Cinderella Man
Eminem Lyrics

Yeah
Acknowledgement of the current situation

You know, technically
Introduction to the thought that the singer shouldn't be here

I'm not even really supposed to be here right now
Admission that the singer has succeeded against the odds

So fuck it
Determination to make the most of the situation

Might as well make the most of it
Commitment to taking advantage of the opportunity

(Amen) yeah
Expression of gratitude and approval for the situation

(Amen) feels good
Feeling of pleasure at success

(Amen) woo
Excitement and enthusiasm for what's to come

(Amen) guess I'm lucky
Acknowledgement of good fortune

(Amen) some of us don't get a second chance
Recognition of the rarity of the opportunity

(Amen) but I ain't blowin' this one
Determination to succeed

(Amen) nah, man
Reassurance and confidence

(Amen) shit, I feel like I can do anything now
Feeling of empowerment and confidence

Who can catch lightin' in a bottle, set fire to water
Reference to the difficulty of the singer's task

Comin' out the nozzle on a fire hose, flyer than swatters
Comparison of the singer's skills to the power of a fire hose

Cinderella Man, Cinderella Man
Referring to the artist's Cinderella-like success

Smash an hourglass, grab the sand, takes his hands and cup 'em
Seizing opportunity before time runs out

Spin a rhyme to freeze the clock, take the hands of time and cuff 'em
Using creativity to control time and take advantage of the moment

There's a storm comin' that the weatherman couldn't predict
Reference to the uncertainty and unpredictability of the future

I start to bug, prick, you better flee 'cause I get ticked
Warning to competitors that the artist is intense and competitive

It's a wrap, I was down, when I was down I was kicked
Acknowledgement of past struggles and difficulties

I got up, I'm back to punch you to the ground, you trick
Determination to overcome opposition and succeed

It's a trap, fuck my last CD, that shit's in my trash
Disregard for past failures and a focus on current success

I'll be God-damned if another rapper gets in my ass
Determination to maintain success and not let others bring the artist down

I hit the gas and I spit every rap as if it's my last
Giving it all in each performance and not holding back

You can die in the blink of an eye, so bat your eyelashes
Reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of seizing every moment

And keep winkin' and blowin' kisses 'cause you're flirtin' with death
Warning to others that ignoring the importance of the moment can be dangerous

I'm destroyin' your livelihood, I ain't just hurtin' your rep
Impact of the artist's success on competitors and their careers

I catch a flow and get goin', no remorse I'm showin', ain't slowin' for no one
Commitment to success and lack of hesitation or regret in pursuing it

Knowin' there's nothin' you can do about it
Acknowledgement of the opposition's inability to stop the singer's success

Zero in on the target like a marksman, the target is you
Focus and precision in achieving one's goals, with competitors as the target

I shut your lane down, took your spot, parked in it too
Domination and taking control of one's competition

Arsenic flow, lighter fluid saliva, what can you do?
Comparison of the artist's lethal ability with words to poison and fire

Go get your crew to hype you up, stand behind you like, "Woo"
Reference to the futility of relying on others for support and motivation

That boy's hot enough to melt hell, burn Satan too
Comparison of the singer's talent and skill to fire and heat

Fry his ass and put his ashes back together with glue
Hyperbolic expression of the artist's ability to succeed and triumph over competition

So you can hate him, he don't blame you, frankly, he would too
Understanding and accepting that competitors may resent the singer's success

This game could ill afford to lose him, 'how 'bout you?
Acknowledgement of the singer's importance and significance in the music industry

Now guess who (hey), here's a clue (hey)
Asserting dominance and challenging competitors to guess the identity of the singer

He came to the ball in his wife-beater, lost his Nike shoe
Imagery of the artist's unconventional and casual appearance

It's in your ass (hey), he's in your ass
Positioning the artist as having control and dominance over competitors

He's all up in your psyche too (hey)
Reference to the singer's impact and influence on competitors' thinking

Now, what's his name? (Hey)
Challenge to competitors to recognize the singer's dominance and success

Cinderella Man
Reference to the artist's improbable and successful trajectory

Cinderella (hey, hey)
Repetition of the title, emphasizing the artist's success and dominance

Cinderella Man (hey)
Further repetition of the title, emphasizing the artist's success and dominance

Hey, hey (hey, hey)
Reinforcing the theme and title of the song

If I had a time machine
Unrealistic hypothetical scenario

I'd be
Introduction to the singer's imaginative response

Music is my time machine
Statement about the power of music to transport the listener

So call me
Request to be referred to in a certain way

Fuck catchin' lightnin', he struck it, screamed, "Shut up" at thunder
Hyperbolic expression of the artist's success and power

Then flipped the world upside down and made it rain upward
More imagery of the artist's successful impact and influence on the world

Rewound the future to the present, paused it, don't ask how
Hyperbolic expression of the singer's control over time and space

Fuck the past, motherfucker, he's the shit right now
Disregard for past failures and a focus on current success

He's Cinderella Man, Cinderella Man
Repetition of the title, emphasizing the artist's success and dominance

Cinderella Man, Cinderfella Shady Dane
Reference to the artist's pseudonym

Came to wrap the game up in cellophane
Determination to succeed and dominate the music industry

Raise hell, from Hell he came
Hyperbolic expression of the singer's determination and impact

I didn't come to bore you with a Cinderella story
Asserting that the artist's success is not a typical or boring tale

Nor did he come to do the same-old, can't afford to be a lame-o
Commitment to innovation and avoiding complacency

In this day and age, and at this stage of the game
Recognition of the current reality of the music industry

Mediocrity can no longer be allowed to fly
Rejecting mediocrity and demanding excellence

So say bye to the old, H-I to the new, que será
Embracing change and the uncertainty that comes with it

Consider it his last hurrah, the coup de grâce
Acknowledgement of the artist's imminent impact and final triumph

Raise 'em high in the sky, keep 'em up
Celebrating and encouraging the audience's enthusiasm

Time to bring the place alive
Encouraging the audience to engage and participate in the performance

Thanks for bein' patient, I won't make no more mistakes, shit, my
Acknowledgement of the artist's past mistakes and commitment to improving

Potato's baked, homie, the veggies on my plate can fly
Imagery of the artist's unconventional yet successful approach

My filet is smokin' weed, yeah, faggot, the stakes are high
More imagery of the artist's unconventional yet successful approach

Shit, I ain't even supposed to be here by the grace of God
Acknowledgement of the singer's improbable success

The skin on my teeth and a hair on my nuts, I skated by
Hyperbolic imagery of the artist's close escape and success

Now y'all are on thin ice with ankle weights, I'd hate to lie
Warning to competitors that they are in danger of falling behind

How fuckin' irritated are you? How much in your face am I?
Rhetorical questions emphasizing the singer's dominance and impact on the competition

And ain't shit you can do but fear it, Proof is here in spirit
Acknowledgement of a deceased friend and collaborator, and the inspiration they provide

And I'm his spittin' image, I mirror it when I stand near it
Identification with the deceased and their influence on the artist's work

Your pussy lyric, I couldn't hear it
Disregard for competitors' inferior lyrics and abilities

Who forms pyramids and raps circles around square lyricists?
Assertion of the singer's superiority and dominance in the music industry

Who? (hey), here's a clue (hey)
Challenge to competitors to recognize and admit the singer's superiority

(I'd be) Cinderella Man, Cinderella Man
Repetition of the title and assertion of the artist's success and dominance