The Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) Songfacts reports that Fiasco’s first single off his fourth studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 debuted on May 21, 2012. On "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)," he spits rhymes about aspects of modern American life he doesn’t like such as "Suicide bombers and prosperity gospels, emaciated models, with cocaine and blood pouring out their nostrils” as well as socio-political problems in Ghana and the invasion of Iraq.
Lupe released his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth on January 20, 2015.
Lupe's 8th Studio Album DRILL MUSIC IN ZION was released on June 23rd 2022
Lupe has previously been on label Epic with his group Da Pak and then signed a solo deal with Arista. His years at Arista only led to the 2003 promo single "Pop Pop" as well as guest appearances on singles from Tha' Rayne (2002's "Kiss Me" and 2003's "Didn't You Know") and K Fox (2003's "This Life"), then Arista folded in 2004 and Lupe was signed to Atlantic Records.
hello goodbye
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics
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Hello sunshine
Hello not at all
Hello all the time
Hello nowhere
Hello oblivions
Hello goodbye
Hello sunshine
Hello not at all
Hello all the time
Hello nowhere
Hello oblivions
Hello goodbye
Hello darkness
You, you, you, you, you
All in together the weather is better then ever
I hope it never ends I hope it lasts forever
But when it does we can all pretend that its been better than its ever been
Lie to our selves like sky to a bell
And its well and its fine and its fine if we fell
And you can refined the story line if you survive to a tell
We are targets
Hello darkness
Hello sunshine
Hello not at all
Hello all the time
Hello nowhere
Hello oblivions
Hello goodbye
You said everythings gunna be fine
You said everythings gunna be OK
You said just don't breathe the air
He just sits and waits for them to kick in the door
He once was a hero they don't love him no more
There was a blast
Everytime a tear hits the floor
His gift for not fighting an other mans war
And if, they can get they hands on the mask that he wore
On his face they can put somebody else in his place or restore
To state the illusion that its safe, the faith
That being a slave is so great
As gas fill the room and rockets destroy everything around him
He stands to find himself surrounded
By thousands of soldiers that he once trained
And never miss they targets heartless=
Hello darkness
Hello sunshine
Hello not at all
Hello all the time
Hello nowhere
Hello olbivioin
Hello goodbye
Hello darkness
Hello darkness
Hello sunshine
Hello not at all
Hello all the time
Hello nowhere
Hello olbivioin
Hello goodbye
Hey darkness
Hey sunshine
Hello not at all
Hello all the time
Hello nowhere
Hello olbivioin
Hello goodbye
The lyrics of Lupe Fiasco's song Hello/Goodbye describe the ambiguity of life that fluctuates between happy and sad moments. The repetitiveness of the lyrics "Hello darkness, Hello sunshine, Hello not at all, Hello all the time, Hello nowhere, Hello oblivions, Hello goodbye" highlights the constant change in life. The use of contrast in the lyrics of the happy and sad moments reveals how they are interconnected. The line "All in together the weather is better than ever" is an optimistic portrayal of life where everything seems to be going well, but the line "But when it does we can all pretend that it's been better than it's ever been" reveals that it's natural to pretend things are better than they are when we are going through tough times.
Additionally, the lyrics showcase the futility of war and the emotional impact it has on soldiers. The line "He once was a hero, they don't love him anymore" shows how soldiers who are hailed as heroes during the war are overlooked and forgotten about when they return home. The line "And if they can get their hands on the mask that he wore on his face, they can put somebody else in his place or restore the illusion that it's safe" portrays the idea that the government can easily replace soldiers, and their individual sacrifices are meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, Lupe Fiasco's Hello/Goodbye is a reflection on the cyclical and uncertain nature of life and the tragedies that come with it. The song speaks to the human experience of finding hope in moments of darkness but ultimately acknowledging the existence of oblivion.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darkness
Addressing the presence of negative and unpleasant emotions or experiences.
Hello sunshine
Addressing the presence of positive and pleasant emotions or experiences.
Hello not at all
Addressing the absence of any particular emotion or experience.
Hello all the time
Addressing the constant presence of any particular emotion or experience.
Hello nowhere
Addressing a sense of being lost or disoriented.
Hello oblivions
Addressing a sense of being forgotten or ignored.
Hello goodbye
Addressing the act of saying goodbye or parting ways.
You, you, you, you, you
Referring to multiple people.
All in together the weather is better then ever
Suggesting that people are better off working together, rather than being apart.
I hope it never ends I hope it lasts forever
Expressing a desire for something to continue indefinitely.
But when it does we can all pretend that its been better than its ever been
Suggesting that people may try to remember things more positively than they actually were in order to feel better about them.
Lie to our selves like sky to a bell
Using an odd comparison to suggest that people often lie to themselves.
And its well and its fine and its fine if we fell
Suggesting that falling is okay sometimes.
And you can refined the story line if you survive to a tell
Suggesting that people can alter their memories of past events over time.
We are targets
Referring to people being preyed upon by negative forces or events.
You said everythings gunna be fine
Referring to false promises of a brighter future.
You said everythings gunna be OK
Referring to false promises of a brighter present.
You said just don't breathe the air
Referring to some kind of danger that people might face in the world.
He just sits and waits for them to kick in the door
Describing a scene in which someone is bracing themselves for something negative or violent.
He once was a hero they don't love him no more
Describing a person who was once loved or respected by others, but who isn't any longer.
Everytime a tear hits the floor
Describing how someone is crying or sad.
His gift for not fighting an other mans war
Suggesting that someone may have chosen to stay out of a war or conflict that wasn't their own to fight.
And if, they can get they hands on the mask that he wore
Describing a person wearing some kind of disguise or masquerade.
On his face they can put somebody else in his place or restore
Suggesting that someone's identity can be replaced or altered by changing their appearance.
To state the illusion that its safe, the faith
Suggesting that people might create false senses of security or safety in order to feel better about their circumstances.
That being a slave is so great
Suggesting that people are willing to give up their freedom for personal gain or comfort.
As gas fill the room and rockets destroy everything around him
Describing a violent and destructive scene in which someone is in danger.
He stands to find himself surrounded
Describing how someone is in a precarious situation.
By thousands of soldiers that he once trained
Describing how someone's former allies have turned against them.
And never miss they targets heartless=
Suggesting that people can lose their empathy or compassion for others, especially in situations of conflict or violence.
Hey darkness
Addressing a dark or negative situation.
Hey sunshine
Addressing a positive or hopeful situation.
Hello not at all
Addressing the absence of any particular emotion or experience.
Hello all the time
Addressing the constant presence of any particular emotion or experience.
Hello nowhere
Addressing a sense of being lost or disoriented.
Hello olbivioin
Addressing a sense of being forgotten or ignored.
Hello goodbye
Addressing the act of saying goodbye or parting ways.
Hello darkness
Addressing the presence of negative and unpleasant emotions or experiences.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: WASALU JACO, CHRISTOPHER ALLEN GOSS, JOSH HOMME, JAMES RICHARD LAVELLE, RICHARD LEIGH FILE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind