Carry On

"Carry On" by XXXTENTACION is a raw and poignant exploration of heartbreak, betrayal, and the internal struggle that follows a toxic relationship. The song delves into the confusing and painful emotions experienced when a partner's actions lead to deep emotional wounds. The lyrics express a state of disorientation and conflict, as the artist grapples with feelings of love and hate for the same person. It's a candid look into the artist's battles with mental health, using the relationship as a lens to explore deeper issues of pain and perseverance. The core message is one of reluctant resilience; despite the immense pain and emotional turmoil, there is no other option but to continue living and move forward. The phrase "Carry on" acts as a somber acceptance of this difficult reality.

The song opens with a sense of disorientation and emotional turmoil, as the narrator questions the presence of a former lover, admitting to being drunk and confused. There's a reflection on his attempts at patience, which were met with instability, picturing a cycle of highs followed by inevitable crashes. He feels ensnared in a distorted perception of their relationship, burdened by false accusations and manipulation. This frustration culminates in a harsh, yet liberating, wish for his ex-partner to be gone from his life, finding a strange comfort in the solitude that follows.

Despite this newfound peace, a persistent feeling of hurt lingers. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of emotional devastation through powerful imagery: a cold shoulder, a broken heart, and words left unspoken. He describes himself as being cut open, with his ex-lover's fingers metaphorically twisting in his wounds, highlighting the deep and personal nature of the betrayal. The haunting image of her dancing on his grave suggests a cruel celebration of his pain. This thought occupies his mind, and seeing her face in his thoughts fuels a conflicted mixture of lingering love and intense hatred.

The chorus serves as a mantra of forced resilience. The phrase "Carry on" is repeated, likened to the continuous motion of flights, symbolizing the unstoppable passage of life. He acknowledges the deep pain residing in his chest but sees no alternative but to endure and move forward. This repetition emphasizes the struggle and the sheer willpower required to persevere through immense emotional suffering. The song concludes by returning to the initial state of confusion and the cyclical nature of the relationship's painful memories, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved anguish and the heavy burden of carrying on.

"Carry On" is the ninth track on XXXTENTACION's debut studio album, 17, released on August 25, 2017. The song was produced by Potsu, who was also responsible for producing other tracks on the album, namely "Jocelyn Flores" and "Everybody Dies In Their Nightmares". A significant element of the song's production is the sample of "JULY 19, 2016" by the enigmatic artist Shiloh Dynasty. This sample provides the melancholic and atmospheric backdrop that is characteristic of the song and much of the album. The lyrical content is widely believed to allude to XXXTENTACION's tumultuous relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Geneva Ayala, reflecting the pain and betrayal he felt. The album 17 itself was a departure from his more aggressive earlier work, showcasing a more vulnerable and emotionally raw side of the artist, with "Carry On" being a prime example of this shift.

The rhyme scheme in "Carry On" is largely irregular, reflecting a free-verse style that prioritizes emotional expression over strict structure. There are instances of internal and slant rhymes, such as "misspoken" and "broken," which contribute to the lyrical flow without feeling forced. The song's rhythm is dictated by a slow, deliberate tempo of approximately 148 BPM, which can also be felt at a half-time of 74 BPM. This tempo, combined with the lo-fi beat, creates a somber and introspective mood. XXXTENTACION's vocal rhythm is conversational and often syncopated against the beat, enhancing the feeling of raw, unfiltered thought. The interplay between the gentle, repetitive rhythm of the sampled melody and the more erratic, emotionally charged vocal delivery is central to the song's impact, mirroring the conflict between the desire for peace and the reality of inner turmoil.

• Vocal Delivery: XXXTENTACION's vocal performance is a key stylistic element. It shifts from a melancholic, almost mumbled delivery to moments of raw, aggressive emotion, mirroring the song's thematic content of confusion and pain.
• Sampling: The use of a sample from Shiloh Dynasty's "JULY 19, 2016" is fundamental to the song's lo-fi and somber atmosphere. The ethereal and melancholic quality of the sample establishes the emotional tone of the track.
• Minimalist Instrumentation: The production is characterized by a sparse and minimalist beat, which places a strong emphasis on the vocals and the sampled melody. This lack of complex instrumentation enhances the feeling of intimacy and rawness.
• Direct Address: The lyrics often utilize direct address ("you"), creating a personal and confrontational narrative, as if speaking directly to the person who caused the pain.
• Juxtaposition: The song juxtaposes feelings of love and hate, as well as the desire for solitude with the inability to forget the person, creating a complex and relatable emotional landscape.

"Carry On" is a significant track within XXXTENTACION's discography and the wider emo rap and SoundCloud rap scenes. As part of the album 17, it helped solidify his status as a leading figure in these genres, which gained mainstream attention in the mid-to-late 2010s. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The song's raw emotional honesty and exploration of mental health struggles resonated deeply with a young audience, contributing to his cult following. The track, along with others from the album, showcased a vulnerable side of hip-hop that has influenced subsequent artists. The use of the Shiloh Dynasty sample also popularized the integration of lo-fi and indie-sounding elements into rap music. While not one of his chart-topping singles, "Carry On" remains a fan favorite, praised for its lyrical depth and emotional impact, and it is often cited in discussions about the artist's legacy of tackling difficult themes in his music.

• Drunk and Confused: The opening line, "How did you get here? I'm drunk and confused," serves as a metaphor for the artist's blurred emotional state and inability to clearly process the betrayal and the return of his ex-partner.
• High Up, You're Falling Back Down: This line symbolizes the fleeting moments of happiness or stability in the relationship that are quickly followed by a descent back into turmoil and instability.
• Trapped in the Concept: This phrase suggests being caught in a repetitive and destructive cycle within the relationship, defined by misunderstanding and misrepresentation.
• Her Fingers in All My Stab Wounds: This visceral imagery illustrates the profound and personal nature of the emotional pain inflicted by his partner, suggesting a continuous and deliberate deepening of his hurt.
• Dancing on My Grave: This metaphor represents the ultimate betrayal, where the person who caused the pain takes pleasure in the suffering they've inflicted.
• Carry On, Like Flights: The comparison of carrying on to flights suggests the unstoppable nature of life's journey. Just as flights continue to move forward, he must also continue on despite the emotional baggage and pain.

• "Carry on": This is the most significant recurring phrase and the central motif of the song. Its repetition in the chorus serves as a personal mantra, emphasizing the theme of reluctant perseverance in the face of emotional pain. It's a declaration of the necessity to keep moving forward, even without a clear resolution to the suffering.
• "How did you get here? I'm drunk and confused": This line, which appears at the beginning and is reprised, frames the narrative. Its recurrence highlights the cyclical nature of the artist's thoughts and the persistent state of disorientation caused by the relationship.
• The Sampled Melody: The haunting vocal sample from Shiloh Dynasty is a recurring musical motif that provides the song with its signature melancholic atmosphere. It acts as an emotional anchor, consistently pulling the listener back to the song's core feeling of sadness and introspection.