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.
Pink
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah yeah
That's the way everyday goes
Every time we have no control
If the sky is pink and white
If the ground is black and yellow
It's the same way you showed me Nod my head, don't close my eyes
Half way on a slow move
It's the same way you showed me
If you could fly then you'd feel south
Up north's getting cold soon
The way it is, we're on land
So I'm someone to hold true
Keep you cool in this good life
Won't let you down when it's all ruined
Just the same way you showed me, showed me
You showed me love
Glory from above
Good Glory, dear
It's all downhill from here
In the wake of a hurricane
Dark skin of a summer shade
Nose dive in the flood lines
Tall tower, milk crate
It's the same way you showed me
Cannon ball off the porch side
Older kids trying off the roof
Just the same way you showed me (you showed)
If you could die and come back to life
Up for air from the swimming pool
Kiss the Earth that birthed you
Gave you tools just to stay alive
And make it up when the sun is ruined
That's the same way you showed me, showed me
You showed me love
Glory from above
Where God could fear
It's all downhill from here
What a life
Remember how it was
Climb trees, Michael Jackson, all in this year
Say what up to Magic, just shoot
Say what up to Penny
Say what up to life one more time
And I know what you might want to know
Run from me and your team
Still ain't grabbin six (take it easy)
Give me somethin sweet
Bitch I might bite, ain't no tellin
This is life, life immortality
The song Pink by Frank Ocean appears to be an ode to the beauty and fleeting nature of life. Throughout the song, Ocean contemplates the transience of time and the impermanence of the world around us. The chorus, “You showed me love, glory from above, where God could fear, it’s all downhill from here” seems to suggest that love and beauty are the highest points of life, and everything from that point is downhill, leading to a sense of inevitability in the face of death.
The first verse of the song talks about how life can feel unpredictable and out of our control – the sky can be pink and white, the ground black and yellow. However, the singer of the song continues to “nod my head, don’t close my eyes” and move forward in life. The second verse uses vivid imagery to describe the ups and downs of a life – from nose-diving in floodlines to cannonballing off of porches.
Overall, Pink by Frank Ocean seems to convey a sense of pressing forward through life, appreciating the beauty of love and the world around us, but also acknowledging the inevitability of decline and death.
Line by Line Meaning
That's the way everyday goes
Life is unpredictable and we cannot control what happens to us
Every time we have no control
We often feel powerless in dealing with life's circumstances
If the sky is pink and white
The world is full of surprises, sometimes even contradictory ones
If the ground is black and yellow
Things may look different from different perspectives
It's the same way you showed me
The artist learned from someone how to deal with these uncertainties
Nod my head, don't close my eyes
Maintain alertness and awareness of the world
Half way on a slow move
Life moves at its own pace and we must adapt accordingly
If you could fly then you'd feel south
The artist imagines what it would be like to escape his current surroundings and have new experiences
Up north's getting cold soon
Winter is approaching and things will change accordingly
The way it is, we're on land
Despite personal differences, we all share the same finite resources on Earth
So I'm someone to hold true
The singer wants to be dependable for someone else
Keep you cool in this good life
Help others navigate life and enjoy its pleasures
Won't let you down when it's all ruined
Promises to be a trustworthy friend even when things are tough
You showed me love
The person the singer is referring to was an example of love in their life
Glory from above
A belief in the transcendent qualities of love and goodness
Good glory, dear
Reverence for the power and beauty of love
It's all downhill from here
Things will only get worse from here on out
In the wake of a hurricane
Metaphorical chaos and destruction
Dark skin of a summer shade
A celebration of diversity in appearance
Nose dive in the flood lines
The artist is participating in bold, potentially dangerous activities
Tall tower, milk crate
A mix of high and low experiences in life
Cannon ball off the porch side
More daring activities, living life to the fullest
Older kids trying off the roof
Exposure to risky situations
If you could die and come back to life
The artist imagines what it would be like to experience the afterlife
Up for air from the swimming pool
The idea of breaking free from a contained space
You kneel down to the dry land
Showing gratitude and reverence to the earth
Kiss the Earth that birthed you
Further emphasizing the importance of treating the earth with respect
Gave you tools just to stay alive
The earth provides us with everything we need to survive
And make it up when the sun is ruined
There is always hope even in the face of the worst circumstances
What a life
An acknowledgement that life is full of surprises and experiences
Remember how it was
Reflecting on past experiences
Climb trees, Michael Jackson, all in this year
A nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling childhood experiences
Say what up to Magic, just shoot
A reference to basketball, the idea of aiming for greatness
Say what up to Penny
Another basketball reference
Say what up to life one more time
Acknowledging all that life has to offer, even in difficult times
And I know what you might want to know
The singer anticipates a question or skepticism from the listener
Run from me and your team
A warning that the singer is dangerous and shouldn't be crossed
Still ain't grabbin six (take it easy)
A sports reference, indicating that the singer hasn't yet achieved his full potential
Give me somethin sweet
A request for something good in life
Bitch I might bite, ain't no tellin
The artist is unpredictable and may behave aggressively
This is life, life immortality
Life is not eternal, but memories and experiences endure beyond death
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER EDWIN BREAUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MillieMillicent
Lyrics:
Yeah, yeah oh
Yeah, yeah yeah
That's the way everyday goes
Every time we've no control
If the sky is pink and white
If the ground is black and yellow
It's the same way you showed me
Nod my head, don't close my eyes
Halfway on a slow move
It's the same way you showed me
If you could fly then you'd feel south
Up north's getting cold soon
The way it is, we're on land
So I'm someone to hold true
Keep you cool when it's still alive
Won't let you down when it's all ruin
Just the same way you showed me, showed me
You showed me love
Glory from above
Regard my dear
It's all downhill from here
In the wake of a hurricane
Dark skin of a summer shade
Nosedive in the flood lines
Tall tower of milk crates
It's the same way you showed me
Cannonball off the porch side
Older kids trying off the roof
Just the same way you showed me (You showed)
If you could die and come back to life
Up for air from the swimming pool
You'd kneel down to the dry land
Kiss the Earth that birthed you
Gave you tools just to stay alive
And make it out when the sun is ruined
That's the same way you showed me, showed me
You showed me love
Glory from above
Regard my dear
It's all downhill from here
Remember life
Remember how it was
Climb trees, Michael Jackson, it all ends here
Say what up to Matthew, to Shoob
Say what up to Danny
Say what up to life immortality
Bending up my Nikes
Running out the melpomene, nicotine
Stealing granny cigs (Take it easy)
Gimme something sweet
Bitch, I might like immortality
This is life, life immortality
@davidmadrid9951
That's the way every day goes
Every time we've no control
If the sky is pink and white
If the ground is black and yellow
It's the same way you showed me
Nod my head, don't close my eyes
Halfway on a slow move
It's the same way you showed me
If you could fly, then you'd feel south
Up north's getting cold soon
The way it is, we're on land
Still I'm someone to hold true
Keep you cool when it's still alive
Won't let you down when it's all ruin
[Chorus]
Just the same way you showed me, showed me
You showed me love
Glory from above
Regard, my dear
It's all downhill from here
[Verse 2]
In the wake of a hurricane
Dark skin of a summer shade
Nosedive into flood lines
Tall tower of milk crates
It's the same way you showed me
Cannonball off the porch side
Older kids trying off the roof
Just the same way you showed me (You showed)
If you could die and come back to life
Up for air from the swimming pool
You'd kneel down to the dry land
Kiss the Earth that birthed you
Gave you tools just to stay alive
And make it out when the sun is ruined
[Chorus]
That's the same way you showed me, showed me
You showed me love
Glory from above
Regard, my dear
It's all downhill from here
[Outro: Frank Ocean & Beyoncé]
Remember life, remember how it was
Climb trees, Michael Jackson, it all ends here
Say what up to Matthew, to Shoob
Say what up to Danny
Say what up to life immortality
Bending up my Nikes
Running out the melpomene, nicotine
Stealing granny cigs (Take it easy)
Gimme something sweet
Bitch, I might like immortality
This is life, life immortality
@coolgurl6071
if you’re reading this your taste in music is god tier
@jowhy7243
naw thanks homie 💗
@jmkb-06
God Tier...that's fly
@matttorres5510
Next song: futsal shuffle
@crewcrew7173
But I’m (like many others) one of those people that also enjoy trippie redd
@rxxanneee
you too
@markly5460
This is like the chillest song I've ever heard, everytime I hear it it's like I'm on a cloud.
@briana8133
it’s a beautiful song fr
@emenuae
All I think about is Mickey and Ian from shameless 😂
@jennyneon
That's why the sky is pink and white! :)