Hope

"Hope" is a poignant and direct tribute to the victims and survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, which occurred on February 14, 2018. The song's primary meaning is one of empathy, shared grief, and the difficult search for optimism in the face of tragedy. XXXTENTACION, who grew up near Parkland, explicitly dedicates the track to those affected in the intro.

The lyrics explore the theme of survivor's guilt and the pervasive sorrow that follows such a traumatic event. The line "she keep cryin', she keep cryin' every single night" represents the unending grief of the survivors and the community. Simultaneously, the song delves into the artist's own struggles with mental health and depression, as seen in lyrics like "Said I wanna die, yuh, no, I'm not alright, yuh." This intertwining of personal pain with the collective tragedy creates a complex emotional landscape. He acknowledged that not all lyrics were directly relevant to the event but he selected what he felt was "relative and uplifting instead of graphic and real."

Ultimately, the song's core message is encapsulated in its title and the recurring lines in the bridge: "So outside my misery, I think I'll find / A way of envisioning a better life / For the rest of us, the rest of us / There's hope for the rest of us, the rest of us." This signifies a pivotal shift from despair to a message of collective healing and resilience. It suggests that by looking beyond one's own suffering and finding solidarity with others, it's possible to envision a better future. A semiotic analysis of the song suggests its denotative meaning is to commemorate the shooting, while its connotative meaning is to encourage listeners battling depression.

The song begins with a direct, spoken dedication: "Rest in peace to all the kids that lost their lives in the Parkland shooting. This song is dedicated to you." This sets an immediate tone of mourning and tribute.

The core of the song's narrative revolves around observing persistent sorrow, likely from the perspective of someone witnessing a survivor's grief. The line, "Okay, she keep cryin', she keep cryin' every single night," is repeated, emphasizing a deep and unending pain. This image of constant tears suggests the trauma and survivor's guilt that haunts those left behind after a tragedy. The lyrics then shift to a more personal and internal struggle, with phrases like "Day and night, on my mind, please don't kill the vibe" and "swear to God, I be in my mind." This reveals a parallel battle within the narrator, who is dealing with his own dark thoughts, including suicidal ideations ("Swear I wanna die, yeah, when you cross my—"), and a general feeling of not being okay ("no, I'm not alright, yuh").

There's a sense of frustration and exhaustion with the state of things, captured in the lines, "I might start a riot, yuh, I'm so f***in' tired, yuh." This isn't just a personal weariness but hints at a broader societal fatigue with violence and hate. However, this frustration is immediately contrasted with an attempt to find a better mindset: "So what's up? What you say? Feelin' good, I'm feelin' great / Tired of the f***in' hate, stackin' cheese all on my plate." This part can be seen as a conscious effort to push through the negativity, focusing on personal success and well-being as a form of resistance against the surrounding despair.

The song's pivotal moment and central message arrive in the bridge. It's a turn from personal misery towards a collective sense of possibility. The narrator sings, "So outside my misery, I think I'll find / A way of envisioning a better life / For the rest of us, the rest of us." This is a profound statement of empathy, suggesting that the path out of one's own pain is to focus on the well-being of others who are also suffering. It transforms the song from a personal lament into a universal anthem of resilience. The repetition of "There's hope for the rest of us, the rest of us" solidifies this message, acting as a mantra of communal healing and a beacon for anyone struggling with loss and despair. It acknowledges the deep pain but refuses to let it be the final word, offering a vision of a shared, brighter future.

"Hope" was written by XXXTENTACION (Jahseh Onfroy) and John Cunningham, and produced by Cunningham. It was recorded in February 2018 and released on February 21, 2018, just one week after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. XXXTENTACION grew up in Lauderhill, about 20 miles from Parkland, making the event a local tragedy for him.

The song was created as a direct response to the shooting. In a message included with the song's cover art, he wrote, "I could never say I understand how you all are feeling, nor can I find the right words to say to you, but I do want you all to know, you are not alone. The words at the end of this song are dedicated to you, Douglas High. Sincerely, XXX." The song served as a promotional single for his second studio album, "?", which was released on March 16, 2018. Following the song's release, XXXTENTACION visited Anthony Borges, a student who was critically injured in the shooting, while he was recovering in the hospital.

The song's rhyme and rhythm are relatively simple, contributing to its direct and heartfelt feel. The rhythm is driven by a slow, steady beat typical of emo rap and lo-fi hip-hop. The tempo is melancholic and contemplative, allowing space for the emotional weight of the lyrics to land.

Lyrically, the song uses a loose rhyme scheme. In the main verse, lines like "night," "vibe," and "mind" create end rhymes that tie the stanza together. There are also internal rhymes and assonance, such as in "Feelin' good, I'm feelin' great / Tired of the fuckin' hate, stackin' cheese all on my plate." The rhythmic delivery of the vocals is melodic and flows smoothly over the beat, with a cadence that feels more like singing than traditional rapping. This interplay between the gentle lyrical rhythm and the understated musical rhythm enhances the song's somber yet hopeful atmosphere.

"Hope" is characterized by its minimalist and emotionally direct approach, both musically and lyrically.

• Musical Style: The track features a simple, smooth instrumental with a lo-fi aesthetic, which is a hallmark of the SoundCloud rap genre. Produced by John Cunningham, the music relies on a gentle keyboard melody and a straightforward drum machine beat, creating a somber and introspective atmosphere. This sparse arrangement puts the focus squarely on the vocals and lyrics.
• Vocal Delivery: XXXTENTACION employs a soft, melodic singing style rather than aggressive rapping. His delivery is gentle and laden with emotion, conveying a sense of vulnerability and sincerity that matches the song's subject matter. This stylistic choice makes the song feel more like a heartfelt elegy than a typical rap track.
• Literary Techniques: The song uses direct address, speaking to the victims and survivors at the beginning. Repetition is a key device, with the chorus and the final message of "hope for the rest of us" being repeated to emphasize the central themes of persistent grief and eventual optimism. The lyrics are straightforward and conversational, avoiding complex metaphors in favor of raw, accessible emotional expression.

"Hope" had a significant cultural impact, resonating deeply with listeners, particularly the youth, due to its raw emotional honesty and its direct connection to a national tragedy. Released shortly after the Parkland shooting, it became an anthem of mourning and solidarity for many. The song was a standout track on XXXTENTACION's chart-topping album "?", which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. "Hope" itself achieved massive commercial success, becoming certified Quintuple-Platinum in the US. The song's dedication was highlighted by XXXTENTACION's personal actions, such as visiting a survivor in the hospital, which brought further attention to the track's message. It stands as a key song in his discography, showcasing his versatility and his ability to tackle profound themes like mental health and grief, which cemented his legacy as a leading figure in the emo rap and SoundCloud rap movements.

The song employs several key symbolic elements to convey its message:

• The Crying Woman/Girl: The recurring line "she keep cryin', she keep cryin' every single night" symbolizes the collective, unrelenting grief of the Parkland community and, more broadly, anyone who has experienced profound loss. She represents the face of the tragedy's emotional aftermath, embodying the pain of the survivors.
• Personal Misery as a Starting Point: The lyric "So outside my misery, I think I'll find..." uses the artist's own well-documented struggles with depression as a symbolic bridge to connect with the pain of others. It suggests that personal suffering can be a catalyst for empathy and collective hope, rather than just an isolating experience.
• 'Stackin' Cheese' as a Counter-Narrative: The line "Feelin' good, I'm feelin' great, tired of the fuckin' hate, stackin' cheese all on my plate" can be interpreted as a metaphor for finding moments of personal peace and success as an act of defiance against overwhelming negativity and hate. It symbolizes an attempt to reclaim life and happiness amidst chaos.

The most significant recurring elements in "Hope" are:

• "Rest in peace to all the kids that lost their lives in the Parkland shooting. This song is dedicated to you.": This spoken intro is not just an opening but a foundational motif that frames the entire song as a tribute, ensuring the listener understands its context and purpose from the very beginning.
• "Okay, she keep cryin', she keep cryin' every single night": This line is repeated in the chorus, acting as a motif for the inescapable and persistent grief experienced by the survivors. Its repetition drills home the depth of the trauma.
• "So outside my misery, I think I'll find / A way of envisioning a better life / For the rest of us, the rest of us": This phrase forms the bridge and the emotional core of the song.
• "There's hope for the rest of us, the rest of us": This is the song's ultimate message and a powerful, recurring mantra. Its repetition at the end of the bridge provides a sense of affirmation and is the source of the song's title, leaving the listener with a feeling of communal resilience.