Old Friend
Earl Sweatshirt Lyrics


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Mmh-mh, uh

Strong spirit where the body couldn't get asylum
The cost of living high, don't cross the picket line and get the virus
Wild cat has got 'em in a bind, stay inside
Know I came from out the thicket smilin'
Mad hatters cappin' every line, it doesn't matter to the ten of five
They start hackin' when they can't shrink us
I found the middle in a bit of balance
Fever in the cabin
I knew where we was headed
I ain't countin' no blessings, I sure as shit could measure
Blinkin' for some feasible methods to free yourself
Split it with my hand like Cigarills
Slick oil in a fish gill
I fill a void with the pen, feel the fear, shrill
Couple stains that I couldn't shield
My brother, Brain, that we couldn't shield
Couple came, couple wins still
And what remain of the wolves' meal
I held the page, gave the book ears




Whispered, "Thanks" hella pain, heavy brain in the Catskills
Played the shade, quite a deal, glad we stayed friends

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Earl Sweatshirt's song "Old Friend" address a few different themes, including mortality, the cost of living, and the difficulty of finding balance in life. The opening lines "Strong spirit where the body couldn't get asylum" suggest that the singer is aware of their own mortality, and that their spirit will outlast their physical body. They go on to caution against crossing picket lines and catching the virus, which could be interpreted as a warning against taking unnecessary risks or not respecting the power of collective action to protect oneself.


The lines "I found the middle in a bit of balance / Fever in the cabin / I knew where we was headed" suggest that the singer has struggled to find balance in their life but has found a way to navigate their challenges. The phrase "fever in the cabin" could be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling trapped or stuck in a confined space, which can be both uncomfortable and dangerous. The singer may be acknowledging the challenges of their environment or social status, but also expressing gratitude for their ability to persevere and maintain their relationships.


The final lines "Played the shade, quite a deal, glad we stayed friends" suggest that the singer has weathered many challenges and tribulations in their life, but is ultimately grateful for the friendships and relationships that have sustained them through difficult times. The recurring theme of finding balance in life and maintaining close relationships in the face of adversity makes Earl Sweatshirt's "Old Friend" a poignant meditation on the human experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Strong spirit where the body couldn't get asylum
Despite facing difficult circumstances in life, Earl Sweatshirt remains strong and resilient due to his inner strength.


The cost of living high, don't cross the picket line and get the virus
Living in poverty can be challenging and Earl Sweatshirt warns not to cross boundaries that could have negative consequences.


Wild cat has got 'em in a bind, stay inside
Earl Sweatshirt looks out for his friends by advising them to stay safe and cautious during difficult times.


Know I came from out the thicket smilin'
Despite facing hardships in life, Earl Sweatshirt has remained positive by keeping a smile on his face and holding his head high.


Mad hatters cappin' every line, it doesn't matter to the ten of five
People will always try to bring Earl Sweatshirt down through their words and actions, but he knows that their negativity won’t have an impact in the long run.


They start hackin' when they can't shrink us
Earl Sweatshirt recognizes that people who don't want to see others succeeding will try to tear them down, but he won’t let that affect him.


I found the middle in a bit of balance
Earl Sweatshirt has found balance in his life that allows him to focus on the things that matter and not be distracted by outside influences.


Fever in the cabin
Earl Sweatshirt is feeling sick and trapped, possibly both physically and emotionally.


I knew where we was headed
Earl Sweatshirt has a good sense of direction in life and knows where he wants to go.


I ain't countin' no blessings, I sure as shit could measure
Earl Sweatshirt acknowledges that he is fortunate in some ways, but doesn't want to take his blessings for granted by relying on them too much.


Blinkin' for some feasible methods to free yourself
Earl Sweatshirt is always trying to find a way to improve his situation and free himself from any limitations or obstacles.


Split it with my hand like Cigarills
Earl Sweatshirt is making something happen himself, like rolling a cigarillo with his own hands.


Slick oil in a fish gill
Earl Sweatshirt is using something subtle, but effective to achieve his goals, like oil in a fish gill to help it swim faster.


I fill a void with the pen, feel the fear, shrill
Earl Sweatshirt uses writing as a way to express himself and cope with his fears and anxieties.


Couple stains that I couldn't shield
Earl Sweatshirt has made mistakes in the past that he couldn't avoid or hide from.


My brother, Brain, that we couldn't shield
Earl Sweatshirt and his brother had to face a difficult situation that they couldn't protect themselves from, possibly alluding to his brother’s mental health issues.


Couple came, couple wins still
Despite facing setbacks, Earl Sweatshirt has had some victories in his life.


And what remain of the wolves' meal
Earl Sweatshirt acknowledges the harsh reality of life that some people win, and some people lose, alluding to a metaphorical “wolf’s meal” that remains after the predators have eaten.


I held the page, gave the book ears
Earl Sweatshirt took the time to listen and understand the stories and experiences of others by reading and learning from books.


Whispered, 'Thanks' hella pain, heavy brain in the Catskills
Earl Sweatshirt is expressing gratitude despite dealing with emotional and mental pain while in upstate New York.


Played the shade, quite a deal, glad we stayed friends
Despite dealing with difficult circumstances, Earl Sweatshirt is grateful for the support of his friends and the fact that they have remained close.




Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: Alan Maman, Thebe Kgositsile

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@joshy3747

Lyrics:
Strong spirit where the body couldn't get asylum
The cost of living high, don't cross the picket line and get the virus
Wild cat has got 'em in a bind, stay inside
Know I came from out the thicket smilin'
Mad hatters cappin' every line, it doesn't matter to the ten of five
They start hackin' when they can't shrink us
I found the middle in a bit of balance
Fever in the cabin
I knew where we was headed
I ain't countin' no blessings, I sure as shit could measurе
Blinkin' for some feasible mеthods to free yourself
Split it with my hand like Cigarills
Slick oil in a fish gill
I fill a void with the pen, feel the fear, shrill
Couple stains that I couldn't shield
My brother, Brain, that we couldn't shield
Couple came, couple went still
And what remain of the wolves meal
I held the page, gave the book ears
Whispered "Thanks", hella pain, heavy rain in the CAT scales
Played the shade, quite a deal, glad we stayed friends



All comments from YouTube:

@sibusiso2841

Earl raps like when Neo from the matrix was fighting at lighting speeds with a bored face. Going hard but with a relaxed demeanor....he know what he doing

@calzone5538

couldn’t have said it better

@alphamale3643

AKA - Xanax

@sonicolebruh5181

Yess🤌🏾🤌🏾🤌🏾🤌🏾

@A_NEGA

tru

@wormsali

That's too accurate

18 More Replies...

@marlonbinns4599

That old earl flow with even better production, couldn’t have asked for better thank you Earl ❤️

@budswayzeniger3473

PLAY EAST

@yystirfry5435

This is not and old earl flow tho.

@dylanmurphy6894

This is the flow he’s been using since SRS

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