In fact, the song may be a direct response to Canibus’s song “Draft Me,” in which Canibus 1) threatens an unnamed rival and 2) expresses a desire to fight in the war on terror, even including a quote by George Bush at the end of the song. In “Square Dance”, Eminem attacks Canibus and delivers an anti-draft, anti-war, anti-Bush message.
In his book "The Way I Am" (p. 173) Eminem revealed that he worked on the music for this song between scenes on the set of his movie Eight Mile. He hummed his idea for the bass line to Jeff Bass and Luis Resto, who always were able to give him what he wanted after he hummed something just one time.
Square Dance
Eminem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ladies-ladies and ge-ge-gentlemen, gentlemen
Introducing-ducing the new-new and improved-proved
You-you know who-who
Never been the type to bend or budge
The wrong button to push
No friend of Bush
I'm a pitbull off his leash
All this peace talk can cease
All these people I had to leave in limbo
I'm back now, I've come to release this info
I'll be brief and let me just keep shit simple
Cana-bitch don't want no beef with Slim? No
Not even on my radar, so won't you please jump off my dick
Lay off and stay off
And follow me as I put these crayons to chaos from seance to seance
Aw-ee-aw-ee-aw
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Let your hair down, and square dance with me
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Let your hair down, and square dance with me
Let your hair down to the track, yeah, kick on back
(Boo) the boogie monster of rap, yeah, the man's back
With a plan to ambush this Bush administration
Mush the Senate's face in, push this generation of kids
To stand and fight for the right to say something
You might not like, this white hot light
That I'm under, no wonder I look so sunburnt
Oh no, I won't leave no stone unturned
Oh no, I won't leave
Won't go nowhere, do-si-do, oh, yo, ho, hello there
Oh yeah, don't think I won't go there, go to Beirut and do a show there
Yeah, you laugh till your motherfuckin' ass gets drafted
While you're at band camp thinkin' the crap can't happen
'Til you fuck around, get an anthrax napkin
Inside a package wrapped in saran wrap wrapping
Open the plastic and then you stand back gasping
Fuckin' assassins hijackin' Amtracks crashin'
All this terror, America demands action
Next thing you know, you've got Uncle Sam's ass askin'
To join the army or what you'll do for their Navy
You just a baby, gettin' recruited at eighteen
You're on a plane now, eatin' their food and their baked beans
I'm twenty-eight, they gonna take you 'fore they take me
Crazy insane or insane crazy? When I say, "Hussein", you say, "Shady"
My views ain't changed, still inhumane, wait
Arraigned two days late, the date's today, hang me
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Let your hair down, and square dance with me!
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Let your hair down, and square dance with me!
Nothin' moves me more than a groove that soothes me
Nothin' soothes me more than a groove that boosts me
Nothin' boosts me more, or suits me beautifully
There's nothin' you can do to me, stab me, shoot at me (ahh)
Psychotic, hypnotic product I got it the antibiotic
Ain't nobody hotter and so on
And yada yada, God, I talk a lotta hem-de-lay-la-la-la
Oochie-walla-walla, um-da-da-da-da-da but you gotta gotta
Keep movin', there's more music to make
Keep makin' new shit, produce hits to break
The monotony, what's gotten into me?
Drugs, rock, and Hennessy, thug like I'm 'Pac on my enemies
On your knees, got you under siege
Somebody you would give a lung to be
Hun-ga-ry, like a fuckin' younger me
Fuck the fee, I can get you jumped for free
Yeah buddy, laugh, it's funny
I have the money to have you killed by somebody who has nothing
I'm past bluffing, pass the K-Y
Let's get ready for some intense, serious ass-fucking
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Let your hair down, and square dance with me
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Let your hair down, and square dance with me
Dr. Dre wants to square dance with me
Nasty Nas wants to square dance with me
X-to-the-Z wants to square dance with me
Busta Rhymes wants to square dance with me
Cana-bitch won't square dance with me
Fan-a-bitch won't square dance with me
Canada-bis don't want no parts of me
Dirty Dozen wants to square dance with you
Yee-haw, woo
In "Square Dance," Eminem uses his witty, humorous, and highly political lyrics to touch on multiple topics. He begins by mocking President George W. Bush and making references to his administration, hinting that he won't be a supporter. He mentions that he's on no one's radar but will put anyone in their place with his fiery rhymes. He also pays tribute to his hometown of Detroit and the idea of square dancing as a metaphor for letting loose and having a good time.
In the second verse, he addresses issues such as war, terrorism, and military recruitment. He suggests that the government tries to manipulate the youth into joining the military and getting involved in conflicts abroad. Eminem expresses his skepticism and disgust with the idea while reminding everyone that he's not going to change his views. He also implies that he is ready for conflict, and no one can scare him or back him down.
Overall, "Square Dance" is a politically charged and highly entertaining song that touches on multiple subjects. It showcases Eminem's lyrical abilities and the message that he wants to get out to his fans.
Line by Line Meaning
People, it feels so good to be back
I feel good to be back
Ladies-ladies and ge-ge-gentlemen, gentlemen
Addressing all the ladies and gentlemen in attendance
Introducing-ducing the new-new and improved-proved
Introducing the new and better version of himself
You-you know who-who
Referring to himself
Never been the type to bend or budge
I have always been a firm person
The wrong button to push
Don't mess with me
No friend of Bush
I don't support Bush
I'm the centerpiece, you're a Maltese
I'm the main attraction and you're just a small dog
I'm a pitbull off his leash
I'm powerful and uncontrollable
All this peace talk can cease
I'm not interested in the peace talks
All these people I had to leave in limbo
I had to leave a lot of people in a state of uncertainty
I'm back now, I've come to release this info
I'm back and will reveal some crucial information
I'll be brief and let me just keep shit simple
I'll keep it simple and brief
Cana-bitch don't want no beef with Slim? No
It's better for Cana-bitch not to mess with me
Not even on my radar, so won't you please jump off my dick
Cana-bitch is not even on my list of concerns, so stay away from me
Lay off and stay off
Stay away from me
And follow me as I put these crayons to chaos from seance to seance
Follow me as I cause mayhem from one place to another
Aw-ee-aw-ee-aw
Expressing excitement
C'mon now, let's all get on down
Let's get down and party
Let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time
Let's dance together and have a good time
Don't be scared, 'cause there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout
Don't be afraid, nothing bad will happen
Let your hair down, and square dance with me
Relax and dance with me
Let your hair down to the track, yeah, kick on back
Relax and enjoy the music
(Boo) the boogie monster of rap, yeah, the man's back
I'm back, the terrifying rapper is back
With a plan to ambush this Bush administration
I have a plan to attack Bush administration
Mush the Senate's face in, push this generation of kids
I will force the Senate to accept my political views, and I'll motivate the young people to stand for their rights
To stand and fight for the right to say something
Stand up for your rights and have your own opinion
You might not like, this white hot light
You may not like the attention I'm causing
That I'm under, no wonder I look so sunburnt
I'm under a lot of pressure, and that's why I look drained
Oh no, I won't leave no stone unturned
I will make sure everything is under control
Oh no, I won't leave
I'm not leaving just yet
Won't go nowhere, do-si-do, oh, yo, ho, hello there
I'm not going anywhere, let's dance
Oh yeah, don't think I won't go there, go to Beirut and do a show there
I won't hesitate to go to Beirut for a show
Yeah, you laugh till your motherfuckin' ass gets drafted
Don't wait until you're recruited to learn your lesson
While you're at band camp thinkin' the crap can't happen
Don't be too naive to think bad things can't happen
'Til you fuck around, get an anthrax napkin
Until you make a mistake and get infected with anthrax
Inside a package wrapped in saran wrap wrapping
The package will be wrapped in saran wrap
Open the plastic and then you stand back gasping
Open the plastic and gasp in horror
Fuckin' assassins hijackin' Amtracks crashin'
Assassins are hijacking abd crashing Amtracks
All this terror, America demands action
The US people want action against terror
Next thing you know, you've got Uncle Sam's ass askin'
The government is forcing you to join either the army or the navy
To join the army or what you'll do for their Navy
You have to either join the army or do something for the Navy
You just a baby, gettin' recruited at eighteen
You're inexperienced and very young when you get recruited at eighteen
You're on a plane now, eatin' their food and their baked beans
You're now on a mission and need to follow the army's rules and eating their food
I'm twenty-eight, they gonna take you 'fore they take me
They will recruit you before me because you're younger
Crazy insane or insane crazy? When I say, "Hussein", you say, "Shady"
Am I crazy or the situation is? When I say Hussein you reply Shady
My views ain't changed, still inhumane, wait
My views haven't changed, and they're still inhumane
Arraigned two days late, the date's today, hang me
I'm being charged two days later, and I'm ready for my punishment
Nothin' moves me more than a groove that soothes me
Nothing makes me happier than a good groove
Nothin' soothes me more than a groove that boosts me
Nothing calms me more than an empowerful groove
Nothin' boosts me more, or suits me beautifully
Nothing energizes me more than a beautiful groove
There's nothin' you can do to me, stab me, shoot at me (ahh)
There's nothing you can do to hurt me
Psychotic, hypnotic product I got it the antibiotic
I have an infectious and irresistible product
Ain't nobody hotter and so on
I'm on fire, and no one can compete
And yada yada, God, I talk a lotta hem-de-lay-la-la-la
I talk a lot, and sometimes it's irrelevant
Oochie-walla-walla, um-da-da-da-da-da but you gotta gotta
Making sounds and saying you have to do it
Keep movin', there's more music to make
Keep going, there's more to achieve
Keep makin' new shit, produce hits to break
Keep creating new things and breaking barriers
The monotony, what's gotten into me?
I'm tired of the monotony and need a change
Drugs, rock, and Hennessy, thug like I'm 'Pac on my enemies
I'm ready to fight my enemies, inspired by Tupac
On your knees, got you under siege
I'm making you obey me
Somebody you would give a lung to be
Everybody wants to be like me
Hun-ga-ry, like a fuckin' younger me
Hungry for success, like when I was younger
Fuck the fee, I can get you jumped for free
I don't care about getting paid, I can hurt you for free
Yeah buddy, laugh, it's funny
Laugh all you want, it's comical
I have the money to have you killed by somebody who has nothing
I can pay for your murder by someone who doesn't have anything to lose
I'm past bluffing, pass the K-Y
I'm a man of action, pass me the lubricant
Let's get ready for some intense, serious ass-fucking
Let's get ready for some serious action
Dr. Dre wants to square dance with me
Dr. Dre wants to work with me
Nasty Nas wants to square dance with me
Nas wants to collaborate with me
X-to-the-Z wants to square dance with me
Xzibit wants to collaborate with me
Busta Rhymes wants to square dance with me
Busta Rhymes wants to collaborate with me
Cana-bitch won't square dance with me
Cana-bitch won't collaborate with me
Fan-a-bitch won't square dance with me
Them fan-a-bitch won't collaborate with me
Canada-bis don't want no parts of me
Canada is not interested in me
Dirty Dozen wants to square dance with you
The Dirty Dozen is calling for you to collaborate with them
Yee-haw, woo
Expressing excitement and happiness
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeffrey Bass, Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Honour
on The Real Slim Shady
May I have your attention, please?
May I have your attention, please?
Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
I repeat, will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
We're gonna have a problem here
Y'all act like you never seen a white person before
Jaws all on the floor like Pam like Tommy just burst in the door
And started whoopin' her ass worse than before
They first were divorced, throwing' her over furniture (ah)
It's the return of the "ah, wait, no way, you're kidding
He didn't just say what I think he did, did he?"
And Dr. Dre said, nothing, you idiots
Dr. Dre's dead, he's locked in my basement (ha ha)
Feminist women love Eminem
"Chicka, chicka, chicka, Slim Shady, I'm sick of him
Look at him, walkin' around, grabbing' his you-know-what
Flippin' the you-know-who"
"Yeah, but he's so cute though"
Yeah, I probably got a couple of screws up in my head loose
But no worse than what s going' on in your parents' bedrooms
Sometimes I wanna get on TV and just let loose
But can't, but it's cool for Tom Green to hump a dead moose
"My bum is on your lips, my bum is on your lips"
And if I'm lucky, you might just give it a little kiss
And that's the message that we deliver to little kids
And expect them not to know what a woman's clitoris is
Of course they're gonna know what intercourse is
By the time they hit fourth grade
They've got the Discovery Channel, don't they?
We ain't nothin' but mammals, well, some of us, cannibals
Who cut other people open like cantaloupes
But if we can hump dead animals and antelopes
Then there's no reason that a man and another man can't elope
But if you feel like I feel, I got the antidote
Women, wave your pantyhose, sing the chorus, and it goes
I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
Will Smith don't gotta cuss in his raps to sell records
Well, I do, so fuck him and fuck you too
You think I give a damn about a Grammy?
Half of you critics can't even stomach me, let alone stand me
"But Slim, what if you win, wouldn't it be weird?"
Why, so you guys could just lie to get me here?
So you can sit me here next to Britney Spears?
Shit, Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs
So I can sit next to Carson Daly and Fred Durst
And hear 'em argue over who she gave head to first
Little bitch put me on blast on MTV
"Yeah, he's cute, but I think he's married to Kim, hee-hee"
I should download her audio on MP3
And show the whole world how you gave Eminem VD (ah)
I'm sick of you little girl and boy groups
All you do is annoy me, so I have been sent here to destroy you
And there's a million of us just like me
Who cuss like me, who just don't give a fuck like me
Who dress like me, walk, talk and act like me
And just might be the next best thing, but not quite me
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
I'm like a headtrip to listen to, 'cause I'm only giving' you
Things you joke about with your friends inside your living' room
The only difference is I got the balls to say it in front of y'all
And I don't gotta be false or sugarcoat it at all
I just get on the mic and spit it
And whether you like to admit it, I just shit it
Better than ninety percent of you rappers out can
Then you wonder, "how can
Kids eat up these albums like Valiums?"
It's funny, 'cause at the rate I'm going, when I'm thirty
I'll be the only person in the nursing home flirting
Pinching nurses asses when I'm jacking off with Jergens
And I'm jerking, but this whole bag of Viagra isn't working
And every single person is a Slim Shady lurking
He could be working at Burger King, spitting' on your onion rings
Or in the parking lot, circling, screaming, "I don't give a fuck"
With his windows down and his system up
So will the real Shady please stand up
And put one of those fingers on each hand up?
And be proud to be outta your mind and outta control
And one more time, loud as you can, how does it go?
I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
Ha ha, I guess there's a Slim Shady in all of us
Fuck it, let's all stand up
Noah
on Remember Me?
Remember me? S executions
Remember me? I have no remorse
Remember me? I'm high-powered
Remember me? I drop bombs like Hiroshima
For this one, they scream "X, you retarded?!"
'Cause I grab the mic and get down like syndrome
Hide and roam into the masses
Without boundaries, which qualifies me
For the term "universal" without no rehearsal
I leak words that's controversial
Like I'm not the one you wanna contest, see
'Cause I'll hit your ass like the train did that bitch
That got banned from TV, heavyweight getup
Hit you, watch your whole head split up
Loco is the motion, we comin' through
Hollow-tips is the lead the .45 threw
Remember me? Throw your guns in the air
Remember me? Slam, slam
Remember me? Nigga, back the fuck up
Remember me? Chka-chka-Onyx
Niggas that take no for an answer get told no
Yeah, I been told no, but it was more like "No! No! No!"
Life a bitch, met her, fuck you if you let her
Better come better than better to be a competitor
This vet is ahead of the shit, it's all redder, you deader and deader
A medic instead of the cheddars and credda
Settle vendetta with metal Beretta from ghetto to ghetto
Evidence, nope, never leave a shred of
I got the soul of every rapper in me, love me or hate me
My moms got raped by the industry and made me
I'm the illest nigga ever, I told you
I get more pussy than them dyke bitches Total
Want beef, nigga? Pfft, you better dead that shit
My name should be Can't-Believe-That-Nigga-Said-That-Shit
Probably sayin' he ain't a killer, but I'm killin' myself
Smoke death, fuck bitches raw on the kitchen floor
So think what I'ma do to you, have done to you
Got niggas in my hood who'd do that shit for a blunt or two
What you wanna do? Cocksuckers, we Glock busters
'Til the cops cuff us, gon' start ruckus and drop blockbusters
Round the clock hustlers, you cannot touch us
I'm gettin' wires, niggas wantin' me dead
Wantin' my head, you think it could be somethin' I said?
Remember me? I just don't give a fuck
Remember me? Yeah, fuck you too
Remember me? I'm low down and I'm shifty
Remember me? I'm Shady
When I go out, I'ma go out shootin'
I don't mean when I die, I mean when I go out to the club, stupid
I'm tryin' to clean up my fuckin' image
So I promised the fuckin' critics
I wouldn't say "fuckin'" for six minutes
(Six minutes, Slim Shady, you're on)
My baby's mom, bitch made me an angry blonde
So I made me a song, killed her and put Hailie on
I may be wrong, I keep thinkin' these crazy thoughts
In my cranium, but I'm stuck with a crazy mom
(Is she really on as much dope as you say she's on?)
Came home and somebody must've broke in the back window
And stole two loaded machine guns and both of my trench coats
Six sick dreams of picnic scenes
Two kids, sixteen, with M-16s and ten clips each
And them shits reach through six kids each
And Slim gets blamed in Bill Clint's speech to fix these streets?!
Fuck that! Pfft, you faggots can vanish to volcanic ash
And reappear in hell with a can of gas and a match
Aftermath, Dre, grab the gat, show 'em where it's at
(What the fuck you starin' at, nigga?)
Don't you remember me?
Remember me?
Remember me?
Remember me? (Slim Shady!)
28Rivals
on Lose Yourself
@elchihuahua420 Damn bro, stay strong "You only get one shot don't miss your chance to blow." Don't let them bring you down in life and keep pushing
Noah
on Till ICollapse
Not Afraid
hope
on The Real Slim Shady
hi
eminem
on Crazy In Love
great song
serenity noble
on Lose Yourself
awesome
serenity noble
on The Real Slim Shady
awesome
serenity noble
on Lose Yourself
i love it
#eminemfan
Mind Space Apocalypse
on ShadyXV
Greatest of all time