Immortal

Album: 4 Your Eyez Only (2016)
Charted: 49 11
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • 4 Your Eyez Only follows the story of a childhood friend of Cole's who got caught up in the streets, started a family but died young. This song assumes the perspective of the youth at the age of 17, as he starts selling crack as a means to escape poverty, despite the risks. He knows what he is doing is wrong and doesn't want to end up in the penitentiary, but it's the only way the young man knows to make ends meet.

    Many African Americans have the mentality that there only three avenues whereby a black man can become a legend: drug dealing, music and sport. Cole demonstrates his resentment on "Immortal" at the way society enforces this idea.
  • In my mind I been cryin', know it's wrong but I'm sellin'
    Eyes wellin' up with tears
    Thinkin' 'bout my niggas dead in the dirt
    Immortalized on this shirt


    Cole's friend knows that his lifestyle will eventually get him killed. However his name will live on, as the custom to make a shirt in memory of the deceased means that he'll be immortalized on the garment.
  • Cole foretells the death of his friend during the hook.

    Forward with the plot
    One-Seven-Forty-Five


    At 17:45 minutes on the 4 Your Eyez Only CD, the listener arrives at the part of the song "Change" where Cole's friend dies.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.