Slip Out The Back
Fort Minor Lyrics

You know me
The singer is someone familiar to the listener.

I used to get caught up in everyday life
The singer used to struggle with the challenges of daily life.

Trying to make it through my day so I could sleep at night
The singer's goal was to survive each day and be able to rest at night.

Tried to figure out my way through the maze of rights and wrongs
The artist attempted to navigate the complexities of morality and ethics.

But like you used to say
The artist recalls something the listener said previously.

Nothing feels like it's really worth it
The singer feels disillusioned and unsure if anything is truly worthwhile.

Forget perfect, I'm trying not to be worthless
The singer is striving to avoid feeling completely worthless, even if they can't attain perfection.

Since I last saw you I've been looking for a purpose
The artist has been searching for a sense of direction or meaning in their life since the last time they saw the listener.

Well, I met this kid who thought like I did
The artist met someone who shared their perspective on life.

He had a weird way of looking at it
The way the kid viewed life was unconventional or unexpected.

Slip out the back before they know you were there
The kid's advice is to avoid drawing attention to oneself by leaving quietly.

And at the worst you'll see nobody cares
If the artist follows the kid's advice, they may discover that nobody really notices or cares that they're gone.

Cause you don't wanna be around when it all goes down
The kid advises the singer to avoid being present during a crisis or difficult situation.

Even heroes know when to be scared
The kid suggests that even courageous individuals have moments of fear or uncertainty.

Now, I don't remember where I met him
The singer can't recall the specific time or place they encountered the kid.

Or remember his name
The artist has forgotten the kid's name.

But he walked funny like he was just too big for his frame
The kid's physical appearance was unusual, as if he was disproportionately large or awkwardly built.

Just over five foot but he weighed a buck fifty
The kid was short, but relatively heavy or muscular.

And what he said seemed so right it stuck with me
The kid's advice resonated with the singer and they couldn't forget it.

Listen, it's like poker, you can play your best
The kid uses the game of poker as a metaphor for life.

But you gotta know when to fold your cards and take a rest
Sometimes it's best to step back and take a break, rather than pushing forward relentlessly.

And know when to hold your cards, hold your breath
At other times, it's important to stay focused and keep going, even if it means holding one's breath (i.e. taking a risk).

And hope that nobody else is stacking the deck
The kid advises the singer to hope that external forces aren't unfairly manipulating the situation against them (i.e. cheating).

Because I don't need to tell you that life isn't fair
The artist acknowledges that life can be unjust and unforgiving.

It doesn't care, it arbitrarily cuts off your air
Life can be cruel and heartless, and it can seem like it's suffocating the singer.

And like you, I want someone to say it's okay
The singer hopes to receive reassurance and validation from others.

In the truest part of our hearts, everybody's afraid
The singer believes that deep down, everyone experiences some degree of fear.

We're just under-appreciated and overwhelmed
The artist feels undervalued and burdened by life's challenges.

Fighting so hard to hide our fear that we're scaring ourselves
The artist tries to hide their fear from others, but it can be so intense that it frightens them.

You understand what I'm saying, cause you always did
The singer believes that the listener has always been able to comprehend their perspective.

But it's different in the words of a cowardly kid who said
However, hearing someone else (i.e. the kid) express similar thoughts can make a bigger impact than the singer's own words.

And I'm no hero
The artist doesn't consider themselves to be a hero or particularly brave.

You remember how it was, you know
The artist believes that the listener can relate to their past struggles and fears.

All I ever did was worry, feeling out of control
The artist was consumed by anxiety and felt like they had no agency or power.

To the point where everything was going end over end
The singer's life felt like it was spiraling out of control.

I'm spinning around in circles again
The artist feels like they're caught in a cycle of worry and confusion.

This is where you come in
The singer is turning to the listener for support and understanding.

All of this to explain to you why I had to
The singer is about to reveal why they had to distance themselves from the listener.

Separate myself away from yesterday's life
The singer needed to leave behind their past and start fresh.

Please remember, this isn't how I hoped it would be
The artist didn't anticipate that their departure would be so painful or difficult.

But I had to protect you from me
The artist believed that their presence was harmful or toxic to the listener, and leaving was a way to prevent any further damage.

That's why I
The singer is about to explain their decision to slip out quietly.

Slipped out the back before you knew I was there
The singer chose to leave without fanfare or explanation.

I know you felt unprepared
The listener was caught off guard and unprepared for the artist's departure.

But every single time I was around I'd just bring you down
The artist believed that they were a source of negativity or disappointment to the listener.

And I could tell that it was time to be scared
The artist sensed that their presence was becoming a danger or threat to the listener.

And I know the way I left wasn't fair
The singer acknowledges that their departure may have seemed unjust or cruel.

I didn't wanna be around just to bring you down
The artist left because they believed they were harming the listener's well-being.

I'm not a hero but don't think I didn't care
The singer emphasizes that they cared about the listener, even though they weren't able to be a positive influence in their life.