Falling Down - Bonus Track

Falling Down is a complex tapestry of grief, regret, and missed connections. On the surface, the lyrics describe the pain of separation from a romantic partner, using the weather as a primary metaphor. The rain represents sorrow and the overwhelming nature of depression, while the sunlight symbolizes the warmth of presence and happier times that are now out of reach.

However, the song's deeper meaning is inextricably checking linked to its posthumous nature. XXXTentacion's contribution recontextualizes the track from a simple breakup song into a eulogy for Lil Peep and, inadvertently, for himself. His spoken admission—"If I would have known he was so cool, I would have linked up with him sooner"—highlights the tragedy of missed opportunities within the music community. It critiques the tendency of society and peers to only fully appreciate artists after they die, a phenomenon often referred to as the "death effect."

The "out of town" lyric takes on a double entendre, referring not just to geographic distance but to the finality of death. The song ultimately serves as a conversation between two ghosts, lamenting the connections they couldn't sustain and the pain they left behind.

The song unfolds as a poignant dialogue between two departed souls, centered around themes of longing and the passage of time. It begins with a repetitive, hypnotic invitation to witness the natural world in a state of gloom, specifically asking a companion to watch the rain as it descends. This imagery sets a somber tone, suggesting a shared moment of sadness or reflection.

Lil Peep's verses express a deep sense of absence and displacement. He speaks of 'sunlight on your skin' as a fleeting memory, a warm contrast to the cold reality of his absence. The recurring line 'shit don't feel the same when you're out of town' underscores the hollowness felt when a loved one is missing, acting as a metaphor for the permanent separation caused by death. The lyrics paint a picture of someone trying to hold onto a sensation of intimacy that is slipping away.

XXXTentacion's verse introduces a darker, more painful perspective on love. He compares a romantic connection to 'walking a bed of nails,' suggesting that the relationship is fraught with pain and sacrifice. He admits an inability to keep fighting, signaling a surrender to his emotional struggles. In the spoken-word sections, X breaks the fourth wall to express genuine regret about not knowing Peep while he was alive. He reflects on their similarities and the tragedy of only appreciating someone's value after they have passed, adding a layer of meta-commentary on the nature of posthumous appreciation.

The creation of "Falling Down" is surrounded by a mix of tragedy and controversy. The track began as a song titled "Sunlight on Your Skin," written by Lil Peep and iLoveMakonnen in London during a studio session in 2017. They were working on a collaborative album (often referred to as Diamonds). The hook was inspired by the heavy rain pouring outside the studio that day.

After Lil Peep's tragic death in November 2017, the project remained unfinished. Following XXXTentacion's death in June 2018, it was revealed that X had heard a snippet of the song on YouTube and was moved by it. He recorded a verse for the track, expressing his regret over not connecting with Peep while they were both alive. The collaboration was assembled posthumously by the artists' estates and labels, with production from John Cunningham and Mike Will Made-It.

The release sparked significant controversy. Members of Peep's collective, GothBoiClique (specifically Fish Narc), publicly stated that Peep did not like XXXTentacion due to the allegations of domestic abuse against him and would not have wanted the collaboration. Despite this, the song was released in September 2018 as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2, becoming a major commercial success.

The song relies heavily on elemental imagery to convey emotional states:

• Rain: Serves as the central symbol for sadness, tears, and an uncontrollable descent into depression. The act of "watching" it suggests a passive acceptance of this grief.
• Sunlight on Your Skin: Represents warmth, life, and intimacy. It stands in stark contrast to the rain, symbolizing the memories of a better time that the narrator can no longer access.
• Out of Town: A metaphor for alienation and death. While literally meaning travel, in the context of the artists' passing, it symbolizes the ultimate departure from the physical plane.
• Bed of Nails: Used by XXXTentacion to describe love. This metaphor implies that the relationship requires constant endurance of pain and that vulnerability (walking) leads to injury.

The emotional landscape of the song is bittersweet and mournful. It balances the catchy, pop-punk energy of the guitar riff with lyrics that are deeply sorrowful. There is a pervasive sense of longing—longing for a person, for a past feeling, and for a connection that can no longer happen.

With the context of the artists' deaths, the emotion shifts from romantic heartbreak to existential tragedy. The listening experience is often described as haunting, as the audience hears two young voices singing about their own ends ("when I'm not around") from beyond the grave.

"Falling Down" was a significant commercial success, peaking at #13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting single for Lil Peep in the US. It achieved Platinum status and exposed both artists to a broader mainstream audience.

Culturally, the song is a touchstone for the SoundCloud rap era and the tragedy of the "27 Club" (or in this case, the "21 Club"). It sparked intense ethical debates within the music industry regarding posthumous collaborations and the moral rights of deceased artists. Despite the controversy, it remains a beloved anthem for fans, symbolizing the unity of two of the genre's biggest, fallen stars. It effectively cemented the legacy of emo-rap as a defining sound of the late 2010s.

The song employs a straightforward AAAA or AABB rhyme scheme in its main hooks (e.g., down/around/town/down). This simplicity gives the song a nursery-rhyme-like quality, making it instantly memorable and emphasizing the innocent, almost childlike vulnerability of the lyrics.

Rhythmically, the track sits in a standard 4/4 time signature with a mid-tempo beat. The flow is melodic and singsongy, avoiding complex syncopation in favor of a steady, driving rhythm that pushes the song forward like the steady fall of rain. The vocal rhythm often drags slightly behind the beat, contributing to the sluggish, drugged-out feel associated with the cloud rap aesthetic.

Musically, the song is built around a simple, repetitive guitar riff that is characteristic of the emo-rap genre. The melody is melancholic yet highly accessible, blending pop sensibilities with alternative rock aesthetics.

Vocal Layering: Peep's vocals are often doubled or layered to create a ghostly, echoey effect, enhancing the atmospheric quality of the track. In contrast, XXXTentacion's verse mixes sung melodies with a more raw, spoken-word delivery, creating a shift in texture that feels like a personal confession breaking through the music.

Structural Repetition: The song utilizes a very cyclical structure, repeating the "Come let's watch the rain" hook multiple times. This technique mimics the relentless, droning nature of depression and the falling rain itself.

What is the difference between 'Falling Down' and 'Sunlight on Your Skin'?

'Sunlight on Your Skin' is the original version of the song recorded by Lil Peep and iLoveMakonnen. 'Falling Down' is a posthumous remix that replaces Makonnen's verses with a verse recorded by XXXTentacion after Peep's death.

Did Lil Peep and XXXTentacion know each other?

No, they never met in person. XXXTentacion recorded his verse for 'Falling Down' after Lil Peep had already passed away, expressing regret in the song's intro that they never got the chance to connect while they were alive.

What does the 'bed of nails' lyric mean in Falling Down?

In XXXTentacion's verse, 'walking a bed of nails' is a metaphor for a painful, treacherous relationship. It suggests that loving the person involves constant suffering and careful navigation to avoid getting hurt, yet he continues to do it.

Why is Falling Down called a 'Bonus Track'?

It is often labeled as a bonus track because it was added to the Deluxe edition of Lil Peep's posthumous album, 'Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2'. It was released as a single before the album but included as a special addition to the final tracklist.

Why was the release of Falling Down controversial?

It was controversial because some of Lil Peep's close friends and collaborators, such as Fish Narc, claimed that Peep did not like XXXTentacion due to allegations of abuse against X. They argued Peep would not have approved of the collaboration.