pray to a higher power
Popsicle sticks race down the curb into a sewer
Children play with popsicle sticks and race them towards a sewer
The next American hangman sketched in crayon
A future killer is being imagined and drawn in crayon
Gangland all a façade that you can spray on
Gang life is not always as it appears, it can be easily faked
Killin' birds with one stone is what we stay on
We try to accomplish multiple goals with one action
Wingspan never too wide for you to fray on
Success is possible for anyone, regardless of their background
The ways never cease to amaze or inspire
The ways of the world never cease to amaze or inspire me
Illiterate, the signatures been forged in fire
Even though I am illiterate, I have forged my name in difficult circumstances
Broken spirit, some assembly required
My spirit is broken, but it can be fixed with some effort
It confirmed the door of no return at Elmina
I realized that I cannot go back to where I came from
Screamin' into the ocean for emotional support
I am screaming my troubles into the ocean, seeking emotional support
We never won awards, we was boards of the court
We never achieved great things, but we played basketball
Puttin' swords to umbilical cords to cut 'em short
We are cutting off ties with our own family members
Translation, vacation is at a last resort
The only way we can take a vacation is as a last resort
We took shoestrings, lemon drops and chips from the deli
We stole shoestrings, lemon drops, and chips from the deli
Knocked 'em out the box with spinner tops and skelly
We played games like spinning tops and skelly
"Do it, you'll get to it," what Mr. Womack would tell me
Mr. Womack would encourage me to take action and get things done
I was locked, my celly read Niccolo Machiavelli
While in prison, I read Niccolo Machiavelli's books
This inheritance was negative, beverage is the devil's piss
My inheritance was negative and alcohol is evil
State's evidence, give us anything instead of this drama
Instead of the drama, we would rather cooperate with the authorities
In the mirror like Yayoi Kusama
I am looking at myself in the mirror like Yayoi Kusama's artwork
Had me turn into Muhammad, to Buddha, to Dalai Lama
I have turned to different religious figures for guidance
If I would snatch a shoulder bag from somebody mama
If I were to steal from someone's mother
Am I cancerous? Can't discuss what the short answer was
Am I toxic? I cannot confirm that, but the answer may be yes
Hungriest ones take the money and run
The most desperate people take money and flee
Sometimes simultaneously taking one of your lungs
At times, they may take more than just your money
What I mean is, I've seen everything that's under the sun
I've witnessed everything one could ever see
Niggas below the poverty line live under the gun
People living in poverty are always in danger
We all schemin', savages ain't vegan, what the fuck is love?
We are all plotting, even the most savage among us, and love is undefined
Don't need a reason to die, we die just because
Death can happen for no reason at all
I was on thirty-four cruisin' through Medina
I was driving through Medina on 34th street
I was just a Neo 'fore I had the nina
I was like Neo from 'The Matrix' before I had a gun
I had the snapback with the t-shirt
I dressed casually with a snapback and a t-shirt
Practicin' my ollie, I could hardly get my feet up
I was practicing skateboarding, but had trouble getting my feet up
Had to hit the staircase just to roll the reefer, uh
I had to climb stairs to a rooftop to smoke weed
Now I'm smokin' big Cohibas out in Costa Rica like Portofino
Now I'm smoking expensive cigars in Costa Rica like a millionaire
Havin' flashbacks of niggas gettin' clapped at in front the cleaners
Remembering people being shot in front of the cleaners
On 34th Street, until this day it haunts me
I am haunted by events that took place on 34th street
It's why I had to move raunchy
It's why I had to be careful and move aggressively
I know killers in Marcy, so please don't taunt me
I know dangerous people in Marcy, so please don't provoke me
I spent some summer times in Canarsie
I lived in Canarsie for a few summers
Me and Quan gettin' stopped and frisked by Hutch and Starsky
Me and Quan were stopped and searched by the police
They was lookin' for hard drugs an' armory
They were looking for drugs and weapons
Mama told me not to let that shit bother me
My mother advised me not to let it affect me
Poppa said to move cautiously
My father advised me to be careful
So the streets would never father me
So I wouldn't be raised by the streets
But you don't know that part of me
You don't know this side of me
My girl told me I should watch my tongue
My girlfriend told me to be careful what I say
My skin gets red too easy
My skin is sensitive and turns red easily
She don't wanna change her name like Washington
She doesn't want to get married and change her last name
Wonders where I got it from
She is curious about where I got certain traits from
My parents' marriage was a toxic one
My parents had a bad, unhealthy marriage
Mmm, oh well, I'm 'bout to cop a gun
I don't care, I'm going to buy a gun
Hope I get to use it, it'll help blow up the music
I hope I don't have to use it, but if I do, it will make me famous
I know somethin' slightly off with me, drama is therapeutic
I know there is something different about me, and drama helps me feel better
Ego hates feeling futile, sometime I move without scruples
I don't like feeling powerless, so sometimes I make bad decisions
Like havin' Mrs. Perfect with me and still chasin' approval
Even though I have a perfect partner, I still seek the approval of others
From other women, I'm a glutton, I can't run from who I become
I can't resist other women, I can't avoid who I am
Dad's around the corner, haven't seen him in like three months
My father lives nearby, but I haven't seen him in a while
We don't speak much, I don't handle balance well, got a fragile shell
We don't talk much, I struggle with finding balance, and I am sensitive
My money split the king and queen up, then the castle fell
My money caused a fight between a couple, leading to their downfall
The tension in the air is still crisp
Tension still lingers in the air
Sometimes I wish this game was over like I'm Lil' Flip (Flip)
Sometimes I wish this life was over, like the rapper Lil' Flip
Sometimes I'm wishing that my brain came with a kill switch
Sometimes I wish I could turn my brain off
I don't vacation, dawg, I guilt trip, real shit, yeah
I don't take vacations, instead I feel guilty, it's the truth
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Brian Burton, Dorian Burton, Dylan Cartlidge, Herman Kelly, Jo-Vaughn Scott, Russell Vitale, Tarik Trotter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@XanderBOnTV
This is the best album of the year hands down. Incredible.
@SwizzleStickMcGee
For real.
@devilish8130
Its in competition with like 3 other albums for me lol
@SwizzleStickMcGee
@Devilish I love Black Thought...but this album doesn't even come CLOSE to "Electric Relaxation" from A Tribe Called Quest.
I hope that's one of the albums on your list (and I agree, there's def a couple others)
@daddydidnt9700
It's definitely up there
@98q
@SwizzleStickMcGee First, Electric Relaxation is not from this year
Second, Electric Relaxation is not even an album!
@MrLykwidswordz420
This album is amazing.
⚠️ 🐁 + ⬛ 🧠 = Masterpiece
@CheeksOfButt
Caution Rat and Dark Mind equals Masterpiece?!?!!
@h.furkanerdur8287
@Andrew jahdhahag
@pherm1056
+ Joey Bada$$, MF DOOM, Raekwon, RTJ, A$AP Rocky, Kid Sister, Conway The Machine, etc. Not only did Black Thought and Danger Mouse murder this, the features were incredible.