The Marshall Mathers LP

Who Knew

Eminem

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

202

Internal

Multi

221

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus]

‘Cause I never^✦ knew I, knew I would get this big

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd affect^✦ this kid

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to slit his wrist

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to hit this bitch

I never^✦ knew I, knew I would get this big

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd affect^✦ this kid

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to slit his wrist

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to hit this bitch

[Verse 2]

So who's bringin' the guns in this country? (Hm?)

I couldn't sneak a plastic pellet^✦ gun through customs over^✦ in London^✦

And last week I seen this Schwarzenegger movie

Where he's shootin'^✦ all sorts of these motherfuckers^✦ with a Uzi

I see these three little kids up in the front row

Screaming, "Go!" with their seventeen-year-old^✦ uncle

I'm like, guidance?! Ain't they got the same moms

And dads who got mad when I asked^✦ if they liked^✦ violence?

And told me that my tape taught 'em to swear?

What about^✦ the make-up^✦ you allow^✦ your twelve-year-old^✦ daughter to wear? (Hm?)

So tell me that your son doesn't know any^✦ cuss words

When his bus driver's screamin' at him, fuckin'^✦ him up worse (Go sit the fuck down, you little fucking prick!)

And "fuck" was the first word I ever^✦ learned

Up in the third grade, flippin' the gym teacher the bird (Look!)

So read up 'bout how I used^✦ to get beat up

Peed on, be on free lunch and changed school every^✦ three months

My life's^✦ like kind of what my wife's^✦ like (What?)

Fucked^✦ up after^✦ I beat her fuckin'^✦ ass every^✦ night: Ike

So how much easier^✦ would life be if nineteen

Million motherfuckers^✦ grew to be just like me?

[Chorus]

‘Cause I never^✦ knew I, knew I would get this big

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd affect^✦ this kid

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to slit his wrist

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to hit this bitch

I never^✦ knew I, knew I would get this big

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd affect^✦ this kid

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to slit his wrist

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to hit this bitch

[Verse 3]

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd have a new house or a new car

A couple years ago,^✦ I was more poorer^✦ than you are

I don't got that bad of a mouth, do I?

Fuck! Shit! Ass! Bitch! Cunt! Shooby-de-doo-wop! (Oops)

Skibbedy-be-bop, a Christopher Reeves^✦

Sonny^✦ Bono,^✦ skis, horses^✦ and hittin'^✦ some trees (Hey)

How many^✦ retards'll listen^✦ to me

And run-up^✦ in the school shootin'^✦ when they're pissed^✦ at a tea-

-cher? Her? Him? Is it you? Is it them?

"Wasn't me, Slim Shady^✦ said to do it again!"^✦

Damn, how much damage^✦ can you do with a pen?

Man, I'm just as fucked^✦ up as you woulda^✦ been

If you woulda^✦ been in my shoes, who woulda^✦ thought

Slim Shady^✦ would be somethin' that you woulda^✦ bought?

That woulda^✦ made you get a gun and shoot at a cop

I just said it, I ain't know if you'd do it or not

[Chorus]

‘Cause I never^✦ knew I, knew I would get this big

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd affect^✦ this kid

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to slit his wrist

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to hit this bitch

I never^✦ knew I, knew I would get this big

I never^✦ knew I, knew I'd affect^✦ this kid

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to slit his wrist

I never^✦ knew I'd get him to hit this bitch

[Outro]

How the fuck was I supposed to know?

Technical Breakdown

8.6

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.64

Production

— Dr. Dre, Mel-Man

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse utilizes a masterful rhetorical pivot, transforming the accusatory tone of critics into a defensive commentary on parental hypocrisy, supported by elite rhythmic density and conversational flow.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Internal rhyme stackingRhetorical interrogationSocio-cultural critiqueConversational cadence modulationMulti-syllabic linkage

Rhyme Architecture: Highly complex internal structure characterized by dense multi-syllabic clusters (country/customs/London) and sustained end-rhyme chains anchored by vowel repetition (front row/uncle/moms/violence/swear/wear).

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I'm like, guidance?! Ain't they got the same moms / And dads who got mad when I asked if they liked violence?"

① A direct challenge to the parenting of children who listen to his music.② A meta-reference to the controversial 'My Name Is' lyrics that ignited the public backlash Eminem was facing at the time.

"What about the make-up you allow your twelve-year-old daughter to wear?"

① A literal observation regarding the sexualization of children.② A tactical reversal of the 'corrupting the youth' argument, shifting the moral burden from the artist to the parent.

Seamless integration of conversational tone into rigorous rhyme schemes

Effective deployment of defensive rhetorical questions to dismantle external criticism

Excellent use of phonetic proximity to maintain flow while delivering sharp critiques

Exceptional command of rhythmic pockets

Reliance on shock-value imagery which risks overshadowing the sociological nuance

Narrow thematic range within the broader context of the song

Who Knew

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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