The Marshall Mathers LP

Stan

Eminem

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

419

Internal

109

Multi

374

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Dido]

My tea's gone cold, I'm wonderin'^✦ 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 grey

But your picture^✦ on my wall

It reminds^✦ me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

[Verse 2: Eminem]

Dear Slim, you still ain't called^✦ or wrote, I hope you have a chance

I ain't mad, I just think it's fucked^✦ up you don't answer^✦ fans

If you didn't want to talk to me outside your concert, you didn't have to

But you coulda^✦ signed^✦ an autograph^✦ for Matthew

That's my little brother,^✦ man, he's only^✦ six years old

We waited^✦ in the blisterin'^✦ cold for you, for four hours, and you just said no

That's pretty^✦ shitty,^✦ man, you're like his fuckin'^✦ idol

He wants to be just like you, man, he likes^✦ you more than I do

I ain't that mad, though, I just don't like bein' lied to

Remember when we met in Denver?^✦ You said if I'd 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 shitty^✦ day, I drift away^✦ and put 'em on

'Cause I don't really^✦ got shit else, so that shit 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 growin'^✦ up

You gotta^✦ call me, man, I'll be the biggest fan you'll ever^✦ lose

Sincerely yours, Stan, PS: We should be together^✦ too

[Chorus: Dido]

My tea's gone cold, I'm wonderin'^✦ 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 grey

But your picture^✦ on my wall

It reminds^✦ me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

[Verse 3: Eminem]

Dear Mr. I'm Too Good to Call or Write My Fans

This'll be the last package I ever^✦ send your ass

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 sendin'^✦ you, I hope you hear it

I'm in the car right now, I'm doin' ninety^✦ on the freeway

Hey, Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka,^✦ you dare me to drive?

You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night"

About^✦ that guy who coulda^✦ saved^✦ that other^✦ guy from drownin'^✦

But didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a show he found him?

That's kinda^✦ how this is: You coulda^✦ rescued me from drownin'^✦

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 of your pictures off the wall

I loved^✦ you, Slim, we coulda^✦ been together,^✦ think about^✦ it

You ruined^✦ it now, I hope 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? Shut up, bitch, I'm tryna^✦ talk

Hey, Slim, that's my girlfriend^✦ screamin' 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

Oh shit, I forgot,^✦ how am I supposed to send this shit out?

[Chorus: Dido]

My tea's gone cold, I'm wonderin'^✦ 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 grey

But your picture^✦ on my wall

It reminds^✦ me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

[Verse 4: Eminem]

Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner,^✦ but I just been busy^✦

You said your girlfriend's^✦ pregnant^✦ now, how far along^✦ is she?

Look, I'm really^✦ flattered you would call your daughter that

And here's^✦ an autograph^✦ for your brother,^✦ I wrote it on a Starter cap

I'm sorry^✦ I didn't see you at the show, I must've missed^✦ you

Don't think I did that shit intentionally just to diss you

But what's this shit you said about^✦ you like to cut your wrist too?

I say that shit just clownin',^✦ dawg, come on, how fucked^✦ up is you?

You got some issues,^✦ Stan, I think you need some counselin'

To help your ass from bouncin' off the walls when you get down some

And what's this shit about^✦ us meant to be together?^✦

That type of shit'll make me not want us to meet each other^✦

I really^✦ think you and your girlfriend^✦ need each other^✦

Or maybe you just need to treat her better^✦

I hope you get to read this letter,^✦ I just hope it reaches you in time

Before^✦ you hurt yourself, I think that you'll be doin' just fine

If you relax a little, I'm glad I inspire you, but, Stan

Why are you so mad? Try to understand that I do want you as a fan

I just don't want you to do some crazy^✦ shit

I seen this one shit on the news a couple weeks ago^✦ that made me sick

Some dude was drunk and drove his car over^✦ a bridge

And had his girlfriend^✦ in the trunk, and she was pregnant^✦ with his kid

And in the car, they found a tape, but they didn't say who it was to

Come to think about^✦ it, his name was, it was you

Damn

[Produced by Eminem & DJ Mark the 45 King]

Technical Breakdown

9.1

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control10.0

Performance and control

Computed Score9.07

Production

— The 45 King, Eminem

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse excels through narrative immersion and psychological pacing, utilizing a conversational cadence that mirrors the deteriorating mental state of the persona rather than relying on complex figurative wordplay.

A+

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Epistolary narrativeConversational cadenceEscalating tensionInternal rhyme clustersCharacter-driven phonetic mimicry

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA couplets masked by enjambment and internal rhyme, creating a 'stream-of-consciousness' effect that flows naturally into the conversational tone.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I'm just like you in a way: I never knew my father neither"

① A shared biographical similarity regarding absent fathers.② A psychological projection establishing the obsessive, parasocial identification Stan feels toward Slim.

"I don't really got shit else, so that shit helps"

① The music provides a literal coping mechanism for the character's depression.② A play on the phonetic similarity between 'shit' as a situation and 'shit' as a substance/music, emphasizing how the music is the only thing filling the void.

Exceptional character work and narrative arc

Seamless integration of internal rhyme within conversational speech

Dynamic vocal shifting from polite to resentful

Structural progression that builds tension through pacing

Limited metaphorical density compared to later technical-era Eminem

Rhyme schemes occasionally prioritize narrative clarity over complexity

Stan

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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