When I'm Gone by Eminem - Lyrics and Translation

VERSE

When I'm Gone

Eminem

When I'm Gone

Song byEminem

in AlbumCurtain Call

[Introduction]

Yeah...

It's my life...

My own words I guess...

[Verse 1]

Have you ever loved someone so much, you'd give an arm for?

Not the expression, no, literally give an arm for?

When they know they're your heart

And you know you were their armour

And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm 'her

But what happens when karma, turns right around and bites you?

And everything you stand for, turns on you, despite you?

What happens when you become the main source of her pain?

"Daddy look what I made", Dad's gotta go catch a plane

"Daddy where's Mommy? I can't find Mommy where is she?"

I don't know go play Hailie, baby, your Daddy's busy

Daddy's writing a song, this song ain't gonna write itself

I'll give you one underdog then you gotta swing by yourself

Then turn right around in that song and tell her you love her

And put hands on her mother, who's a spitting image of her

That's Slim Shady, yeah baby, Slim Shady's crazy

Shady made me, but tonight Shady's rocka-by-baby...

[Chorus]

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just smile back

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just smile back...

[Verse 2]

I keep having this dream, I'm pushin' Hailie on the swing

She keeps screaming, she don't want me to sing

"You're making Mommy cry, why? Why is Mommy crying?"

Baby, Daddy ain't leaving no more, "Daddy you're lying

"You always say that, you always say this is the last time

"But you ain't leaving no more, Daddy you're mine"

She's piling boxes in front of the door trying to block it

"Daddy please, Daddy don't leave, Daddy - no stop it!"

Goes in her pocket, pulls out a tiny necklace locket

It's got a picture, "this'll keep you safe Daddy, take it withcha'"

I look up, it's just me standing in the mirror

These fuckin' walls must be talking, cuz man I can hear 'em

They're saying "You've got one more chance to do right" - and it's tonight

Now go out there and show that you love 'em before it's too late

And just as I go to walk out of my bedroom door

It's turns to a stage, they're gone, and this spotlight is on

And I'm singing...

[Chorus]

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just smile back

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just smile back...

[Verse 3]

Sixty thousand people, all jumping out their seat

The curtain closes, they're throwing roses at my feet

I take a bow and thank you all for coming out

They're screaming so loud, I take one last look at the crowd

I glance down, I don't believe what I'm seeing

"Daddy it's me, help Mommy, her wrists are bleeding,"

But baby we're in Sweden, how did you get to Sweden?

"I followed you Daddy, you told me that you weren't leavin'

"You lied to me Dad, and now you make Mommy sad

"And I bought you this coin, it says 'Number One Dad'

"That's all I wanted, I just want to give you this coin

"I get the point - fine, me and Mommy are going"

But baby wait, "it's too late Dad, you made the choice

"Now go out there and show 'em that you love 'em more than us"

That's what they want, they want you Marshall, they keep.. screamin' your name

It's no wonder you can't go to sleep, just take another pill

Yeah, I bet you you will. You rap about it, yeah, word, k-keep it real

I hear applause, all this time I couldn't see

How could it be, that the curtain is closing on me

I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it

Put it to my brain and scream "die Shady" and pop it

The sky darkens, my life flashes, the plane that I was supposed to be on crashes and burns to ashes

That's when I wake up, alarm clock's ringin', there's birds singin'

It's Spring and Hailie's outside swinging, I walk right up to Kim and kiss her

Tell her I miss her, Hailie just smiles and winks at her little sister

Almost as if to say..

[Chorus/Outro]

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just smile back

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just smile back...

[Curtains closing and sounds of footsteps]

LanguageEnglish

Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

When I'm Gone by Eminem is a deeply personal and emotional track where the artist reflects on the struggles of balancing his career and family life. The song delves into his feelings of guilt and regret over not being present for his daughter, Hailie, and the impact that his absence has on her and his family. Key themes include the conflict between fame and family, regret, self-reflection, and the desire for redemption. A particularly poignant moment is when Eminem imagines a future where he is able to reconnect with his daughter and be the father she needs, highlighting his longing for a better balance between his personal and professional life.