Stankonia

Ms. Jackson

Outkast

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

133

Internal

Multi

171

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: André 3000]

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

[Bridge: André 3000]

Me and your daughter^✦ got a special^✦ thang goin' on (We got a special^✦ kinda^✦ thing)

You say it's puppy^✦ love, we say it's full-grown (Arroof)

Hope that we feel this, feel this way forever^✦

You can plan a pretty^✦ picnic but you can't predict the weather

Ms. Jackson^✦

[Verse 2: André 3000]

Ten times^✦ out of nine, now if I'm lyin', find

The quickest muzzle, throw it on my mouth and I'll decline

King meets queen, then the puppy^✦ love thing

Together dream 'bout that crib with the Goodyear swing

On the oak tree, I hope we feel like this forever^✦

Forever,^✦ forever^✦ ever?^✦ Forever^✦ ever?^✦

Forever^✦ never^✦ seems that long until you're grown

And notice^✦ that the day-by-day ruler^✦ can't be too wrong

Ms. Jackson,^✦ my intentions were good, I wish I could

Become^✦ a magician to abracadabra all the sadder^✦

Thoughts of me, thoughts of she, thoughts of he

Asking^✦ what happened^✦ to the feeling that her and me had

I pray so much about^✦ it, need some knee pads

It happened^✦ for a reason, one can't be mad

So know this, know that everything's cool

And yes, I will be present on the first day of school and graduation^✦

[Chorus: André 3000 & Big Boi]

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry (Uh, uh, yeah)

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

[Verse 3: Big Boi]

"Look at the way he treats me", shit, look at the way you treat me

You see, your little nosy-ass homegirls done got your ass sent up the creek, G

Without a paddle, you left to straddle and ride this thing on out (Out)

Now you and your girl ain't speakin' no more 'cause my dick all in her mouth (Mouth)

Know what I'm talkin'^✦ about?^✦

Jealousy, infidelity, envy,^✦ cheating,^✦ beating^✦ in the year 2G, they be the same thing

So who you placin'^✦ the blame on? You keep on singin'^✦ the same song

Let bygones^✦ be bygones^✦ and you can go on and get the hell on, you and your mama^✦

[Chorus: André 3000 & Big Boi]

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real (Your mama^✦ a bitch)

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

I'm sorry,^✦ Ms. Jackson,^✦ ooh, I am for real

Never^✦ meant to make your daughter^✦ cry

I apologized^✦ a trillion^✦ times^✦

Technical Breakdown

8.4

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.45

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

André 3000 utilizes conversational intimacy and rhythmic elasticity to subvert the standard apology archetype, grounding emotional vulnerability in sophisticated, multisyllabic pocket-shifting.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Internal rhyme densityMultisyllabic repetition for rhythmic tensionConversational cadenceIdiomatic subversion

Rhyme Architecture: Highly non-linear with a focus on internal multisyllabic pairings that resolve into anchor rhymes at the end of every two to four bars, emphasizing a 'bouncing' flow.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather"

① A literal reference to outdoor planning being subject to uncontrollable meteorological changes.② A metaphor for the fragility of relationships, where intentional long-term planning cannot account for the unpredictable nature of human emotion or life events.

"Ten times out of nine"

① A subversion of the common idiom 'nine times out of ten', highlighting the speaker's penchant for exaggeration or unconventional thinking.② A rhythmic play on numbers that sets up the internal rhyme scheme for the subsequent lines.

"Forever, forever ever? Forever ever?"

① A repetitive vocal exclamation used to build rhythmic anticipation.② A meta-commentary on the concept of 'forever', questioning the sincerity and length of long-term commitment as one matures.

Exceptional rhythmic variety that mirrors the anxiety of an apology

Masterful use of repetition as a musical instrument

Integration of colloquialisms into complex rhyme schemes

Occasional abstraction makes certain lines feel more melodic than narrative-driven

The density of internal rhyme occasionally obscures the primary apology narrative

Ms. Jackson

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores