Leaving Heaven
Eminem Lyrics

Yeah (I knew this day was coming)
I anticipated the arrival of this moment, acknowledging that it was inevitable.

Sometimes, you gotta come back down (it's all going to hell now, man)
At times, it is necessary to lower oneself to someone else's level, acknowledging the descent into chaos.

Stoop to someone's level (yeah)
Lowering oneself to match someone's behavior or attitude.

Five dozen, flies buzzin' over your head
A metaphorical depiction of the negative attention and criticisms surrounding the person being addressed.

Call me the Grim Reaper, sleep is my cousin
Comparing oneself to death, implying a close relationship with the concept of darkness and sleeplessness.

You dead to me now and I'ma be the last face you see 'Fore you die cussin' (yep)
Declaring that the person addressed holds no significance anymore, becoming insignificant in the face of imminent death.

My eye a tiger's and I'm a survivor so I will rise up and (what?)
Emphasizing one's determination to overcome obstacles and emerge triumphant, comparing oneself to a fierce tiger.

Be triumphant 'cause when I'm looking at my legacy (leg, I see)
Expressing the desire to achieve long-lasting success and be remembered with pride.

Bunch of dogs tryna dry hump it
Referring to individuals who are unsuccessfully attempting to gain success or recognition by attaching themselves to others.

Like Triumph The Puppet, so I'm like, "Fuck it"
Drawing a parallel to Triumph The Puppet, dismissing these individuals and their futile attempts.

Pile the carnage up 'til its so high, it's touching the sky
Accumulating the aftermath of destruction and chaos to the point where it seems overwhelming and immeasurable.

Let 'em all line up and attack
Welcoming and preparing for a full-frontal assault from one's adversaries.

Single filing up in the stack
Describing the systematic and organized manner in which the adversaries approach for attack.

Call 'em toy soldiers (yeah)
Labeling these attackers as insignificant and easily manipulated, like toy soldiers.

'Cause they just wind up on their backs
Highlighting the ultimate failure and defeat of these attackers, ending up lying on their backs.

Now the sky's nothing but black
Metaphorically describing the prevailing darkness and bleakness in the current situation.

But I am not coming back, I done told ya
Affirming the decision to not return to the previous state, expressing determination to move forward.

I told the woke me to go to sleep
Acknowledging the internal conflict between being aware and conscious of societal issues and the desire to find peace and rest.

But still, they keep on provoking me
Despite the attempt to silence the external provocations, they persist in their attempts to instigate a reaction.

They're hoping to see me completely broken emotionally
The adversaries aim to witness a complete emotional breakdown, seeking to inflict severe damage.

But how in the fuck am I not supposed to be woke
Questioning how one can avoid being aware and conscious of the societal issues when faced with constant provocation.

When these fuckers just keep poking me? Now
Expressing frustration over the persistent antagonism from these individuals.

I'm leaving Heaven
Intending to depart from a state of tranquility and retreat into a darker, more chaotic existence.

Angels won't find me
Angels, symbolizing purity and good, will not be able to locate the person.

Where I am going
Referring to the destination or state of mind characterized by darkness and turmoil.

I've been down, kicked
Having experienced numerous failures and setbacks, being continuously beaten down.

Like around six thousand times since I was a kid
Illustrating the frequency and extent of the hardships and mistreatment endured from childhood until now.

As a child, picked on, clowned
Recounting the childhood experiences of being targeted and ridiculed by others.

Countless times I've been outed
Having been exposed and publicly humiliated on multiple occasions.

Gotta remind myself of it every now and then (yeah)
Continuously needing to reflect on these experiences to maintain awareness and motivation.

So the route I went's self-empowerment
Choosing the path of self-empowerment to overcome the challenges and adversities faced.

In a hole, taught myself how to get out of it
Metaphorically describing being trapped in a difficult situation and learning how to navigate and escape from it independently.

And balance it with talents, wit
Combining personal skills and intelligence to navigate through life's challenges while maintaining equilibrium.

'Cause life is like a penny (life is like a penny)
Comparing life to a penny, emphasizing its value and the importance of making the most of it.

'Cause it's only one percent
Highlighting the rarity of individuals who successfully overcome the difficulties they have experienced.

Who overcome the shit they've underwent
Referring to the small percentage of people who conquer the struggles they have faced.

I went AWOL like what my back was up against
Choosing to go Absent Without Leave, symbolizing deviating from societal norms and expectations due to overwhelming pressure.

Don't tell me 'bout struggle, bitch, I lived it
Asserting that the person addressed should not attempt to lecture or teach about adversity since the singer has experienced it firsthand.

I was five or six the first time I got my hind end kicked
Recounting a specific childhood memory of physical punishment, symbolizing the early exposure to hardship.

Malcolm, Isaac, and Boogie jumped me and took my tricycle
Recalling an incident involving individuals named Malcolm, Isaac, and Boogie who physically assaulted the artist and stole their tricycle.

And I don't know if I would call that white privilege, yeah
Acknowledging the ambiguity of whether that particular experience can be attributed to racial privilege.

But I get it, how it feels to be judged by pigment
Understanding the feeling of being unfairly evaluated or discriminated against based on one's skin color.

Besides getting it from both sides of the tracks
Expressing the experience of facing prejudice and mistreatment from multiple sources or communities.

But I swore I'd get them back
Making a pledge to seek revenge on those who have caused harm or injustice.

Even if it meant selling my soul to get revenge and (what?)
Expressing the willingness to go to extreme lengths, sacrificing one's integrity, to achieve retribution.

Thought of a scheme and it got me to thinking
Generating a plan that prompted deeper contemplation and reflection.

If I can believe in myself, I could prolly achieve it
Realizing that if there is faith and confidence in one's abilities, it is possible to accomplish desired goals.

That's part of the reason I do all my talking with ink
Explaining that writing and expressing oneself through lyrics is a significant and empowering outlet.

And as long as I'm breathing I vow to smother and beat them
Committing to relentlessly confront and overcome those who oppose or attempt to harm the singer.

A God but a heart of a demon, go at 'em and I'ma get even
Despite possessing god-like talent, embracing an inner darkness and seeking retribution against the adversaries.

Like I'm in the Garden of Eden, I'm 'bout to go off of the deep end
Drawing a parallel to the biblical Garden of Eden, poised to descend into chaos and madness.

This evil is calling, I'm already seething and
Acknowledging the allure of darkness and anger, already consumed by these negative emotions.

Okay, so while Macklemore was keeping his room nice and neat (yeah)
Contrasting the artist's chaotic and tumultuous upbringing with the apparent stability of Macklemore's surroundings.

I was getting my ass beat twice a week (what?)
Highlighting the frequency and severity of the physical abuse endured by the singer.

Looking for a place for the night where I could sleep
Searching for a temporary shelter or refuge where the singer could find rest and solace.

Flippin' sofa cushions over just tryin' to see
Describing the desperate search for loose change or any means to afford a meal.

If I could find some change and scrape up for a bite to eat
Expressing the struggle of acquiring enough money to purchase a simple meal and alleviate hunger.

If Denaun and me find a couple dimes a piece
Referring to another individual named Denaun, both diligently searching for small amounts of money to accumulate.

Twenty five cents each'd get us a bag of chips
Highlighting the value of even a small amount of money, enabling the purchase of a bag of chips.

We'd be glad to get that even we if we had to split
Expressing contentment and gratitude for even a minimal share of the chips, symbolizing the scarcity of resources.

We'd do backward flips, looking back at it
Reflecting on those past experiences, appreciating the ability to overcome adversity despite the hardships faced.

I think that would fit with the definition of not having shit
Suggesting that those experiences align with the concept of lacking material possessions or resources.

Couple that with the fact my mother was batshit
Combining those circumstances with the additional challenge of having a mentally unstable mother.

Pop was a sack of shit, yeah, he died, but I gave half a shit
Describing the father as worthless and unimportant, expressing apathy towards his death.

Yeah, which brings me back to the dear old dad that I zero had
Returning to the absent and nonexistent relationship with the artist's father.

Since a year-old, forty-seven year-old scab
Metaphorically depicting the wound caused by the absent father, persisting since early childhood and still affecting the singer.

Just to hear them words, ear piercing
Expressing the pain and discomfort caused by certain words or phrases that have a profound impact on the singer.

Like my earlobe stabbed with a needle for an earring
Comparing the emotional distress caused by those words to the physical sensation of having one's earlobe pierced with a needle.

Should I feel upset? You were dead to me 'fore you died
Questioning whether it is appropriate to feel any emotional response towards a father figure who was already emotionally absent before his death.

Me? Tear no shed
Asserting that there will be no shedding of tears for the departed father figure, expressing emotional detachment.

Should I have made a mural at your funeral?
Contemplating whether it would have been appropriate to create a visual tribute or memorial for the father during his funeral.

Had your coffin draped with a hero's flag?
Considering the possibility of honoring the father as a hero during the funeral proceedings, symbolizing valor or respect.

Where the fuck you were at
Questioning the absence and lack of support from the father figure throughout the singer's life.

When De'Angelo done hurt me real bad at the Rio Grande?
Recalling a specific incident when someone named De'Angelo inflicted significant harm on the singer at a location called Rio Grande.

Never met your grandkids, fucking coward
Expressing disdain towards the father for never having met or established a relationship with the singer's children, emphasizing his cowardice.

Only gut you had was from your stomach fat
Insulting the father's lack of courage, suggesting that the only aspect of him with any substance was his physical weight.

I couldn't see your ass goin' to Heaven
Expressing disbelief at the notion of the father ascending to Heaven after his death, implying his unworthiness.

So I'm asking for a pass to go to Hell
Requesting permission to deviate from the path of righteousness and enter a realm associated with darkness and punishment.

So I can whip your fucking ass
Symbolically expressing the desire to confront the father figure and impart punishment for his shortcomings and absence.

I hate that I'll never get to say "I hate you" to your face
Expressing resentment towards the father for never having the opportunity to directly convey feelings of hatred towards him.

No coming back from where I'm going
Stating that there is no possibility of returning from the path the artist has chosen, emphasizing the determination to move forward.

Sky is dark, my soul is black, hand on the shovel
Symbolically representing a state of darkness and despair, preparing for action, possibly symbolizing vengeance or burial.

Dig with the blade up, and then I step on the metal
Digging or metaphorically burying the past, utilizing a sharp blade and stepping firmly on the metal shovel to exert power.

Vendetta to settle, tell the Devil
Announcing the intention to resolve a personal vendetta, expressing readiness to confront and negotiate with the Devil.

I'm leaving Heaven (yeah)
Emphasizing the decision to depart from a state of tranquility and enter a more chaotic existence with determination.

I'm leaving Heaven (you know, I should dig your motherfucking ass up)
Reiterating the departure from a peaceful state and expressing the desire to exhume the father's remains out of contempt.

Angels won't find me (just to spit in your fucking face)
Asserting that even celestial beings will be unable to locate the singer due to the decision to depart from righteousness, expressing a desire to defy the father.

Where I am going (holding my baby pictures up like you're proud of me)
Referring to the destination or state of mind characterized by darkness and turmoil, while simultaneously mocking the absence of paternal pride.

I'm leaving heaven (fuck you, bitch)
Explicitly expressing the artist's departure from a state of tranquility and embracing a darker, more rebellious existence, accompanied by disdain towards the father.

I'm leaving heaven (you know what? Maybe if I had had you)
Reinforcing the decision to abandon the peaceful state, reflecting on the potential impact of the father's presence or involvement in the singer's life.

Angels won't find me (I wouldn't have went through half the shit I went through, so I blame you)
Emphasizing the absence of celestial beings in the singer's life due to the negative experiences endured, attributing blame to the father.

Where I am going (or maybe I should say, "Thank you")
Reiterating the destination or state of mind characterized by darkness and turmoil, while sarcastically offering gratitude towards the father for his absence.

('Cause I wouldn't have been me)
Implied completion of the previous line: expressing that the artist's identity and character have been shaped despite the father's absence.

So you better, you better run (yeah)
Issuing a warning for others to flee or prepare themselves for the consequences of the artist's chosen path.

You better, you better run (so I'ma let it go now, rest in peace)
Continuing the warning, implying that the singer will unleash their anger and subsequently find peace after exacting revenge.

You better, you better run (cocksucker)
Reiterating the need for others to escape or face the artist's wrath, using a derogatory term to intensify the threat.

You better, you better run (see you in Hell)
Warning the adversaries that they should flee or face the singer's vengeance when they eventually meet in Hell.