Song Meaning

Trae tha Truth's "Fly Like a Pelican," featuring Gunna and Young Thug, isn't about ornithology. The repeated hook, "Nigga fly like a pelican," serves as a boast about transcending earthly constraints through wealth and power. The pelican, a bird known for its large wingspan and ability to soar, becomes a metaphor for the artists' aspirational rise above their circumstances. This isn't subtle; it's a declaration of arrival, a flaunting of success earned in a world that often tries to clip wings. The marathon-like pursuit of "paper" (money) is central. It's not just about having wealth, but about the relentless hustle required to obtain and maintain it. Barry Bonds, mentioned in the chorus, brings an interesting layer. Bonds, a baseball legend often associated with controversy, could symbolize the artists' awareness of the moral ambiguities sometimes present in the pursuit of success. Are they willing to bend or break rules to "fly" higher? Trae's verse doubles down on the themes of defiance and loyalty. He's "still an asshole" representing his crew, suggesting an unwillingness to compromise his identity despite his elevated status. This speaks to a core psychological tension: the struggle to reconcile newfound success with the values and relationships of one's past. The repeated warnings against disrespecting his crew hint at a deep-seated fear of betrayal or a need to constantly reassert dominance. Gunna's verse emphasizes the insular nature of their world. The repeated "slime, that mean you one of us" creates an us-vs-them dynamic, reinforcing the importance of loyalty and shared experience in a high-stakes environment where trust is a scarce commodity. The line "Ain't got no conscience, don't know who to trust" reveals a possible paranoia stemming from their lifestyle. Young Thug's verse, as always, is the most abstract and chaotic. While it touches on familiar themes of loyalty and violence, the imagery is more surreal and drug-addled. References to "grenades from the pilgrims" and "crickets on my seats because they green" create a sense of disorienting excess. The line "I put cum on her face and on her spleen" is jarring, even within the context of explicit rap lyrics; it potentially speaks to a dehumanizing attitude towards women, or perhaps a twisted expression of power and dominance. The overall song meaning coalesces into a portrait of ambition, loyalty, and the psychological costs of achieving extraordinary success in a world marked by both opportunity and danger.

Trae tha Truth - Rap, Atlanta Rap

Fly Like a Pelican

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[Intro] [Chorus: Gunna] Nigga fly like a pelican Chase that paper like a marathon I know hitters just like Barry Bonds Make it rain, we got hella ones Custom karats, it's a one of one I might wear this only once a month Bossy bitch and don't you ever touch [Verse 1: Trae the Truth] Won't holler smoke like I was gettin' high Doin' 'bout two hundred, tryna get by Middle finger up for what they did, I All this money on me got me so fly Know I'm on the same shit Still a asshole, bitch, I rep the same clique Ever speaking on the Goat, that's where my name fit Rule one, I never hit 'em with the same stick Gang gang shit, if you ain't one of us And if it's drama time, I'ma be the one to bust Same week, your baby mama be the one to lust It's gon' be murder murder if you ever fuck with us You ever fuck with us [Chorus: Gunna] Nigga fly like a pelican Chase that paper like a marathon I know hitters just like Barry Bonds Make it rain, we got hella ones Custom karats, it's a one of one I might wear this only once a month Bossy bitch and don't you ever touch [Verse 2: Gunna] You a slime, that mean you one of us Won't say a thing 'cause you ride silent tucked Ain't showing you nothin', I'm gon' keep it tucked Ain't got no conscience, don't know who to trust It's the same coupe for life, it's like we stuck These checks like Nike, got me pipin' up It's d�j� vu, I see all type of stuff It must be Troop, I waste another cup Play with my family, I go ludicrous I been gettin' money, I ain't new to this He sayin' all cap, I swear I do this shit All day, all night, young Gunna makin' hits Yeah [Chorus: Gunna] Nigga fly like a pelican Chase that paper like a marathon I know hitters just like Barry Bonds Make it rain, we got hella ones Custom karats, it's a one of one I might wear this only once a month Bossy bitch and don't you ever touch [Verse 3: Young Thug] If you a slime, that mean you one of us, one of us I tie my ties with everyone of 'em, one of 'em Believe in Slime, yeah in SLIME we trust Yeah, all of my homies and my kids up Yeah, we keep the sticks, they tryna kill us We got sticks and some grenades from the pilgrims I been lovey-dovey with this drink and pill, yeah I got crickets on my seats because they green, yeah I put cum on her face and on her spleen, yeah Yeah, we shoot 'em down, we with the rara Yeah, I call the dawgs out and they shottas Rasta, Jamaican, they shoot at cop cars Children and grandmas, swiss cheese the block up Yeah [Chorus: Gunna] Nigga fly like a pelican Chase that paper like a marathon I know hitters just like Barry Bonds Make it rain, we got hella ones Custom karats, it's a one of one I might wear this only once a month Bossy bitch and don't you ever touch

Credits

Writers: Richie Souf
Young Thug
Gunna
Trae tha Truth

Fly Like a Pelican

Fly Like a Pelican

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Credits