How appropriate is it that Eminem's new Relapse arrives midway between Mother's Day and Father's Day? Has the world of music ever seen a songwriter, in any genre, so obsessed with the day-to-day details of parenting -- both as a parent himself, and as somebody who was once parented? And Relapse -- featuring back-to-back numbers called "My Mom," about Marshall Mathers' mom, and "Insane," about Marshall Mathers' dad -- demonstrates that he's not yet ready to bury the theme in the back of his already-cluttered closet. In recognition of his preoccupation, then, here is a rundown of Eminem's more memorable koans on the topic -- many of which can serve as helpful advice for moms and dads everywhere!
"99 percent of my life I was lied to/ I just found out my mom does more dope than I do." -- "My Name Is," The Slim Shady LP, 1999
"When I was just a little baby boy/ My mama used to tell me these crazy things/ She used to tell me my daddy was an evil man/ She used to tell me he hated me/ But then I got a little bit older/ And I realized she was the crazy one." -- "Kill You," The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
"Don't blame me when little Eric jumps off of the terrace/ You should've been watching him/ Apparently you ain't parents." -- "Who Knew," The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
"Yesterday I changed your diaper/ Wiped you and powdered you/ How did you get so big? Can't believe it, now you're two/ Hailie you're so precious, Daddy's so proud of you." -- "Kim," The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
"When it's all said and done I'll be 40/ Before I know it with a 40 on the porch telling stories/ With a bottle of Jack, two grandkids on my lap/ Babysitting for Hailie while Hailie's out getting smashed." -- "Drug Ballad," The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
"My baby girl keeps gettin' older/ I watch her grow up with pride/ People make jokes, 'cause they don't understand me/ They just don't see my real side." -- "Hailie's Song," The Eminem Show, 2002
"I'm a responsible father/ So not a lot of good I'd be to my daughter/ Layin' in the bottom of the mud/ Must be in my blood 'cause I don't know how I do it/ All I know is I don't want to follow in the footsteps of my dad/ 'Cause I hate him so bad." -- "Say Goodbye Hollywood," The Eminem Show, 2002
"I don't blame you, I wouldn't let Hailie listen to me neither." -- "My Dad's Gone Crazy," The Eminem Show, 2002
"These ideas are nightmares to white parents/ Whose worse fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings/ Like whatever they say has no bearing/ It's so scary in a house that allows no swearing." -- "Sing for the Moment," The Eminem Show, 2002
"Put yourself in my position/ Just try to envision witnessin' your mama poppin' prescription pills in the kitchen." -- "Cleanin' Out My Closet," The Eminem Show, 2002
"When she colors her big brother and mother and dad/ Ain't no tellin' what really goes on in her little head/ Wish I could be the daddy that neither one of us had." -- "8 Mile," 8 Mile, 2002
"He's grown farther from home, he's no father/ He goes home and barely knows his daughter." -- "Lose Yourself," 8 Mile, 2002
"Father please forgive me for I know not what I do/ I just never had the chance to ever meet you/ Therefore I did not know that I would grow to be/ My mother's evil seed doing these evil deeds." -- "Evil Deeds," Encore, 2004
"Papa was a rollin' stone, mama developed a habit/ And it all happened too fast for either one of us to grab it." -- "Mockingbird," Encore, 2004
"If you don't understand, don't even bother to ask/ A father who has grown up with a fatherless past." -- "Mosh," Encore, 2004
"I was never the type of kid to wait by the door/ And pack his bags and stand on the porch/ And hope and pray for a dad to show who never did." -- "Beautiful," Relapse, 2009
"I want you to feel me like my stepfather felt me." -- "Insane," Relapse, 2009
"Cuticles get residue just from touching the bottle/ Never knew I could remind me so much of my mama." -- "Bagpipes from Baghdad," Relapse, 2009
"My mom my mom/ I know you're probably tired of hearing about my mom." -- "My Mom," Relapse, 2009
- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC.
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