Without Me
Eminem Lyrics

Obie Trice
Introducing a fellow rapper named Obie Trice

Real name, no gimmicks
Obie Trice's real name is being disclosed without any attempt at fake stardom

Two trailer park girls go 'round the outside
Noting the presence of two girls from the trailer park walking outside

'Round the outside, 'round the outside
The girls are walking around outside repeatedly

Guess who's back? Back again?
Eminem is asking a rhetorical question about his return

Shady's back, tell a friend
Eminem's alias 'Shady' is back and he invites others to spread the word

I've created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Marshall no more
Eminem feels like his own success has created an insatiable demand for his stage name 'Shady', and no one wants to see him as himself

They want Shady, I'm chopped liver
Continuing the previous sentiment, Eminem notes that no one wants to see him and he feels like he's been thrown away like chopped liver

Well if you want Shady, this is what I'll give ya
Eminem is ready to give the audience what they want

A little bit of weed mixed with some hard liquor
He describes mixing weed and alcohol for a powerful effect

Some vodka that'll jump start my heart quicker
Eminem is referring to the potency of vodka in getting him fired up

Then a shock when I get shocked at the hospital
He jokes about the potential consequences of his actions with a reference to hospital electroshock treatment

By the doctor when I'm not cooperating
Eminem imagines being uncooperative and provoked by medical staff

When I'm rocking the table while he's operating (hey)
Eminem continues the hospital scenario, imagining him causing chaos while a surgery is taking place

You waited this long, now stop debating
He tells the listener to stop doubting his return and instead embrace it

'Cause I'm back, I'm on the rag and ovulating
A crude joke- Eminem's return coincides with a menstrual cycle and he's in a fertile state

I know that you got a job, Ms. Cheney
A reference to Dick Cheney's wife, who Eminem jokes has other things to worry about than him

But your husband's heart problem's complicating
Continuing with the Cheney reference, he implies that he's causing more stress for the family

So the FCC won't let me be
He complains about censorship from the Federal Communications Commission

Or let me be me, so let me see
Eminem wants his freedom of expression, but feels like it's being denied

They tried to shut me down on MTV
Eminem references a time when MTV didn't want to air his music video

But it feels so empty without me
He believes that without him, something valuable is missing

So come on and dip, bum on your lips
Eminem is hyping the audience up and encouraging them to party by referencing sex and substances

Fuck that, cum on your lips and some on your tits
Continuing the sexual references, Eminem uses crude language to describe his appeal

And get ready 'cause this shit's about to get heavy
The party is about to escalate and become more intense

I just settled all my lawsuits, "Fuck you, Debbie"
Eminem has just resolved all legal disputes and directed a curse word towards his former wife

Now this looks like a job for me
Eminem identifies a situation where he is needed

So everybody just follow me
He's ready to lead the way

'Cause we need a little controversy
He wants to stir up some debate and controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me
Eminem believes that his presence and influence is necessary

Little hellions, kids feeling rebellious
He describes a group of young troublemakers

Embarrassed, their parents still listen to Elvis
Eminem jokes that the kids may be embarrassed because their parents still listen to an old artist like Elvis Presley

They start feeling like prison is helpless
The kids have started to feel like there's no way out of their situation

'Til someone comes along on a mission and yells, "Bitch"
Eminem posits himself as the person who can rally and empower the young troublemakers with a bold call-out

A visionary, vision is scary
He considers himself a visionary, unafraid of where his vision will take him

Could start a revolution, pollutin' the air waves, a rebel
He imagines his music starting a movement and being a rebel force disrupting the norm through airwave pollution

So just let me revel and bask
He wants to take in the attention and adoration he receives

In the fact that I got everyone kissing my ass
He revels in being the object of everyone's worship

And it's a disaster, such a catastrophe
Eminem acknowledges that his level of fame and influence has the potential to go very wrong

For you to see so damn much of my ass, you ask for me?
He uses self-deprecating humor, making a crude joke about how often his rear end appears in the public eye

But sometimes this shit just seems
Eminem sometimes gets bogged down by the industry and celebrity world

Everybody only wants to discuss me
He feels like he's become an object of fascination

So this must mean I'm disgusting
He's self-conscious about his own public persona

But it's just me, I'm just obscene (yeah)
He admits that while he's been labeled as obscene, it's just his true self

Though I'm not the first king of controversy
He recognizes that others have come before him with similar levels of controversy

I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley
Eminem refers to himself as the latest terrible thing to happen to Black music since Elvis Presley appropriated it

To do Black music so selfishly
He believes that Elvis Presley and himself have both benefitted from Black music while not giving back or crediting it properly

And use it to get myself wealthy (hey)
He admits that part of the reason he's involved in the music industry is for monetary gain

There's a concept that works
He believes that stirring up controversy and pushing boundaries is a viable strategy

Twenty million other white rappers emerged
He's acknowledging the other white rappers that have risen to prominence in the wake of his success

But no matter how many fish in the sea
He's confident that he'll remain at the top despite competition

It'll be so empty without me
Eminem believes that his influence is unique and invaluable

Hum didi lala
Non-sensical vocalizations to end the song

Lala, lalala
Continuation of the non-sensical vocals

Lala, lalala
Continuation of the non-sensical vocals

Lala, lala
Continuation of the non-sensical vocals

Hum didi lala
End of the song with the same non-sensical vocals as at the beginning

Lala, lalala
Continuation of the non-sensical vocals

Lala, lalala
Continuation of the non-sensical vocals

Lala, lala
Continuation of the non-sensical vocals