“Open This Later” By Lemonxde80s
“Open this later to see how far you’ve came”, is how this Chicago artist, Lemonxde80s, concludes his new single, titled “Open this later”. As an artist, Lemonxde80s strives to translate his personal life experiences and stories into art. “Open this later” details the trials and tribulations he has faced growing up, and the solutions that he has found through experiencing and participating in his own life. Through it all, Lemonxde80s continues to express gratitude, specifically for the people in his life, as well as for the process of healing and growing. The opening monologue discusses both, making a plan and making the conscious decision to actively work towards personal goals.
Monologue:
If I was young, and I’m able to do it. And say ok, I wanna double up and really work my butt off for two years or so …..save some money… accomplish what I need to accomplish and maybe the breakthrough of what you envision that life should be will come by…. Then….. cause otherwise……time doesn’t wait for us.
The first thing we should address is how talented Lemonxde80s is at communicating details about his personal life, allowing listeners to paint a picture. Vulnerability is a recurring theme throughout this song. Lemonxde80s openly talks about his insecurities and pressures that coexist with expectations that are set both; internally and externally.
“Crazy I thought by now that I’d be a groom. Maybe have some kids with a pickett fence, but this ain’t no fairytale you how it ends. You know what is. Still running round on bachelor shit”.
He observes the role that nurturing his close relationships plays. Ultimately, Lemonxde80s recognizes that although he may not be exactly where he thought he would be at this point in his life, investing in himself is the key ingredient to seeing progress.
Amidst personal growth and development, Lemonxde80s showcases the duality of trying to move on for himself while simultaneously trying to prove something to those who question the process of his personal development. Throughout this song, we see this Chicago artists talk about the critical nature of confidence and taking responsibility for his emotions. Something that is much easier said than done.
Throughout this short film, Lemonxde80s makes several comments on healing from and releasing the past. He uses the lyrics “If you stuck in your feelings, you stuck in the past. Overcome these obstacles, they’ll hold you back” to highlight the fundamentality of moving forward from the past in order to fully participate and live in the present.
Lemonxde80s touches on allowing himself, with guidance from his therapist, the ability to see pain and struggle as apart of a larger picture. He also expresses how faith plays a major role in his life. He attributes “All praise to the most high” and makes a number of comments expressing gratitude for the blessings he continues to experience.
“It’s a bigger picture we painting with these brushes. I had brushes with death that’ll make you question something, All praise to the most high. We can’t question nothing. Better stand for something. Or you’ll die for nothing. Man ain’t that something ?”
”I hope my raps out live me, I hope my words immortal, I hope hard works pays off, I hope we see forever, I hope you live your dreams , and you don’t have to slumber. I stepped into glory I’m in my white linen. I know God still bless me even though I’m sinning. Felt a different type pain just to see these winnings.”
By the end of this well-crafted song, Lemonxde80s shows that he is grateful for his present and looks forward to his future. Everything comes full circle with the lyrics “Only look back to see how far we came… Only look back to see how much has changed”. While persistently expressing the importance of moving forward, Lemonxde80s reflects on looking back and being able to recognize his personal growth.
{FULL LYRICS}
Only look back to see how far we came
Only look back to see how much has changed
Time flies but I’m alive so how could I complain
Jumped off the plane
Fresh from Tulum
But no honeymoon
We ain’t jumping brooms
Crazy I thought by now that I’d be a groom
Maybe have some kids
With a Pickett fence
But this ain’t no fairytale you how it ends
You know what is
Still running round on bachelor shit
Fucking hoes like I’m tryna master it (uh)
When it come to that I need a phd
But that’s just that ain’t no phasing me
Still with the guys, still living our lives
Got love from my brothers till the day that I die
And if it come down to it you know that I ride
And we don’t give a fuck
Who they got on that side
Stay on that side (uh)
I hit T she ain’t hit me back
They tryna spill the tea on me
But here’s the gag
I really live my raps baby that’s a fact
I did therapy to get over the past
If you stuck in your feelings
You stuck in the past
Overcome these obstacles
They’ll hold you back
Forward progression no lateral steps
We ain’t doing that
Nah we ain’t doing that
I earned it all
Man I earned this feeling
Anti violence but tryna make a killing
I did so much good but ended up the villain
But my therapist a tell me to look in the mirror
It’s a bigger picture
We painting with these brushes
I had brushes with death
That’ll make you question something
All praise to the most high
We can’t question nothing
Better stand for something
Or you’ll die for nothing
Man ain’t that something
Older you get you think
How you’ll be remembered
I hope my raps out live me
I hope my words immortal
I hope hard works pays off
I hope we see forever
I hope you live your dreams
And you don’t have to slumber
I stepped into glory I’m in my white linen
I know God still bless me
Even though I’m sinning
Felt a different type pain
Just to see these winnings
But like a Khalid song you know I’m still winning
So no more looking back
That’s the wrong direction
Only time my hand out is to receive my blessings
I’m really God’s son I’m really one of his
Ten years from now we’ll see what it is
And see what it ain’t
And who ain’t the same
I’m really proud of us and everything we became
Through what we gained
Our we still the same
Open this later to see how far you’ve came