In 2015, just shy of his high school graduation, Kweku joined the Chicago's indie rap outfit, Closed Sessions and shortly after released his debut EP, Say It Here While It's Safe. The EP received critical praise and landed Kweku on Pigeons and Planes "20 Under 20: Teenage Rappers You Should Know" list.
In 2016, Kweku followed up with Nat Love - a proper LP that garnered an 8.0 Pitchfork Review, produced a Pitchfork Best New Track, and landed Kweku in publications such as The FADER, Billboard, Chicago Reader, and more. Kweku's latest project, Grey, and single "Sisko and Kasidy" are available now via iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, and other digital retailers.
The Outsiders
Kweku Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love me in the dark bae
Love is a battlefield
Pat Benatar shit
Give you all them stars bae
If I'mma be a star, bae
Still give me all of you
Giving you my all, bae
Ordinary people staying golden, going crazy, fucking outliers
I'mma kiss you like you Chrissy, Missy be my Cherry, putting out fires
See I ain't never running from a rumbler, only if I got my crime partner
My honor is my word, my bark is my bite, girl
My cold world, my lips curl, love your curves, love your words
Seeing as I'm leaving now or later, love me longer, longing for you, my dear
Being we believe in bleeding, we get even with our demons, baby, I swear
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
You can see it on the East Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the North Side?
You can see it on the South Side too
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah, yeah
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah
Love me when we parted
Never heavy-hearted
If you knew how I felt love
You know where my heart is
We can watch sunsets
Sitting on the North End
Can we fall in love while "West Savannah" banging out through the night, babe?
See everybody need the love of mother sister brother father figure, lo
If everybody can be anybody, I'll be Darry to your Ponyboy, oh
I dare anybody lay a finger on you, Imma throw them hands on the low
See I ain't ever running from your side, beside you I remain no matter where you go
If you go, I go too, moon and back, universe
Who came first, chick or egg?
Who fell first, him or her?
You can leave me lonely, homie, Imma hold the fort and find a way to make it strong
Go tell old Johnny Imma keep it golden, holdin to my hope, Selah
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
You can see it on the Left Side too
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah, yeah
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah yeah
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
You can see it on the East Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the North Side?
You can see it on the South Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
You can see it on the Left Side too
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
The lyrics to Kweku Collins's song The Outsiders are about love, loyalty, and resilience in the face of adversity. Kweku Collins expresses his desire for love and support from his partner, even in the darkest of times. He references Pat Benatar's iconic song, "Love Is a Battlefield," implying that love is not always easy, but it is worth fighting for. Kweku Collins also makes literary references to the characters Johnny and Dally from the novel "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton, who are outcasts that stick together no matter what. Kweku Collins compares himself and his partner to these characters, emphasizing their bond and loyalty.
The chorus, "stay gold for me," is a reference to a line from "The Outsiders" which means to stay true to oneself and not let the harsh realities of life change who you are. Kweku Collins asks his partner to hold on to their love and stay true to themselves, even when things get tough. The song also touches on the idea of belonging and community, with references to family members and different sides of Chicago.
Overall, The Outsiders is a song that conveys a deep sense of love, loyalty, and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Love me in the darkness
Please love me even when things get difficult and bleak
Love me in the dark bae
Please love me even when you can't see me clearly
Love is a battlefield
Love can be tough and challenging, like a battle
Pat Benatar shit
Referencing Pat Benatar's song 'Love Is A Battlefield' to emphasize the comparison
Give you all them stars bae
If I become famous and successful, I will always prioritize you
If I'mma be a star, bae
If I become famous and successful
Still give me all of you
Continue to love and support me even if I become a star
Giving you my all, bae
I will give you all of my love and effort
If I'mma be a Legend, I'mma be a Johnny to your Dally, Outsiders
Being a legendary figure, I will always be there for you like Johnny and Dally in the book 'The Outsiders'
Ordinary people staying golden, going crazy, fucking outliers
Regular people are capable of amazing things, even if it means going against the norm
I'mma kiss you like you Chrissy, Missy be my Cherry, putting out fires
I will show you love and affection, and be there for you in tough times
See I ain't never running from a rumbler, only if I got my crime partner
I won't back down from a fight, but only if I have someone by my side
My honor is my word, my bark is my bite, girl
I am a man of my word and will stand up for what I believe in
My cold world, my lips curl, love your curves, love your words
I may be distant or guarded, but I appreciate and love all aspects of you
Seeing as I'm leaving now or later, love me longer, longing for you, my dear
Since I may leave eventually, cherish and love me for as long as you can
Being we believe in bleeding, we get even with our demons, baby, I swear
Since we both struggle with inner demons, we will fight them together and overcome them
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
Asking if you can appreciate the beauty of life even in a difficult situation
You can see it on the East Side too
The beauty of life exists everywhere, even in hardship
And stay gold for me, yeah
Please remain pure and true for me
Love me when we parted
Continue to love me even when we are separated
Never heavy-hearted
Don't let separation or difficulties weigh you down emotionally
If you knew how I felt love
If you truly understood my feelings
You know where my heart is
You would know that my heart belongs to you
We can watch sunsets
We can enjoy the simple pleasures of life together
Sitting on the North End
Sitting on the northern part of a location, enjoying the view
Can we fall in love while 'West Savannah' banging out through the night, babe?
Can we fall in love amidst the sounds of the city?
See everybody need the love of mother sister brother father figure, lo
Everyone needs the love and support of a family member
If everybody can be anybody, I'll be Darry to your Ponyboy, oh
If anyone can be anyone, I want to be the protective older brother figure to your vulnerable younger brother character in 'The Outsiders'
I dare anybody lay a finger on you, Imma throw them hands on the low
I will protect you from anyone who tries to harm you
See I ain't ever running from your side, beside you I remain no matter where you go
I will always stand by your side, no matter where life takes us
If you go, I go too, moon and back, universe
I will follow you anywhere, even to the ends of the universe
Who came first, chick or egg?
A lighthearted question asking which came first, the chicken or the egg
Who fell first, him or her?
A playful question asking who fell in love first
You can leave me lonely, homie, Imma hold the fort and find a way to make it strong
Even if you leave me, I will work hard to make myself and my life better
Go tell old Johnny Imma keep it golden, holdin to my hope, Selah
Tell Johnny (from 'The Outsiders') that I will always cherish and hold on to my hope and love
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
Asking if you can appreciate the beauty of life even in a positive situation
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Acknowledging the gift of life and being present in the moment
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
Asking if we will continue to be together after death
Contributed by Jasmine G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
matt r
Love me in the darkness
Love me in the dark bae
Love is a battlefield
Pat Benatar shit
Give you all them stars bae
If I'mma be a star, bae
Still give me all of you
Giving you my all, bae
If I'mma be a Legend, I'mma be a Johnny to your Dally, Outsiders
Ordinary people staying golden, going crazy, fucking outliers
I'mma kiss you like you Chrissy, Missy be my Cherry, putting out fires
See I ain't never running from a rumbler, only if I got my crime partner
My honor is my word, my bark is my bite, girl
My cold world, my lips curl, love your curves, love your words
Seeing as I'm leaving now or later, love me longer, longing for you, my dear
Being we believe in bleeding, we get even with our demons, baby, I swear
[Bridge]
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
You can see it on the East Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the North Side?
You can see it on the South Side too
[Hook]
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah, yeah
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah
[Verse 2: Kweku Collins]
Love me when we parted
Never heavy-hearted
If you knew how I felt love
You know where my heart is
We can watch sunsets
Sitting on the North End
Can we fall in love while "West Savannah" banging out through the night, babe?
See everybody need the love of mother sister brother father figure, lo
If everybody can be anybody, I'll be Darry to your Ponyboy, oh
I dare anybody lay a finger on you, Imma throw them hands on the low
See I ain't ever running from your side, beside you I remain no matter where you go
If you go, I go too, moon and back, universe
Who came first, chick or egg?
Who fell first, him or her?
You can leave me lonely, homie, Imma hold the fort and find a way to make it strong
Go tell old Johnny Imma keep it golden, holdin to my hope, Selah
[Bridge]
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
You can see it on the Left Side too
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
[Hook]
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah, yeah
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah yeah
[Outro]
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
You can see it on the East Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the North Side?
You can see it on the South Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
You can see it on the Left Side too
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
Captain *J M* Feathersword
This is literally the most beautiful song ever written 🥰💕❤️💖
Derek Benedict
Im sitting final table in a poker tourney and this track is killing me softly, I only wish it was an hour long.
Nick Cooper
Derek Benedict that shit hits me hard too
The Dude
I can't get enough of this song!!
Not only is it a great song but I love the references to the characters from the movie The Outsiders. Among other things I also like to play video games, and when I do, I name my characters Pwnyboy from this movie. Love this!!
Christina Gutierrez
if you ever have a chance to see Kweku, he puts on a good ass motherfucking show. I felt like crying when he played this.
Ced Zeppelin
Damn! I has this song on my playlist and it was erased! So glad I've found this after two years of searching! 💯💯💯💯💯💯
matt r
Love me in the darkness
Love me in the dark bae
Love is a battlefield
Pat Benatar shit
Give you all them stars bae
If I'mma be a star, bae
Still give me all of you
Giving you my all, bae
If I'mma be a Legend, I'mma be a Johnny to your Dally, Outsiders
Ordinary people staying golden, going crazy, fucking outliers
I'mma kiss you like you Chrissy, Missy be my Cherry, putting out fires
See I ain't never running from a rumbler, only if I got my crime partner
My honor is my word, my bark is my bite, girl
My cold world, my lips curl, love your curves, love your words
Seeing as I'm leaving now or later, love me longer, longing for you, my dear
Being we believe in bleeding, we get even with our demons, baby, I swear
[Bridge]
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
You can see it on the East Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the North Side?
You can see it on the South Side too
[Hook]
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah, yeah
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah
[Verse 2: Kweku Collins]
Love me when we parted
Never heavy-hearted
If you knew how I felt love
You know where my heart is
We can watch sunsets
Sitting on the North End
Can we fall in love while "West Savannah" banging out through the night, babe?
See everybody need the love of mother sister brother father figure, lo
If everybody can be anybody, I'll be Darry to your Ponyboy, oh
I dare anybody lay a finger on you, Imma throw them hands on the low
See I ain't ever running from your side, beside you I remain no matter where you go
If you go, I go too, moon and back, universe
Who came first, chick or egg?
Who fell first, him or her?
You can leave me lonely, homie, Imma hold the fort and find a way to make it strong
Go tell old Johnny Imma keep it golden, holdin to my hope, Selah
[Bridge]
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
You can see it on the Left Side too
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
[Hook]
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah, yeah
And stay gold for me, yeah
And stay golden for me, yeah yeah
[Outro]
Can you see the sun set real good on the West Side?
You can see it on the East Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the North Side?
You can see it on the South Side too
Can you see the sun set real good on the Right Side?
You can see it on the Left Side too
Knowing we alive right here on this here side, lord
Do you think you'll see me on the other side too?
Francisco
I have this song haunt my dreams and I love it.
Nate One
I love kweku.. I hope he'd be the icon of psychedelic type rap he's way better than chance. I like it but a little too mumble on certain words but it's not "mumble music" he clearly chooses to mix it up and you hear every word almost
Nathan Monroe
Kweku Collins has acknowledged that he sampled "Feather on the Clyde" by Passenger.