Daniel Caesar’s first chapter unfolded in a suburb of Toronto, where he was… Read Full Bio ↴Daniel Caesar’s first chapter unfolded in a suburb of Toronto, where he was born to Bajan and Jamaican parents and raised listening to soul and gospel music while singing in front of his father’s church congregation. The singer and songwriter left home at 17 to pursue his calling as a musical artist. Caesar independently released his first two EPs, Praise Break (2014) and Pilgrim’s Paradise (2017), to widespread praise—the first of which landed at #19 on Rolling Stone’s list of “20 Best R&B Albums of 2014.” However, it was his 2017 debut album, Freudian, that marked him as one of this generation’s most exciting artists to watch—the album went on to be nominated for two GRAMMY Awards (“Best R&B Album” and “Best R&B Performance” for “Get You”), and the following year, Caesar took home the award for “Best R&B Performance” for his breakout hit, “Best Part.” The GRAMMY Award-winning and Juno Award-winning artist soon followed this early success with his critically acclaimed sophomore album, Case Study 01 (2019), and most recently his multi-platinum, worldwide hit, “Peaches” with Justin Bieber and Giveon (2021). Amassing over 5 billion streams across his catalogue and over 31 million monthly listeners, Caesar currently ranked the 79th “Most Listened To Artist in the World” and top 10 “Most Streamed Canadian Artists of All Time” on Spotify. Now, Daniel Caesar gears up for his next chapter, as he continues to redefine what R&B can be, while quietly overtaking the mainstream.

Japanese Denim
Daniel Caesar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't stand in line, I don't pay for clubs, fuck that, yeah
But I'll wait for you
I don't like to drink, I don't like to think, fuck that, oh-oh
But I ponder you, oh
I'm bending it over
You're my four-leaf clover
I'm so in love, so in love
There's no one above, up above

Forever's a long time, yes

My blue jeans
Will last me all my life
Oh, yes
So should we
I'm spending all, yeah, this time
Oh

Met you at the shop, sun was gettin' hot, I'm lonely (lonely), yeah (yeah)
I'm in the city on my own (city on my own)
Never would've thought you'd be the one, I got a homie (oh)
But that's the way it goes (that's the way it goes)
I'm reaching nirvana (I'm reaching nirvana)
Goodbye sweet Rwanda (goodbye sweet Rwanda)
High school was never for me (high school was never for me), yeah
I say let it be, let it be (oh)
Forever's a long time (a long time), yeah

My blue jeans
Will last me all my life
Oh, yes
So should we
I'm spending all this time

You don't even know me
You don't even know me, yes
I'm hanging from the tree
I'm hanging from the tree

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Japanese Denim" by Daniel Caesar are both simple and complex at the same time. The song is a soulful ballad about the struggles of love and the desire to be with someone you adore, even though you may not fit into their world. The opening lines of the song, "I don't stand in line, I don't pay for clubs, fuck that, yeah / But I'll wait for you" suggests a sense of self-importance and individuality. The singer is not going to conform to societal norms, but they will go out of their way for someone they care about.

The next lines, "I don't like to drink, I don't like to think, fuck that, oh-oh / But I ponder you, oh" further convey the singer's attitude towards mainstream and typical behaviors. However, despite this detachment, they find themselves falling deeply in love with someone, represented by the lyrics, "I'm bending it over / You're my four-leaf clover / I'm so in love, so in love / There's no one above, up above / Forever's a long time, yes". The repetition of "I'm so in love" emphasizes the intensity of their feelings and the determination to make it work despite the difficulties.

The chorus, "My blue jeans / Will last me all my life / Oh, yes / So should we / I'm spending all, yeah, this time / Oh", is a clever metaphor for the durability of love. Blue jeans are known for their strength and longevity, and the singer suggests that their love will last just as long. The line "So should we" indicates the desire to build a lasting relationship and to spend all their time with their love interest. The final section of the song, "You don't even know me / You don't even know me, yes / I'm hanging from the tree / I'm hanging from the tree" adds a hint of darkness to the song, suggesting that the singer is desperate and hanging on to their love despite the obstacles.

Overall, "Japanese Denim" is a deep and heartfelt song about the trials and tribulations of love, showcasing Daniel Caesar's soulful voice and lyrical aptitude.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't stand in line, I don't pay for clubs, fuck that, yeah
I don't conform to societal norms and expectations, but for you, I'll make an exception and wait in line.

But I'll wait for you
I'm willing to be patient for you.

I don't like to drink, I don't like to think, fuck that, oh-oh
I'm not interested in vices, but I'm constantly thinking of you.

But I ponder you, oh
You're always on my mind.

I'm bending it over
I'm putting in the effort for you.

You're my four-leaf clover
You're my good luck charm.

I'm so in love, so in love
I'm deeply in love.

There's no one above, up above
No one else compares to you.

Forever's a long time, yes
I'm willing to commit to you for the long haul.

My blue jeans
My favorite pair of jeans.

Will last me all my life
They're durable and will stay with me forever.

So should we
Our love should be just as long-lasting.

I'm spending all, yeah, this time
I'm investing all my emotions and energy into this relationship.

Met you at the shop, sun was gettin' hot, I'm lonely (lonely), yeah (yeah)
I've met you by chance after feeling lonely and lost.

I'm in the city on my own (city on my own)
I'm navigating life alone without you.

Never would've thought you'd be the one, I got a homie (oh)
I never expected to fall in love with you when I already had a friend in you.

But that's the way it goes (that's the way it goes)
That's just how life turns out sometimes.

I'm reaching nirvana (I'm reaching nirvana)
Being with you feels like reaching a state of bliss.

Goodbye sweet Rwanda (goodbye sweet Rwanda)
Saying goodbye to my past and embracing a new future with you.

High school was never for me (high school was never for me), yeah
I never felt like I belonged in high school.

I say let it be, let it be (oh)
I'm taking things as they come and living in the moment.

You don't even know me
You might not fully understand who I am beyond the surface level.

You don't even know me, yes
Even if you don't fully know me, I'm still drawn to you.

I'm hanging from the tree
My emotions are all over the place and I feel unstable.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
A musical addition to the song.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Another musical addition to the song.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexander Sowinski, Ashton Simmonds, Chester Hansen, Ian Culley, Jordan D. C. Evans, Leland Whitty, Matthew Tavares, Matthew Raymond Burnett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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