Christopher Edwin Breaux, professionally known as Frank Ocean is an America… 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.

Overload
Frank Ocean Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...

I know I'm not weak, these heavy thoughts
They been on my mind oh I
I got cargo with me
All those memories feel
Like a thousand pounds on my
In my bed trying to sleep

The ceiling lowers down
I feel it on me now

I been moving buses further and further
I just can't do this alone
I just can't do it alone
I been pulling airplanes higher and higher
I just can't move them alone
And I just can't move them alone
It's too heavy for me
Overload overload overload
Take over for me
Its too heavy for me
Overload overload but no Superman will save me
But can somebody lend a hand it's too heavy for me
Overload overload overload

Drag my life along by the end of a rope
Trying to make by Im trying
On the other side someone's tuggin hard
They only getting stronger
Balance bricks on shoulders
With the grit in my shoes
I'm not strong enough
Help me up help me out

I been moving buses futher and futher
I just can do this alone
I just can't do it alone
I been pulling airplanes higher and higher
I just can't move them alone
And I just can't move them alone
It's too heavy for me
Overload overload overload take over for me
Its too heavy for me
Overload overload but no Superman will save me
But can somebody lend a hand it's too heavy for me
Overload Overload overload
Take over for me it's too heavy for me
Overload overload but no Superman will save me
But can somebody lend a hand it's too heavy for me

I been tryin to hold up the world with both my hands
Been holding the world in both my hands can't hold up the world
It's coming down it's coming ...

Its too heavy for me
Overload overload overload take over for me
Its too heavy for me
Overload overload but no Superman will save me
But can somebody lend a hand it's too heavy for me

Overload overload overload
Overload overload overload

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Overload" by Frank Ocean and Fantasia Barrino describe the feeling of being overwhelmed by life's burdens and seeking for help. The opening lines set the somber mood for the song by stating that heavy thoughts have been occupying their minds, causing them to feel weighed down. They use the metaphor of carrying cargo to depict the burden of carrying memories that have accumulated over time. The repetition of "overload" suggests that their struggles have reached a tipping point, and that they can no longer bear the weight on their own.

The chorus speaks of the struggles becoming too heavy to bear, and the person asking for help. They compare themselves to "moving buses further and further" and "pulling airplanes higher and higher", emphasizing how big and overwhelming their struggles have become. The line "I'm not strong enough, help me up, help me out" conveys a sense of vulnerability and acknowledges the need for assistance.

The final verse continues with the metaphor of holding the world in their hands, expressing the desperation of trying to juggle everything and feeling like it's all falling apart. The final repetition of "overload overload overload" suggests that the struggles have not yet gone away, but in the last line, there is a glimmer of hope that someone might lend a hand and help them.

Overall, the lyrics of "Overload" are emotive and relatable to anyone who has felt weighed down by life's struggles. The song speaks to the need for vulnerability and reaching out for help when one cannot carry the weight on their own.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...
The singer begins the song with an emotional outburst, indicating that the weight of their thoughts and memories has become too much to bear.

I know I'm not weak, these heavy thoughts
The singer acknowledges that their mental and emotional burden is not a sign of weakness but something that they must confront.

They been on my mind oh I
The singer emphasizes the persistence of their thoughts, indicating that they require immediate attention.

I got cargo with me
The artist likens their thoughts and memories to a heavy load that they must carry.

All those memories feel
The artist continues to describe the weight of their memories, indicating that they are still a heavy burden.

Like a thousand pounds on my
The singer compares the weight of their memories to a thousand-pound weight, emphasizing the gravity of their situation.

In my bed trying to sleep
The singer indicates that their mental and emotional burden is so heavy that it even affects their ability to sleep.

The ceiling lowers down
The artist uses a metaphor to describe the pressure they feel, as if the ceiling is pressing down on them.

I feel it on me now
The artist continues to describe the intensity of their burden, indicating that they can feel its weight physically.

I been moving buses further and further
The artist uses a metaphor to describe their efforts to overcome their burden, indicating that they have been pushing themselves harder and harder.

I just can't do this alone
The singer acknowledges that they cannot overcome their burden on their own and need help.

I been pulling airplanes higher and higher
The artist continues to use a metaphor to describe their efforts, indicating that they have been pushing themselves to new heights.

I just can't move them alone
The singer reiterates that they cannot overcome their burden on their own and need assistance.

And I just can't move them alone
The singer emphasizes their inability to overcome their burden alone.

It's too heavy for me
The singer repeats this phrase multiple times, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of their burden.

Overload overload overload
The artist repeats this phrase multiple times, indicating that their burden has become too much to handle.

Take over for me
The artist implores someone to take over and help them carry their burden.

But no Superman will save me
The singer acknowledges that they cannot rely on a superhero to save them and must look to real people for help.

But can somebody lend a hand it's too heavy for me
The singer asks for help again, indicating that they cannot handle their burden alone and need assistance.

Drag my life along by the end of a rope
The artist uses a metaphor to describe their life as a heavy burden that they are dragging along.

Trying to make by Im trying
The artist acknowledges that they are trying to survive despite their heavy burden.

On the other side someone's tuggin hard
The artist describes how someone else is trying to make their situation worse by adding more pressure.

They only getting stronger
The singer indicates that the other person's pressure is only increasing, making their burden even heavier.

Balance bricks on shoulders
The artist uses a metaphor to describe the additional load they are carrying, further adding to their burden.

With the grit in my shoes
The singer indicates that they are struggling to carry their heavy burden even with the support they have.

I'm not strong enough
The singer acknowledges their own limitations and inability to overcome their burden alone.

Help me up help me out
The singer implores someone to help them, indicating their desperation for assistance.

I been tryin to hold up the world with both my hands
The artist uses hyperbole to describe the intensity of their burden and efforts to cope with it.

Been holding the world in both my hands can't hold up the world
The artist continues to use hyperbole to describe their situation, emphasizing the impossibility of their task.

It's coming down it's coming ...
The singer indicates that they can no longer bear their burden and need help before it collapses on them.

Contributed by Nora V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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