Passin' Me By

"Passin' Me By" is a poignant and universally relatable anthem about unrequited love and the bittersweet pain of missed romantic opportunities. Each of the four verses is a personal vignette from a different member of The Pharcyde, detailing their experiences with crushes that were never fulfilled. The song explores themes of youthful infatuation, shyness, and the quiet agony of admiring someone from afar who remains oblivious or unattainable. It captures the feeling of being invisible to the person you desire most, a sentiment encapsulated by the recurring, melancholic hook, "She keeps on passin' me by." The narratives range from a schoolboy's crush on his teacher to a longing for a childhood friend, all ending in a sense of resignation and heartbreak. Ultimately, the song is a reflection on the vulnerability and innocence of young love and the harsh reality that some feelings are not meant to be reciprocated, forcing one to accept the pain and let the moment pass.

The song unfolds as a series of personal anecdotes from the members of The Pharcyde, each recounting a story of unrequited love and the painful experience of being overlooked by someone they deeply admire. Each verse is a distinct narrative, painting a picture of youthful infatuation and the sting of rejection or unattainable affection.

The first story, told by Bootie Brown, transports the listener back to his school days. He confesses to having a powerful crush on his teacher. He recalls the small, seemingly insignificant moments, like carrying his lunch in a bag with an apple for her, hoping for a kiss. He would invent questions in class just to have her come to his desk, allowing him to catch her scent or attempt a subtle touch. His fantasy, however, is starkly contrasted with reality. She is married to a man described as a 'thug' named Lee, who picks her up from school every day at three. The rapper reminisces about writing her name on the bus, a classic gesture of a schoolboy crush, but ultimately, he watches her go, accepting he has to let her pass by.

The second verse, delivered by Slimkid3, shifts to a different kind of youthful crush, this time on a childhood friend named Shelly. He dreams of them being together, but his friends advise him to move on and find someone else. Despite their advice, her smile is enough to keep his hope alive and motivate him to pursue her. He admits he hasn't been direct with his feelings, instead choosing to play it cool and hope she understands his intentions. He describes his romantic pursuit with the metaphor of a hunter, with his finger on the trigger, aiming for her heart. Yet, he recognizes that all he has been able to do is stare from afar, reminiscing about playing 'truth or dare' as kids. He sees her now as a sophisticated and educated woman, and the twinkle in her eye might just be that—a twinkle, with no deeper meaning for him. He resolves that he can no longer stand being passed by.

Imani's verse tells of his infatuation with a woman he considers a 'star,' which makes him feel like a mere 'fan.' He acknowledges how attractive she is but is immediately faced with the downside: she already has a man. He describes the boyfriend as a 'nincompoop' and recalls her dismissively saying her 'little birdies' would soon 'fly the coop.' He feels like a 'flake' for not understanding the situation, but concludes that by letting her pass, he proved himself to be a better man.

The final narrative comes from Fatlip, who describes his intense feelings for 'the dopest Ethiopian.' Whenever she walks by, his world slows down. He's tormented by the question of why the 'apple of his eye' completely overlooks his feelings, no matter how hard he tries to get her attention. He laments his own inaction and secret admiration from a distance. He recounts a painfully relatable moment of finally mustering the courage to write her a long, heartfelt letter, pouring out all his feelings. He describes the agony of waiting for a response, only for the letter to be returned three days later, marked 'return to sender.' This final, crushing rejection solidifies the song's central theme of being perpetually 'passed by' in the pursuit of love.

"Passin' Me By" was released as the second single from The Pharcyde's debut album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, in March 1993. The song was recorded in 1991 at Hollywood Sounds in California. The production was handled primarily by the group's producer at the time, J-Swift. The creation of the iconic beat was a moment of inspired collage. According to group member Slimkid3, the track was originally conceived as two separate songs based on two different samples: Quincy Jones' "Summer in the City" and Eddie Russ' "Hill Where the Lord Hides". Initially, J-Swift was hesitant to combine them because they were in different keys. However, Bootie Brown encouraged him to try, and the two disparate samples were blended to create the song's distinctive, melancholic soundscape, which Slimkid3 called their "musical Peanut Butter Cup." After the beat was created, the four emcees looped it for hours, each retreating to a corner of the room to write their personal verse about unrequited love, with Fatlip singing the memorable chorus. The track's sound was a significant departure from the dominant G-funk and gangsta rap of the West Coast scene at the time, offering a more introspective, alternative, and jazz-infused perspective.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Passin' Me By" are characterized by a relaxed, conversational flow that mirrors the song's mellow, introspective mood. The rappers avoid aggressive, rigid cadences, instead opting for a delivery that feels natural and narrative-driven. The flow often weaves casually around the beat, emphasizing the storytelling aspect over complex rhythmic gymnastics.

The rhyme scheme is generally simple, relying on couplets (AABB) and occasional internal rhymes to maintain momentum without sounding overly structured. For example, in the first verse, Bootie Brown rhymes "shag" with "bag" and "kiss" with "dismissed." The emcees utilize multi-syllable and slant rhymes to add texture, such as Slimkid3's pairing of "sophisticated" and "edu-ma-cated." This approach keeps the focus on the lyrical content and the emotional honesty of the stories being told.

The song's rhythm is anchored by a laid-back drum loop sampled from Skull Snaps' "It's a New Day." Its mid-tempo pace and steady groove create a hypnotic foundation for the jazzy keyboard and bass samples. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is seamless; the rappers' unhurried delivery allows the dreamy, sample-heavy beat to breathe, enhancing the overall feeling of nostalgic reflection and melancholic longing.

"Passin' Me By" is distinguished by its unique blend of literary and musical techniques that set it apart from the West Coast hip-hop of its era.

Literary Techniques:

• Narrative Storytelling: The song's core is its use of four distinct, first-person narratives. Each verse functions as a short story, complete with characters, setting, and emotional conflict, making the theme of unrequited love deeply personal and relatable.
• Vivid Imagery: The lyrics are filled with specific, sensory details that bring the stories to life, such as "carried lunch in a bag, with an apple for my teacher" and "wrote graffiti on the bus."
• Conversational Tone: The vocal delivery is relaxed, informal, and conversational, making the rappers' confessions feel honest and intimate, as if they are sharing personal memories directly with the listener.

Musical Techniques:

• Jazz-Infused Sampling: The production is famously built on a collage of samples. The most prominent is the mellow, hypnotic keyboard riff from Quincy Jones' "Summer in the City." This is layered with a reversed, psychedelic sound effect from Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" and a bassline from Weather Report's "125th Street Congress." This crate-digging approach creates a dreamy, melancholic, and jazzy soundscape that was atypical for West Coast hip-hop at the time.
• Laid-Back Groove: The drum break, sampled from Skull Snaps' "It's a New Day," provides a relaxed, head-nodding rhythm that perfectly complements the introspective and somewhat somber lyrical content.
• Sung Chorus: Fatlip's sung, slightly off-key chorus provides a vulnerable and memorable hook that contrasts with the rhymed verses, emphasizing the song's emotional core of sorrow and resignation.

"Passin' Me By" is widely regarded as a timeless classic of 1990s hip-hop and a landmark track in the alternative hip-hop subgenre. Upon its release in 1993, it stood in stark contrast to the dominant gangsta rap sound of the West Coast, offering a more vulnerable, witty, and jazz-infused alternative that resonated with a wide audience. The song was a commercial success, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and #52 on the Hot 100.

Its influence is extensive:

• Musical Impact: The song's innovative use of layered, jazzy samples influenced countless producers and helped popularize the "jazz rap" sound. It received validation from East Coast pioneers like Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, who were major influences on The Pharcyde.
• Media Presence: Its appeal has endured through placements in numerous films and TV shows, including Big Daddy, Mid90s, Atlanta, Atypical, and Fast X, introducing it to new generations of listeners.
• Sampling and References: The song itself has been sampled and referenced by other artists. Joe's #1 hit "Stutter" sampled the beat, and rappers like T.I. in "Blurred Lines" and Common have interpolated its lyrics, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone.
• Legacy: Pitchfork included the song at number 41 on their "Top 200 Tracks of the 90s." In 2024, the single was certified Platinum by the RIAA, signifying over one million units sold, a testament to its lasting popularity decades after its release. It remains a cornerstone of The Pharcyde's legacy and a beloved anthem for anyone who has experienced unrequited love.

The central and most powerful symbol in the song is the act of being "passed by." This phrase, repeated in the chorus, becomes a mantra for missed opportunities, emotional distance, and the feeling of being unseen by a love interest. It's a direct metaphor for unrequited love, where life and the object of one's affection continue moving forward while the admirer is left standing still. Other metaphors enrich the individual verses:

• Bootie Brown's Teacher Crush: His attempts to "sneak a touch" or "smell her scent" symbolize the desperate, innocent, and ultimately futile lengths one goes to in youthful infatuation to feel close to the unattainable. The teacher being married to a "thug" named Lee represents the harsh, insurmountable reality that shatters the innocent fantasy.
• Slimkid3's Pursuit: He uses hunting imagery, stating, "I'm shooting for her heart, got my finger on the trigger," to metaphorically describe his romantic pursuit. This conveys his intent and desire, even though his actions remain passive.
• Fatlip's Letter: The letter that comes back "return to sender" is a devastatingly literal and symbolic representation of outright rejection. It's the physical manifestation of his feelings being sent out into the world only to be refused and sent back, signifying a closed door and the end of hope.

The most significant recurring element in "Passin' Me By" is the lyrical hook sung by Fatlip: "She keeps on passin' me by." This phrase is the thematic core of the entire song, repeated after each verse to tie the individual stories together. Its constant repetition drills home the central feeling of being ignored, overlooked, and left behind in the pursuit of love. It functions as a sorrowful refrain that summarizes the outcome of each rapper's tale of infatuation, creating a powerful sense of shared experience and collective heartbreak.

Musically, the primary recurring motif is the distinctive, hazy keyboard riff sampled from Quincy Jones' "Summer in the City." This melody is the song's backbone, instantly recognizable and responsible for establishing its melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere. It loops almost continuously, creating a dreamlike state that perfectly complements the lyrical theme of wistful reminiscence. The reversed sample from Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" also serves as a recurring sonic flourish, adding to the track's unique, slightly psychedelic texture.