Christopher Edwin Breaux, professionally known as Frank Ocean, is an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Christopher Edwin Breaux, professionally known as Frank Ocean, is an American singer/songwriter and member of the gleefully hedonistic hip-hop collective OFWGKTA. He was born on October 28, 1987 and lived in Long Beach, California. He has helped pen tracks for Justin Bieber, John Legend, Brandy, and Beyoncé over the last few years. In 2011, Ocean released his debut mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, for free via his Tumblr..

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.

No Bonnie
Frank Ocean Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm running from the man.
I'm running from my flag.
I made love to my lady before i packed.
I left her while she slept.
I put 87 grand, Cash, In the glove box.
I left the keys to the car by the bed
because i got her.

Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde.
But i won't risk her life for mines.
No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie,
I'm sorry, so sorry.

I'm running water through my hands.
and flipping pictures in my head of her
I wish i taught the girl how to shoot a gun
so i wouldn't worry as much, oh

Lastnight, I put 87 grand, Cash, In the glove box.
I left the keys to the car by the bed
because I got her.

(2x)
Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde.
But i won't risk her life for mines.
No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie,
I'm sorry, so sorry.

The money should last awhile.
but i know without a doubt, she got me.
when the Feds come around, she got me.
no snitching allowed for my Bonnie.

Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde.
But i won't risk her life for mines.
No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie,
I'm sorry, so sorry.

Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde .
But i won't risk her life for mines.
No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie .
I'm sorry, so sorry, so sorry, nobody, yea.

nobody

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Frank Ocean's song No Bonnie depict a man who is on the run, both physically and mentally. He is running from the law and from his own national identity, as symbolized by the flag he associates with the oppressive system he is trying to escape. Before leaving his lady, he expresses his affection for her by making love to her, but at the same time, he is burdened by the guilt of abandoning her in her sleep. He leaves her money and the car keys by her bed, as a sign of his trust and gratitude, but he cannot bring himself to risk her safety by involving her in his criminal activities.

The singer of the song is struggling with conflicting emotions of love and fear. He wants his lady to be his partner in crime, as Bonnie was to Clyde, but he is afraid that he will endanger her life if he allows her to join him in his dangerous journey. He imagines a world in which she would be able to defend herself, but he is haunted by the idea that he failed to prepare her for the hazards of his lifestyle. Yet he knows that he can count on her loyalty and support, and he hopes that she will never betray him to the authorities.

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the price of freedom and the choices that one must make in order to pursue it. The singer's longing for a Bonnie to his Clyde is tempered by his awareness of the dangers and sacrifices that such a partnership entails. He is sorry for not being able to give his lady everything she wants, but he is also determined to protect her from the harm that might come his way.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm running from the man.
I'm trying to evade law enforcement.

I'm running from my flag.
I'm running from the country I am supposed to represent.

I made love to my lady before i packed.
I had sex with my girlfriend before leaving.

I left her while she slept.
I left her without saying goodbye while she was sleeping.

I put 87 grand, Cash, In the glove box.
I put a large amount of money in the car's glove compartment.

I left the keys to the car by the bed because i got her.
I left the car keys so my girlfriend could have a means of transportation.

"Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde. But i won't risk her life for mines. No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie, I'm sorry, so sorry."
I want my girlfriend to be my partner in crime, but I don't want to put her in danger.

I'm running water through my hands. and flipping pictures in my head of her I wish i taught the girl how to shoot a gun so i wouldn't worry as much, oh
I am washing my hands while remembering my girlfriend and wishing I had taught her how to defend herself with a gun.

The money should last awhile. but i know without a doubt, she got me. when the Feds come around, she got me. no snitching allowed for my Bonnie.
The money will last a while, but I am confident my girlfriend won't betray me to the authorities. She's my ride or die.

"Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde. But i won't risk her life for mines. No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie, I'm sorry, so sorry."
I reiterate that while I want my girlfriend to be my partner in crime, I won't risk her life for my own gain.

"Oh, i wish she can be the Bonnie to my Clyde . But i won't risk her life for mines. No, not for mines, no Bonnie, no Bonnie . I'm sorry, so sorry, so sorry, nobody, yea." nobody
I apologize for not being able to be a better partner in crime for anyone, and for not having anyone as my ride or die.

Contributed by Addison P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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