Eminem

Lyrics

[Intro]
Where's my snare?
I have no snare in my headphones
There you go
Yeah
Yo, yo

[Verse 1]
Have you ever been hated or discriminated against?
I have, I been protested and demonstrated against
Picket signs for my wicked rhymes, look at the times
Sick is the mind of the motherfuckin' kid that's behind
All this commotion, emotions run deep as oceans, explodin'
Tempers flarin' from parents, just blow 'em off and keep goin'
Not takin' nothin' from no one, give 'em hell long as I'm breathin'
Keep kickin' ass in the morning and takin' names in the evenin'
Leave 'em with a taste as sour as vinegar in they mouth
See, they can trigger me, but they'll never figure me out
Look at me now! I bet you're prolly sick of me now
Ain't you, Mama? I'ma make you look so ridiculous now!
[Chorus]
I'm sorry, Mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet (One more time!)
I said I'm sorry, Mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet (Ha!)
[Verse 2]
I got some skeletons in my closet and I don't know if no one knows it
So before they throw me inside my coffin and close it
I'ma expose it; I'll take you back to '73
Before I ever had a multi-platinum-selling CD
I was a baby, maybe I was just a couple of months
My faggot father must've had his panties up in a bunch
‘Cause he split, I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye
No, I don't, on second thought, I just fuckin' wished he would die
I look at Hailie, and I couldn't picture leavin' her side
Even if I hated Kim, I'd grit my teeth and I'd try
To make it work with her at least for Hailie's sake, I maybe made some mistakes
But I'm only human, but I'm man enough to face 'em today
What I did was stupid, no doubt it was dumb
But the smartest shit I did was take the bullets out of that gun
‘Cause I'da killed 'em, shit, I woulda shot Kim and him both
It's my life, I'd like to welcome y'all to The Eminem Show
[Chorus]
I'm sorry, Mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet (One more time!)
I said I'm sorry, Mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet (Uh)
[Verse 3]
Now, I would never diss my own mama just to get recognition
Take a second to listen 'fore you think this record is dissin'
But put yourself in my position, just try to envision
Witnessin' your mama poppin' prescription pills in the kitchen
Bitchin' that someone's always goin' through her purse and shit's missin'
Goin' through public housing systems, victim of Münchausen's Syndrome
My whole life I was made to believe I was sick when I wasn't
'Til I grew up, now I blew up, it makes you sick to your stomach, doesn't it?
Wasn't it the reason you made that CD for me, Ma?
So you could try to justify the way you treated me, Ma?
But guess what, you're gettin' older now, and it's cold when you're lonely
And Nathan's growin' up so quick, he's gonna know that you're phony
And Hailie's gettin' so big now, you should see her, she's beautiful
But you'll never see her, she won't even be at your funeral (Ha-ha!)
See, what hurts me the most is you won't admit you was wrong
Bitch, do your song, keep tellin' yourself that you was a mom!
But how dare you try to take what you didn't help me to get?!
You selfish bitch, I hope you fuckin' burn in hell for this shit!
Remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me? (Hehe)
Well, guess what? I am dead—dead to you as can be!
[Chorus]
I'm sorry, Mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet (One more time!)
I said I'm sorry, Mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet

Cleanin' Out My Closet, the 2nd single from Eminem's 2002 album The Eminem Show, has today become one of the rapper's most celebrated tracks. The song is regarded as one of the most influential and provocative hip hop songs ever recorded, as it opened up about Eminem's private struggles with his personal relationships and family, and it continues to resonate with a broad fan base today. For example, the song has almost 200 million views on YouTube as of August 2021, demonstrating its ongoing relevance and popularity.

As one of Eminem's most successful singles, Cleanin' Out My Closet received ample radio airplay and significant critical acclaim upon its release in 2002. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained in the top 50 of the chart for 21 weeks. It also earned significant accolades, including a Grammy nomination for Best Solo Rap Performance in 2003.

About Cleanin’ Out My Closet

Cleanin' Out My Closet is a highly emotional, introspective song that speaks about Eminem's difficult past and complicated relationships with his mother, father, and ex-wife Kim. The song's lyrics are deeply personal to the rapper, and he addresses the many issues he has with his family in a very public and vulnerable way. The song takes listeners through Em's journey as he confronts his demons and works to move past them.

Em begins the song by asserting himself and setting the tone: "Where's my snare? / I have no snare in my headphones—there you go, yeah," which underscores the song's overwhelming feelings of discontent and isolation. From there, the rapper launches into a series of verses, which examine his relationships and the pain he has experienced. For instance, Em hits out at his mother's attempts at reconciliation: "Have you ever been hated or discriminated against? / I have—I've been protested and demonstrated against."

The song's chorus provides a glimpse into Em's inner turmoil: "I'm sorry Mama, I never meant to hurt you / I never meant to make you cry, but tonight I'm cleaning out my closet." The chorus highlights that Em is changing direction and, in doing so, intends to end the negative cycle, even if it causes pain to people he loves.

Cleanin' Out My Closet also touches on Em's challenging relationship with Kim, his on-again-off-again girlfriend and mother of his daughter Hailie. The verses featuring Kim are particularly controversial and visceral, as Em describes a near-murder-suicide attempt by both him and Kim. Em raps, "We'll start with Hailie / Then I'll make it up to you / Now shut up, bitch, I'll do it for you," which has been widely criticised for being crass and insensitive.

The song serves a crucial purpose in Eminem's discography: it provides closure to unresolved pain and sheds light on the difficulties that many people experience and face head-on. Over his two-decade career, Eminem has consistently shone a light on the demons that haunt us, and Cleanin' Out My Closet is no different. While the song is undoubtedly contentious, it remains a testament to Eminem's willingness to dive into the harsh realities of human life.

In conclusion, Eminem's Cleanin' Out My Closet remains a vital and celebrated song in his discography. The song delves deep into the artist's personal struggles and features powerful and provocative lyrics that have resonated with fans for almost two decades. In addition to its provocative lyrics, the song's powerful production also contributes to its impact. The instrumental features a haunting, melodic piano instrumental that drives the verses forward, while the chorus utilises a pounding drum beat to emphasise Em's urgency and determination to move forward. All in all, Cleanin' Out My Closet is an emotionally charged, deeply personal song that continues to prove a popular and enduring gem for Eminem and his legions of fans.

• Release Date: May 26, 2002
• Artist: Eminem