3005

"3005" by Childish Gambino is a multi-layered song that, on the surface, appears to be a love song about unwavering loyalty. However, Donald Glover himself has stated it's more of an "existential thing." The core theme revolves around a profound fear of loneliness and the search for a meaningful connection to give life purpose. The repeated line, "No matter what you say or what you do... I'll be right by your side 'til 3005," is a hyperbolic promise of fidelity, with the year 3005 representing a practically infinite future. This isn't just a declaration of love but a desperate plea for companionship to combat deep-seated existential dread. The lyrics reveal a stark contrast between Gambino's external life—filled with parties and friends—and his internal state of isolation, as expressed in the line, "Got a house full of homies, why I feel so the opposite?" He feels that his relationships are superficial, based on his wealth and status. The song, therefore, critiques the idea that a romantic relationship or societal constructs like marriage can be a simple cure for this deep-seated loneliness. It delves into themes of mortality, insecurity, and the fleeting nature of happiness, ultimately suggesting that while connection is vital, one must also grapple with these existential questions on an individual level.

The song unfolds as a complex monologue, a confession of deep-seated fears and a desperate plea for lasting connection. The narrator, despite being surrounded by the superficial trappings of success and a house full of 'homies,' feels profoundly alone. This sense of isolation is a stark contrast to the party-filled life he describes, where the fun is fleeting and the relationships feel transactional. He admits his friends are only around for his money and that he has lost hope in a conventional 'happy ending.' The recurring promise to stand by someone 'til 3005' is less of a simple romantic vow and more of a desperate anchor in the face of this existential void. It’s a cry for a purpose, for a meaningful connection that can shield him from his anxieties about the future and the inevitability of death. He's scared of being alone, a fear that overshadows all his material wealth and social status. There are moments of bravado and classic hip-hop wordplay, referencing pop culture figures and the high life, but these are consistently undercut by a palpable vulnerability. He touches on the fleeting nature of happiness, how quickly a good week can turn sour, and the pretense people maintain. He’s aware of his own insecurities and acknowledges that no one is perfect. The line 'Sorry, I'm just scared of the future' is a pivotal moment of raw honesty, revealing that the promise of eternal companionship is a defense mechanism against his own anxieties. The narrative is a journey through a mind grappling with fame, superficiality, and the search for something real and lasting in a world that feels increasingly transient and insincere. It's a poignant exploration of the human condition, where the greatest fear isn't a specific event, but the crushing weight of being alone in the universe.

"3005" was released on October 22, 2013, as the lead single from Childish Gambino's second studio album, Because the Internet. The album itself was released on December 10, 2013. The song was written by Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) and co-produced by Glover, Stefan Ponce, and Ludwig Göransson. Glover has mentioned that he writes his best songs early in the morning, and "3005" was one of them. The creation of the song's beat has an interesting backstory; producer Stefan Ponce created the simple chords, and Glover, who had the hook in his head, sang it over the beat into his phone. The hook was originally written to the beat of Drake's "Trophies". The recording for Because the Internet largely took place in a mansion owned by NBA player Chris Bosh, which Gambino had rented. The album was accompanied by a 72-page screenplay and a short film titled Clapping for the Wrong Reasons, both of which provide a broader narrative context for the songs, including "3005". The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance.

Childish Gambino's "3005" features a sophisticated interplay of rhyme and rhythm that enhances its lyrical complexity. The song's rhythmic foundation is a steady, synth-driven beat at a tempo that feels both relaxed and insistent. Lyrically, Gambino employs a variety of rhyme schemes. The verses often utilize multi-syllable rhymes and internal rhymes, creating a dense and intricate flow. For example, in the second verse, he rhymes phrases like "long gone" with "swan song" and "time bombs" with "LeBron's mom". This use of multi-syllable rhymes demonstrates a high level of technical skill. The hook, as noted, is written in iambic pentameter, a classic poetic meter consisting of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line (e.g., "No mat-ter what you say or what you do"). This gives the chorus a smooth, almost traditional feel that contrasts with the more conversational and rhythmically complex verses. This contrast highlights the difference between the idealized promise of eternal companionship in the chorus and the messy, anxious reality described in the verses. The flow of the rap verses is dynamic, shifting in pace and cadence to emphasize certain words and emotions, from the laid-back delivery at the start to a more urgent and confessional tone later on.

"3005" showcases a blend of musical and literary techniques that contribute to its distinctive sound and emotional depth. Musically, the song is built on what has been described as "quirky, futuristic synth boardwork" and a heavy bassline, creating a track that is both catchy and introspective. The production, handled by Gambino, Stefan Ponce, and Ludwig Göransson, is lush and features a prominent synth melody that runs throughout the track. The song is composed in the key of F-sharp minor with a tempo of around 83 BPM (or 166 BPM depending on the count). Gambino's vocal delivery is a key element; he moves seamlessly between melodic, crooning vocals in the chorus and punchline-heavy, self-deprecating rapped verses. Lyrically, the song employs iambic pentameter in the hook, a rhythmic pattern often associated with traditional love poetry, which creates a deliberate contrast with the song's anxious and existential themes. He uses pop culture references (Mufasa, LeBron James, Kurt Cobain) and wordplay (e.g., "Girl why is you lyin'? Girl why you Mufasa?") to add layers of meaning and humor. The narrative voice is confessional and introspective, directly addressing his fears and insecurities.

"3005" was a significant single for Childish Gambino, marking a pivotal moment in his career and solidifying his place as a versatile and introspective artist. Released as the lead single from his critically acclaimed second album Because the Internet, the song performed well commercially, peaking at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the UK R&B Chart. The album itself debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. "3005" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance, further boosting its and Gambino's profiles. The song's music video, directed by frequent collaborator Hiro Murai, received a nomination for Best Hip-Hop Video at the MTV Video Music Awards and became widely discussed for its surreal and symbolic imagery. The song is considered one of Gambino's best and most definitive tracks, praised for its blend of a catchy, pop-friendly sound with deep, existential lyrics. Its impact lies in how it brought complex themes of loneliness and existentialism to a mainstream audience, wrapped in an accessible hip-hop package, influencing a wave of more introspective and emotionally vulnerable rap music.

The symbolism in "3005" is rich, especially when considering its music video, directed by Hiro Murai.

• The Ferris Wheel: The primary setting of the video, a continuously moving Ferris wheel, symbolizes life's cyclical and repetitive nature. It represents being stuck in a loop, moving but not truly going anywhere, which mirrors the song's themes of an aimless party lifestyle and existential stagnation. It also serves as a metaphor for time passing and the journey of life.
• The Teddy Bear: The teddy bear sitting next to Gambino represents several concepts. It's a symbol of lost innocence and childhood, which deteriorates and becomes tattered as the video progresses, signifying the harsh realities and decay of adulthood. The bear can also be seen as a stand-in for a relationship or a partner—an object of comfort against loneliness that eventually gets destroyed, highlighting the idea that even deep connections can't ultimately save one from mortality.
• The Burning World: In the background of the video, the distant carnival and landscape are on fire. This represents the ever-impending threat of death and the chaos of the outside world that often goes unnoticed while people are focused on their individual lives and relationships.
• The Title "3005": The year 3005 itself is a metaphor for an impossibly distant future, bordering on infinity. The numbers '00' in the middle resemble the infinity symbol (∞), and the sum of the digits (3+0+0+5) is 8, which is a vertical infinity symbol, reinforcing the theme of "forever".

The most prominent recurring element in "3005" is the hook: "No matter what you say or what you do / When I'm alone, I'd rather be with you / Fuck these other n****s / I'll be right by your side 'til 3005, hol' up". This refrain acts as the song's central thesis, a promise of eternal loyalty that becomes more desperate and fragile with each repetition. The concluding "hol' up" is significant, as it injects a moment of doubt or hesitation into this seemingly unwavering vow, reflecting the song's underlying anxiety. The theme of loneliness despite being surrounded by people is a recurring motif, explicitly stated in the line, "Got a house full of homies, why I feel so the opposite?" This highlights the superficiality of his social life. Another recurring motif is the fear of the future and mortality, encapsulated in the lines "Sorry, I'm just scared of the future" and "we all just tickin' time bombs". These phrases reappear to ground the song in its existential dread, reminding the listener that the upbeat tempo masks a darker, more vulnerable core.