Once An Addict (Interlude)

Album: KOD (2018)
Charted: 47
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Songfacts®:

  • Jermaine Cole's mum, Kay, is a white European American who worked as a postal worker for the United States Postal Service. Kay struggled with drinking and drugs after Cole's stepfather, Edward, left in 2003, before eventually getting clean and sober. Here, Cole flips Micha? Urbaniak's 1978 track "A Day in the Park" to highlight his mother's struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.

    Hate how she slurrin' her words
    Soundin' so f---in' absurd
    This ain't the woman I know, why I just sit and observe?
    Why don't I say how I feel?
    When I do, she's defensive for real
    Well maybe things get better with time, I heard it heals
    Little did I know how deep her sadness would go
    Lookin' back, I wish I woulda did more instead of runnin'


    Cole unravels his feelings as a child of an addict observing his parent abuse drugs and alcohol.
  • So how does Cole's mom view her son detailing her addictive behavior in song. "For him to tell it - does it hurt, it is a bit embarrassing? Yes," Kay told Vulture. "But Jermaine was given a gift. Certainly he's talented, intelligent, he's a hard worker and perseveres. He was also given this gift of compassion. And patience. And unconditional love. Humans have been self-medicating since the beginning of time, but let's talk why."

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