Starting out as a hip-hop producer at the age of 13, Dapperton made the switch to his current sound after a serious hospitalisation and the failure of his laptop.
Pairing infectious, nostalgia-laden tunes with high-concept filmclips, lauded for their high-concept cinematic execution, has proven to be a recipe for success. Blowing up through 2017, with two EPs dropped, and fans and the press alike taking notice, Dapperton's future looks bright.
Phases
Gus Dapperton Lyrics
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But are we tryin' or are we just payin' homage?
What was our path has come and gone in a flash
My life was moving too fast to react
No direction, how'd I get here?
Every lesson I've destroyed
Second guessin' safety measuresTo repel out of the void
I wouldn't bet I find the exit
There's no blessings in disguise
When you're the only thing I recognize
I never really tried to stop
But you never really tried to save it
I never thought I'd be thrown off
By the changes
I never really tried to stop
But you never letted me explain it
Yeah, I'll be waiting somewhere
Caught in the phases
When I was clean, yeah, we were so fuckin' on it
You thought you'd seen exactly what you wanted
You took all of me and only stayed for the half
I was berated and bashed every time I stated the facts, yeah, oh
No direction, how'd I get here?
Every lesson I've destroyed
Second guessin' safety measures
To repel out of the void
I wouldn't bet I find the exit
There's no blessings in disguise
When you're the only thing I recognize
I never really tried to stop
But you never really tried to save it
I never thought I'd be thrown off
By the changes
I never really tried to stop
But you never letted me explain it
Yeah, I'll be waiting somewhere
Caught in the phases
Come and find me, find me again
I'll get behind your last attempt
Climb that mountain if you can
I'll be waitin', estimating all the weight of my offense
I never really tried to stop
But you never really tried to save it
I never thought I'd be thrown off
By the changes
I never really tried to stop
But you never letted me explain it
Yeah, I'll be waiting somewhere
Caught in the phases, yeah
In Gus Dapperton's song "Phases," the lyrics delve into a turbulent relationship where promises have been forgotten and the characters are unsure if they are trying to salvage it or simply paying homage to what once was. The singer reflects on how their life has moved too fast to react and questions how they arrived at their current state without a clear direction. They have destroyed every lesson that came their way, second-guessing safety measures and attempting to escape the void. Despite feeling lost and recognizing that there are no blessings in disguise, the singer still identifies the other person as the only familiar thing in their life.
The second verse explores the time when they were "clean," suggesting that they were in a better place emotionally and mentally. During this period, the other person seemed to have found exactly what they wanted and took all that the singer had to offer. However, they only stayed for the halfway point, leaving the singer feeling berated and attacked whenever they stated their truth.
The chorus repeats the sentiment of not trying to stop, yet also highlighting the other person's lack of effort in saving the relationship. The singer didn't anticipate being thrown off by the changes, and despite not attempting to stop, they were never given the opportunity to explain themselves. They express a sense of waiting somewhere, caught in the different phases of their tumultuous relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sorry I forgot the things that I promised
I apologize for not fulfilling the commitments I made
But are we tryin' or are we just payin' homage?
Are we putting in genuine effort or just going through the motions?
What was our path has come and gone in a flash
Our intended journey has passed by quickly
My life was moving too fast to react
I was unable to respond due to the rapid pace of my life
No direction, how'd I get here?
I feel lost and unsure of how I ended up in this situation
Every lesson I've destroyed
I have ruined every opportunity for growth and learning
Second guessin' safety measures
Doubting the precautions I've taken
To repel out of the void
To escape from the emptiness and uncertainty
I wouldn't bet I find the exit
I doubt that I will discover a way out
There's no blessings in disguise
There are no hidden benefits or advantages
When you're the only thing I recognize
You are the only familiar and comforting presence in my life
I never really tried to stop
I didn't make a genuine effort to prevent it
But you never really tried to save it
You didn't put in much effort to preserve our relationship
I never thought I'd be thrown off by the changes
I never expected to be so affected by the alterations
I never really tried to stop
I didn't make a genuine effort to prevent it
But you never letted me explain it
But you never allowed me to clarify my side of the story
Yeah, I'll be waiting somewhere
Yes, I will be patiently waiting in a specific location
Caught in the phases
Trapped in a cycle or series of stages
When I was clean, yeah, we were so fuckin' on it
When I was sober, we were deeply immersed
You thought you'd seen exactly what you wanted
You believed you had found precisely what you desired
You took all of me and only stayed for the half
You accepted all of me but only stuck around for a portion of it
I was berated and bashed every time I stated the facts, yeah, oh
I was criticized and attacked whenever I spoke the truth
Come and find me, find me again
Seek me out and locate me once more
I'll get behind your last attempt
I will support your final effort
Climb that mountain if you can
Challenge yourself to overcome obstacles
I'll be waitin', estimating all the weight of my offense
I will be waiting, contemplating the magnitude of my mistakes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brendan Patrick Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thepixalwizard873
Hello to all the people with great taste in music 👋
@Wilternative
Can't believe this wasn't a single. Best of the album.
@kamiekogoines5088
my favvvv song from the album, you never disappoint gus 😭
@mikeallenfpv
You're the man. Love this song
@deepthoughts8393
You are reviving good music again 🌹
@SCasther
Last song I heard from this album i was sure about this but now I can sign it
I love each and every one of your masterpieces
@luisyagual115
best song of the album
@landoncube769
This album coming out saved me today
@andredegli
I'm a big fan of your music, memories of SP Brazil 🇧🇷
@caesarmartinez-vi5bq
You never miss Gus