I believe the annotations on this are completely off. It seems like N.E.R.D takes on the perspective of a 17 year old “In Search Of…” success in something that they’re producing and trying to make work. I think the song works perfectly in terms of duality- it can be interpreted as (1) a 17 year old...
[Verse 1]
Hi, I'm 17, and my name is Bobby James
Every day in school, all my classmates call me names
And so this pusher introduced me to this thing
He said it makes you forget pain, but makes you sing
I got pushed at home, at school, I was a wuss
Now my life's a domino that pushers push
'Cause I tried it once, but I tried it again
Ran away, two weeks later, I seen my friend
And I said
[Hook]
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out
[Verse 2]
Man, this would be cute if this were just a dream
A lesson for you to learn, except you'd learn through me
You know, like in the movies, when it ends with a scream
Well, fuckface, I got news: this is real and I did things
Traveling from Virginia to Cali broke
Hitchhike and rides me in my calico
Shoplift for food when it was desired
I miss my family, miss my friends
I'm so high and so tired
[Hook]
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out
Hey there, mister, give me some cash (Hey there)
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast (Could you help me please?)
I'm just one hit away from being passed out (Could you spare some change for the world?)
Young and assed out (For the world to see?)
Hey there, mister, give me some cash (Hey there)
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast (Could you help me please?)
I'm just one hit away from being passed out (Could you spare some change for the world?)
Young and assed out (For the world to see?)
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out (And assed out...)
Young and assed out
Hey there, mister, give me some cash
I'm high as hell and I'm ready to blast
I'm just one hit away from being passed out
Young and assed out
Hey there
Could you help me please?
Could you spare some change for the world
For the world to see?
Hey there
Could you help me please?
Could you spare some change for the world
For the world to see?...
Bobby James was written by Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo.
Bobby James was produced by The Neptunes.
N.E.R.D. released Bobby James on Mon Aug 06 2001.