The Bends
Earl Sweatshirt Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bend we don't break, we not the bank
We all we got, switch whips
Relocate way outta state
Bada bing bada bam
It's the pupper master, all the strings in my hand
Peace to my mans, gotta go be with your fam more
(For real) For real I feel like the landlord
My niggas came a long way from the Dickies and dirty JanSports
Jack of all trades, was dealing niggas a handful
Bend, we don't break, we not the bank
Got memories of your face
The photo still on the mantle
It's real when you seal up letters with wax
Shit changed, now the checks that we seein' is handsome, real
Mike WiLLy shit, we went gorilla, they really gave us the ransom
You silly, we taxed 'em, bad blood
Doing 'em dashes and pulling fast ones
Seen your heart soar, got torn up in the past once
Before a jawn, young god get the cash run
Hard hung heads might starve in the end
Young god get the cash 'fore a jawn thump
Pause wit' your man, call Mos if you can, by God (by God)
Bend, we don't break, we not the bank
Switch whips, relocate all the way out of state
Tell my queens, "Keep mace"
Keep faith, brother man




They stable full of sheep, we stayin' on the lam
Game isn't cheap

Overall Meaning

In Earl Sweatshirt's song "The Bends", he discusses the theme of resilience amidst the trials and tribulations of life. The first line "Bend we don't break, we not the bank" reflects the notion that although they may face hardships, they will persevere and withstand the trials. Earl talks about the loyalty to his friends, as they "all we got" and how they are able to progress in life by switching up their cars and moving to a different state, leaving behind their previous struggles.


Earl describes how he is the "puppet master" with the strings in his hand and how he wants to see his friends spend more time with their families. He mentions how everything he's achieved in life has not come easy, and he feels he's like a landlord, meaning he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. The second verse highlights some of the harsh realities of growing up in poverty, where his friends had to wear Dickies and dirty JanSport backpacks, yet they are still dealt with hardships. The line "Got memories of your face, the photo still on the mantle" is a reminiscence of his past and how his friends' faces were always around him wherever he went.


It's clear that "The Bends" is about the challenges that come with living in an impoverished community, but it's also about rising above it all and persevering to become successful. Earl Sweatshirt created a beautiful song with uplifting lyrics and an infectious beat, making it a perfect track to represent black excellence.


Line by Line Meaning

Bend we don't break, we not the bank
We may face pressure, but we won't fold like others. We're not at risk of going bankrupt because we keep pushing forward.


We all we got, switch whips
We only have each other, but we adapt to our ever-changing circumstances to survive.


Relocate way outta state
We move to different places to escape our current situation and find a better life.


Bada bing bada bam
Things happen quickly and unexpectedly, often resulting in a significant change of circumstances.


It's the pupper master, all the strings in my hand
I'm in control of my situation and can manipulate it to my advantage, like a puppet master controlling strings.


Peace to my mans, gotta go be with your fam more
I wish my friends the best and encourage them to spend more time with their families for support.


(For real) For real I feel like the landlord
I'm in charge and have the power over my situation and those around me.


My niggas came a long way from the Dickies and dirty JanSports
My friends and I have come a long way from humble beginnings and take pride in our progress.


Jack of all trades, was dealing niggas a handful
I have experience in many areas and used to sell a lot of different things to make ends meet, taking any opportunity to make money.


Got memories of your face
I remember the past and where I came from, even as I move forward and leave it behind.


The photo still on the mantle
I keep reminders of the past around me as a way of remembering and not forgetting where I came from.


It's real when you seal up letters with wax
When you send a letter with a wax seal, it's a permanent sign of a commitment or important message, showing the reality and significance of the words within.


Shit changed, now the checks that we seein' is handsome, real
Our lives have improved, and now we're making a lot more money.


Mike WiLLy shit, we went gorilla, they really gave us the ransom
We went all-out and achieved something great, even when no one thought we could do it.


You silly, we taxed 'em, bad blood
We may look harmless or foolish, but we know how to get what we want and deal with those who cross us.


Doing 'em dashes and pulling fast ones
We're good at being sneaky and getting away with things without getting caught.


Seen your heart soar, got torn up in the past once
I've experienced the best and worst of times, both of which have had an impact on me.


Before a jawn, young god get the cash run
Before getting into a relationship, focus on making money.


Hard hung heads might starve in the end
If you don't work hard and stay motivated, you might struggle to survive in the long run.


Young god get the cash 'fore a jawn thump
Focus on making money before getting into a relationship, because you need stability in life.


Pause wit' your man, call Mos if you can, by God (by God)
Take a moment to slow down and be with your friends. Call us if you need anything, we're here for you.


Tell my queens, "Keep mace"
Advice to his female friends to stay safe and carry pepper spray to protect themselves.


Keep faith, brother man
Stay positive and have faith in yourself and others to help you through tough times.


They stable full of sheep, we stayin' on the lam
Others may go along with the norm, but we choose to stay away from it and be independent.


Game isn't cheap
Life is hard, and we need to work hard to succeed and make a decent living.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lowrell Simon, Richard Tufo, Sage Elsesser, Thebe Kgositsile

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

@jonathanlong2751

Bend, we don't break, we not the bank
We all we got
Switch whips, relocate way out of state
Bada bing, bada bam
It's the puppet master, all of the strings in my hand
Peace to my mans, gotta go be with your fam more (For real)
For real, I feel like the landlord
My niggas came a long way from the Dickies and dirty JanSports
Jack of all trades, was dealing niggas a handful
Bend, we don't break, we not the bank
Got memories of your face
The photo still on the mantle
It's real when you seal up letters with wax
Shit changed, now the checks that we seein' is handsome, real
Mike WiLLy shit, we rangorilla, they really gave us the ransom
You silly, we taxed 'em, bad blood
Doing 'em dashes and and pulling fast ones
Seen your heart soar, got torn up in the past once
Before a jawn, young god get the cash run
Hard hung heads might starve in the end
Young god get the cash 'fore a jawn thump
Pause wit' your man, call Mos if you can, by God (By God)
Bend, we don't break, we not the bank
Switch whips, relocate all the way out of state
Tell my queens, "Keep mace"
Keep faith, brother man
They stable full of sheep, we stayin' on the lam
Game isn't cheap
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Richard Tufo / Lowrell Simon / Thebe Kgositsile / Sage Elsesser
The Bends lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Randomblackdude Publishing, Kiman Music



All comments from YouTube:

@rayjefferson2878

The vision is crazy. This album is a masterpiece

@illvidz6926

Album was well worth the wait!! GOD DAMN EARL🔥🔥🔥

@joserobles4875

More void memes thank you

@Fabian6980

This is one of those tracks that you know will end up in a video game eventually lol

@CheffQuise

iLL Vidz everytime Early man always delivers

@carltonladd1904

Im subscribed to you i didnt expect to randomly see you in this comment section

@yuteintheloops

damn i didn’t know you liked earl that’s sick

2 More Replies...

@meechy9166

This beat is nuts!!!! And Earl blessed us with every single line on this album, this track being an example!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

@LeonGotGrahams

See with Earl it’s really the subtleties that make him an outstanding musician like how he say “strings in my hands” for some reason I got goosebumps.

@user-om6tk4cp9j

Ski Mask The Trump God word, even when he said “I feel like the landlord”

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