NF JOURNEY: WHY & THE SEARCH

Song(s): Why & The Search

Artist: NF

THE SEARCH!!! I'VE MADE IT TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (for me!) 😭 

No Name and Why were released as singles but I've read that Why is technically the "Intro" aka "Intro IIII" to The Search album. That's why I've doubled them up in this post. I'M STOKED!! ✊ LET'S GET THINGS STARTED!!

Why

THIS SONG IS FREAKING AWESOME! The music video is SICK! And a little creepy (which made me immediately decide I will be sharing this again in October because it fits the vibe perfectly). There is a ton of good stuff going on between the visuals and the lyrics and the FLOW!! OK STOP! THE BEAT SWITCH UP?? SOOOO GOOOOOD!! "Stop askin' me questions, I just wanna feel alive until I die—this isn't Nate's flow (woo!) Just let me rhyme; I'm in disguise, I'm a busy person, got no time for lies; one of a kind. They don't see it; I pull out they eyes; I'm on the rise!" NASTY! And that whole section that I literally separated from the rest of the lyrics (below) because it's just that freaking FANTASTIC!! 🔥🙌 HE'S SO COOL! What more can I say?? My mind just continues to be blown. He keeps topping himself! 

Too many faces, too many faces, too many faces

Yeah, what's your definition of success? (ayy!)

I don't trust the thoughts that come inside my head (woo!)

I don't trust this thing that beats inside my chest

Who I am and who I wanna be can not connect; why?  🔥🔥😭🙌 Are we...the same person??

Don't think I deserve it? You get no respect (woo!)

I just made a couple mil', still not impressed

Let You Down goes triple platinum, yeah, okay, okay, I guess (ayy!)

Smile for a moment then these questions startin' to fill my head, not again!

I push away the people that I love the most; why? (woo!)

I don't want no one to know I'm vulnerable; why? (woo!)

That makes me feel weak and so uncomfortable; why? (ayy!)  FACTS ON FACTS ON FACTS 🔥

Stop askin' me questions, I just wanna feel alive

Until I die—this isn't Nate's flow (woo!)

Just let me rhyme; I'm in disguise

I'm a busy person, got no time for lies; one of a kind

They don't see it; I pull out they eyes; I'm on the rise!

I've been doin' this for most my life with no advice (woo!)

Take my chances, I just roll the dice, do what I like

As a kid, I was afraid of heights, put that aside

Now I'm here and they look so surprised, well so am I, woo!

They don't invite me to the parties but I still arrive

Kick down the door and then I go inside

Give off that "I do not belong here" vibe

Then take the keys right off the counter, let's go for a ride

Why do y'all look mortified? (ayy!)

I keep to myself, they think I'm sorta shy, organized

Let You Down's the only song you've heard of? Well then you're behind (woo!)

Story time; wish that I could think like Big Sean does, but I just can't decide (aah!)  

If I should stick my knife inside of Pennywise  THIS WHOLE SECTION IS SIIIIIICK! 😲👊

I, I don't care what anybody else thinks—lies (haha!)

I do not need nobody to help me—lies

I kinda feel guilty 'cause I'm wealthy; why? 🔥 YES YES YES YES YES

I don't understand, it's got me questionin' like, "Why?

Just tell me why"—now back to this flow

Inside I feel divided

Back when I ain't had a dime, but had the drive

Back before I ever signed, I questioned life, like, "Who am I, man?" Woo!

Nothin' to me's ever good enough

I could be workin' for twenty-four hours a day and think I never did enough

My life is a movie but there ain't no tellin' what you're gonna see in my cinema (no!)

I wanna be great but I get it in the way of myself and I think about everything that I could never be

Why do I do it though? Ayy, yeah

Why you always lookin' aggravated?

Not a choice, you know I had to make it

When they talk about the greatest, they gon' probably never put us in the conversation  NOT TRUE NATE!! 😤 G.O.A.T.

Like somethin' then I gotta take it

Write somethin' then I might erase it

I love it, then I really hate it

What's the problem, Nathan? I don't know!

I know I like to preach to always be yourself (yeah)

But my emotions make me feel like I am someone else

Me and pride had made a pact that we don't need no help

Which feels like I'm at war inside myself but I forgot the shells  #ME😭

I hold my issues up for all to see, like show and tell

A lot of people know me, but, not a lot know me well

Hold my issues up for all to see, like show and tell

A lot of people know me, but, they don't know me well  🔥😱😭👊

Too many faces, too many faces, too many faces

The Search

OHMYFREAKINGGOSHHESDONEITAGAINIAMDECEASED!!!! 😱🤯😭🔥🔥💀👊✊🙌💣💥

THE WHY VIDEO LEADS STRAIGHT INTO THE SEARCH!!! THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON!!

Sorry, I'm going to try to stop SCREAMING about everything but I am UNWELL with how good this all is! My PASSION and EXCITMENT cannot be contained!

• THE CAGE FROM OUTCAST!! HE'S OPENED THE CAGE FEAR TRAPPED HIM IN!! HE USED THE KEYS!! 😭🤯👊 HE IS ON THE SEARCH TO HAPPINESS, PEACE, ACCEPTANCE, ETC. 
• The shopping cart with the balloons from Why
•  He was sitting on the bench swing at the end of Why
• "Something funny's going on up in my house" - HIS MANSION AKA HOUSE IS HIS MIND! 🤯 I GET IT NOW!! All this time I was listening to this song knowing when he said that line that he was referring to his mind but NOW I KNOW HOW BIG OF A DEAL THAT IS!!
• "I look at the crowd and see so many faces." - "TOO MANY FACES" FROM Why? 🤯 STOP IT NF YOU'RE KILLIN' ME RN!! 💀
• "I'm lookin' for the map to hope, you seen it?" - WAIT ✋....the map to "HOPE"... as in...HOPE!? I CANNOT WAIT TO WATCH THAT MUSIC VIDEO!! 🤯😱😭
• "Look at me, everybody, I'm smilin' big" - THE SMILES HE DRAWS ON THE PEOPLE IN THERAPY SESSION AND ON HIMSELF IN OUTCAST!
• Who are all of those people walking around in white??
• WHO GAVE HIM THE WHITE CLOTHES??? WHAT DOES IT MEAN??
• I highlighted all the lyrics below because EVERY SINGLE ONE IS A BAR!
• Italicized and bold = I relate. Italicized only = I STAN

Hey Nate, how's life?

I don't know, it's alright

I've been dealin' with some things like every human being

And really didn't sleep much last night (Last night)

I'm sorry, that's fine

I just think I need a little me time

I just think I need a little free time

Little break from the shows and the bus rides, yeah (Bus rides)

Last year I had a breakdown

Thoughts tellin' me I'm lost, gettin' too loud

Had to see a therapist and I found out

Somethin' funny's going on up in my house  🤯 MANSION!! I need to follow his example and go see a therapist again...

Yeah, started thinkin' maybe I should move out

You know, pack my cart, take a new route

Clean up my yard, get the noose out

Hang up my heart, let it air out (Air out)  🔥🔥

I've been searchin'

What does that mean, Nate?

I've been learning

Grabbin' my keepsakes, leavin' my burdens 

Well, I brought a few with me, I'm not perfect  🔥😱👊💣💥

Lookin' at the view like this concerns me

Pickin' up the cues, right? I'm quite nervous

Hate it when I lose sight, life gets blurry

And things might hurt me

It's probably gonna be a long journey, but hey! (But hey!)

It's worth it though

Cold world out there, kids, grab your coats

Been a minute, I know, now I'm back to roam

Lookin' for the antidote to crack the code

Pretty vivid; I admit it, I'm in classic mode

Don't need pity given to me but I can't condone

Talkin' down to me, I'ma have to crack your nose for crackin' jokes

I'm lookin' for the map to hope, you seen it? (You seen it?)  🙌💪👊

Been makin' a whole lot of changes

Wrote a song about that, you should play it

I get scared when I walk on these stages

I look at the crowd and see so many faces, yeah

That's when I start to get anxious

That's when my thoughts can be dangerous

That's when I put on my make-up and drown in self-hatred

Forget what I'm saying, and

Where'd the beat go?

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Oh, ain't that somethin'?

Drums came in, you ain't see that comin'

Hands on my head, can't tell me nothin'

Got a taste of the fame, had to pump my stomach

Throw it back up like I don't want it

Wipe my face, clean up my vomit

OCD, tryna push my buttons

I said don't touch it, now y'all done it  

🔥🔥👊🙌✊💣💥😱😭

I can be critical, never typical

Intricate with every syllable, I'm a criminal

Intimate, but never political, pretty visual

Even if you hate it, I'll make it feel like you're in it though

You call me what you wanna, but never call me forgettable

Leave you deep in thought, I could never swim in the kiddie pool

Way that I been thinkin' this cinematic is beautiful

Man, I don't know if I'm makin' movies or music videos (videos, videos)

Yeah, the sales can rise

Doesn't mean much though when your health declines

See, we've all got somethin' that we trapped inside

That we try to suffocate, you know, hopin' it dies

Try to hold it underwater but it always survives

Then it comes up out of nowhere like an evil surprise

Then it hovers over you to tell you millions of lies

You don't relate to that? Must not be as crazy as I am  🔥🔥👊🙌✊💣💥😱😭

The point I'm makin' is the mind is a powerful place

And what you feed it can affect you in a powerful way

It's pretty cool, right? Yeah, but it's not always safe

Just hang with me, this'll only take a moment, OK?

Just think about it for a second, if you look at your face

Every day when you get up and think you'll never be great

You'll never be great—not because you're not, but the hate

Will always find a way to cut you up and murder your faith (Woo!)  🔥🔥👊🙌✊💣💥😱😭 TO ALL OF IT!! ALL.OF.IT. 😭

I am developin', take a look at the benefits

Nothin' to meddle with, I can never be delicate

Am I even relevant? That depends how you measure it

Take a measurement, then bag it up and give me the evidence

It's pretty evident; dependable can never be tentative

I'm a gentleman, depending on if I think you're genuine

Pretty elegant but not afraid to tell you to get a grip

Proper etiquette, I keep it to myself when I celebrate, ah!

It's that time again

Better grab your balloons and invite your friends

Seatbelts back on, yeah, strap 'em in

Look at me, everybody, I'm smilin' big

On a road right now that I can't predict

Tell me "Tone that down", but I can't resist

Y'all know that sound, better raise your fists

The search begins, I'm back, so enjoy the trip, huh (Huh, huh)  ✊👊💪🙌🙏🔥🔥🔥 THE SEARCH BEGINS!! I'M READY TO GO ON MY OWN SEARCH!! LET'S GOOOOO!!!! 😭😭

*This is going to be the longest post in history but bear with me! There is too much epicness going on!!

I found this cool interpretation of the lyrics for Why from someone in the comment section of a youtube channel of brothers who react to NF's videos (this is where I found out about "the journey" in the first place and I've been following their same playlist. Also, I love these guys! 😂 They're reactions are hilarious and so relatable! I love watching people get as hyped and excited about all of this as me!). Anyway, this commenter interpreted the song as a conversation with PRIDE ("Me and pride had made a pact that we don't need no help"), a brother to FEAR, so I've added the lyrics with their specifications where they think Nate is talking and where Pride is talking below...it's GENIUS!! 🤩 And to the person who came up with this...I AM NOT TRYING TO STEAL YOUR THOUGHTS! I just wanted to share because it is SO GOOD!!

[NF]

Too many faces, too many faces, too many faces

Yeah, what's your definition of success? (ay)

I don't trust the thoughts that come inside my head (woo)

I don't trust this thing that beats inside my chest

Who I am and who I wanna be cannot connect,

[Pride]

why? Don't think I deserve it?

[NF]

You get no respect (woo) 

[Pride]

I just made a couple mil', 

[NF]

still not impressed

[Pride]

Let You Down goes triple platinum,

[NF]

yeah, okay, okay, I guess (ay) Smile for a moment then these questions startin' to fill my head, 

[Pride]

not again!

[NF]

I push away the people that I love the most,

[Pride]

why? (woo)

[NF]

I don't want no one to know I'm vulnerable,

[Pride]

why? (woo)

[NF]

That makes me feel weak and so uncomfortable,

[Pride]

why? (ay)

[NF]

Stop askin' me questions, I just wanna feel alive

Until I die, 

[Pride]

this isn't Nate's flow (woo)

[NF]

Just let me rhyme, I'm in disguise

I'm a busy person, got no time for lies, 

[Pride]

one of a kind

[NF]

They don't see it, I pull out they eyes,

[Pride]

I'm on the rise!

[NF]

I've been doin' this for most my life

[Pride]

with no advice (woo)

[NF]

Take my chances, I just roll the dice,

[Pride]

do what I like

[NF]

As a kid, I was afraid of heights,

[Pride]

put that aside

Now I'm here and they look so surprised,

[NF]

well so am I, woo!

They don't invite me to the parties but I still arrive

Kick down the door and then I go inside

Give off that "I do not belong here" vibe

Then take the keys right off the counter, let's go for a ride

Why do y'all look mortified? (ay)

I keep to myself, they think I'm sorta shy, organized

Let You Down's the only song you've heard of?

Well then you're behind (woo) 

Story time, wish that I could think like Big Sean does, but I just can't decide (aah)

If I should stick my knife inside of Pennywise (the personification of fear)

[Pride]

I, I don't care what anybody else thinks,

[NF]

lies (haha)

[Pride]

I do not need nobody to help me,

[NF]

lies

I kinda feel guilty 'cause I'm wealthy,

[Pride]

why?

[NF]

I don't understand, it's got me questionin' like, "Why?" 

[Pride]

Just tell me why, not back to this flow

[NF]

Inside I feel divided

Back when I ain't had a dime, but had the drive

Back before I ever signed, I questioned life, like, "Who am I, man?"

Woo!

Nothin' to me's ever good enough

I could be workin' for twenty-four hours a day and think I never did enough

My life is a movie but there ain't no tellin' what you're gonna see in my cinema (no)

I wanna be great but I get it in the way of myself

And I think about everything that I could never be

[Pride]

Why do I do it though?

[NF]

Ay, yeah

Why you always lookin' aggravated? [I think he's talking to the industry and also to Pride] 

Not a choice, you know I had to make it

When they talk about the greatest, they gon' probably never put us in the conversation 

Like somethin' then I gotta take it 

Write somethin' then I might erase it

I love it, then I really hate it

[Pride] What's the problem, Nathan?

[NF]

I don't know

I know I like to preach to always be yourself (yeah)

But my emotions make me feel like I am someone else

Me and Pride had made a pact that we don't need no help

Which feels like I'm at war inside myself but I forgot the shells

I hold my issues up for all to see, like show and tell

[Pride]

A lot of people know me,

[NF]

but not a lot know me well

Hold my issues up for all to see, like show and tell

[Pride]

A lot of people know me,

[NF]

but they don't know me well