Pale
Tyler the Creator Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nig​ga class of '09
Half you motherfuckers on yo’ day job
You stupid motherfuckers
Haha, I’m a legend though
Congratulations to them other
Motherfuckers that passed yeah, uh
Yeah
Kindergarten, I was only nine
On the swing set makin’ four
Gone is the two-four, Godwink fashion
Gay porn mixing up a sentence in a stanza
The nannies in pajamas with her janitor
My only mention was the cancer

Yeah, yeah

I was treated like a stranger




All the gang bangers
Flanger, emo life was a hanger

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics from Tyler, the Creator's song "Pale," he reflects on his past and his experiences growing up. The line "Nig​ga class of '09" refers to him graduating high school in 2009, highlighting a specific period in his life and a sense of pride in his accomplishments. He then addresses those who may not have achieved the same level of success, sarcastically congratulating them for sticking to their regular day jobs.


The reference to kindergarten and being only nine suggests a reflection on his childhood innocence and the nostalgia associated with simpler times. The line "On the swing set makin’ four" may allude to his early creativity and imagination, perhaps creating imaginary scenarios or just enjoying the freedom of play.


However, as the lyrics continue, Tyler delves into darker themes. "Gone is the two-four, Godwink fashion" could imply the loss of his innocence or the passing of time. The reference to "Gay porn mixing up a sentence in a stanza" is a provocative line that Tyler often incorporates in his lyrics, challenging societal norms and expectations.


The mention of a nanny in pajamas and a janitor may hint at a sense of isolation or feeling like an outsider. The final line, "My only mention was the cancer," could be interpreted metaphorically, representing a struggle or obstacle he faced during his upbringing. Ultimately, "Pale" incorporates elements of nostalgia, reflection, and ambiguity, allowing listeners to interpret the lyrics in their own way.


Line by Line Meaning

Nig​ga class of '09
I was part of the graduating class of 2009


Half you motherfuckers on yo’ day job
Most of you are just average workers during the day


You stupid motherfuckers
You all are incredibly unintelligent


Haha, I’m a legend though
Despite that, I consider myself a legendary figure


Congratulations to them other
Congratulations to those


Motherfuckers that passed yeah, uh
People who have succeeded, they deserve recognition


Kindergarten, I was only nine
When I was in kindergarten, I was just nine years old


On the swing set makin’ four
Playing on the swings, trying to make friends


Gone is the two-four, Godwink fashion
Time has passed, things have changed


Gay porn mixing up a sentence in a stanza
Creating provocative lyrics, mixing unconventional elements together


The nannies in pajamas with her janitor
The caregivers in their comfortable clothes, along with the janitor


My only mention was the cancer
The only notable thing about me was my struggle with illness


I was treated like a stranger
People treated me as if they didn't know me


All the gang bangers
Even the members of the gang


Flanger, emo life was a hanger
The distorted sound effect, my emotional life was just hanging there




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@kaedotmoe

Kolp lako

It's not so much we want him to be an icon or anything.
Tyler's never been the best artist for political dialogue.
If you read a couple of articles some LGBT people were actually shitting on him for being a homophobic gay whatever the fuck is; it's dumb

It's just that flower boy has been the most sentimental (flowery) album, and it seems sincere, so in order to fully respect the work, it is kinda important to think about wether it's serious or not.

And if it's serious and he wants to talk about some shit, like having a soulless life of materialism, or being gay or whatever the fuck, we need to listen, and acknowledge its existence, and contemplate. Idk if you know this but listening and then pretending that none of it is real is not listening.

That's the thing with "lgbt/I don't give a fuck" too.
It's fine to accept people and be like "yeah idc that's cool".
But if he wants to come out and have people not care, he wants people to recognize he's gay and then not care. There's a difference between people knowing you're gay and accepting it and not giving a shit, and people not caring if you're gay and not giving a shit.

In one case, them stating you're gay and not caring means it's ok.
In the other case, sure they're not angry, but it's more ambiguous.

Seems like a small difference but it's important when you feel like the whole world is against you or w/e idk



All comments from YouTube:

@ciantyson7533

tree looks like a sad godzilla

@tystacks2158

I don’t see it but I feel it

@thisisnotharvey

oh shit I see it

@billyboy3257

Wow I see it to crazy lol

@britishraccoon

@@CiaoChowChao thank god you saw it i thought I was just mad

@CiaoChowChao

british raccoon lmao

458 More Replies...

@patrick____no

category: education

damn right

@lilgsq

mushymellow26 haha I saw that too lol

@sambridges4670

gaming laptop his comment was posted 3 months ago where it did say that upon release, dumbass

@sambridges4670

gaming laptop Damn my bad, you can't always tell which people are mentally deficient or just twelve on the internet. I should've asked before I hit you with the truth. Now go to sleep it's past your bedtime. 😂

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