Eminem: Not Afraid Meaning
Song Released: 2010
Not Afraid Lyrics
I’m not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
Let's walk together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you’re not alone
Holla if you feel like you’ve been down the same...
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anonymous Jun 28th 2010, 16:39 report
I believe that the beginning of the first verse is Slim Shady speaking, or his rapping persona. It talks of how he beat everyone's expectations and overcame everyone who was "looking down on him". But towards the end it sounds more like Marshall talking about how Slim Shady is the worst part of him."He's married to the game" meaning that he is never able to put his career on hold and spend time with his family. "His gift is a curse" meaning that the fame and fortune that Shady brought him has torn him away from his family.
The second verse follows the same pattern. The first majority of it describes his success as a musical artist and how he promised to never let his fans down, but that was Slim Shady talking. When Marshall comes to realize that he had no idea what he got himself into, he sings "But I think I'm still trying to figure this crap out
Thought I had it mapped out but I guess I didn't" and he also says that it's "time to exorcise these demons" which is further reference to the fact that he believes that Slim Shady is the worst part of him.
In the bridge, it is simply setting the tone for the next verse. The tone being that he is ready to give up what he always wanted as a child and is ready to be a part of his family again.
In the final verse, he continually talks about someone, most likely his daughter, that drove him to become a better person. I believe that as he says "but they can do little to the middle finger
I think I got a tear in my eye, I feel like the king of
My world, haters can make like bees with no stingers, and drop dead" is Marshall saying that he could care less what people think of him when he gives up his career to "focus soley on handling my responsibility's as a father". -
2TOP RATED
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3TOP RATED
anonymous Jun 10th 2010, 00:54 report
Eminem is talking about the Illuminati " time to exercise these demons " "He's married to the game, His gift is a curse, forget the earth,**** the whole universe " " I just can't keep living this way
So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage
I'm standing up, I'mma face my demons
I'm manning up, I'mma hold my ground
I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now " He's trying to get out of Illuminati, he's tired of the demons he's wants to break free! -
anonymous Mar 20th, 22:55 report
you interpret it the way you want it to be, and say what you want it to say. He must have been of drugs standing on that roof. every1 see's what they want to see. if it looks like a duck. proof, em fan from the start, my own opinion is that I don't believe for 1 minute his life is as hard as he makes it out to be but I suppose it was in the start but all in all he is a lucky lad and if he lived my life he would cry.
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anonymous Oct 27th 2012, 00:40 report
I think it is very clear that these lyrics are a statement on the 12 step recovery process. In recovery addicts and alcoholics learn to face the fears that that in the past caused them to use. Fear is one of the big character defects that we must work to over come.
12 step recovery also insists that our focus be on the addict that still suffers. To stay well we must be brave enough to tell others how sick we were and how we got well. We must be willing to help them get well too, if they want to.
This is very evident in the chorus and the first verse.
I'm not afraid, To take a stand, Everybody, Come take my hand, We'll walk this road together, through the storm Whatever weather, cold or warm Just letting you know that, you're not alone, Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road
Yeah, it's been a ride I guess I had to, go to that place, to get to this one
Now some of you, might still be in that place If you're trying to get out, just follow me I'll get you there
I think that the second verse stands as a challenge to those who disagree with the recovery process, the saboteurs if you will. He knows that they will try to take the power of the truth from his words but he also knows that this is not possible because they are nothing but truth. He is promising to continue to speak this truth, without fear, for the remainder of his life.
You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay 'em
But you won't take the sting out these words before I say 'em
Cause ain't no way I'ma let you stop me from causing mayhem
When I say I'ma do something I do it,
I don't give a damn what you think,
I'm doing this for me, so fuck the world
Feed it beans, it's gassed up, if it thinks it's stopping me
I'ma be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtedly
And all those who look down on me I'm tearing down your balcony
No if ands or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he
From "Infinite" down to the last "Relapse" album
He's still shitting, whether he's on salary paid hourly
Until he bows out or he shits his bowels out of him
Whichever comes first, for better or worse
He's married to the game, like a fuck you for Christmas
His gift is a curse, forget the Earth, he's got the urge
To pull his dick from the dirt, and fuck the whole universe
Perhaps only Eminem himself knows what the first part of this means but I completely understand the last bit. The demons are the drugs that need to be exorcised.
Okay quit playing with the scissors and shit, and cut the crap
I shouldn't have to rhyme these words in the rhythm for you to know it's a rap
You said you was king, you lied through your teeth, for that
Fuck your feelings, instead of getting crowned you're getting capped
And to the fans, I'll never let you down again, I'm back
I promise to never go back on that promise, in fact
Let's be honest, that last "Relapse" CD was ehhh
Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground
Relax, I ain't going back to that now
All I'm trying to say is get back, click-clack, blow
Cause I ain't playing around
It's a game called circle and I don't know how, I'm way too up to back down
But I think I'm still trying to figure this crap out
Thought I had it mapped out but I guess I didn't, this fucking black cloud
Still follows, me around but it's time to exorcise these demons
These motherfuckers are doing jumping jacks now!
And this is where he gets clean and turns life around...
And I just can't keep living this way
So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage
I'm standing up, I'ma face my demons
I'm manning up, I'ma hold my ground
I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now!
It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me
Admittedly, I probably did it subliminally
For you, so I could come back a brand new me you helped see me through
And don't even realize what you did, believe me you
I been through the ringer, but they could do little to the middle finger
I think I got a tear in my eye, I feel like the king of
My world, haters can make like bees with no stingers
And drop dead, no more beef flingers
No more drama from now on, I promise
To focus solely on handling my responsibilities as a father
So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof, like my daughters
And raise it, you couldn't lift a single shingle on it!
Cause the way I feel, I'm strong enough to go to the club
Or the corner pub, and lift the whole liquor counter up
Cause I'm raising the bar
I'd shoot for the moon but I'm too busy gazing at stars
I feel amazing and I'm -
anonymous Oct 12th 2012, 18:05 report
yes all people who say that hes talking about getting out of Illuminati game are right... he was a Illuminati puppet at first but now he understands them all. he wants to aware us about these bad people of the music industry and people behind them. these people have a bad n specific intention.
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anonymous Aug 30th 2012, 03:04 report
the best thing to do is to ask eminem himself to tell what his song is saying coz we are all assuming. Lets get the facts from the horses mouth. dont you think???
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anonymous Aug 23rd 2012, 22:44 report
you illuminati stuff retards are all wrong its about his drug addiction
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anonymous Aug 19th 2012, 03:55 report
he should quit illuminati...i know it's not easy....and it's like quitting a mafia or worse...they will probably find and kill you....but still.....anyways i think that in the lyrics if he's saying stuff like he's not afraid of taking a stand for evil then it may be slim shady talking with a mix of eminem's thoughts on the world....and then the parts where eminem is talking and saying its all a lie and that he should be there for his family instead of letting his dreams come between them is how eminem deeply feels inside somewhere underneath the fame and fortune he still thinks that he should be there for them more....
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anonymous Aug 19th 2012, 03:48 report
i think that eminem may want to be himself again and something about not caring for the fame anymore....im pretty sure that in another song it says that when he didnt have fame anymore everyone he thought was with him,left him and his "friends" were temporary and lies....i heard that they kill you if you leave the illuminati but i still think that if they want to repent they should and become christian...even if they sold their soul....remember that the devil is a liar and he cant keep you soul or send you to hell if you repent and truly mean it....so if you becom a christian ....one who believes in god, jesus, and holy spirit....and you leave the illuminati...even if they kill you you'll know that ur goin to a better place :)
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anonymous Jul 31st 2012, 17:09 report
This is a song which saved me from suicide. I love this song. It's about coming-out from the dark to light. And it's amazing. He wanted to say that if you want to get out of the darkness it can do, but you should really try harder to. True :)
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anonymous Jun 22nd 2012, 03:46 report
I agree the american music industry is one big play ground for the devil!! or better known as the demon called Rainman!!!
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anonymous May 31st 2012, 15:45 report
its 100% about his addiction, people look down on him for being an addict and he talks about not being afraid of standing up against the addiction. anyone who knows first hand knows that this is mentality you must have to maintain sobriety. hes a boss for this song.
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anonymous May 25th 2012, 03:52 report
Never begin anything until you have reflected what would be the end of it, determined the feature by thinking far ahead. If he had known he would have not be in such cage of demons ( illuminati ). If it was not about illuminati then why the saying '' i am not afraid ''???
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anonymous May 20th 2012, 05:51 report
I THINK EMINEM IS DOING HIS BEST TO CHANGE. AND TO MAKE HIS FUN'S PROUD OF HIM.
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anonymous May 11th 2012, 16:20 report
Eminem Is talking about the illuminati just like in he's new song that sayz 'Fuck Illuminati' it is cristoclear that his tired of bein the devil's agent. Eminem4lyf. LDR.
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anonymous Apr 18th 2012, 17:07 report
I believe he is standing up what he believe in it rap about a bad kid life and drugs.
He just want to break free form a real nightmere. -
anonymous Apr 14th 2012, 13:05 report
It's all about self discovery; one tired of sitting on the fence of cloudy surroundings. Though it has clear links to The Illuminati, it can still be unconnected to it. For now,i'm moved by its musicality and rhythm and not to pull off my hairs over the source.
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anonymous Apr 13th 2012, 15:14 report
I definitely know he is talking about him breaking Out of the. Illuminati if you actually listen to the song carefully and try to figure out what he's really trying to tell u its all In his songs u really have. To pay attention to what he. Says and how he says it believe me or not why don't u do ur own research on all of his songs he has one where he actually says he was in the illuminati also the reason y he sold his soul to the devil was bc Satan tricks u n says that he will give u anything and
everything and want if u just giv him ur soul bc Satan wants to be more powerful then god and receive more of people's souls bc to Satan by gettin more people. To do what he wants them to lik lie cheat steAl etc and so on and so forth he also try's to decve u by making a deal to give u everything that most people want lik money fame and all that bullshyt but in case u dont kno eminem is not the first to join the illuminati but he has been in it longer then lil Wayne n TI which he tells them that in anthr song from the relaps album my pOint is that at first when u join the illuminati u sell ur soul to the devIl in exchange for what u want in return n yea it works but not forever lik Satan promises you it will n they begin to see that after a while that he was luring to hem just get wat he wants their souls and Alot of new artist and ppl not just artist believe the promise for everlasting youth life money fame n so on but it takes time for them to realize. That they were being foold all along even some presidents and x presidents n govrs too have join in the illuminati well I could go on about this and even show you written documents of things to prove what I'm sayin but still I can't make u bel -
anonymous Apr 7th 2012, 22:58 report
I think this song is dedicated to all the people who are going through rough times and are struggling. In this particular song Eminem is trying to let those people know that they're not alone.He telling them to be brave, face their fears, and NEVER give up! Which I think is a great message for people. I really luv this song.
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anonymous Apr 4th 2012, 22:09 report
I think that Eminem is taking his fans back to 2005 when his album Encore came out. During this time, he was battling a drug addiction and his relationship with his family was torn. A few years later, his best friend (proof) was shot to death at a club in Detroit. Eminem hit rock bottom after Proof was murdered and em's drug problem became worse. Eminem stopped rapping and checked himself in to rehab. In rehab, he continued to write but he was mainly self loathing. If you listen to his previous album "relapse" you can def. hear a lot of self loathing. "Not Afraid" was his first single off of the album recovery. This song is symbolic to his whole album because of his attitude being more upbeat but still recognizing he has a lot of problems in his life that he needs to fix. One line in "not afraid" is "it was my decision to get clean, i did it for me, admittedly i probably did it subliminally for you so i could come back a brand new me, you helped see me through, And dont even realize what you did". This is saying to everyone who has stuck with him that he got clean and recognized that he needs to change his life
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anonymous Apr 3rd 2012, 17:16 report
I think that he joined the alumitati but he made a honest mistake and he wants to get out of it "but They said that if you joined the aluminati you can not get out of it if you do the aluminati will kill you" thats why he created this song to stand up thats why if you read the brigde part it says "IMMA FACE MY DEMON" but still go Eminem!
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anonymous Mar 31st 2012, 09:31 report
The music video starts with the hook playing over the intro lyrics. We’ll focus on the hook further on, but for now let’s take a look at the intro lyrics:
Yeah, it’s been a ride
I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one
Now some of you might still be in that place
If you’re trying to get out, just follow me
I’ll get you there
“That place” refers to his ‘cage’ and period of drug-addled depression, which inspired his rebirth. Eminem’s drug addiction became strong when his best friend, DeShaun (aka Proof) died. Eminem was still taking drugs, such as sleeping pills well before his friend’s passing. In the last three lines, he is calling out to other celebrities who are going through the same phase as he did not too long ago. It also applies to his fans.
The video shows Eminem living two lives. There is a period of quickly alternating shots showing him in a messy, disorganised basement which presumably represents his home and then him on a rooftop where he stands dangerously close to the edge. This segment represents his new found freedom which is being out from his ‘cage box’ to being free and in power. However, while Eminem is standing close to the edge on the rooftop, he takes another step forward after he sings, “And all those who look down on me I’m tearing down your balcony”. My interpretation of this can be seen in two different ways:
1. He gains more confidence in what he’s saying and shows this by stepping forward.
2. By him stepping forward, it symbolises that his words put him in more danger.
[Verse 1]
You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay ‘em
But you won’t take the sting out these words before I say ‘em
Cause ain’t no way I’mma let you stop me from causing mayhem
When I say I’mma do something I do it, I don’t give a damn
What you think, I’m doing this for me, so fuck the world
Feed it beans, it’s gassed up, if it thinks it’s stopping me
I’mma be what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtedly
And all those who look down on me I’m tearing down your balcony
No if ands or buts don’t try to ask him why or how can he
From Infinite down to the last Relapse album he’s still shitting
Whether he’s on salary, paid hourly
Until he bows out or he shits his bowels out of him
Whichever comes first, for better or worse
He’s married to the game, like a “fuck you” for Christmas
His gift is a curse, forget the earth he’s got the urge
To pull his dick from the dirt and fuck the whole universe
The above verse refers to the ‘higher-ups’ who control the music industry. Eminem says they can read the lyrics to the song before it’s released, like they do with every mainstream song, but they won’t be able to take the “sting” out of his words, because the sting is felt when the song is performed and is released to the public. A sting is an injection of a poison via stinger by an animal or plant, so here he is metaphorically implying that this song will sting those higher-ups who try to control him.
He then goes on by saying he won’t let them stop him from causing mayhem and then follows on to say, “When I say I’mma do something I do it, I don’t give a damn what you think, I’m doing this for me”. He doesn’t care about them in regards to what they think, and states he will do and say whatever he wants. The next line then reads, “So fuck the world, feed it beans, it’s gassed up, if it thinks it’s stopping me”. To gas somebody up is to confuse or trick the person, and as many of you already know, beans give people gas. I’m not too sure who Eminem refers to as being tricked, but it could possibly mean the media will feed the public more beans and therefore ‘bloat’ them with lies and fabricated stories about Eminem in the future. He then says, “And all those who look down on me I’m tearing down your balcony”. Again, he is speaking metaphorically, referring to the higher-ups with their “balcony” implying their high level and all-seeing position.
After that he says, “He’s married to the game, like a ‘fuck you’ for Christmas, his gift is a curse”. A “Fuck You” for Christmas is a gift that’s a curse, and this is linked in to the fact that he sometimes thinks of his talent as a curse because of where it where it has gotten him.
[Verse 2]
Ok quit playin’ with the scissors and shit, and cut the crap
I shouldn’t have to rhyme these words
In the rhythm for you to know it’s a rap
You said you was king, you lied through your teeth
For that fuck your feelings
Instead of getting crowned you’re getting capped
And to the fans, I’ll never let you down again, I’m back
I promise to never go back on that promise, in fact
Let’s be honest, that last Relapse CD was “ehhhh”
Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground
Relax, I ain’t going back to that now
All I’m tryna say is get back, click-clack BLAOW
Cause I ain’t playin’ around
There’s a game called circle and I don’t know how
I’m way too up to back down
But I think I’m still trying to figure this crap out
Thought I had it mapped out but I guess I didn’t
This fucking black cloud still follows me around
But it’s time to exercise these demons
These mother fuckers are doing jumping jacks now
When he sings, “And to the fans, I’ll never let you down again I’m back”, he walks onto a busy road narrowly avoiding collisions with cars and buses symbolising how he won’t let anything stop him or get in his way. It’s also interesting to note that one of the buses has a partially visible advertisement with the words “wake up” shown for a fraction of a second. There are 3 plausible explanations for this:
1. It is a coincidence (which I believe it to be).
2. The advertisement is real and the production crew only noticed this during post-processing of the video and decided to keep the “wake up” part only.
3. The “wake up” advert was intentional and planned.
In the basement which Eminem is living in, a puppet can be seen hanging from a structural beam. The puppet is seen throughout the video several times including some close up shots of it, although it is shown quickly and is not so noticeable. The puppet is most clearly displayed when Eminem sings, “Relax, I ain’t going back to that now”. Keep in mind, this music video is visually symbolising how Eminem went from “that place” to get to “this place”. A place from being caged in with drug abuse and depression to being free and in control of himself. “That place” and all its associated evils are no longer with “this place”. In other words, he is no longer a puppet for the higher-ups to control and abuse.
Eminem then says, “All I’m tryna say is get back, click-clack BLAOW, cause I ain’t playin’ around, there’s a game called circle and I don’t know how, I’m way too up to back down”. The words “click-clack BLAOW” are onomatopoeia for a gun cocking a gun and firing it, so this could be indicating how serious he is and what kind of level he is at. The circle game in the music industry is essentially a circular path the Illuminati take with music artists. They build someone up to become very popular and famous for their own use of manipulating and then when that person finishes or dies, they will just get another artist and do the same again. This will keep happening all the time and there are also multiple instances. Eminem is “Way too up to back down” since the higher you get, the harder it becomes to leave the music industry because you are aware of much more than other artists and have much more influence and thus become a threat. This is when the Illuminati may choose to kill the artist, usually as a sacrifice, after keeping them out of the spotlight for a while to reduce their popularity. This process is very gradual and goes almost unnoticed. Eminem has also mentioned this in a few other songs, such as ‘Say Goodbye to Hollywood’:
I never dreamt I’d get to the level that I’m at, this is whack
This is more than I ever could’ve asked
If I could go back, I never would’ve rapped
(continued)
I sold my soul to the devil, I’ll never get it back
I just wanna leave this game with level head intact
Continuing on, Eminem also says, “But I think I’m still trying to figure this crap out, thought I had it mapped out but I guess I didn’t”, indicating that he has previously attempted to get off of the higher-ups’ radar, metaphorically referring to them as the “Black cloud” – still tracking him and monitoring his every move.
As Eminem continues walking, he looks into a car window and sees a reflection with a distorted image of his face. He looks confused and a little surprised, but he carries on walking and ends up in a hall of mirrors. He is spooked by the distorted reflection of his face in each one, which looks like a painted face, representing the image which the higher-ups created for him, reminding him of his alter ego, Slim Shady, the puppet he once was. Slim Shady is also associated with “that place”.
Although he doesn’t mention the mirrors in the lyrics to ‘Not Afraid’, he does mention them in another one of his songs from the same album named, ‘I’m going through changes’:
I’m hatin’ my reflection, I walk around the house tryin’ to fight mirrors
After that, he says, “But it’s time to exercise these demons, these mother fuckers are doing jumping jacks now”. He is referring to the higher-ups as “demons”. This means that the higher-ups already have or are planning to focus on the demise of his career, hence “jumping jack” also commonly known as star jump, signifying that they are making big moves already.
Eminem finds a way to escape the mirrored room by smashing through it, and whilst doing so the scene switches over to the basement where he simultaneously smashes the brick wall after discovering light bursting through a small hole previously created by throwing a chair at it. This is symbolising that Eminem has found the light, he has broken out of his cage and will no longer be controlled, hence the lyrics which are playing whilst this scene is acted out, “I’m breaking out of this cage”.
We’ll skip the bridge and the last verse since it’s so direct and needs no explaining. Let’s now take a look at the hook.
(Hook)
I’m not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We’ll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin’ you know that you’re not alone
Holla if you feel that you’ve been down the same road
The meaning of the hook is very clear. In the last line Eminem is asking other celebrities, who have “been down the same road”, essentially meaning what he has gone or is going through, to raise their voices and take a stand like him. Hence the line, “Holla if you feel that you’ve been down the same road”. While he sings this, he also puts his hand next to his mouth vertically as if to pass on a message quietly and discretely. This is evident by the bridge lyrics to his song, “Talkin’ 2 Myself”:
So why in the world do I feel so alone
Nobody but me, I’m on my own
Is there anyone out there
Who feels the way I feel
If there is, let me hear just so I know I’m not the only one
Conclusion
The very beginning of the video shows Eminem standing on a rooftop ledge telling us how he got to there from “that place”, which he goes on to show by walking through the streets finding himself in a hall of mirrors, where he’s confronted by distorted images of himself before escaping both the basement and mirrored room only to find himself confronted by a far more dangerous edge. He then jumps off the edge and falls some distance before gaining the ability to fly like Superman and guiding himself back onto the rooftop.
As Eminem said in an interview with Skyrock FM in Paris, the overall concept is “Basically just being in a dark place and trying to get to the light”. The message Eminem is trying to give us is that he isn’t afraid to face his fears, and being in control of himself, making his own choices and decisions, he’s putting his life back together, whatever the circumstances may be.
When one ‘sells his/her soul to the devil’ and stops playing their part for the higher-ups, they are not allowed to keep their fame and live their luxurious lives. However, due to Eminem’s popularity, and the massively increasing awareness people have about what goes on behind the scenes, it’s becoming much harder to keep him out of the spotlight. Keep in mind that the higher-ups kept trying to destroy Michael Jackson’s image for 17 years.
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