According to an interview with NPR’s Mic Check, this was the second song Earl wrote for the album.
Huey
Earl Sweatshirt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We was jumping, oh fuck, I'm like quicksand in my ways
Was always stuck and I'm stuck until an ambulance came
The first time I changed fast through Los Angeles lanes
And my bitch say the spliff take the soul from me
And the clique tight-knit, it's like the 'lo rugby
Beat the fuckin beat up like it stole from me
You can talk to Clancy you need a feature, or quote from me
I'm off the lancy, I reek of reefer and show money
It's Early running with niggas, who cold running shit
The wins like lotion, he get it he go rub 'em in
Critics pretend to get it and bitches just don't fuck with him
I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother
Just grab a glass and pour up some cold white wine
And a Colt 45 in it, you know how I get it
I'm toasted myself and a toast to all my niggas
And there ain't no time limit, I'm toasted as hell
And I gotta jot it quick cause I can't focus so well
And now, a formal introduction
The lyrics of Earl Sweatshirt's song Huey touch on themes of self-doubt, substance abuse, and the pressure of success. Earl begins with the image of himself standing at the gates with one hand and foot on each side. This metaphor represents his struggle to move forward in life and the feeling of being stuck. He compares himself to quicksand, emphasizing the sticky nature of his troubles. Earl then reflects on a past experience of driving through Los Angeles at high speeds, symbolizing how quickly life can change. He deeply feels the toll of such changes and laments how his grieving for his grandmother and his substance use have taken a toll on him.
Earl's lyrics convey a sense of both urgency and resignation, as he continues to struggle with his past and the present. He showcases his commitment to his craft, highlighting the tight-knit relationship he has with his musical team. "Beat the fuckin beat up like it stole from me" suggests Earl is fiercely protective of his music and is willing to go to great lengths to ensure its success. But for all of his bravado, Earl portrays a raw vulnerability in his confession about missing his grandmother and his struggling to cope with his drug use. He recognizes the sacrifices that success demands, and the ways in which it can alienate people from us. By the end of the song, Earl raises a toast to his friends and collaborators, acknowledging that their love and care have helped him to survive when he could not do it alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Foot and hand on the gates
I was jumping over the fence and my feet and hands were on the gates for support.
We was jumping, oh fuck, I'm like quicksand in my ways
We were jumping and I felt trapped, like I couldn't move forward because of my past actions.
Was always stuck and I'm stuck until an ambulance came
I've been stuck in my ways for a while and won't change until a significant event happens - like an ambulance coming.
The first time I changed fast through Los Angeles lanes
I had a moment of clarity and was able to move quickly through the streets of LA, which was a first for me.
And my bitch say the spliff take the soul from me
My girlfriend says that smoking weed is negatively affecting my personality.
And the clique tight-knit, it's like the 'lo rugby
My group of friends is close-knit like a rugby team, and we dress similarly to the brand Polo.
Beat the fuckin beat up like it stole from me
I aggressively rap and beat the instrumental as if it had taken something from me.
You can talk to Clancy you need a feature, or quote from me
If you want my help with music, talk to my manager Clancy about getting a feature or using a quote from me.
I'm off the lancy, I reek of reefer and show money
I'm high off weed and smell like it, but I also have money from performing shows.
It's Early running with niggas, who cold running shit
I'm running with a group of guys who are successful and dominating their industries.
The wins like lotion, he get it he go rub 'em in
When we have successes, we savor them and boast about them to others.
Critics pretend to get it and bitches just don't fuck with him
Critics act like they understand me but they really don't, and some women just don't like me.
I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother
I spent the day drinking and thinking about my deceased grandmother.
Just grab a glass and pour up some cold white wine
Take a moment to relax and pour yourself a glass of chilled white wine.
And a Colt 45 in it, you know how I get it
I mix a Colt 45 malt liquor into my wine, as I often do.
I'm toasted myself and a toast to all my niggas
I'm drunk and giving a toast to all my close friends.
And there ain't no time limit, I'm toasted as hell
I can keep drinking and getting drunk for as long as I want and I'm already really drunk.
And I gotta jot it quick cause I can't focus so well
I need to write down my thoughts quickly because I'm having trouble focusing due to my drunken state.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Thebe Neruda Kgositsile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Zepeda
Foot and hand on the gates
We was jumpin' em, fuck, I'm like quicksand in my ways
Was always stuck in 'em, stuck it in and I ambulance came
The first time which aint fast if you Los Angeles raised
And my bitch say the spliff take the soul from me
And the clique tight-knit, it's like the 'lo rugby
Beat the fuckin beat up like it stole from me
You can talk to Clancy you need a feature, or quote from me
Bitch, I'm off Delancy, I reek of reefer and show money
It's Early running with niggas, who cold running shit
The wins like lotion, he get it he go rub 'em in
Critics pretend to get it and bitches just don't fuck with him
I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother
Just grab a glass and pour up some cold white wine in it
And a Colt 45 in it, you know how I get it
I'm toastin' myself and a toast to all my niggas
And there ain't no time limit, I'm toasted as hell
And I gotta jot it quick cause I can't focus so well
Osama Gall
Foot and hand on the gates
We was jumping, oh fuck, I'm like quicksand in my ways
Was always stuck and I'm stuck until an ambulance came
The first time I changed fast through Los Angeles lanes
And my bitch say the spliff take the soul from me
And the clique tight-knit, it's like the 'lo rugby
Beat the fuckin beat up like it stole from me
You can talk to Clancy you need a feature, or quote from me
I'm off the lancy, I reek of reefer and show money
It's Early running with niggas, who cold running shit
The wins like lotion, he get it he go rub 'em in
Critics pretend to get it and bitches just don't fuck with him
I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother
Just grab a glass and pour up some cold white wine
And a Colt 45 in it, you know how I get it
I'm toasted myself and a toast to all my niggas
And there ain't no time limit, I'm toasted as hell
And I gotta jot it quick cause I can't focus so well
And now, a formal introduction
The Navigator
Foot and hand on the gates
We was jumping, oh fuck, I'm like quicksand in my ways
Was always stuck and I'm stuck until an ambulance came
The first time I changed fast through Los Angeles lanes
And my bitch say the spliff take the soul from me
And the clique tight-knit, it's like the 'lo rugby
Beat the fuckin beat up like it stole from me
You can talk to Clancy you need a feature, or quote from me
I'm off the lancy, I reek of reefer and show money
It's Early running with niggas, who cold running shit
The wins like lotion, he get it he go rub 'em in
Critics pretend to get it and bitches just don't fuck with him
I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother
Just grab a glass and pour up some cold white wine
And a Colt 45 in it, you know how I get it
I'm toasted myself and a toast to all my niggas
And there ain't no time limit, I'm toasted as hell
And I gotta jot it quick cause I can't focus so well
And now, a formal introduction
PLR Dot
Foot and hand on the gates
We was jumping 'em, fuck, I'm like quicksand in my ways
Was always stuck in 'em, stuck it in and I ambulance came
The first time which ain't fast if you Los Angeles raised (nigga)
My bitch say the spliff take the soul from me (aye)
And the clique tight-knit, it's like the 'lo rugby
Beat the fucking beat up like it stole from me (yup)
You can talk to Clancy, you need a feature or quote from me (Bitch) I'm off Delancey, I reek of reefer and show money
It's Early running with niggas who cold running shit
The wins like lotion, he get 'em, he gone rub 'em in
Critics pretend to get it and bitches just don't fuck with him
I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother, just
Grab a glass and pour some cold white wine in it
A Colt .45 in it, you know how I get it
I'm toasting myself and a toast to all my niggas
And ain't no time limit, I'm toasted as hell
And I gotta jot it quick cause I can't focus so well
[Outro]
And now, a formal introduction
velvet arcade
This album aged like a fine wine. Truly a masterpiece.
Gideon
His instrumentals have over simplified recently but his lyrics are more complicated as ever.
grottopills
should've said aged like cold white wine
Poetic Da kidd
Very well said
J R
@what we doin yah more like earl mixed with solace
chfhgfgh fghfgh
aged like some cold white wine
Tuna1989
It makes me sad in "Burgundy" he says; "My grandma's passing but I'm too busy tryna get this fuckin' album cracking to see her so I apologize in advance if anything should happen" and in "Huey" he says; "I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother".
Poor Thebe.
Raffi Giandra
@47 fuck that shit depressed even more cuz i grew up mostly spent my time with my grandma
barf simpson
:( never even realized that
Mateo David Gutierrez Gonzalez
Both some of my favorite Earl songs.