The True Meaning Behind One Of Me By Lil Nas X Featuring Elton John
Elton John may be a music industry legend, but that doesn't mean that he hesitates to work with younger stars. That's why he's collaborated over the years with the likes of Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa. He's also worked with Lil Nas X, someone that John apparently thinks highly of, to say the least.
"He doesn't give a flying f**k," John stated while talking about his friend and peer, according to Bustle. Adding that he considers the rapper-singer-songwriter to be "very smart" and "very intelligent," the "Crocodile Rock" artist explained, "He uses his words wisely. And he's very, very courageous. We need more people like that in the LGBTQ community. ... I took to him like a bee to honey. I just thought this is someone I love already."
That's surely why John was ready and willing to team up with Lil Nas X on "One of Me." Found on the younger star's "Montero" album, you may not hear John's voice, but Genius notes that he did step in to play the piano. Granted, you may not have realized that due to the super-catchy — and perhaps somewhat surprisingly deep — lyrics. Keep reading to find out exactly what they mean!
Lil Nas X's doubters want him to stick with what made him famous
"Say you one of me, say you need the validation / Tell me that you think you won't top your last creation," Lil Nas X sings in the first verse of "One of Me," according to Genius. Although this is a collaboration with Elton John, Lil Nas X seems to be referring to a situation that he himself has been going through. Indeed, that becomes even more clear when he goes on to say, "Word on the block is you fell off and I'm just sayin' / If it ain't 'Old Town Road,' Lil Nassy, I ain't playin'."
Although Lil Nas X mentions his hit breakthrough song, "Old Town Road," he's discussing more than just his success. Frankly, he goes into the fact that once he became famous for the tune, there were those around him who expected him to continue exactly what he'd done in order to continue to be successful. He lets his listeners know that when he continues to sing from the doubters viewpoint, saying, "Just stick to what you best at / I suggest, make another one like this."
Obviously, Lil Nas X hasn't listened to those who tried to keep him in a box. He also didn't seem to listen to what else the haters had to say.
There are some that think Lil Nas X was just lucky
There are a few other key things that Lil Nas X reveals in "One of Me" that come from his doubters and those who flippantly support him (if they do at all). Just take a listen when the star sings, "Oh, I know it hurts your soul to know it was only luck, huh / If you drop a song, n***a, we won't give a f**k, no." That's right: according to the song, there are those that thought Lil Nas X was just "lucky" when he found fame.
In fact, in the second verse of the track, he goes on to note that some people thought of him as "a meme," "a joke," and "a gimmick from the go...". He's also apparently been accused of doing "all the things that you do just to get your face to show." Because of that, there are some that think he "ain't the next big thing, you the next thing to go," telling him, "'I don't see you lasting long and that's just me being honest / Even if your album okay, it's floppin', that's a promise, oh.'"
From there, Lil Nas X acknowledges that people were waiting for him to "prove" himself because "everybody waitin'" even though "somebody hatin'." Surely there's no doubt that Lil Nas X has definitely proven himself — 11 of the tracks on his "Montero" debut charted on Billboard's Hot 100 — not that he needs to.