i

Album: Shelby (2019)
Charted: 39
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The opening track from Shelby finds Lil Skies talking about his personal struggles with loneliness and isolation, common themes in his music:

    I, I, I don't wanna get close
    I haven't been the same since I loved that ho
    I haven't been the same since I lost my bro
    I say I'm gonna change when I know I won't


    The emo rapper frequently talks about his personal struggles and reliance on antidepressants or marijuana in coping with life. One example being the Life of a Dark Rose track 'Kill4u" where Lil Skies raps, "Depression settin' in, so grab my medicine."
  • The Shelby album title is a homage to Skies' mother's name.
  • The song was Lil Skies' first Hot 100 top 40 hit. His previous chart high came from "Nowadays" which peaked at #55 in 2018.
  • Lil Skies raps about a number of topics to do with his life during this track, giving his fans a glimpse into his personal struggles with depression and failed relationships. He explained to Genius: "I was trying to touch people and get them somethin' to relate to and be real with my fans. Relationship problems, life's depression, everything. And me, I just wanted to be real myself in this song. Like me talking to myself pretty much in this song."
  • The song originated with a pack of beats sent to Lil Skies by Danny Wolf (Ugly God's "Water," Lil Pump's "Flex Like Ouu"). The rapper went to his home studio in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and went through the beat pack. Skies was drawn to this one, so he did some rhymes off the top of his head over the instrumentation.

Comments: 1

  • Gianna from ''no Where But A Dark Place''This song is so amazing.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.