Parade
Tyler the Creator Lyrics
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Future (Still not of a boy)
Wolf (This my only joy)
Gang (Now let's parade in gold)
Welcome to the euphoria of cocaine without able
I can make music that makes sense, but not meant to be stable
Eighteen with the whole world in front of me
Odd (I'm not yet a man)
Future (Still not of a boy)
Wolf (This my only joy)
Gang (Now let's parade in gold)
I scream and jump around on couches while you sit and talk
I skip to places, smiling faces, while you fucking walk
My TV stays on Cartoon Network, fuck that Twilight shit
You have highlights about your life, I have lights 'bout my high life bitch
Go to college, get a job, marry, have a kid
Watch them grow and then you die? No, nigga fuck the system
Odd (I'm not yet a man)
Future (Still not of a boy)
Wolf (This my only joy)
Gang (Now let's parade in gold)
Good kids make bad grown ups
Stay gold, stray old, maturing means that your life sucks
In my wolf suit I roam where the wild things at
Still growing, still learning, not knowing that I'm maxed
I don't want to grow up, I know that shit for a fact, nigga eighteen
Odd (I'm not yet a man)
Future (Still not of a boy)
Wolf (This my only joy)
Gang (Now let's parade in gold)
They say I'm immature, I say that they depressed
I talk to unicorns, I'm wearing a uniform
Of a nigga that don't give a fuck about time
You live your life all serious while I'm enjoying mine
The lyrics of Tyler The Creator and Mike G's song Parade are a celebration of teenage rebellion and freedom. The song talks about how the members of Odd Future, the hip-hop collective to which Tyler and Mike belonged, were different from the rest of society. They were odd, still not fully grown, but they found joy in their art and their shared passion for music. The gang mentality that they had was a source of pride, and they wanted to show off their success and wealth in a golden parade.
Tyler's verse starts with a reference to the euphoric feeling of doing cocaine, and he goes on to talk about how his music doesn't follow any rules or conventions. He is proud of being a part of Odd Future, a group of teenagers who are fearless and unstoppable. He rejects the traditional path of going to college, getting a job, and settling down, and instead embraces the wildness of his youth.
Mike's verse is more introspective, but still in line with the overall theme of the song. He acknowledges that growing up sucks, and that being mature means giving up some of the freedom and joy that come with being young. He still wears his wolf suit, a symbol of his wild and untamed spirit, and roams through life learning and growing. He rejects the idea of conforming to societal norms and instead chooses to live life on his terms.
Overall, the lyrics of Parade are a celebration of youth and rebellion, a rejection of the traditional path of adulthood, and a declaration of independence and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Odd (I'm not yet a man)
At this point in my life, I have not yet achieved manhood
Future (Still not of a boy)
I am beyond boyhood however not yet in the state of being a man.
Wolf (This my only joy)
Wearing a wolf suit gives me the most satisfaction in life
Gang (Now let's parade in gold)
Let us now march in grandeur and luxury
Welcome to the euphoria of cocaine without able
This is what it feels like to be happy and ecstatic without dependence on any external substances
I can make music that makes sense, but not meant to be stable
My music has logic, but it's not supposed to be predictable
Eighteen with the whole world in front of me
I am 18 years old and have my entire life ahead of me
Odd Future teenagers, nobody can fuck with we
Members of Odd Future are strong and invincible teenagers, impervious to external challenges
I scream and jump around on couches while you sit and talk
I am more expressive, while you are reserved
I skip to places, smiling faces, while you fucking walk
I am cheerful when I travel, whereas you are constantly serious
My TV stays on Cartoon Network, fuck that Twilight shit
I prefer to watch cartoons rather than dramas like Twilight
You have highlights about your life, I have lights 'bout my high life bitch
Your life may have had significant moments, but my high life was much more exciting
Go to college, get a job, marry, have a kid
The conventional path of life starts with college, results in marriage and kids
Watch them grow and then you die? No, nigga fuck the system
I disagree with the systems paradigm of education leading to monotonous life and eventual death
Good kids make bad grown ups
Kids that are good are less capable as adults
Stay gold, stray old, maturing means that your life sucks
Better maintain your joy and retain naivety, because the older you grow, life becomes less interesting
In my wolf suit I roam where wild things at
I can get wild in my wolf suit in wild locations
Still growing, still learning, not knowing that I'm maxed
I'm never done developing or discovering, yet I don't realize my full potential
I don't want to grow up, I know that shit for a fact, nigga eighteen
I don't want to grow up because I don't want life to suck, and I am sure of this decision because I'm eighteen
They say I'm immature, I say that they depressed
People view me as juvenile, but I consider them to be unhappy
I talk to unicorns, I'm wearing a uniform
I converse with imaginary creatures and wear clothes that represent my casual demeanor
Of a nigga that don't give a fuck about time
I'm not concerned about wasting or saving time
You live your life all serious while I'm enjoying mine
You lead a serious life, while I having a fun-filled one
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tyler Okonma
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind