Kevin touches on topics of drug use, childhood idols, and relationships. In a now deleted tweet minutes before the album came out, Kevin said that RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan was featured on the original version of “American Problem“.
American Problem
Kevin Abstract Lyrics
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To remember what you said tonight
Do you remember how high we was? (Oh boy)
If I, if I don't wanna say sorry (if I don't want to)
Then nigga, I won't (ayayayayay)
Motherfuck a high road (ayayayayay), is it closest?
Who touchin' my, who touchin' my, who touchin' my bag
I ain't going bad, better believe in that, had to creep 'em fast
Think I'm finna burn it, burn it to the ground, bruh
I drink, I smoke, I drink, I smoke, I drink until I sleep (you gotta pass the thing over herr')
I know, I know, I know, I know, this shit gon' catch up to me (yeah, yeah, yeah shawty, I)
I drink, I smoke, I drink, I smoke, I drink until I sleep (you gotta pass the thing over herr')
I know, I know, I know, I know, red wine gon' catch up to me (West side, red, red wine)
I can't sleep next to no one
Who don't look like, who don't look like you
And all my girlfriends, they tell me
Well you would have been better if you picked someone who is just like you
(Who touchin' my, who touchin' my, who touchin' my mind)
You gotta pass the thing over herr'
Yeah, yeah, yeah shawty, I
(Microphone check, check, one, two)
You gotta pass the thing over herr'
(Microphone check, check, one, two)
Yeah, shawty, West side, yeah, West side, shawty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm stuck in a van with a mask on
Think about taking my life, but the plan's wrong
Think about finding a way to make the sand go, gone
I need another song to sing along to
Ninth grade, Tyler was the illest shit I ever heard
Going to his concerts, no mask, singing every word
I think it's kinda crazy how my life panned out
I think it sucks that you and I ain't worked out
I used to sleep on Jon's couch, saying I'll be out, it's been sooner than later
Seventeen, I said was gon' make some shit
I was gon' be bigger than the fader, I wanna be paramount
I wanna move far away and buy my parents a house
I was obsessed with a blouse, I just liked the way it looked
I thought the brother was cute, he was older than this dawg
I was breaking the rules, I was a flaming faggot
That's what the principal called me
Not to my face, but I felt
When I was stuck in his office
I'm just a, I'm just another American problem, my nigga
Uh, uh, yeah, yeah
Another American problem
The song "American Problem" by Kevin Abstract discusses his struggles with addiction and the pain that comes with relationships. In the first verse, he talks about the effects of drugs and how he would rather not apologize for his actions. He is not interested in taking the high road when his drugs are close to him and easily accessible. Abstract also talks about the feeling of being hurt, and how he copes with his pain through substance abuse. The repeated line "who touchin' my bag" insinuates that his addiction is more important than any other interaction in his life.
In the second verse, he discusses the difficulty he has sleeping next to someone who doesn't look like his ex-, implying he is still carrying emotional baggage. His ex-girlfriends all suggest he should date someone similar to himself. The repeated line "who touchin' my mind" demonstrates the emotional pain he is currently going through. He also talks about being stuck in a van with a mask on, insinuating the feelings of being trapped and unsatisfied with life. Abstract discusses his dreams and ambitions that are not yet fulfilled, including his desire to move away and buy his parents a house.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you (could you) try (uh, now, now, now)
To remember what you said tonight
Do you remember how high we was? (Oh boy)
Asking someone to remember what they said while being high
If I, if I don't wanna say sorry (if I don't want to)
Then nigga, I won't (ayayayayay)
Motherfuck a high road (ayayayayay), is it closest?
Rejecting the idea of apologizing and taking the high road
Who touchin' my, who touchin' my, who touchin' my bag
You're hurtin' me bad, I ain't seen the glass, it's the summer
I ain't going bad, better believe in that, had to creep 'em fast
Think I'm finna burn it, burn it to the ground, bruh
Protecting personal belongings and ready to take revenge
I drink, I smoke, I drink, I smoke, I drink until I sleep (you gotta pass the thing over herr')
I know, I know, I know, I know, this shit gon' catch up to me (yeah, yeah, yeah shawty, I)
I drink, I smoke, I drink, I smoke, I drink until I sleep (you gotta pass the thing over herr')
I know, I know, I know, I know, red wine gon' catch up to me (West side, red, red wine)
Admitting to excessive drinking and smoking, with the knowledge of future consequences
I can't sleep next to no one
Who don't look like, who don't look like you
And all my girlfriends, they tell me
Well you would have been better if you picked someone who is just like you
(Who touchin' my, who touchin' my, who touchin' my mind)
Insisting on only being attracted to someone who looks like a specific person
You gotta pass the thing over herr'
Yeah, yeah, yeah shawty, I
(Microphone check, check, one, two)
You gotta pass the thing over herr'
(Microphone check, check, one, two)
Yeah, shawty, West side, yeah, West side, shawty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Passing a microphone around while hyping up the West side
I'm stuck in a van with a mask on
Think about taking my life, but the plan's wrong
Think about finding a way to make the sand go, gone
I need another song to sing along to
Feeling trapped and suicidal, but realizing the plan is wrong and looking for a way out
Ninth grade, Tyler was the illest shit I ever heard
Going to his concerts, no mask, singing every word
I think it's kinda crazy how my life panned out
I think it sucks that you and I ain't worked out
Reflecting on teenage years and how life turned out different than expected
I used to sleep on Jon's couch, saying I'll be out, it's been sooner than later
Seventeen, I said was gon' make some shit
I was gon' be bigger than the fader, I wanna be paramount
I wanna move far away and buy my parents a house
I was obsessed with a blouse, I just liked the way it looked
I thought the brother was cute, he was older than this dawg
I was breaking the rules, I was a flaming faggot
That's what the principal called me
Not to my face, but I felt
When I was stuck in his office
Recalling personal struggles and ambitions in life, including coming out and experiencing discrimination
I'm just a, I'm just another American problem, my nigga
Uh, uh, yeah, yeah
Another American problem
Identifying as someone who faces issues as an American
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Abhi Raju, Ian Simpson, Jack Antonoff, Romil Hemnani
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind