Venting about his decision to drop the record his own way, he took to Twitter on March 1, 2011:
"i. did. this. not ISLAND DEF JAM. that's why you see no label logo on the artwork that I DID. guess its my fault for trusting my dumbass lawyer and signing my career over to a failing company. fuck Def Jam & any company that goes the length of signing a kid with dreams & talent w/ no intention of following through. fuck em. now back to my day. i want some oatmeal and toast. brunch swag."
As a member of the Odd Future (OFWGKTA) collective, his sound is distinctively soulful/r&b influenced, yet done in a way that could pass for something totally different. As Tyler, the Creator states, “It’s Smooth Ass Music About Bitches, Relationships And Being A Rich Young Nigga…But In A Swagged Out Way.”
Ocean was evacuated from the University of New Orleans to Los Angeles, California just as Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, and stayed in Los Angeles to pursue a music career. Ocean joined Los Angeles based collective OFWGKTA, who he met through mutual friends, at the end of 2009. In the end of 2009, he met Tricky Stewart, who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as an artist, however, he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company. In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher "Lonny" Breaux to Christopher Francis Ocean via a legal website. In an April 2011 interview, Ocean intimated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape. On April 28, 2011, Ocean was arrested on unspecified charges by the LAPD, and was released on the morning after on April 29, 2011. Ocean joined his OFWGKTA bandmates for the first time on tour from May 12 to May 19, 2011. On May 31, 2011, Def Jam released the single Novacane on iTunes soon followed by Swim Good Taken from his mixtape Nostalgia, ULTRA. His first 'proper' album, Channel Orange was released on July 17, 2012.
In 2016, he released the visual album Endless alongside his second studio album Blonde, following several years of delays. Blonde debuted at number one in the United States and United Kingdom.
In 2017, Ocean released several singles, including Chanel and Lens, through his Blonded Radio show, and made several appearances on other songs by artists like Calvin Harris, A$AP Mob, and Tyler, the Creator.
End/Golden Girl
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're telling boulder heavy lies
Looks like all we've got is each other
The truth is obsolete
Remember when all I had was my mother
She didn't compromise
She could recognize voodoo
Our daughters and our sons
Are just candles in the sun
Don't let em see divide
Don't you let her see divide
She's got the whole wide world in her juicy fruit
He's got the whole wide world in his pants
He wrapped the whole wide world in a wedding band
Then put the whole wide world on her hands
She's got the whole wide world in her hands
He's got the whole wide world in his hands
She peels an orange for us in the morning
She woke me up to give me half
I can hear the children talk of ballin'
Like wildcats running on the grass, hey
You're a girl on this island
I'm a boy from America
My flight leaves tonight, but I don't think I'm going backwards
I won't be going backwards
[Hook]
You're my golden girl
You're the one I've chosen girl
You're 24k
You're my golden girl
The sun has been kind to you
You're 24k (Girl)
But the sky's never grey (Never grey)
Silent moments, meditative poses
You break my focus, you make me laugh
Two mopeds racing through the forest
Making dirt clouds on a path, on a path
I'm my best on this island
I'm a mess in America
My flight left last night, but I know I'm not going back home, yeah
I'm not going back home, no
[Hook]
If we build a house in paradise, will we get to heaven still?
If we don't have to live through hell just to get to heaven
I'mma stay right here with you
Til the hurricane comes, 'til the tsunami comes, I've found my girl
[Hook]
[Tyler, The Creator]
Um, you're my G-O L-D E-N G-I R-L
And that's for the females that can't spell, but
Thanks for fucking with me
You turn my dark into light, you're like a bucket of bleach
You see, I want you to know that
My negatives at home aren't working for my Kodak
So that means that I don't want to go back
Just know that I would like to stay here and hold that
Hand of yours, girl I'm a wreck in America
Your face is the best cause it's the same color as the lace on my neck
And you're golden, uh, your eyes open, fuck it
Let's toast and listen to Michael Bolton
I free-fall off the hill again
Let's see where I land, I'm like Gilligan
Um, I trust you, Golden, for wed ring
I'm just hopin' that you don't turn my neck green
The song "End/Golden Girl" by Frank Ocean feat. Tyler, The Creator is about love and the need to hold onto those we love in the midst of difficult times. The first few lines talk about how we are living in darker times where the truth is becoming obsolete, and all we have is each other. It is a call to not let anyone or anything divide us. The lyrics talk about the power of love, and how it can bring two people from different parts of the world together. The lyrics "You're a girl on this island, I'm a boy from America" show that even though they come from different places, they have found love and a connection that transcends borders.
The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that the person he loves is his golden girl, the one he has chosen, and the one who makes everything better. The lyrics show how he doesn't want to go back home, and he is willing to stay with her through any storm, even if it means facing a hurricane or a tsunami. The song ends with Tyler, The Creator rapping about how she is his golden girl, and he wants to stay with her forever, even though his negatives at home are not working for his Kodak.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and touching ode to love, and how it can transcend even the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Darker times
Times are getting worse
They're telling boulder heavy lies
People are telling enormous lies
Looks like all we've got is each other
We need to rely on one another
The truth is obsolete
The truth doesn't matter anymore
Remember when all I had was my mother
I used to only have my mother
She didn't compromise
She didn't give in
She could recognize voodoo
She could tell when things didn't feel right
Our daughters and our sons
Our children
Are just candles in the sun
They are small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things
Don't let em see divide
Don't let them be separated
Don't you let her see divide
Don't let her be separated
She's got the whole wide world in her juicy fruit
She has everything she needs
He's got the whole wide world in his pants
He has a lot of potential
He wrapped the whole wide world in a wedding band
He committed to someone
Then put the whole wide world on her hands
He gave everything to her
She's got the whole wide world in her hands
She has everything she needs
He's got the whole wide world in his hands
He has everything he needs
She peels an orange for us in the morning
She prepares breakfast for us
She woke me up to give me half
She shared with me
I can hear the children talk of ballin'
I can hear the children talking about playing ball
Like wildcats running on the grass, hey
Like they are running fast
You're a girl on this island
You are a woman here
I'm a boy from America
I am a man from the USA
My flight leaves tonight, but I don't think I'm going backwards
I am leaving tonight, but I won't regret it
I won't be going backwards
I won't regret leaving
You're my golden girl
You are special to me
You're the one I've chosen girl
You are the one I chose
You're 24k
You are valuable
You make it bright when it's grey
You make things better
The sun has been kind to you
You have been lucky
But the sky's never grey (Never grey)
But it's always good
Silent moments, meditative poses
Quiet times, reflective stances
You break my focus, you make me laugh
You distract me, but in a good way
Two mopeds racing through the forest
Two motorbikes speeding through the woods
Making dirt clouds on a path, on a path
Kicking up dirt behind them
I'm my best on this island
I feel good here
I'm a mess in America
I struggle in the USA
My flight left last night, but I know I'm not going back home, yeah
I left last night, but I am happy here
I'm not going back home, no
I am staying here
If we build a house in paradise, will we get to heaven still?
If we live in a perfect place, will we still go to heaven?
If we don't have to live through hell just to get to heaven
If we don't have to suffer to be rewarded
I'mma stay right here with you
I am staying here with you
Til the hurricane comes, 'til the tsunami comes, I've found my girl
Through the worst, I have found my partner
Um, you're my G-O L-D E-N G-I R-L
You are special to me
And that's for the females that can't spell, but
And that's for those who struggle with spelling
Thanks for fucking with me
Thanks for supporting me
You turn my dark into light, you're like a bucket of bleach
You make me happy, like a cleaner making things brighter
You see, I want you to know that
I want you to understand
My negatives at home aren't working for my Kodak
My problems at home don't fit in well
So that means that I don't want to go back
So I don't want to return
Just know that I would like to stay here and hold that
Just know that I want to stay here with you
Hand of yours, girl I'm a wreck in America
I struggle in America
Your face is the best cause it's the same color as the lace on my neck
You are beautiful and complement me well
And you're golden, uh, your eyes open, fuck it
You are special, and nothing can bring you down
Let's toast and listen to Michael Bolton
Let's celebrate and listen to music
I free-fall off the hill again
I keep falling down
Let's see where I land, I'm like Gilligan
I don't know where I will end up
Um, I trust you, Golden, for wed ring
I trust you enough to marry you
I'm just hopin' that you don't turn my neck green
I hope you are not like poison to me
Contributed by Ethan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jafell
i play this everytime i listen to channel orange, so damn good
@George_
super underrated
@CaterinaKrebsbach
Nice Music
@denyshinn1049
2:15 - 3:45
@thegreenhoodieguy
I just finished channel orange for the first time, what an incredible album.
@MelatoninMilk992
Dudes makes me wait a min 45 then plays a laugh track after golden girl
@maisarahkamarulzaman2270
1:13 - 1:20
@chowell1451
I just need to make some local files too much music not on Apple Music/spotify