I.O.U.
Locksmith Lyrics

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Locksmith]
And I can't explain what it meant to me
On the phone with my girl as she vents to me
It made sense, what I consider past tense
Had intense, but I pleaded ignorance in defense of me
Like lady why you tripping
In person it worsens, curses, screaming and kicking
You drop your bag as you was leaving in that cab

Turned around and threw a kiss off the glass like Pippin
Who are you to judge me, I cannot resolve this
You probably the only true friend I'm still involved with
But inside bitter, you told that the day my mama died
A piece of me died with her
Yet and still you brought me back
Never quit on what's real, you taught me that
Life struggles and ills, we all react
But I could never second guess where I'm at
And I owe you that

The more I think about us, I realize
You always were selfish
How hard I tried
The more you seem to doubt us
I see what's right
You'll always be like that
One time

One time
Never mind the past
That was just one time
Couldn't bear one time
One more chance
Bring it back one time
Locksmith]
And I agree it's much deeper than the surface
But as a man they teach you that's where your worth is
So how can I judge a woman for her mind
When all I try to do is front so I can push her from behind
Life is not a cake walk, relationships will work
That's what you used to tell me so how could I revert
Back to where we started from and I thought I was the shit
Cause I came to a fist fight with a starter gun
But got slapped in the face by reality
After we hooked up, I thought we was living happily
Actually what had happened was
I was too distracted by a fantasy to even see what happy was
Fucked around and gave you pain
Then I turned around and gave you blame
And I'm sorry for all of that
But I grew after every single spat
And I owe you that

The more I think about us, I realize
You always were selfish
How hard I tried
The more you seem to doubt us
I see what's right
You'll always be like that
One time

One time
Never mind the past
That was just one time
Couldn't bear one time
One more chance
Bring it back one time
Locksmith]
And men are so emotionless with no heart
Thought I could change, but I think I got a slow start
No part of me, part of me you can part me
Partially told a lie, you can see it, you was so sharp
But so far, so good as far as we know
And we know, men are only faithful to their egos
Is that a weapon or a tool
Let me prove, I'm an exception to the rule

The more I think about us, I realize
You always were selfish

How hard I tried
One time

Overall Meaning

In the song "I.O.U.", Locksmith is reflecting on a past relationship and expressing gratitude to his ex-girlfriend for teaching him valuable life lessons despite the difficulties they faced. The first verse delves into a phone conversation with the ex-girlfriend as she vents her frustrations, and Locksmith admits that he had previously ignored her feelings. He reflects on her impact on his life, and how she helped him develop a stronger sense of self in the face of tragedy. The chorus explores the complexities of their relationship, with Locksmith acknowledging his ex-girlfriend's self-centered tendencies, but also recognizing the the value of second chances. The second verse continues to reflect on the relationship, with Locksmith admitting to his own flaws and shortcomings. He acknowledges that he caused his ex-girlfriend pain and regret, but also expresses gratitude for the growth he experienced as a result. The song comes to an end with Locksmith acknowledging the emotional toll of the relationship, but ultimately expressing hope for the future.

Overall, "I.O.U." is a thoughtful reflection on a past relationship and the lessons learned from it. The song is notable for its emotional depth and honesty, as Locksmith bravely confronts his own flaws and shortcomings while expressing gratitude for the positive impact his ex-girlfriend had on his life.

Line by Line Meaning

And I can't explain what it meant to me
I am unable to put into words how much this moment or situation impacted me personally.

On the phone with my girl as she vents to me
I am discussing an issue with my significant other and listening to them vent their frustration or feelings towards something.

It made sense, what I consider past tense
Looking back on the situation, I understand how I could have handled things differently and how it has since impacted me.

Had intense, but I pleaded ignorance in defense of me
Things were heated and intense, but I chose to ignore or deny my role in the situation to protect my own ego.

Like lady why you tripping
I may have dismissed the emotions or concerns of the other party and questioned why they were getting upset or emotional.

In person it worsens, curses, screaming and kicking
When we are face to face, the situation becomes more intense and can escalate to a physical level.

You drop your bag as you was leaving in that cab
The other person was leaving and in the process of doing so, dropped their bag as they left in a cab.

Turned around and threw a kiss off the glass like Pippin
As they were leaving, they blew a kiss towards me as a final gesture, similar to how basketball player Scottie Pippin would wave goodbye to the crowd after a game.

Who are you to judge me, I cannot resolve this
I may have felt attacked or criticized by the other person and unable to find a solution to the problem at hand.

You probably the only true friend I'm still involved with
Despite our disagreements or issues, the other person is still one of my closest friends or companions.

But inside bitter, you told that the day my mama died
I may have felt resentment or bitterness towards the other person because they mentioned something regarding my mother's death, which is a sensitive topic for me.

A piece of me died with her
Losing my mother was a significant loss for me and has impacted me deeply.

Yet and still you brought me back
Despite any resentment or bitterness, the other person has been there for me and helped me through difficult times.

Never quit on what's real, you taught me that
The other person has taught me the value and importance of sticking with what is genuine and authentic.

Life struggles and ills, we all react
We all have our own issues and face obstacles in life, but it's how we respond to them that matters.

But I could never second guess where I'm at
I am confident and secure in my current situation or position in life and do not doubt myself.

And I owe you that
I am grateful and indebted to the other person for their role in my life and our relationship.

The more I think about us, I realize
As I reflect on our relationship, I have come to a deeper understanding or realization about it.

You always were selfish
I have identified a pattern of behavior in the other person where they prioritize their own needs or desires above others.

How hard I tried
I put in a lot of effort and work to try and make the relationship work or improve things.

I see what's right
Despite the challenges we faced, I can appreciate what went well or was positive about our relationship.

You'll always be like that
I am relatively certain that the other person's behavior or attitude towards relationships will remain consistent in the future.

One time
There was a specific instance or moment that I am referring to.

Never mind the past
I am choosing to not dwell on or regret previous events or mistakes.

That was just one time
The negative or unpleasant incident was an isolated occurrence rather than a pattern of behavior.

Couldn't bear one time
The emotional toll or impact of the incident was significant and difficult to handle.

One more chance
I am hoping for another opportunity or try to make things better or improve the relationship.

And men are so emotionless with no heart
I am acknowledging and criticizing the societal expectation for men to be dispassionate and unfeeling.

Thought I could change, but I think I got a slow start
I believed I could overcome societal expectations and show more emotion in my relationships, but it has been a difficult or slow process.

No part of me, part of me you can part me
I am divided or conflicted within myself about my ability to show emotion and connect with others.

Partially told a lie, you can see it, you was so sharp
I may have been insincere or dishonest in my interactions with the other person, but they were able to see through my facade.

But so far, so good as far as we know
Despite any challenges or issues we have faced, things are going well overall and there is hope for the future.

And we know, men are only faithful to their egos
I am acknowledging and criticizing the tendency for men to prioritize their own egos or desires above their relationships or partners.

Is that a weapon or a tool
I am questioning whether this tendency is beneficial or harmful in relationships.

Let me prove, I'm an exception to the rule
I am hoping to show that I am not like other men and am capable of being more emotionally available and invested in a relationship.

Contributed by Jake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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