The song features "buoyantly" jazzy, occasionally Zappa-esque production. Kendrick Lamar raps over a warp-speed psychedelic soul-jazz beat. According to music critics, the track shows influences from jazz-tinged drum and bass artist Roni Size, the "gleeful" mania of OutKast’s "B.O.B", and early '90s jazz rap. The track's instrumental samples Eric McDaniels and TLC Cathedral Choirs ONE MORE CHANCE, notably the bassline provided by Reggie Young.
Music critics favorably reviewed "Never Catch Me". Named Best New Track by Pitchfork Media, editor Jayson Greene praised Lamar's performance, writing "his hyper-vaulting flow and embedded rhyme patterns within rhyme patterns". For its year-end list of "The 100 Best Tracks of 2014", Pitchfork ranked the song at number 23. Also commenting on Lamar, Billboard's Chris Payne wrote, "There aren't many A-list rappers who could handle a beat like this, but Kendrick is clearly one of them." Rolling Stone editor Jon Dolan gave the song three-and-a-half out of five stars, commenting "Over offhandedly lovely, warp-speed psychedelic soul-jazz, Lamar unleashes a word-mad waterfall with a worried emotional core ("analyze my demise I say I'm super-anxious", he raps)." Consequence of Sound editor Nina Corcoran wrote: "when combined with one of Lamar’s hottest verses to date (before To Pimp a Butterfly), the song explodes. But it doesn’t stop there. FlyLo shows off his talent by shifting gears post-Kendrick verse the only way you can: insane keys, double-time bass drum, and unrelenting hand claps. Eventually, it’s all swallowed up in massive swelling synth and choral hums, fading to a beautiful, passionate outro."
Directed by Hiro Murai, the video begins at a funeral (including attendees Flying Lotus and Thundercat in cameo roles). Seemingly a sad video, it turns instantly joyful when the two late children - a boy and a girl - bound out of their caskets at the front of the church and dance gleefully down the aisle. The mourners can't see the children as they dance right out of the church and out onto a blacktop, but a group of other kids chases after them as they hop in a hearse and drive away.
The clip was featured by several publications on their year-end list of best videos, including Pitchfork, Spin, and Stereogum – with the latter listing it as number one. The video received two nominations at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Choreography and Best Cinematography, ultimately winning the latter.
Never Catch Me
Flying Lotus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life and death is no mystery and I wanna taste it
Step inside of my mind and you'll find curiosity, animosity
High philosophy, hyper prophesied meditation
Reminisce on my wonder years and I wonder here
Sentiments of my words ain't been so sincere
The sentiment of my nerves that I just persevere
The big thought of fallin' off disappeared to my fate
Analyze my demise, I say I'm super anxious
Recognize I deprive this feeling and then embrace it
Vandalizing these walls only if they could talk
Conversations won't contemplate to my dark thoughts
Lookin' down on my soul now, tell me I'm in control now
Tell me I can live long and I can live wrong and I can live right
And I can sing song and I can unite the you that I love
You that I like, look at my life and tell me I fight
This that final destination, this that find some information
This that find some inspiration, this that crack, the installation
This that quantum jump and that fist pump and that bomb detonation
Please don't bomb my nation, embalming fluid waiting
I got mind control when I'm here, you gon' hate me when I'm gone
Ain't no blood pumpin', no fear, I got hope inside of my bones
This that life beyond your own life, this ain't physical for mankind
This that out-of-body experience, no coincidence you been died
Bitch, you're dead!
Say you will never ever catch me, no, no, no
Say you will never ever catch me, no, no, no
Say you will never ever catch me, no, no, no
Say you will never ever catch me, no, no, no
Say you will never ever catch me
Say you will never ever catch me, no
Say you will never ever
This song, "Never Catch Me" by Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar, gives listeners a look into the psyche of the artist. The opening lines, "I can see the darkness in me and it's quite amazing/Life and death is no mystery and I wanna taste it" show an acceptance of the dark parts of oneself and a curiosity about the unknown. The artist explores their mind, expressing curiosity, animosity, high philosophy, and hyper prophesied meditation. They reminisce about their wonder years and the sincerity of their words.
The artist then acknowledges their anxiety and recognizes that they deprive themselves of certain feelings, but also knows how to embrace them. They reference vandalizing walls, possibly symbolizing the rebelliousness of youth or the act of leaving one's mark on the world. The artist speaks of conversations that won't contemplate their dark thoughts. They want to be in control and live however they please, whether that be right or wrong. The artist makes references to dying and the afterlife, saying "This that life beyond your own life, this ain't physical for mankind/This that out-of-body experience, no coincidence you been died/B*tch, you're dead!"
Overall, the song is an expression of the artist's introspection and a commentary on the human experience of life and death. The lyrics have a slightly dark tone, but the upbeat and rhythmic melody keeps the listener engaged.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see the darkness in me and it's quite amazing
I acknowledge the negative aspects of my personality and find it fascinating
Life and death is no mystery and I wanna taste it
I am not afraid of the unknowns of life and death, I want to experience them
Step inside of my mind and you'll find curiosity, animosity
If you enter my thoughts, you will find both fascination and hostility
High philosophy, hyper prophesied meditation
My profound ideas are prophetic and come from my deep meditation
Reminisce on my wonder years and I wonder here
I reflect on my childhood with a sense of curiosity and uncertainty
Sentiments of my words ain't been so sincere
I have not always been truthful in my past expressions
The sentiment of my nerves that I just persevere
I continue to persist despite feeling nervous or anxious
The big thought of fallin' off disappeared to my fate
The idea of failure and disappointment no longer worries me because it is inevitable
They say that Heaven's real
Many believe in the existence of an afterlife
Analyze my demise, I say I'm super anxious
I am fearful of my eventual death and the uncertainties surrounding it
Recognize I deprive this feeling and then embrace it
I acknowledge my fear of death and then accept it as a part of life
Vandalizing these walls only if they could talk
If the walls could speak, they would tell of the emotions and ideas I have expressed through my art
Conversations won't contemplate to my dark thoughts
Most people cannot relate or understand my negative and disturbing thoughts
Lookin' down on my soul now, tell me I'm in control now
I am evaluating my own morality and questioning if I am in control of my life
Tell me I can live long and I can live wrong and I can live right
I am seeking reassurance that I have the freedom to live my life as I see fit, whether it be right or wrong
And I can sing song and I can unite the you that I love
Through my music, I am able to bring people together
You that I like, look at my life and tell me I fight
Those close to me can see that I have struggled and fought for my place in this world
This that final destination, this that find some information
This is the end of my journey and my search for answers
This that find some inspiration, this that crack, the installation
This is where I derive inspiration, the point where I break through and create something
This that quantum jump and that fist pump and that bomb detonation
This is where I take a big leap forward, overcome obstacles, and metaphorically explode
Please don't bomb my nation, embalming fluid waiting
I am asking not to be destroyed or suppressed and recognizing that death awaits us all
I got mind control when I'm here, you gon' hate me when I'm gone
I have power and control over my thoughts and actions, but others may not understand or appreciate this until I am gone
Ain't no blood pumpin', no fear, I got hope inside of my bones
I am fearless and hopeful, no matter what obstacles I encounter
This that life beyond your own life, this ain't physical for mankind
This goes beyond our physical existence and transcends humanity
This that out-of-body experience, no coincidence you been died
This experience takes you out of your physical body, and death is not a coincidence
Bitch, you're dead!
This is the realization that death is inevitable and everyone will experience it
Say you will never ever catch me, no, no, no
I am elusive and cannot be fully understood or contained
Say you will never ever catch me
I will always remain a mystery and cannot be defined by others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Steven Ellison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sirromando4527
Can we all just take a minute to appreciate how good a director Hiro Murai is
@waffalanitewaffalanati7962
Yup he done this is America and Atlanta aswell
@declanodoherty6466
Brilliance, art and soul.
@maniacguitar
Totally... makes me teary-eyed every single time...
@bodhimind108
Lately,everytime i see something brilliant,his name is attatched.
@McGenge
Damn, I couldn't count how many times happened to me that I loved a music video and it turned out to be a Hiro Murai production :D
@mayapostell5239
I found this video a few weeks after my younger brother was killed in November of 2016. I watched it over and over again and I couldn't stop crying. Its so surreal and heartbreaking and beautiful- I don't have the words to describe how much this song means to me. It reminds me of the church my brother and I grew up in. It reminds me of staying up past bedtime and hearing Flylo's music on adultswim, It reminds me of the park we used to play at as kids.
Marcus, there isn't a single moment that goes by that I don't miss you. I think about you every day and I feel so empty knowing you were taken away from us. I'm so grateful that I grew up with you as my brother. Ill say it forever- I love you and I miss you and I cant wait to see you again.
@morgancrump350
I’m praying for you. Sending love and light
@nayahri
🤗🤗🤗🤗
@maxharper9282
Sending you so much love