Sam
Tyler the Creator Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

This life is a game, if you wanna play
Then count all your own mistakes
Livin' it with no delay
So fast I'm getting growing pains
Father didn't show me my instincts to take the open lane
I go insane, all the problems come with my growing age, blowin' haze
Trying to clear the doubt that's sitting on my brain, I don't complain
But the kid inside me's feeling so restrained, gotta stay golden
Let desire rekindle the flame
Searchin' for the Fountain of Youth, when I'm free in my brain

(Bring in the horns) You hear that fucking brass?
(Fucking brass, nigga) That's little boy nigga with the trumpets
Marchin' with the bandwagon
Looking for his heart, no sleeve
But his hand carry muskets
Working in the meadows, oblivion
Motherfuck Geppetto
He's a leader, not a puppet
Some professors nutty, you're the Klump's dick
So think before you blink, and "Aye-Aye" make assumptions

Nigga's!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!) Nigga's coming!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!)

Nigga's!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!) Nigga's coming!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!)

They want a story, a story
I write the shit that I find very amusing
'Cause all the other fuckin' stories are boring
It's really awkward to know, that a bunch of kids do adore me
It's like I fathered these fuckers, so you will find me on Maury
I'm still a kid in my heart, so I have a problem maturing
But it will come from experience and shit I see touring
I'm like a birdman, I'm soaring, really high
And I'm really horny, from watching this porn

Nope (Bring in the horns) You hear that fucking brass?
(Fucking brass, nigga) That's little boy nigga with the trumpets
Marchin' with the bandwagon
Looking for his heart, no sleeve
But his hand carry muskets
Working in the meadows, Oblivion
Motherfuck Geppetto
He's a leader, not a puppet
Some professors nutty, you're the Klump's dick
So think before you blink, and "Aye-Aye" make assumptions

Nigga's!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!) Nigga's coming!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!)

Nigga's!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!) Nigga's coming!
(Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!)

Five (Erer-erer-erer br-bring in the)
Four (Erer-erer-erer br-bring in the)
Three (Erer-erer-erer br-bring in the)
Two (Erer-erer-erer)
Where's Tyler?

Bottom of the countdown
Shit ain't been the same since I found out
Hodgy Beats ghost wrote for Bow-Wow
Now I'm the loud, shot, body-styled, foul mouth fucker
That your teenage kid, likes to bow down
Riding around town in Seattle
With the same shotgun that Kurt used to "Click-Clack-Boom-Pow"
Still suicidal, but some assume that I'm cool now
'Cause I got a fucking award in my own room now
Nope, but I can flip shit like a couch pillow
And have my death silent like a loose vow
The bandwagon turned into caboose, so




So, don't let that little nigga trumpet lose sound
Just let him play

Overall Meaning

The song "Sam" by Tyler The Creator and Domo Genesis deals with the struggles of growing up and finding oneself. The opening lines "This life is a game, if you wanna play/Then count all your own mistakes" is a call to take ownership of one's actions and learn from them. The following lines express a longing for wisdom and the journey to find it. Tyler talks about the problems that come with growing up and how he's trying to clear his doubt and stay golden. He also talks about the desire to stay young and the search for the Fountain of Youth.


The chorus of the song contains a marching beat and the repeated phrase "Nigga's! (Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!) Nigga's coming! (Your left! Your left! Your left, right, left!)" which adds to the sense of marching and moving forward towards a goal. The song also includes a reference to the story of Pinocchio and Geppetto, with Tyler asserting that he is a leader and not a puppet. The lyrics then shift to focus on the rapper's own struggles with growing up and maturing, as well as the difficulties of navigating fame and popularity.


Line by Line Meaning

This life is a game, if you wanna play
Life is like a game, and if you're in it you have to be ready to play


Then count all your own mistakes
You have to be accountable for your own mistakes


Livin' it with no delay
Live in the moment without hesitation


So fast I'm getting growing pains
Life moves so quickly it's sometimes painful to keep up


Father didn't show me my instincts to take the open lane
My father didn't teach me to follow my natural instincts and take risks


I go insane, all the problems come with my growing age, blowin' haze
I feel like I'm going crazy as I grow older and deal with more problems, so I smoke to relieve stress


Trying to clear the doubt that's sitting on my brain, I don't complain
I'm trying to overcome self-doubt and not complain about my problems


But the kid inside me's feeling so restrained, gotta stay golden
I still feel young at heart and free-spirited, but I have to maintain my optimism


Let desire rekindle the flame
I need to tap into my desires and reignite my passion


Searchin' for the Fountain of Youth, when I'm free in my brain
I'm looking for a way to stay youthful and carefree in my mind


That's little boy nigga with the trumpets
That's a young and inexperienced boy playing the trumpet


Marchin' with the bandwagon
He's following the crowd without thinking for himself


Looking for his heart, no sleeve
He's trying to find his passion without showing vulnerability


But his hand carry muskets
He's armed and ready to fight for his beliefs


Working in the meadows, oblivion
He's working hard in an obscure and ignored place


Motherfuck Geppetto
He's angry at those who try to control him like Geppetto controlled Pinocchio


He's a leader, not a puppet
He wants to lead his own life and make his own choices


Some professors nutty, you're the Klump's dick
Some teachers are crazy, and you're just as ridiculous as the Klumps


So think before you blink, and "Aye-Aye" make assumptions
Don't judge or make assumptions without thinking first


They want a story, a story
People want to hear a good story


I write the shit that I find very amusing
I write what I find funny or interesting


'Cause all the other fuckin' stories are boring
I write my own stories because I find other ones boring


It's really awkward to know, that a bunch of kids do adore me
It's weird knowing that many young people look up to me


It's like I fathered these fuckers, so you will find me on Maury
It's like I'm the father figure for these kids, and they might even try to find me on a TV show like Maury


I'm still a kid in my heart, so I have a problem maturing
I still feel young at heart and have trouble growing up


But it will come from experience and shit I see touring
I'll learn and mature through my experiences and travels


I'm like a birdman, I'm soaring, really high
I feel free and like I'm flying when I'm successful


And I'm really horny, from watching this porn
I have sexual desires and watching porn makes me even more aroused


The bandwagon turned into caboose, so
The people who were following me have now fallen behind


So, don't let that little nigga trumpet lose sound
Don't let that young and inexperienced musician give up or lose his talent


Just let him play
Let him continue to pursue his passion for music


Where's Tyler?
Where is Tyler the Creator?


Shit ain't been the same since I found out
Things haven't been the same since I learned something


Hodgy Beats ghost wrote for Bow-Wow
Hodgy Beats wrote music for Bow-Wow without credit


Now I'm the loud, shot, body-styled, foul mouth fucker
Now I'm the controversial and vulgar musician


That your teenage kid, likes to bow down
That young people admire and look up to despite my controversial content


Riding around town in Seattle
Driving around the city of Seattle


With the same shotgun that Kurt used to "Click-Clack-Boom-Pow"
With the same gun that Kurt Cobain used to kill himself


Still suicidal, but some assume that I'm cool now
I still struggle with suicidal thoughts, but some people think I've moved past it


'Cause I got a fucking award in my own room now
People think I'm successful and have overcome my struggles because I have an award in my room


But I can flip shit like a couch pillow
I can change my attitude or behavior easily


And have my death silent like a loose vow
I could quietly die by suicide like a broken promise




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOMINIQUE COLE, TYLER OKONMA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@paulmejer653

Album Storyline in Order (For anyone who is confused)

Wolf
Bastard
Goblin
Cherry Bomb

By the way, a theory of mine about cherry bomb, is that in goblin he kills all of his friends... EXCEPT EARL (He was in Somalia at the time), which explains why no OF members are in it, and in this video, he kills all of his alter egos, that's why Cherry Bomb was so different. However, I was still confused about the Earl thing... Until I figured out that there was one conclusion...

EARLWOLF Confirmed!



@CallMeMacgyver58

"Bring in the horns
You hear that fucking brass
That's little boy nigga with the trumpets
Marching with the bandwagon
Looking for his heart
No sleeve but his hand carry muskets
Lurking in the meadows, Oblivion
Mothafuck Geppetto, he's a leader not a puppet"
this verse is straight fire 🎆🎆🎉



All comments from YouTube:

@captncucumber825

Nice to know 10 years later Tyler’s still killing off his alter egos in music videos

@shinsenju6387

Like fr

@lillianjazed

@@shinsenju6387 i appreciate this consistency

@mangome14

he killed all of them now the end of an era

@Beetle_Jay

Nah that too funny

@BlahPigeon58763

I got two words

25 More Replies...

@Mhopson968

I just peeped, Tyler, the Creator's shift in artistic tone (cherry bomb) correlates directly with the death's of all of tyler's alter ego's. once theyre dead, he can be himself.

@MrLuckyMuffin

+Mad Midget except theres stil wolf haley and dr tc

@Mhopson968

dr tc is tyler's consciousness. as long as tyler is alive, tc is alive, so does that really count? also i forgot about wolf, but there was like no mention of him in cherry bomb so i guess i assumed he was gone.

@MrLuckyMuffin

Mad Midget cherry bomb is tyler watching the wolf trilogy its like a 3rd person prequel

More Comments

More Versions