The Deep Meaning the Song “Truman” (Han, Felix) Stray Kids from the album Mixtape: DominATE
Table of contents
- “Truman” (Han and Felix) Introduction
- Lyrical Meaning of Song “Truman” (Han and Felix)
- The Deep Meaning of Song “Truman” (Han and Felix)
- Conclusion
1. “Truman” (Han and Felix) Introduction
The song “Truman’” seems to be performed by Stray Kids’, with Felix and Han as the lead vocalists based on the division of parts in the lyrics. The title “Truman” is likely a reference to the movie “The Truman Show”, which tells the story of a person whose life becomes a spectacle and he tries to find his true identity.
2. Lyrical Meaning of Song “Truman” (Han and Felix)
“I sketch visions of my future / But sometimes the wrong shades slip in the picture, feel like a failure, a loser”
- Describes the process of planning a future that is sometimes plagued by doubts
- Uses the metaphor of drawing/sketching to show that life is a work in progress
- Shows feelings of inadequacy or failure that sometimes arise
“But oh, my God, reminds me, I’m human / Head high, I keep on moving living real, like Truman, I’m the true man”
- Shows acceptance of imperfections as part of humanity
- The “Truman” reference is likely referring to the movie “The Truman Show” about authenticity and truth
- Describes staying strong and authentic despite adversity
“We’re all the same, no difference / Fail, fear, bad days make me more different, I’m born freak”
- Describes the paradox of human sameness and uniqueness
- Shows that failure and fear actually shape individuality
- in the midst of doubts and challenges.
“This is my own movement / We don’t care ’cause we are blessed”
- Affirms autonomy and trust in the chosen path
- Shows courage to not care about other people’s judgments because they feel blessed
“I don’t play, you know, we keep it hundred / Cop, coppin’ all that shit, whenever I want it”
- Shows honesty and authenticity (keep it hundred = 100% honest)
- Portrays a confident attitude in taking what one wants
“It’s that, it’s that beast mode as Rengar calls it”
- Possible reference to a character from the game League of Legends (Rengar) who is notoriously aggressive
- Depicts a mode of fighting or working hard with high intensity
“Got trophies in the bag, ’cause of STAY, we lock in”
- “STAY” likely refers to the fan base
- Indicates that achievements are achieved thanks to fan support
Overall, these lyrics depict:
- A personal journey facing doubts and feelings of failure
- Acceptance of imperfections as part of humanity
- Remaining confident and authentic despite adversity
- Appreciation of uniqueness and individuality
- Recognition of the role of supporters in achieving success
The song seems to speak of a journey towards self-acceptance and authenticity amidst doubts and challenges.
“Ride a Benz, raise my hands, salute fans / Gas is running, hit the pedal, we going fast”
- Depicts a luxurious lifestyle (Mercedes Benz) and connection with fans
- Metaphor of speed and momentum to show rapid success
“We so advanced, we the first and the last / We so advanced, we the first and the last”
- Emphasizes unique and superior position in the industry
- Repetition shows confidence and belief
“Woke up 5AM, tryna catch a plane, we don’t waste time”
- Depicts dedication, hard work, and a busy schedule
- Emphasizes the value of time and work ethic
“Since I was a kid, young ambitions got me out of school / No more following orders, now I make my own rules”
- Shows the journey from youth to independence
- Theme of breaking free from conventional structures
“Still got that fire, bright and shining like a jewel”
- Stating that spirit and passion are still strong
- Use of jewel metaphor to describe precious qualities
“This is our crew, we’ll show what’s new / We got the juice, we got the moves”
- Emphasizing group identity and innovative ability
- “Juice” in slang indicates influence, power, or attractiveness
“Let’s groove tonight, alright, got LV shoes”
- Reference to luxury brand (Louis Vuitton) indicates material success
- Inviting to have fun and celebrate
“Working our way up, we go / Cooking up races, I know that we’re taking our time like Charles Leclerc”
- The reference to F1 driver Charles Leclerc shows strategy and speed
- Describes the journey up to the top
“I masticate all of my enemies / Call me Pac-Man, I eat up the road”
- Uses the metaphor of the Pac-Man game to describe dominance
- Shows a competitive attitude towards rivals
Overall, these lyrics depict:
- The success, luxury and status that has been achieved
- The hard work and dedication required to achieve success
- Independence and freedom from conventional rules
- Strong group identity and pride
- Competitive and dominant attitude in the industry
The song seems to describe the journey of an artist or group who has achieved success after hard work, and now enjoys the lifestyle and status that comes with it.
“Holding my stomach, trying not to laugh, you done?”
- Describes a dismissive attitude towards opponents or critics
- Demonstrates high self-confidence that can laugh off threats
“Okay, okay, you said it’s fancy, I can see your bullshit (Ah)”
- Expresses the ability to see the falsity behind a fancy appearance
- Shows an authentic attitude that is not fooled by superficial things
“In a blink, they fall behind, bang, bang (Bang, bang) / Look at you, you were the one talking big, bang bang”
- Describes the speed of defeating an opponent or competitor
- The “bang bang” reference shows a quick and decisive victory
- Shows irony towards people who talk a lot but cannot prove
“Lotta pain, but I keep my attitude / I spit out the dagger in my throat and jump up (Oh)”
- Acknowledges struggle and pain but maintains a positive attitude
- The “dagger in my throat” metaphor shows the ability to overcome heavy obstacles
“Lay down, my line is slanted, this system is full of wisdom / Don’t try to follow us, long distance”
- Expresses the uniqueness and complexity of a style or approach
- Warns that it is not easy to follow or copy their footsteps
“Our eyes, still shine crimson”
- Describes undying passion and determination
- Crimson is often associated with strength and courage.
Overall, the lyrics illustrate:
- Self-confidence and not being afraid to face criticism or challenges
- The ability to see beyond falsehoods and remain authentic
- Resilience in the face of adversity and the ability to bounce back
- Awareness of uniqueness and being different from others
- Appreciation of fan support in achieving success
This song conveys a message of courage to remain authentic, strong in the face of challenges, and confident in one’s own abilities.
3. The Deep Meaning of Song “Truman” (Han and Felix)
Themes of Authenticity and Self-Identity
- The phrase “living real, like Truman, I’m the true man” shows the main theme of authenticity and being true to oneself. Like the character Truman in the movie, the singer emphasizes the importance of being authentic despite being under public scrutiny.
Struggle and Humanity
- The opening line “I sketch visions of my future, but sometimes the wrong shades slip in the picture, feel like a failure, a loser” depicts self-doubt and internal struggle. But it is soon followed by a reminder that they are only imperfect human beings.
Uniqueness and Acceptance
- The lyrics “We’re all the same, no difference. Fail, fear, bad days make me more different, I born freak. This is my own movement” conveys acceptance of uniqueness and failure as part of identity. The message that failure and fear actually make a person more different (in a positive sense).
Success and Fan Support
- The line “Got trophies in the bag, ’cause of STAY, we lock in” shows recognition of the role of fans (STAY is the name of Stray Kids’ fandom) in their success. Likewise, the line “Ride a Benz, raise my hands, salute fans” shows gratitude to fans.
Hard Work and Ambition
- The lyrics “Woke up 5AM, tryna catch a plane, we don’t waste time” and “Since I was a kid, young ambitions got me out of school” portray dedication, hard work, and ambition from a young age.
Criticism of Imitation and Hypocrisy
- In the second verse, there is a criticism of people who pretend or imitate: “Stick your nose in an empty dish, practicing what you doin’ now” and ‘I can see your bullshit’. This reinforces the theme of authenticity in the song.
Musical and Lyric Elements
- Use of pop culture references such as Charles Leclerc (F1 driver), Pac-Man, and Rengar (a character from the game League of Legends)
- Combination of English throughout the song
- Typical verse-pre chorus-chorus structure in pop/hip-hop music
- Strong rap part especially in the second verse
4. Conclusion
“Truman” is a song about being authentic, facing internal struggles, and sticking to one’s true identity despite external pressure and criticism. The song also celebrates the group’s success that comes from the hard work and support of their fans.
The main themes raised include:
- Authenticity versus pretense
- Self-acceptance including failures and imperfections
- Appreciation for fans and the journey together
- Criticism of imitation and hypocrisy
- Ambition and hard work as keys to success
Overall, the song conveys a positive message about staying true to oneself while continuing to work hard to achieve goals, which is a common theme in K-pop music, especially for groups that create their own music like Stray Kids.
