Swim Good

© Chamara Madhushanka

Commentary

I am cringing right now. Wrote and recorded this in 2012 when music was my biggest creative outlet. My friend and producer, Marcos Da Silva (going by Marc Waters at the time), covered Frank’s “Swim Good” and had space for a 16-bar verse so I jumped on it. He didn’t seem excited by it and said there were a lot of “fish” references and I can’t say I disagree. I played the song for my friend and artist, Image, and he loved it. I like it enough to share it.

What it’s about is pretty obvious–womanizing, a bit of braggadocio, and an ending that serves as a warning. Of course it speaks to a snapshot in time but I can still appreciate the moment captured and the feeling I had recording it in Manhattan. It was done in one take and has the unpolished energy I had early on when I just wanted to rap. I drank water in the recording booth and sipped it as I ad-libbed over the transition back into Marcos’ Frank Ocean verse. Had Marcos liked it I would have rerecorded it, but whatever. I’m just glad to let it have its moment.

Lyrics

There’s plenty up in the sea, plenty of them for me

I’m pulling fishes with ease as they breezing downstream

I’m tired of always fishing with lines softer than linen

The money is not the motive but the money is the mission

Got regrets that no one else live with, lose my mind try’na mind my business

Once I find who owns this lipstick left in the whip I’ma beg for forgiveness

There’s five women in this picture, three of them I already been with

‘Cause the fourth one is into women and the fifth one is like my sister

Freezing time’s like try’na freeze liquor, so I grind like minutes are instants

Keep the limes and ice for the bitches, and the straws, I ain’t suckin’ on the drink’s dick – pause

All these niggas in the shindig need to stop carrying on like princes

When they don’t even know who the king is, I’m Poseidon swimming in your misses

And for instance, I can make you quiver ‘cause a nigga (swim good)

Should you ever cry a river just remember (swim good)

‘Cause you get expensive dinners only if you keep that water warm

Don’t care if it’s December – swim good