Inspired by: Drinking $9 beers in the Hancock Tower, while thinking about everything I left behind in Ohio.
This song is pretty much the climax of this project. I'm witnessing my full potential in Chicago, but I'm also realizing I still have things from my life in Ohio that are still unresolved.
Another concept I touched on in this song, and during this whole project, is how time works differently for everyone. Nobody's life is going to follow the same path as yours, so trying to follow deadlines set by other people is dumb. I'm 26 years old, and sometimes people two-three years younger than me feel like my older brother. I've lived in Chicago two and a half years, and I get lost all the time. I'm new here. My friend Ski articulated this concept during the spoken word outro of this track much better than I just did here.
lyrics
[Verse 1]
With the last little hope that’s buried in me
Take it back the old school like elementary
Still stuck in the middle like LMNOP
Nod ya head to this BlacKeys, instrumental sings
Take my time with the rhyme, such a sentimental thing
Never know til I leave, what potential I bring
All I wanted was the life that they show on silver screens
Faced with D’Evils and Regrets that only Jigga’s seen
I heard he gave old girl a promise and a silver ring
That and this minimum wage been slowly killing me
I just wanted the world, instead I came up empty handed
Went from Pomp and Circumstances, to a life of certain frantic
And often circumstances, the gods will hurt your chances
I clean with soap, trying hide the dirt my hand’s touched
I must have downed a thousand bottles, trying to drown my sorrows
Climb up out of this stool, tell the fam I’ll see ya tomorrow
[Verse 2]
I stay in the city where they invented the two step
Let me dust off this microphone 1-2 check
I write a few checks, bills past due, stress
Been flip flopping different options, that’s just what I do best
I stay committed like, fuck this, who’s next?
Another reason to play my cards close to dude’s vest
You approach me like the sucker tatted on my face
Wai til I finished my beer cuz really I hate to waste
I offered you a sip, declined, said you hate the taste
It didn’t quite mean the same, this is your fault
It’s girls like you that tend to make the seasons change
And I ain’t ever believe in change, this is your call
Damn the world so large, kinda makes you feel miniscule
I’m hypercritical, trying to throw you your axis, as if,
Life isn’t cyclical, now I’m cynical,
Every night I sip a brew, toast to the ritual
[Outro]
Now we at the Hancock Tower, Signature room
Drinking a nine dollar beer, that should’ve been two
Man I did it all, just to witness this view
Still can’t help but to think this could’ve been you
Now we at the Hancock Tower, Signature room
Drinking a nine dollar beer, better make that two
Spent my whole life, trying to get a glimpse of that view
Overcome with this feeling that I should’ve had you
[Hook]
It’s like where I wanna go, who I be?
In life, what the fuck I know, nothing’s guaranteed
Cuz I, smoke a few cigs, drink a few beers
I know it’s been a while, but I’m still new here
credits
from I'm New Here,
released May 1, 2016
Produced by: BlacKeys
Mixed by: Emma Gyger
Mastered by: Kevin Cairns
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