Encore
Mockingbird
Eminem
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
20
End
174
Internal
102
Multi
230
Slant
5
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Now hush, little baby,✦ don't you cry
Everything's✦ gonna✦ be alright✦
Stiffen✦ that upper✦ lip up, little lady,✦ I told ya
Daddy's✦ here to hold ya through the night
I know Mommy's✦ not here right now, and we don't know why
We feel how we feel inside✦
It may seem a little crazy,✦ pretty✦ baby✦
But I promise✦ Mama's✦ gon' be alright✦
[Verse 2]
Heh, it's funny✦
I remember back one year when Daddy✦ had no money✦
Mommy✦ wrapped the Christmas✦ presents up and stuck 'em under✦ the tree
And said some of 'em were from me 'cause Daddy✦ couldn't buy 'em
I'll never✦ forget✦ that Christmas;✦ I sat up the whole night crying
'Cause Daddy✦ felt like a bum—see, Daddy✦ had a job
But his job was to keep the food on the table for you and Mom
And at the time, every✦ house that we lived✦ in
Either✦ kept gettin'✦ broken✦ into✦ and robbed✦ or shot up on the block
And your Mom was savin'✦ money✦ for you in a jar
Tryin' to start a piggy✦ bank for you so you could go to college
Almost✦ had a thousand dollars 'til someone broke in and stole it
And I know it hurt so bad it broke your Mama's✦ heart
And it seemed✦ like everything✦ was just startin' to fall apart✦
Mom and Dad was arguin'✦ a lot
So Mama✦ moved✦ back onto✦ Chalmers in the flat, one-bedroom apartment
And Dad moved✦ back to the other✦ side of 8 Mile on Novara✦
And that's when Daddy✦ went to California with his CD
And met Dr. Dre, and flew you and Mama✦ out to see me
But Daddy✦ had to work, you and Mama✦ had to leave me
Then you started seein' Daddy✦ on the TV
And Mama✦ didn't like it
And you and Lainie were too young to understand it
Papa✦ was a rolling stone, Mama✦ developed a habit
And it all happened too fast for either✦ one of us to grab it
I'm just sorry✦ you were there and had to witness it firsthand
'Cause all I ever✦ wanted✦ to do was just make you proud
Now I'm sittin'✦ in this empty✦ house just reminiscin'
Lookin'✦ at your baby✦ pictures, it just trips me out
To see how much you both have grown, it's almost✦ like you're sisters now
Wow, guess you pretty✦ much are, and Daddy's✦ still here
Lainie, I'm talkin'✦ to you too, Daddy's✦ still here
I like the sound of that, yeah, it's got a ring to it, don't it?
Shh, Mama's✦ only✦ gone for the moment✦
[Chorus]
Now hush, little baby,✦ don't you cry
Everything's✦ gonna✦ be alright✦
Stiffen✦ that upper✦ lip up, little lady,✦ I told ya
Daddy's✦ here to hold ya through the night
I know Mommy's✦ not here right now and we don't know why
We feel how we feel inside✦
It may seem a little crazy,✦ pretty✦ baby✦
But I promise✦ Mama's✦ gon' be alright✦
[Outro]
And if you ask me to, Daddy's✦ gonna✦ buy you a mockingbird✦
I'ma✦ give you the world
I'ma✦ buy a diamond ring for you, I'ma✦ sing for you
I'll do anything✦ for you to see you smile
And if that mockingbird✦ don't sing and that ring don't shine
I'ma✦ break that birdie's neck
I'll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya
And make him eat every✦ carat,✦ don't fuck with Dad (Haha)✦
Technical Breakdown
7.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm6.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.28
Production
— Eminem, Luis RestoBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse prioritizes narrative vulnerability and rhythmic pacing over complex lyrical gymnastics, utilizing a conversational, emotive delivery to ground the heavy subject matter.
B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsConversational cadenceNarrative arc developmentStress-timed delivery
Rhyme Architecture: Employs an AABB and AAAA-influenced loose couplet structure with high-density multisyllabic internal connections, prioritizing conversational flow over rigid meter.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"But his job was to keep the food on the table for you and Mom"
① The literal act of providing sustenance and financial support.② The weight of paternal responsibility to maintain household stability during a period of poverty.
Raw emotional resonance and authenticity
Exceptional rhythmic integration of conversational cadence
Strong narrative structure providing high-impact storytelling
Lack of complex metaphorical layering or multi-layered entendre
Minimal reliance on punchline mechanics
Literal narrative style may lack surface-level wordplay complexity