One of the most captivating aspects of music is its ability to evoke emotions, tell stories, and resonate with our own experiences. The Dive (a) by Eyedea is a song that has deeply resonated with me due to its thought-provoking lyrics and profound exploration of the human psyche.
The Dive (Part 1 and Part 2) are two songs that detail the protagonist’s experience with first episode psychosis and their struggle with mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, psychotic experiences can be highly distressing, confusing, and isolating.
Part 1 breaks down the psychotic experience into three verses. Verse 1 is the prodromal phase (the skepticism sets in and lessens your appeal; you tamper with reality maps). Verse 2 is the acute phase (but never had evidence of one who thought himself mad; you’re going crazy, and desperately reachin’ for reason). Verse 3 is the recovery phase (now you’ve truly formed an opinion about heaven; it starts out with a question, and this is what it ends in). The ending line just solidifies this this theme even more because with each foot you fall, the voice starts to sound more and more like yours.
When you listen to that album… Try to actually believe that he wrote all of it between the ages of 14 - 18. Released it when he was 19. Died at 28. It’s insane.
A song about dealing with problems. For problems are much like the rain. Everyone wants to get out of them, and in fact spend most of our lives trying to avoid “getting wet.” But we are always told that bad times will pass, so we have to be optimistic that the “weather” will change. But traumatic events leave scars, and that makes us feel like nobody else has our scars, and therefore they cannot relate to us. But the fact remains that rain falls from clouds all over the world – we all have our own problems. Some people like to make excuses and find scapegoats (“artists may talk and give it different names”), or think that they are singled out, but at the end of the day everybody is in the same boat (“but it falls randomly not taking aim”). When one realizes this fact, it somehow makes the whole situation somewhat easier to bear, and thus all your problems do eventually sink away (“we cannot avoid nature’s bleeding vein, but I smile while it trickles down the drain”). Just my take. Music is subjective. Thanks for reading, peace.
Micheal Larson (1981-2010), a.k.a. Eyedea or Oliver Hart, was a rapper from Saint Paul, Minnesota and member of the Rhymesayers collective. He was best known as the rapper half of Eyedea & Abilities, a project with DJ Abilities, and for his skillful freestyling.
His songs contain heavy psychedelic themes and often portray perspectives other than his own.
Following his untimely death in 2010, many fellow Rhymesayers and friends paid homage to him through various tribute songs, including “I Miss Mikey” by Murs, “Bats” by The Uncluded, “Michael” by Sadistik, “Great Eyedeas Never Die” by Blueprint, and “Flicker” by Atmosphere.
Thanks for sharing!
https://oldtimemusic.com/w2/the-meaning-behind-the-song-the-dive-a-by-eyedea/
https://genius.com/Eyedea-and-abilities-the-dive-part-1-lyrics
Peep the whole album, “First Born” if you like it. Masterful lyricist. Died way too young.
Thanks, I’ll check it out!
When you listen to that album… Try to actually believe that he wrote all of it between the ages of 14 - 18. Released it when he was 19. Died at 28. It’s insane.
Wow, that is insane, to have written them so young!
Thanks for sharing more information about him!
I really like this song:
When it rains he shall be remembered!
Liquid Sovereignty - Eyedea & Abilities [05:30 | Rap] https://youtu.be/Do0xeS--VmM
https://genius.com/Eyedea-and-abilities-liquid-sovereignty-lyrics
https://genius.com/artists/Eyedea