[Eminem]
Sometimes I just feel like, quittin I still might
Why do I put up this fight, why do I still write
Sometimes it’s hard enough just dealin with real life
Sometimes I wanna jump on stage and just kill mics
And show these people what my level of skill’s like
But I’m still white, sometimes I just hate life
Somethin ain’t right, hit the brake lights
Case of the stage fright, drawin a blank like
Da-duh-duh-da-da, it ain’t my fault
Great big eye balls, my insides crawl
and I clam up I just slam shut
I just can’t do it, my whole manhood’s
just been stripped, I’ve just been ripped
So I must then get, hope the bus didn’t split
Man fuck this shit yo, I’m goin the fuck home
World on my shoulders as I run back to this 8 Mile Road
[Chorus]
I’m a man, I’ma make a new plan
Time for me to just stand up, and travel new land
Time for me to just take matters into my own hands
Once I’m over these tracks man I’ma never look back
(8 Mile Road) And I’m gone, I know right where I’m goin
Sorry momma I’m grown, I must travel the alone
Ain’t gonna follow no footsteps, I’m makin my own
Only way that I know how to escape from this 8 Mile Road
[Eminem]
I’m walkin these train tracks, tryin to regain back
the spirit I had ‘fore I go back to the same crap
To the same plant, in the same pants
Tryin to chase rap, gotta move ASAP
And get a new plan, momma’s got a new man
Poor little baby sister, she don’t understand
Sits in front of the TV, buries her nose in the pad
And just colors until the crayon gets dull in her hand
While she colors her big brother, her mother and dad
Ain’t no tellin what really goes on in her little head
Wish I could be the daddy that neither one of us had
But I keep runnin from somethin I never wanted so bad!
Sometimes I get upset, cause I ain’t blew up yet
It’s like I grew up, but I ain’t grow me two nuts yet
Don’t gotta rep my step, don’t got enough pep
The pressure’s too much man, I’m just tryin to do what’s best
And I try, sit alone and I cry
Yo I won’t tell no lie, not a moment goes by
That I don’t pray to the sky, please I’m beggin you God
Please don’t let me be piegon holed in no regular job
Yo I hope you can hear me homey wherever you are
Yo I’m tellin you dawg I’m bailin this trailer tomorrow
Tell my mother I love her, kiss baby sister goodbye
Say whenever you need me baby, I’m never too far
But yo I gotta get out there, the only way I know
And I’ma be back for you, the second that I blow
On everything I own, I’ll make it on my own
Off to work I go, back to this 8 Mile Road
[Chorus]
[Eminem]
You gotta live it to feel it, you didn’t you wouldn’t get it
Or see what the big deal is, why it was and it still is
To be walkin this borderline of Detroit city limits
It’s different, it’s a certain significance, a certificate
of authenticity, you’d never even see
But it’s everything to me, it’s my credibility
You never seen heard smelled or met a real MC
who’s incredible, up on the same pedestal as me
But yet I’m still unsigned, havin a rough time
Sit on the porch with all my friends and kick dumb rhymes
Go to work and serve MC’s in the lunchline
But when it comes crunch time, where do my punchlines go
Who must I show, to bust my flow
Where must I go, who must I know
Or am I just another crab in the bucket
Cause I ain’t havin no luck with this little Rabbit so fuck it
Maybe I need a new outlet, I’m startin to doubt shit
I’m feelin a little skeptical who I hang out with
I look like a bum, yo my clothes ain’t about shit
at Salvation Army tryin to salvage an outfit
And it’s cold, tryin to travel this road
Plus I feel like I’m old, stuck in this battlin mode
My defenses are so up, and one thing I don’t want
is pity from no one, the city is no fun
There is no sun, and it’s so dark
Sometimes I feel like I’m just bein pulled apart
from each one of my limbs, by each one of my friends
It’s enough to make me just wanna jump out of my skin
Sometimes I feel like a robot, sometimes I just know not
what I’m doin I just blow, my head is a stove top
I just explode, the kettle gets so hot
Sometimes my mouth just overloads the gas that I don’t got
But I’ve learned, it’s time for me to U-turn
Yo it only takes one time for me to get burned
Ain’t no fallin on next time I meet a new girl
I can no longer play stupid or be immature
I got every ingredient, all I need is the courage
Like I already got the beat, all I need is the words
Got the urge, suddenly it’s a surge
Suddenly a new burst of energy is occured
Time to show these free world leaders the three and a third
I am no longer scared now, I’m free as a bird
Then I turn and cross over the median curb
Hit the burbs and all you see is a blur from 8 Mile Road
[Chorus]
The 8 Mile song is my favorite from all Eminem songs. It is a great hymn of hope.
The first part exposes Jimmy Smiths struggle. Jimmy has to face a double fight: his struggle as a white M.C for recognition and his harsh conditions of living.
He feels divided between real life and the place where he wants to be.
His stagefright and the racism he experiences during his rap battles add a lot to the pressure he feels.
The second part describes his monotonous life as a worker at Detroit Stamping. He is also worried for his half sister who lives in unstable conditions with her alcoholic mom. He wants to protect her and wishes to play the role of their absent father, but he knows he has to fight for a better future first.
Hes got so much pressure put on his shoulders and it comes from so many directions (home, work,stage).
He addresses to God, he doesnt want to go on living his monotonous life, he wants to escape from 8 Mile Road.
In the third part, Jimmy suddenly becomes conscious of his value. He is still unsigned and having a rough time, but now he feels the urge to act the right way. He knows he got every ingredient, all he needs is the courage. He is no longer scared of the Free World leaders. He can feel his freedom and is able to smell the taste of his future victory. He is ready to drop bombs on his mic.
This song shows a path of hope to many people who are going through harsh conditions of living. It shows us that it is possible to escape to our 8 Mile road if we dont give up your dreams. We all got every ingredient. All we need is the courage to fight to the end and enough faith in our dreams.