Without Me - Eminem

Song Meaning and Background of Without Me by Eminem

In essence, "The Real Slim Shady" was supposed to be the follow-up to "Eminem's Return," which marked his triumphant return following the release of the Marshall Mathers LP. It also alludes to Eminem's influence on culture and his place in the music business.

The song parodies Prince's choice to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol and makes fun of a number of Eminem's detractors, including Vice President Dick Cheney (and his recurrent heart issues), his wife Lynne, the FCC, Chris Kirkpatrick (of NSYNC), Limp Bizkit, and Moby. It also mocks the idea that he is a white man making a successful career out of a primarily black art form, akin to Elvis Presley. Another criticism in the line refers to his mother Debbie Mathers' lawsuit over the lyrics to his breakout smash song, "My Name Is."

The opening lyric "Two trailer park girls go round the outside" is based on the country rap single "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren. he introduction—"Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks"—is sampled from Obie Trice's own track "Rap Name".

"Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles, reaching number two in the U.S. and number one in fifteen countries.

Lyrics of Without Me by Eminem

[Obie Trice:]

Obie Trice

Real name no gimmicks

[Eminem:]

Two trailer-park girls go 'round the outside, 'round the outside, 'round the outside

Two trailer-park girls go 'round the outside, 'round the outside, 'round the outside

Guess who's back, back again

Shady's back, tell a friend

Guess who's back

Guess who's back

Guess who's back

Guess who's back

Guess who's back

Guess who's back

Guess who's back

I've created a monster

'Cause nobody wants to see Marshall no more

They want Shady I'm chopped liver

Well if you want Shady, this is what I'll give ya

A little bit of weed mixed with some hard liquor

Some vodka that'll jump-start my heart

Quicker than a shock

When I get shocked at the hospital by the doctor

When I'm not cooperating

When I'm rocking the table while he's operating (hey!)

You waited this long now stop debating

'Cause I'm back I'm on the rag and ovulating

I know that you got a job Ms. Cheney

But your husband's heart problem's complicating

So the FCC won't let me be

Or let me be me so let me see

They try to shut me down on MTV

But it feels so empty without me

So come on dip, bum on your lips fuck that

Cum on your lips and some on your tits and get ready 'cause this shit's about to get heavy

I just settled all my lawsuits

Fuck you, Debbie!

Now this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me

'Cause we need a little controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me

I said this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me

'Cause we need a little controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me

Little hellions kids feeling rebellious

Embarrassed, their parents still listen to Elvis

They start feeling like prisoners, helpless

'Til someone comes along on a mission and yells "bitch"

A visionary, vision is scary

Could start a revolution

Polluting the air waves a rebel

So just let me revel and bask

In the fact that I got everyone kissing my ass

And it's a disaster

Such a catastrophe for you to see so damn much of my ass

You ask for me?

Well I'm back

Fix your bent antennae

Tune it in and then I'm gonna enter in

And up under your skin like a splinter

The center of attention back for the winter

I'm interesting, the best thing since wrestling

Infesting in your kid's ears and nesting

Testing attention please

Feel the tension soon as someone mentions me

Here's my 10 cents my 2 cents is free

A nuisance, who sent, you sent for me?

Now this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me

'Cause we need a little controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me

I said this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me

'Cause we need a little controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me

A tisk-it a task-it

I'll go tit for tat with anybody who's talking this shit, that shit

Chris Kirkpatrick you can get your ass kicked

Worse than them little Limp Bizkit bastards

And Moby

You can get stomped by Obie

You 36 year old bald-headed fag blow me

You don't know me

You're too old

Let go

It's over, nobody listens to techno

Now let's go, just give me the signal

I'll be there with a whole list full of new insults

I've been dope, suspenseful with a pencil

Ever since Prince turned himself into a symbol

But sometimes the shit just seems

Everybody only wants to discuss me

So this must mean I'm disgusting

But it's just me I'm just obscene

No, I'm not the first king of controversy

I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley

To do black music so selfishly

And use it to get myself wealthy (Hey)

There's a concept that works

20 million other white rappers emerge

But no matter how many fish in the sea

It'd be so empty without me

Now this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me

'Cause we need a little controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me

I said this looks like a job for me so everybody just follow me

'Cause we need a little controversy

'Cause it feels so empty without me

Kids