"'The guilt of always having to leave. At the time it was mainly Hailie that it was effecting. Literally the things that I say in the song about her giving me the coin and putting boxes in front of the door to try to block it, to try to stop me from leaving, those things really happened. I’m at a point in my life right now where I don’t know where my career’s going; this is the reason we called it Curtain Call because this could be the final thing.
[When Hailie would put boxes in front of the door] it would kill me. Just writing the song, when I hear the second verse of that song, everything in it is so true… There’s two songs that I’ve done where I was in the booth recording the songs [because] I’ve been teary eyed. “Mockingbird” and this new songs are probably the most emotional that I’ve [written].
I’ve had dreams similar [to what I describe in the song], but this song is basically [about] the guilt that I’ve had to deal with from leaving, because I hated leaving my family. I realise that I had to leave my home for the stage, [because] my second passion is to be out there to just rap in front of that many people, but you gotta decide what’s more important, and right now there’s nothing more important than my family.'" - Mojo in the Morning
"'It was more about making a song that was true to form of where I’m at right now in my career… I don’t know where I’m at in my career. It takes you through the journey of the guilt trip that almost consumed me on a daily basis of leaving my family for the stage, and basically just the bad feelings and guilt you get from doing that, being on the road and gone so much. This song would mark the death of Slim Shady. It’s basically saying, “I’m putting this persona to bed and this is why I’m doing it”.
It was a difficult song to write in the sense of I didn’t know what I wanted to write about. I knew with everything that [I’ve gone] through this year, and coming out of rehab, I knew that I had to make a song that said “If I’m gonna put the mic done for a little while, let me explain why”. Because the stress, the pressure, the guilt and everything in-between has led me up to this point where I feel like this year I just kinda cracked.'" - MTV Italy
It was written in 2003 and recorded in March 2004.
“When I’m Gone” was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA on February 28, 2018.
When I'm Gone
Eminem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My own words, I guess
Have you ever loved someone so much
You'd give an arm for
Not the expression, no
Literally give an arm for
When they know they're your heart
And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm her
But what happens when karma
Turns right around and bites you
And everything you stand for turns on you to spite you
What happens when you become the main source of her pain
"Daddy look what I made"
"Dad's gotta go catch a plane"
"Daddy where's mommy?
I can't find mommy, where is she?"
"I don't know, go play, Hailie baby, your daddy's busy
Daddy's writing a song, this song ain't gon' write itself"
I give you one underdog, and you gotta swing by yourself
Then turn right around in that song and tell her you love her
And put hands on her mother who's the spittin' image of her
That's Slim Shady, yeah baby Slim Shady's crazy
Shady made me
But tonight, Shady's rock-a-bye baby
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
I keep havin' this dream
I'm pushin' Hailie on a swing, she keeps screamin', she don't want me to sing
"You're makin' mommy cry, why, why is mommy cryin'"
"Baby, daddy ain't leavin' no more, daddy you're lyin'
You always say that, you always say this is the last time
But you ain't leavin' no more daddy, you're mine"
She's pilin' boxes in front of the door tryin' to block it
"Daddy please, daddy, don't leave, daddy, no, stop it"
Goes in her pocket, pulls out a tiny necklace locket
It's got a picture, "This will keep you safe daddy, take it with ya"
I look up, it's just me standin' in the mirror
These fuckin' walls must be talkin', 'cause man I can hear 'em
They're sayin', "you got one more chance to do right
And it's tonight, now go out and show 'em that you love 'em before it's too late"
And just as I go to walk out of my bedroom door
It turns to a stage, they're gone and the spotlight is on and I'm singin'
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
Sixty thousand people all jumpin' out their seat
The curtain closes, they're throwin' roses at my feet
I take a bow, and thank you all for comin' out
They're screamin' so loud, I take one last look at the crowd
I glance down, I don't believe what I'm seein'
"Daddy, its me, help mommy, her wrists are bleedin'"
But baby we're in Sweden
How did you get to Sweden?
"I followed you daddy
You told me that you weren't leavin'
You lied to me dad, and now you made mommy sad
And I bought you this coin, it says number one dad
That's all I wanted, I just want to give you this coin"
"I get the point, fine, me and mommy are goin'"
"But baby wait, it's too late dad, you made your choice
Now go out there and show 'em that you love 'em more than us
That's what they want
They want you, Marshall
They keep screamin' your name
It's no wonder you can't go to sleep
Just take another pill, yeah I bet you you will!
You rap about it, yeah word, kid keep it real"
I hear a applause, all this time I couldn't see
How could it be, that the curtain is closin' on me
I turn around, find a gun on the ground
Cock it, put it to my brain, scream, "Die Shady!" And pop it
The sky darkens, my life flashes
The plane that I was supposed to be on, crashes, and burns to ashes
That's when I wake up
Alarm clock's ringing, there's birds singin'
It's spring and Hailie's outside swingin'
I walk right up to Kim and kiss her tell her I miss her
Hailie just smiles and winks at her little sister almost as if to say
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
Eminem's song "When I'm Gone" is a heart-wrenching ballad that outlines the turmoil of putting your career ahead of your family. The rapper starts the song by speaking about his life and how he is going to share his words through his own lyrics. He then goes on to talk about how he has loved someone so much that he would give an arm for them, literally. And when his daughter, Hailie, was born, he became her armor and promised to protect her at all costs.
However, he knows that karma can turn around and bite him. When Hailie grows up, she will see through the fact that he wasn't there much of the time. He imagines her looking for her mother one day, unable to find her, and asking where she is. Eminem knows that he will have to leave for work or to write a song. He then gives Hailie one underdog to see if she can put up a fight by herself. But he will then turn around and tell her he loves her and put his hands on her mother, who is a spitting image of her. His alter-ego, Slim Shady, takes over, and Eminem says he is Crazy. But the song goes on, and he asks his listeners to carry on when he is gone and not mourn him.
The chorus goes on to say that every time someone hears the sound of his voice, they should smile because he is watching down on them. The second verse is an emotional dipiction of a moment where Eminem has a dream about his daughter, Hailie. He is pushing her on a swing, and she keeps screaming and asking why mommy is crying. Eminem tells her that he won't be leaving anymore, but Hailie blocks him from the door and asks him not to leave. Eminem sees a necklace locket with a picture, and his surroundings turn into a stage with the spotlight on him.
The third verse shows that Eminem is performing in front of 60,000 people. After he's finished, he takes a bow, but as he looks into the crowd, he sees his daughter bleeding. She tells Eminem that he made a choice between them and his career, and now he must go out and show the world he loves his fans more than his daughter. That's what they want from him. Eminem hears applause, but he can't see anything because the curtain is closing in on him.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, it's my life
My own words, I guess
I am the author of my life story and I am free to express my thoughts and feelings about my experiences
Have you ever loved someone so much
You'd give an arm for
Not the expression, no
Literally give an arm for
When they know they're your heart
And you know you are their armor
And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm her
Have you ever felt a deep love for someone where you would protect them at any cost, even if it meant losing a part of yourself or fighting off those who would do them harm?
But what happens when karma
Turns right around and bites you
And everything you stand for turns on you to spite you
What happens when you become the main source of her pain
What do you do when your actions and choices come back to haunt you, when the person you love most feels hurt or betrayed because of you?
"Daddy look what I made"
"Dad's gotta go catch a plane"
"Daddy where's mommy?
I can't find mommy, where is she?"
"I don't know, go play, Hailie baby, your daddy's busy
Daddy's writing a song, this song ain't gon' write itself"
I give you one underdog, and you gotta swing by yourself
Then turn right around in that song and tell her you love her
And put hands on her mother who's the spittin' image of her
That's Slim Shady, yeah baby Slim Shady's crazy
Shady made me
But tonight, Shady's rock-a-bye baby
A series of events in which the artist portrays himself as a busy, preoccupied father who is struggling to prioritize his responsibilities and balance his artistry with his home life. He bounces back and forth between being proud and overprotective of his daughter and being consumed by his alter-ego, Slim Shady, who is dangerous and unpredictable.
And when I'm gone just carry on don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice, just know that
I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And I didn't feel a thing so baby, don't feel no pain, just smile back
The repetition of this chorus throughout the song suggests that the artist is preparing himself for the possibility of his own death, and he wants his loved ones to move on and remember the happy moments. He assures them that he will still be with them in spirit, and does not want them to feel sad or grieve excessively.
I keep havin' this dream
I'm pushin' Hailie on a swing, she keeps screamin', she don't want me to sing
"You're makin' mommy cry, why, why is mommy cryin'"
"Baby, daddy ain't leavin' no more, daddy you're lyin'
You always say that, you always say this is the last time
But you ain't leavin' no more daddy, you're mine"
She's pilin' boxes in front of the door tryin' to block it
"Daddy please, daddy, don't leave, daddy, no, stop it"
Goes in her pocket, pulls out a tiny necklace locket
It's got a picture, "This will keep you safe daddy, take it with ya"
I look up, it's just me standin' in the mirror
These fuckin' walls must be talkin', 'cause man I can hear 'em
They're sayin', "you got one more chance to do right
And it's tonight, now go out and show 'em that you love 'em before it's too late"
And just as I go to walk out of my bedroom door
It turns to a stage, they're gone and the spotlight is on and I'm singin'
The artist describes a vivid dream in which his daughter is desperately trying to prevent him from leaving, and he faces a pivotal moment where he must choose between his family and his fame. His daughter's love and affection are symbolized by the necklace locket with his picture, and he realizes that he needs to make things right with his family before it's too late.
Sixty thousand people all jumpin' out their seat
The curtain closes, they're throwin' roses at my feet
I take a bow, and thank you all for comin' out
They're screamin' so loud, I take one last look at the crowd
I glance down, I don't believe what I'm seein'
"Daddy, its me, help mommy, her wrists are bleedin'"
But baby we're in Sweden
How did you get to Sweden?
"I followed you daddy
You told me that you weren't leavin'
You lied to me dad, and now you made mommy sad
And I bought you this coin, it says number one dad
That's all I wanted, I just want to give you this coin"
"I get the point, fine, me and mommy are goin'"
"But baby wait, it's too late dad, you made your choice
Now go out there and show 'em that you love 'em more than us
That's what they want
They want you, Marshall
They keep screamin' your name
It's no wonder you can't go to sleep
Just take another pill, yeah I bet you you will!
You rap about it, yeah word, kid keep it real"
I hear a applause, all this time I couldn't see
How could it be, that the curtain is closin' on me
I turn around, find a gun on the ground
Cock it, put it to my brain, scream, "Die Shady!" And pop it
The sky darkens, my life flashes
The plane that I was supposed to be on, crashes, and burns to ashes
That's when I wake up
Alarm clock's ringing, there's birds singin'
It's spring and Hailie's outside swingin'
I walk right up to Kim and kiss her tell her I miss her
Hailie just smiles and winks at her little sister almost as if to say
The artist shifts back and forth between reality and a nightmare scenario in which he takes his own life. He describes a moment of clarity where he realizes that he cannot continue to prioritize his fame over his family, and ultimately reassesses his priorities and returns to his loved ones. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that he values the love and support of his family more than anything else, and he wants to be remembered as a father as well as a musician.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marshall B. III Mathers, Luis Edgardo Resto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@poisyned7404
Tupac made the book.
Eminem finished it.
Biggie edited it.
J.Cole took notes.
Drake lied and said he made it.
Lil Wayne couldn't read it.
Rick Ross ate some pages.
R.Kelly pissed on it.
21 Savage shot it.
Lil Uzi Vert laughed at it.
Lil Yatchy threw it off a boat.
Kendrick Lamar found it and made another one.
Slim Jeezy threw it away.
@TehSwanny
One of the greatest songs ever created.
@scvpest
+FaZe Swan oi swan
@TooGlobal
haha what's up swan ? idk if its you to or your depressed too? lol have s good day lad
@ramsangatycee5582
What..
@elion152
+FaZe Swan music was way better back then, now we have future.
@ztwenty3379
Swan da fuq?
@farrukh123ma
Slim Shady makes you laugh, Eminem makes you think, Marshal Mathers makes you cry
@sekokobo8260
***** second!!
@Obagus00
farrukh mahmoodd You just copied that I have seen that before but yeah
@nfsboy5457
true dat