Eminem will be joined by Elton John on the Grammy telecast tonight to perform "Stan," the most critically acclaimed track from the "The Marshall Mathers LP," a contender for best album.
The song is structured as a series of letters--three written by an obsessed Eminem fan named Stan, the fourth a response from the rapper. John will sing the chorus, which was performed on the recording by British singer Dido.
Eminem has performed a "clean" version of the song on television before with minor wording changes to excise obscenities, and he may follow that course on the Grammys live broadcast. Here are the lyrics to the original recording.
(CHORUS)
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see at all
And even if I could it'd all be gray, but your picture on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see at all
And even if I could it'd all be gray, but your picture on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad
(VERSE)
Dear Slim, I wrote you but you still ain't callin'
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn
You must not have got 'em
It probably was a problem at the post office or somethin'
Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em
But anyways, (expletive) it, what's been up man, how's your daughter?
My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm out to be a father
If I have a daughter, guess what I'm-a call her? I'm-a name her Bonnie
I read about your uncle Ronnie too, I'm sorry
I had a friend kill himself over some (expletive) who didn't want him
I know you probably hear this every day, but I'm your biggest fan
I even got the underground (expletive) that you did with Skam
I got a room full of your posters and your pictures, man
I like the (expletive) you did with Ruckus too, that (expletive) was fat
Anyways, I hope you get this man, hit me back, just to chat
Truly yours, your biggest fan, this is Stan
(Repeat background chorus)
Dear Slim, you still ain't called or wrote, I hope you have the chance
I ain't mad, I just think it's (expletive) you don't answer fans
If you didn't want to talk to me outside your concert you didn't have to
but you could have signed an autograph for Matthew
That's my little brother, man. He's only 6 years old
We waited in the blistering cold for you for four hours and ya just said no
That's pretty (expletive) man, you're like his (expletive) idol
He wants to be just like you man, he likes you more than I do
I ain't that mad, but I just don't like bein' lied to
Remember when we met in Denver, you said if I write you
You would write back. See, I'm just like you in a way
I never knew my father neither
He used to always cheat on my mom and beat her
I can relate to what you're sayin' in your songs
So when I have a (expletive) day, I drift away and put 'em on
Cause I don't really got (expletive) else, so that (expletive) helps when I'm depressed
I even got a tattoo with your name across the chest
Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds
It's like adrenaline. The pain is such a sudden rush for me
See, everything you say is real, and I respect you 'cause you tell it
My girlfriend's jealous 'cause I talk about you 24/7
But she don't know you like I know you, Slim, no one does
She don't know what it was like for people like us growing up
You've gotta call me, man. I'll be the biggest fan you'll ever lose
Sincerely yours, Stan. PS: We should be together too
(Repeat background chorus)
Dear Mister "I'm too good to call or write my fans"
This'll be the last package I ever send your (expletive)
It's been six months and still no word. I don't deserve it?
I know you got my last two letters, I wrote the addresses on 'em perfect
So this is my cassette I'm sending you. I hope you hear it
I'm in the car right now. I'm doing 90 on the freeway
Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka, ya dare me to drive?
You know that song by Phil Collins from "The Air in the Night"?
About that guy who could have saved that other guy from drowning?
But didn't? Then Phil saw it all then at his show he found him?
That's kinda how this is. You could have rescued me from drowning
Now it's too late. I'm on a thousand downers now, I'm drowsy
And all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call
I hope you know I ripped all o' your pictures off the wall
I love you Slim, we could have been together. Think about it
You ruined it now, I hope when you can't sleep and you dream about it
And when you dream, I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it
I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe without me
See Slim, (Screaming) Shut up (expletive), I'm trying to talk
Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screaming in the trunk
But I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain't like you
'Cause if she suffocates, she'll suffer more, and then she'll die too
Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now
