If there weren’t enough reasons to get excited about the release of Eminem’s collaboration with Beyonce, “Walk on Water,” Billboard has gift-wrapped an in-depth interpretation of the lyrics for fans.
Produced by Rick Rubin the single is the first of the rap icon’s upcoming album, Revival, and may among the most personal tunes to ever come from the master lyricist. The 45-year-old Eminem seems to be mulling his place in music history and whether he can compete with the passion and skills he showed in his younger days.
As Billboard points out, the lyrics to “Walk on Water” are rife with personal introspection, such as this half of the third verse:
There was a time I had the world by the balls, eating out my palm
Every album, song I was spazzin’ the f—out on
And now I’m getting clowned and frowned on
But the only one who’s looking down on that matters now’s Deshaun
Am I lucky to be around this long?”
Billboard points out that the Deshaun reference is to Eminem’s late friend and hypeman Proof, who was killed at a Detroit nightclub in 2006.
And nowhere is this look towards the eventual end of his career more poignant than in the following lines:
And as I grow outta sight, outta mind, I might go outta mine
‘Cause how do I, ever let this mic go without a fight
When I made a f—in’ tightrope outta twine?
But when I do fall from these heights, though I’ll be fine
I won’t pout or cry or spiral down or whine
But I’ll decide if it’s my final bow this time around ’cause…”
Listen to the song for yourself:
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