Poor Thang
Poor Thang
J. Cole - Topic
Lirik Lagu
Poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
I just want to be great, what's a crown when I can see straight?
What's a check when I can be checked? Niggas is too rich to be late
I'm like a referee, I don't move unless the free throw is attempted
And I don't feel the need to say who I'm referencin'
I hear the whispers of all the niggas, I know who they are
I know why they waitin' on me like a star
See, the pressure got a hold on me, I could tell it from afar
But I ain't trippin' 'bout it, God watchin' over me, I'm blessed
I guess
They say a quiet nigga like me, you gotta check him
'Cause when he snap, he throw stones at the glass house that you rest in
I'm obsessed with progress, I guess that's the only way to measure
And I ain't worried 'bout the small shit, I'm just here to get my cheddar
And I'm focused on the moment, don't know who lookin'
But I'ma make sure that they witness the greatness that's cookin'
I'm thankful for the struggle and the pain 'cause it took me
To a place where I could see clear, poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Sometimes I sit and think about the niggas I done stepped on
And I ain't even try to, it's just the game, I kept on
And if I ever hurt a soul, I pray that they can move along
'Cause I'm too busy tryin' to get this right, I ain't got time to be wrong
I got a lot on my plate, I'm talkin' big decisions
I got a team relyin' on me, I gotta feed 'em
I got a legacy to protect, I gotta keep it up
And I ain't worried 'bout the critics 'cause they ain't got shit to teach us
We just focused on the moment, don't know who lookin'
But I'ma make sure that they witness the greatness that's cookin'
I'm thankful for the struggle and the pain 'cause it took me
To a place where I could see clear, poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Makna & Interpretasi
Lagu "Poor Thang" (yang merupakan bagian dari lagu J. Cole berjudul "Pi") menggunakan sampel vokal berulang "Poor thang, poor thang" (kasihan sekali/malang sekali), menciptakan suasana yang melankolis dan introspektif. Makna lagu ini sangat berlapis, mencerminkan pemikiran J. Cole mengenai tekanan ketenaran, kritik industri, dan introspeksi diri.
1. **Ironi dan Empati:** Frasa "Poor thang" dapat ditafsirkan sebagai bentuk ironi yang diarahkan pada orang-orang yang terlalu fokus pada kehidupan orang lain, iri, atau salah memahami realitas seorang seniman sukses seperti Cole. Namun, frasa ini juga bisa diarahkan kepada dirinya sendiri, mengakui betapa sulit dan beratnya beban yang ia pikul meskipun berada di puncak kesuksesan.
2. **Beban Ketenaran dan Otentisitas:** Dalam liriknya, Cole merenungkan nilai kehebatan dan ketenaran ("What's a crown when I can see straight?"). Dia menekankan bahwa dia hanya bergerak ketika ada alasan yang kuat (seperti wasit, menunggu tembakan bebas), menunjukkan keengganannya untuk terlibat dalam drama kecil atau 'beef' yang tidak perlu, meskipun dia sadar ada orang yang menunggu kejatuhannya.
3. **Refleksi Diri dan Pertumbuhan:** Cole mengakui tekanan yang ada padanya, tetapi ia bersyukur atas perjuangan dan rasa sakit, karena hal itu membawanya ke tempat di mana dia bisa melihat dengan jelas. Bagian ini menyoroti fokusnya pada perkembangan pribadi (progress) dan warisan (legacy) yang harus ia lindungi, menepis kekhawatiran tentang kritikus yang tidak memiliki otoritas untuk mengajarinya.
Secara keseluruhan, "Poor Thang" adalah lagu yang merayakan pertumbuhan yang datang dari kesulitan sambil secara sinis mencatat bagaimana orang luar memandang perjuangan seorang bintang. Ini adalah pertahanan diri yang tenang dan pengakuan bahwa kesuksesan datang dengan harga yang mahal.
Kord Gitar per Baris
Em C
Poor thang, poor thang
G D
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Em C
Poor thang, poor thang
G D
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Em
I just want to be great, what's a crown when I can see straight?
C
What's a check when I can be checked? Niggas is too rich to be late
G
I'm like a referee, I don't move unless the free throw is attempted
D
And I don't feel the need to say who I'm referencin'
Em
I hear the whispers of all the niggas, I know who they are
C
I know why they waitin' on me like a star
G
See, the pressure got a hold on me, I could tell it from afar
D
But I ain't trippin' 'bout it, God watchin' over me, I'm blessed
Em
I guess
They say a quiet nigga like me, you gotta check him
C
'Cause when he snap, he throw stones at the glass house that you rest in
G
I'm obsessed with progress, I guess that's the only way to measure
D
And I ain't worried 'bout the small shit, I'm just here to get my cheddar
Em
And I'm focused on the moment, don't know who lookin'
C
But I'ma make sure that they witness the greatness that's cookin'
G
I'm thankful for the struggle and the pain 'cause it took me
D
To a place where I could see clear, poor thang, poor thang
Em C
Poor thang, poor thang
G D
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Em C
Poor thang, poor thang
G D
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Em
Sometimes I sit and think about the niggas I done stepped on
C
And I ain't even try to, it's just the game, I kept on
G
And if I ever hurt a soul, I pray that they can move along
D
'Cause I'm too busy tryin' to get this right, I ain't got time to be wrong
Em
I got a lot on my plate, I'm talkin' big decisions
C
I got a team relyin' on me, I gotta feed 'em
G
I got a legacy to protect, I gotta keep it up
D
And I ain't worried 'bout the critics 'cause they ain't got shit to teach us
Em
We just focused on the moment, don't know who lookin'
C
But I'ma make sure that they witness the greatness that's cookin'
G
I'm thankful for the struggle and the pain 'cause it took me
D
To a place where I could see clear, poor thang, poor thang
Em C
Poor thang, poor thang
G D
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
Em C
Poor thang, poor thang
G D
Poor thang, poor thang, poor thang, poor thang
