Song Meaning

El-P, the verbal pugilist, often grapples with themes of alienation and identity, and "Works Every Time" feels like a concentrated dose of existential dread wrapped in his signature brand of cynical humor. The song's meaning, or perhaps more accurately, its feeling, hinges on this push-pull between wanting to escape a broken reality and the crushing weight of that very desire. From the jump, the lyrics paint a picture of someone teetering on the edge, impatient and disillusioned: "I've been waiting for an hour now, what the fuck is up?" It's not just about punctuality; it's a broader frustration with the world's broken promises. The line "I tried it your way, that advice you gave to me was dirt!" speaks to a rejection of conventional wisdom, a burning of bridges in the pursuit of something authentic, even if that something is terrifyingly unknown. The verses of "Works Every Time" are a fragmented stream of consciousness, bouncing between paranoia, self-deprecation, and a desperate yearning for transcendence. There's a sense of being trapped, not just in a physical space, but in a mental one. References to bending dimensions and pixelating space suggest a desire to break free from the limitations of reality, but there's also a palpable fear of what lies beyond. The line, "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue" is darkly comedic, highlighting a reliance on escapism while simultaneously acknowledging its futility. It's a nod to the idea that sometimes, the coping mechanisms we use to survive are the very things that hold us back. The chorus, repeating the mantra "It's like a fresh start on a new world / And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything / To go home / It's like a fresh start on a new world / And I already want to go home," is the crux of the song's emotional core. The repetition emphasizes the cyclical nature of hope and disappointment. The desire for a 'fresh start' is immediately undercut by the longing to return to 'home,' a place that may no longer exist or may never have existed in the first place. This tension—the push towards the unknown and the pull towards a familiar past—captures the essential human struggle of navigating change and loss. El-P isn't offering easy answers; he's simply laying bare the complexities of wanting to escape while simultaneously craving belonging. In the analysis of these lyrics, one can see the raw, exposed nerves of a person wrestling with their place in a world that feels increasingly alien.

El-P - Rap

Works Every Time

28.2K Plays

Duration: 3:36

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[Verse 1] I've been waiting for you all week Don't you know this is a rotten time to not not be me I've been waiting for an hour now, what the fuck is up? I've got memories to lose man, I am in a rush Don't make me suffer this dimension straight When we can bend face, Let space pixelate 60 dollars for a new born you (Yeah) Pay no attention to these savages: they don't own truth Pay no attention to the man behind the glassy smirk (Hi!) I tried it your way, that advice you gave to me was dirt! Twenty-five and I can buy my way of planet nerf Where the softest hearts are tossed around on astro turf Charlie Brown's adult voice trumpets fade And it's ridiculous to say oblivion's insane And it's insanity to think I'd recognize my name I no longer speak the language, I have chosen change [Chorus] It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world And I already want to go home [Verse 2] (Yeah, boy) Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue If I exist right now I damn sure can't provide you proof Definitions of existence in this state are loose You've done enough, relax, I'll finish tying up my noose You had the fucking nerve to outstretch claw and point at me But can't you tell by how I'm sweating I am finally free? You were right about me, all along, whoop-de-doo Leave a message, I have disappeared and so have you [Chorus] It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home [Instrumental Break] [Chorus] It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home It's like a fresh start on a new world (And I'll do anything, anything, anything, anything) To go home [Outro] It's like a fresh start on a new world It's like a fresh start on a new world It's like a fresh start on a new world It's like a fresh start on a new world

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Writers: El-P

Works Every Time

Works Every Time

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Credits