“22” is a glimpse into aspects of Abstract’s life that impacted his music, and how they brought him to where he is now, at the age of 22. The song is Abstract’s story of his music, and the various factors that contributed to making it what it is today. He mentions his struggles and successes in musi...
[Chorus: Delaney]
Just wanted to make them proud
But you can't tell ups from downs
It's all alright
We can find company
In hearts that beat all in sync
We're all alright
[Bridge: Abstract]
We gon' be okay, we gon' be alright
We gon' be okay, we gon' be alright
We gon' be okay, we gon' be alright
We gon' be okay, we gon' be alright
We gon' be okay, we gon' be alright
We gon' be okay, we gon' be alright
[Verse 1: Abstract]
Musta been 2011 when the world ended
'Least it felt like it at the time
Teenage years make a heartbreak worse
Plus a lot was going on, couldn't stop it at the time
Dad tried to flip the house (yeah)
Funny that it all landed upside down
Known for being optimistic, started feeling different
Couldn't fix it, started writing lyrics all because nobody tried to hear it
'Round the same time, hooked to the nicotine
Music and a smoke were synonymous to me, it seemed
Paid prices through devices, both sides
Obsessed with a vision I know I could make mine
I knew it would take time, I knew they would doubt shine
Thought it was just music, didn't know that they would take sides
Freestyle at the party, they said, "Turn it down"
Sorry, was I talking over what you're gossiping about?
Small town with dreams that didn't involve skis
Lookin' at me like a weirdo, outside of the scene
Stuck to my friends, stop fucking with fair weather
But the maple showers brought out the May weather
Didn't know what I was doing, but I knew I couldn't stop
Wasn't slowing down even when my fourth tape dropped
'Round the time I was drunk most my freshman year
Was so focused on my craft that my grades got weird
[Chorus: Delaney]
Just wanted to make them proud
But you can't tell ups from downs
It's all alright
We can find company
In hearts that beat all in sync
We're all alright
[Verse 2: Abstract]
Thought I figured out I just wasn't made for degrees
Went home, then I went back early '14
All my friends had new friends and I lived off campus
In a dingy apartment on a twin bed mattress
Sucked, but I kept my grades up for a bit
I would kick it with some homies every now and again
But the Laramie cold was keeping me inside
And I was smokin' on the green when I needed to write
Wasn't able to sleep or even write without it
And being alone made my anxiety spike
If I was hanging with the group, I was drinkin' that night
Couldn't handle being out without a drink in my sight
Was a mess working on The Science of Feeling Tall
If it wasn't for that tape, I wouldn't get up at all
Recording on a mic that was USB
Thankfully, I had Craig making all of my beats
Still strugglin' tryna be heard
Still a joke back home, stuck in his work
Dropped science to dead silence
I was like, "Word"
They don't get it yet, but I swear that it's gon' work
Went back home for the summer
Met up with a girl that I used to love
But I was all messed up at the time because
I couldn't deal with thinking about another end to us
She brought me back to life, back in senior year
Couple months of that and then she disappeared
She explained to me, and it made sense to me
That I couldn't move forward with her heart and fear
So I got distant on some bitch shit
Can't lie, I was truly being a dipshit, like oh, my
Knew I would move to Seattle then
Home never let me stay too long, I guess
[Chorus: Delaney]
Just wanted to make them proud
But you can't tell ups from downs
It's all alright
We can find company
In hearts that beat all in sync
We're all alright
[Verse 3: Abstract]
Music wasn't makin' money, so I headed out to AI
Art school, so I thought, "Cool, I'ma be fine"
"Family wanted a degree, cool, I'ma get mine"
Not sure if I made the move for me at the time
I just had to get out
I was just tired of being home
Every ounce of my future was ridin' on a microphone
That's a lot of pressure even for a kid that's with no mentor to measure if my music was truly meant to deliver
Fell in love with the city, fell back in love with my art
I was truly in the present; I learned to follow my heart
Truly independent and finally makin' my mark
A Team Worldwide was steady lightin' a spark
100k, a couple million, then tens
Views gone crazy, I was over the fence
I was over the moon, and then "Neverland" dropped
That right there what I'm never gonna land off
AI wasn't really what I thought it would be
But I met a couple friends I've been happy to keep
Left that summer back home again
Then I started plottin' out how the team would win
We decided that it was time that we all should meet
Overseas with the team for a couple of weeks
Patrick, Craig, Glenn, Gustav, and me
Set up in a cabin south the Stockholm streets
Five musicians, four countries, one album
Took five years to make this our outcome
Used to ask "How come," now they ask "How?"
I just believed in it, way more than most how
I just remained me in payin' what I've seen
Painting you all the lows and highs in these dreams
All the pleasure and pain
The sun that came after rain
Now we on our way
Life will never be the same
[Chorus: Delaney]
Just wanted to make them proud
But you can't tell ups from downs
It's all alright
We can find company (twenty-two and I'm way more)
In hearts that beat all in sync (twenty-two and I'm way more)
We're all alright (twenty-two and I'm way more wise)
[Outro: Abstract]
Twenty-two and I'm way more wise to the fact
That the world makes plans that the mind can't hatch
No heart makes dreams work and time can't match
And I choose to be truth, nothing rhymes like that