See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)

"See You Again" is a rich exploration of longing, idealized love, and the pain of an unattainable connection. The song's primary meaning revolves around a love that exists almost exclusively in the narrator's dreams and imagination. The subject of affection may be a real person who is distant and unavailable, or a complete fabrication of Tyler's ideal partner. This central theme is established immediately with lyrics like, "You live in my dream state."

The song delves into the bittersweet nature of this fantasy. While the dream world offers a perfect, idyllic connection, the return to reality is jarring and painful, creating a deep sense of yearning. The chorus, "Can I get a kiss? And can you make it last forever? I said I'm 'bout to go to war and I don't know if I'ma see you again," powerfully captures this desperation. The "war" is often interpreted as a metaphor for the internal struggle against loneliness and depression, or the external challenges of the real world that make this love impossible.

Furthermore, the song touches on themes of obsession and infatuation, with Tyler admitting, "my infatuation is translatin' to another form of what you call it? – Love." There are also interpretations that the song, and the album Flower Boy as a whole, alludes to Tyler's struggles with his sexuality, suggesting the unattainable love could be for another man, adding a layer of societal barriers to the narrative.

The song opens with the narrator, Tyler, describing a person who exists solely within his dreams and fantasies. He feels that reality is separate from this dream state where his love interest resides. The only time they can metaphorically reconcile or be together is when he is asleep, counting sheep. This person is so vivid behind his eyelids that he wishes to never wake up and lose them.

As the song progresses into the pre-chorus, the narrator expresses the clarity and precision of his feelings, using the metaphor "20/20 vision" and stating that "Cupid hit me with precision." He is fully aware of his deep infatuation. He playfully wonders if this person is careful when they cross his mind, a clever twist on the phrase for crossing a street. Despite this clarity, he's exhausted from the pursuit, describing himself as "sick of chasing" someone who is constantly running through his daydreams. The only way he can visualize their face is by closing his eyes, which introduces the core conflict of the song: a deep desire for a connection that is confined to his imagination.

The chorus, soulfully delivered by Kali Uchis, poses a desperate plea: "Can I get a kiss? And can you make it last forever?" This highlights a yearning for a tangible, lasting moment of affection. This plea is juxtaposed with the line, "I'm 'bout to go to war, and I don't know if I'ma see you again." The 'war' can be interpreted as an internal battle against his loneliness and the harshness of reality, or an external struggle that threatens to keep them apart. The kiss becomes a final, cherished memory before facing this conflict, amplifying the bittersweet and urgent nature of his longing.

In the second verse, Tyler's tone shifts slightly. He acknowledges his infatuation and describes it as transforming into what can only be called love. He reveals a crucial detail: he has never actually met this person. His search has been relentless, and he compares his desperate chasing to the addiction of an alcoholic. He dismisses any notion that his feelings are misunderstood, focusing instead on specific, idealized details of his dream lover, like their "rose-tinted cheeks" and "dirt-colored eyes." He uses playful, sweet imagery like "sugar-honey iced tea" and expresses his desire by saying he'd give up his "bakery to have a piece of your pie," a metaphor for sacrificing everything for just a small part of them. The song structure then repeats the pre-chorus and chorus, reinforcing the central theme of a beautiful, yet agonizing, love that is trapped in a dream.

"See You Again" was written, produced, and performed by Tyler, the Creator, with featured vocals from Kali Uchis. It was released on August 29, 2017, as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, Flower Boy. The album itself was recorded between 2015 and 2017, representing a significant shift in Tyler's artistry towards a more personal, introspective, and sonically lush style. He aimed to create a more focused and personal project after the mixed reception of his previous album, Cherry Bomb.

Interestingly, Tyler, the Creator originally wrote "See You Again" for another artist. He revealed that the song was intended for former One Direction member Zayn Malik. However, according to Tyler, Malik "flaked on studio time twice," so Tyler decided to keep the track for himself. This backstory highlights the song's universal appeal, as it was initially crafted for a mainstream pop/R&B singer. Kali Uchis's contribution adds a crucial ethereal and soulful dimension to the track, her vocals providing a beautiful contrast to Tyler's rap verses. The music video, directed by Tyler himself under his alias Wolf Haley, was released almost a year later on August 8, 2018.

The rhythmic and rhyming structure of "See You Again" contributes significantly to its dreamy yet grounded feel. The song has a moderately slow tempo, around 79 BPM, with a standard 4/4 time signature, creating a relaxed, swaying rhythm. This steady foundation allows the lyrical and melodic elements to float on top.

Tyler's rhyme scheme is intricate and often conversational, avoiding rigid, predictable patterns. He utilizes a mix of perfect rhymes and slant rhymes. For example, in the first verse, he rhymes "fantasy" with "reality" and "make up" with "wake up." His flow is syncopated and varies in pace, moving from a more spoken-word delivery to a faster, more urgent rap in the second verse. This dynamic rhythm reflects his shifting emotions from dreamy contemplation to frustrated obsession. The repetition of "sick of, sick of, sick of, sick of chasing" uses rhythm to convey a sense of weariness and cyclical thought. The interplay between the rhythmic syncopation of Tyler's verses and the smoother, more melodic rhythm of Kali Uchis's chorus is a key feature, mirroring the song's thematic contrast between the turbulent reality of longing and the peace of the dream.

"See You Again" showcases a significant evolution in Tyler, the Creator's musical and lyrical style. Musically, the song is a departure from his earlier, more aggressive work, blending genres like neo-soul, jazz-rap, and psychedelic pop. The production, handled entirely by Tyler, is lush and cinematic, characterized by a dreamy piano melody, layered synthesizers, a prominent sub-bass, and orchestral elements like strings and a trumpet solo. This creates a rich, atmospheric soundscape that perfectly complements the song's dream theme.

Vocally, the track features a compelling contrast between Tyler's conversational, sometimes raw rap delivery and Kali Uchis's smooth, ethereal singing on the chorus. This interplay enhances the song's central tension between reality (Tyler's verses) and fantasy (Uchis's chorus). Lyrically, Tyler employs a more vulnerable and introspective narrative voice than in his past work. He uses clever wordplay and relatable imagery, such as the witty line, "Wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind." The song follows a conventional verse-chorus structure, which, combined with its strong melodic hooks, gives it a pop sensibility while retaining its unique alternative hip-hop identity.

"See You Again" is one of Tyler, the Creator's most successful and culturally impactful songs. While part of the critically acclaimed album Flower Boy (2017), which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album, the song had a massive resurgence in popularity years after its release. In April 2023, the song went viral on the social media platform TikTok, which led to it charting on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, peaking at number 44. This sleeper hit phenomenon demonstrated the song's timeless appeal and its ability to connect with a new generation of listeners. It has since surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

The track is often cited as a key moment in Tyler's artistic evolution, showcasing a more vulnerable, melodic, and genre-bending side that he would continue to explore on subsequent albums like IGOR. The song's distinct aesthetic, both sonically and in its surreal, Wolf Haley-directed music video, has influenced the visual and musical styles of many contemporary artists. It has been covered and praised by other notable artists, such as Erykah Badu, further cementing its place as a celebrated piece of modern music.

"See You Again" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its emotional landscape.

• Dream State: The most prominent metaphor is the "dream state," representing a perfect, idealized world where the narrator's love can exist without the constraints of reality. It symbolizes escapism and the comfort of fantasy in the face of loneliness.
• 20/20 Vision: The line "20/20, 20/20 vision" symbolizes the clarity and certainty of the narrator's feelings. Despite the dreamlike context, his love is not a confusing or fleeting emotion; he sees it with perfect clarity.
• Cupid: The reference to Cupid hitting him "with precision" is a direct metaphor for falling in love suddenly and intensely, emphasizing the inescapable nature of his infatuation.
• Going to War: This is a powerful metaphor for facing an immense struggle. It could represent an internal battle with mental health, the fight to maintain hope, or the harsh realities of life that threaten his dream world. The request for a kiss before this "war" frames the fantasy love as a source of strength or a final comfort.
• Bakery/Piece of Pie: Tyler's line, "I'd give up my bakery to have a piece of your pie," is a vivid metaphor for his willingness to sacrifice everything he has (his "bakery") for just a small part of the person he loves (a "piece of your pie").

Several recurring phrases and motifs anchor the themes of "See You Again."

• "See you again": The title phrase, repeated in the chorus, is the song's central hook. It carries a double meaning: the hope of reuniting with a lover and the uncertainty of whether that reunion will ever happen outside of his dreams.
• "You live in my dream state": This opening and recurring line establishes the song's core premise immediately. It's the motif that defines the relationship's boundaries, confining it to the narrator's imagination.
• "I can only see your face when I close my eyes": This phrase reinforces the dream motif and the pain of the narrator's reality. It's a direct and poignant summary of his unrequited situation.
• The "Okie Dokie" / "Okay" Ad-libs: Tyler's characteristic, almost childish ad-libs like "okay, okay, okay, okey-dokey" create a contrast with the song's deep emotional vulnerability. This juxtaposition of maturity and childishness captures the complex, sometimes awkward nature of deep infatuation.
• "20/20 vision": This repeated phrase acts as a declaration of the narrator's certainty and clarity about his feelings, serving as a motif of unwavering love amidst the fantasy.