The most touching words Eminem put into his brand new album are the words dedicated to his little daughter Hailie. When I first listened to the song, I loved the softness of the song and I couldn’t hide my tears, because I was moved deeply inside. When Marshall talks about Hailie, nobody could doubt his true feelings expressed into music.
Some people were chocked because Eminem made his personal issues and his dialogue with Hailie public. To all of you who were shocked by the personal character of Mockinbird, arguing about it and doubting Marshall’s sincerity, let me tell you this:
-Marshall is a public person, his life is exposed by the media every day, people knew about Kim’s whereabouts anyway
- Because Marshall has this particular kind of relationship with his public, he intends to share those precious words addressed to Hailie.
The song is like a beautiful necklace whose pearls the listener will collect one by one.
Marshall first adresses to Hailie to let her know that he is very conscious of her pain. Sometimes, Hailie feels lost between her mom’s absence she is unable to explain and her daddy’s absence for obvious professional reasons:
« I know sometimes things may not always
make since to you right now
but hey what did daddy always tell
straighten up lil soldier
stiffin up that upper lip
what you cryin about?
you got me… »
Marshall can read his daughter’s pain in her eyes. I know by experience how much little kid’s faces can say more than thousand words.
At the beginning of the song, Marshall goes straight to the subject. He talks about Kim’s absence and about how much his daughter misses her mom. He also talks about his own absences that must sometimes be a huge pain into Hailie’s heart. It is a matter of fact Hailie doesn’t see her daddy very often. But Marshall ensures his daughter of his omnipresent love, which is the most important:
« Hailie i know you miss your mom
and i know you miss your dad when I’m gone
but I’m tryin to give you the life that i never had
i can see your sad, even when you smile
even when you laugh i can see it in your eyes
deep inside you wanna cry cause your scared
i aint there, daddy’s with you in your prayers
no more cryin, wipe them tears
daddy’s here, no more nightmares… »
In the first verse, Eminem mentions another little girl, whose nickname is Laney. I’ve been asked by many people who this little girl was. Laney is Alaina, Dawn’s (Kim’s twin sister) daughter. Alaina has been adopted by Marshall, she currently lives with him and goes by the name Alaina Mathers:
« Daddy’s here, no more nightmares
we gonna pull together through it
we gon do it, Laney uncle’s crazy
but he loves you baby and you better know it
we’re all we got in this world when it spins
when it swirls, when it whirls, when it twirls
two little beautiful girls lookin puzzled
in a daze, i know its confusin you
daddys always on the move
momma’s always on the news
i try to keep you sheltered from it
but somehow it seems the harder that i try
to do that the more it backfires on me
all the things growin up as daddy
that he had to see, daddy dont want you to see… »
Eminem has always done his best to keep Hailie sheltered from the scandals surrounding Kim, but sometimes he doesn’t manage to protect her completely from this kind of exposure.
In the second verse, Marshall recalls the time when he was struggling for recognition., the dog years he went through across 8 Mile.
At this time, Marshall and Kim had no money, their appartement was often broken into and robbed. He recalls a dramatic event. Kim wanted to spare some money for Hailie’s college:
« 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 momma’s heart
and it seemed like everything was just startin to fall apart
mom and dad was arguin a lot… »
There are references to places in Detroit where Eminem and Kim used to live:
« So momma moved back on charmas in a flat one bedroom apartment
and dad moved back to the other side of 8 mile on Novara… »
In fact « Chalmas » refers to Chalmer Street in Detroit that is located in Wayne county:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=Chalmer+Street+&city=Detroit&state=MI
MC Hush, who was Eminem’s formerly friend and neighbor at this time, has mentioned Novara street several times in an interview.
Marshall looks at some ancient pictures and he remembers his memories with Kim.
Then he addresses again to Hailie and Alaina, giving both girls strength and hope, telling them that Kim’s situation is temporary. He wants them to understand that despite all, he can handle the situation and that he is here for them:
« Laney, im talkin to you too, daddy’s still here
I like the sound of that, yeah
its gotta ring to it dont it, shhh, momma’s only gone for the moment… »
The third verse is touching and funny. Marshall is ready to « give the world » to his daughter. He will make her smile by any means:
« 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, momma’s gon be alright
and if you ask me to daddys gonna buy you a mockingbird
I’m gon give you the world
im’a buy a diamond ring for you im’a sing for you
i’ll do anything for you to see you smile
and if that mockinbird dont sing and that ring dont shine
im’a break that birdie’s neck
i’ll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya
and make him eat every karot, dont fuck with dad »
The message of the song is reassuring : Marshall tells his daughter that sometimes we have no control of our destiny, but that Kim is gonna be all right.
Mockinbird, you’d better sing for Hailie or Marshall might break your neck!
Hailie keep your head up: your daddy loves you and remember he will always be there for you.
OmGsH, that song kicks as* and it’s so obvious that Hailie means the world to Marshall, even Laney. I’ve been a fan’s of Eminem’s since he started rapping, and this is by far, the besT!!!
eminem is great and i am so glad that i have found out who laneyis thanx x
I can listen to this song over and over again! I haven’t always been a fan of Eminem…but I absolutely love this song! I can tell he loves both of these girls very much and will do anything for them. It really touched me and brought tears to my eyes. I honestly listened to this song about 20 times in a row because I can completely relate. I cannot imagine not ever seeing my parents or growing up in the hood, also, the way he refers to covering up sad feelings. I do that all the time and it just touched me :D
hes obsesd wif her he needs to make mre songs with wikid beats
Well, It was bothering me that I didnt know who Laney was.. Thanks for that. I really admire Marshall Mathers for many different reasons, but one of the reasons is tht fact, no matter what the song is about you can feel his emotions, you can feel how much it all really means to him. He is a brilliant artist!
I never knew who Laney was either and eminem enspires me and if
i could meet trust me i would.i think its sooo sweet he decides
to put hailie in some of his songs.I love all of his songs and
i hope to hear more!
Emenem is the hottest boy in this planet.
Yeah, i was also lost on who Laney was, but now I kno. Thanks. Anyways, I’m and enormous fan of eminem. He is really inspiring. Even my father listtens to this music and my mom’s actually considering it. Em is truly an amazing man and i really wish to meet him some day. He’s inspired me to start writing and has kept me going, knowing that every1 has a shot. He’s just wow, what more can I say?
Oh yeah, and I forgot. Em has kept me goin through so many tough times. Somehow I know things will turn out okay because of him. He is what keeps me going when things get tough. He has music for every emotion im feeling. We share many qualities… heh, i really wish i could write along side him some day. He’s an amazing writing, father and in some (not all) aspects a great role model… once again wow.
I LOVE EMINEM…I LOVE ALL HIS SONGS AND I LOVE HOW HE FEELS ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER AND I WISH I COULD BE IS GIRL AND TAKE CARE OF HAILEY FOR HIM BUT I KNOW I ANT OR I WOULD EMINEM HAS A GOOD HEART AND I KNOW IT BECAUSE I LISTEN TO ALL OF HIS SONGS ..I HAVE EVERYONE ON HIS CDS AND I ALSO THINK HE IS THE BEST RAPPER EVER….I HAVE HIS PICTURES ALL OVER MY ROOM.
Eminem has got me going on with my life. He has taught me to go for what i want. AND HE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS THE BEST!!!!
Mocking bird really touched my heart! it was the sadest sond eminem had ever writen but i love him and how he choses to express his feelings openly!
wow i kno Eminem is so amazing and ive been listening to mockingbird all day!~ I read from one website that Laney was Kims Daughter with another man after her marriage to Em, but i think she really is Hailies cousin. She is the daughter of Hailies Moms (kim) twin sister dawn. This song is so touching. i live in the detroit area and totally kno what harsh conditions are on 8 mile- bc i live there
i love eminem n i love his songs..i hate anyone who is tryin to stop eminem from singing!! they should understand wat he has been through…i would love to meet eminem once…
Eminem is the greatest guy ever!. He Loves The girls so much! i think hes an amazing rapper and I love everyone of his songs. His inspired me so much, he always says his feelings in every song. I would defiantly love to meet him. And I hope to one day!
i heard that mockinbird is gonna be the new video.I’LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
HEY DO YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF LANEY AND ALAINA
well I think That Song was so good when I lisson To it and it seems like I good feel your pain Imean it herts when I lisson to it like Idont no but I love all your songs and I love you eminem
well eminem I just want to say that I love your music and I love you and that song you wrote was sad you wrote that sog from the heart and peaple think you are bad but I dont if people made more time lissoning to your music and lisson to what you have to say and they would see how you realy are well I just have to say Iam your favorite fan and your my favorite raper
well eminem I just want to say that I love your music and I love you and that song you wrote was sad you wrote that sog from the heart and peaple think you are bad but I dont if people made more time lissoning to your music and lisson to what you have to say and they would see how you realy are well I just have to say Iam your favorite fan and your my favorite raper
well eminem I just want to say that I love your music and I love you and that song you wrote was sad you wrote that sog from the heart and peaple think you are bad but I dont if people made more time lissoning to your music and lisson to what you have to say and they would see how you realy are well I just have to say Iam your favorite fan and your my favorite raper
hey i u love eminem and am a big fan of u. i saw the music vidoe mockingbird and it is so immotionol i started to cry when i saw it and i love it. but what tricks me out is that many people judge u eminem by the way u looks but what they dont know is that dip inside your sweet heart is that you have a beutiful personality and all does people that talk trash about u eminem thats just bs (bull shet).
oh and one more thing i love your music eminem and i love you to. love and peace =)
yo eminem really like is daughters u r right. da first time i heard dat song i was charmed. its was really soft. anyway when i heard:lenay i was like : what da fuck?! he as a another girl?!
anyway thats all i wanted 2 say
peace
I love this song. It is so good I never get tired of it. When I saw the video I was like who is this other little girl he is talkin about. I didn’t know anything about Laney until I read this. I think that is so sweet and I read that his brother lives with him now too. Aw how sweet.
I think the best line and most emotional line in the song that gave me tears is the christmas tree part
eminem c’est le meilleur il n’y a rien àdire. quand on écoute cette chanson, on comprend dessuite que ce mec c’est un coeur sur patte. àtoutes les personnes qui peuvent le démonter je le leur dit: regardez bien ce mecmàparce-que jamais vous lui arriverait àla cheville
eminem is my fucking hero, bo. every time i see ‘mockingbird’ i start to ball my eyes out..and im not one for crying…just wish my dad was here to care that much about me. :(
This song touches my heart. There is no more words. I am sure everyone that has children can relate to this song in some way or another.
i love eminem so much i have liked eminem sence i was 8 years old and now i am 14 and i still contiue loving him. i just have 1 state ment.. em, u dont need d12 , leave all to your self, it is so much better@!!!!
i hope some day i will get to go to an eminem consert..
rezonate Says:
January 12th, 2005 at 1:10 am
hes obsesd wif her he needs to make mre songs with wikid beats
so when was your last hit record Mr. I cant spell. Quit hatin just cause he loves his 2 daughter’s.
Mocking bird is a brilliant and really touching song, and it was really bugging me that i didnt know who Laney was, so thanks for that, and i would just like to say that over the years Em has been the best friend I’ve had, his emotions expressed in his songs have really given me something to relate to and when i felt i had no one to talk to his music really helped me through tough times, especially when i was being bullied and shit.
just to let you know sistamelissa that other girl is his niece
i was watching the trl awards and when they played mockingbird he cried and it made me cry
Hey, we LOVE Mockingbird! It’s so sweet and sentimental! A whole other side of Eminem I never knew existed! I LOVE EMINEM!!!
EMINEM IS COOL!!!!YOU ROCK EM.!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ROCK HAILIE!!! WE LOVE YOU!
I love you guys too!But you really need to calm down.It’s not supposed to be a sad song.Well,it’s not a happy one either.Fuck it.Just thanks for listenin and all your support!!!
i just LOOOVe thesong from the very first time i’ve heard it. Em is so cool and such a lovable daddy!
eminem is so awesome i love mockingbird. i love how he loves his daughters so much he will do anything for them!!
hey, i love eminem but mostly his music !! its the best my friend loves him so much i wish i could take her to see him it would mean the world to her she is his number one fan!!!!
hiya! i love eminem! he’s brill and i agree that this song is the one that most expesses his love for his daughter. i thought Laney was kims child but not eminems because i remember hearing about kim having a child with someone else but eminem takin the child on? is that not true then or wot please e-mail me i reely wanna know. thank you Tina xxx
YOU ARE RIGHT REBECCA!! HOTTEST GUY ON THE PLANT!!
I think that the way eminem expresses his feeling about haillie and laney in a song is very touching.
Eminem is a gorgeouss guy and he actually has brains and a heart unlike some of the celebrities around at the moment.
His music is touching and really gets you deep down.
I love him
Laney is Kims sisters bi by the way
Eminem just adopted her
This song brought tears to my eyes, he makes out that Alaina (a.k.a Laney) is his daughter aswell as Hailie. The music video is very good with the video clips of Laney and Hailie. The most touching one for me was when Hailie and Laney where dancing about, you could see they where realyl happy, but a few of them you could see Fear and sadness in their eyes. I am listening to the song right now and have already listened to it ATLEAST 30 times today, how could ANYONE hate this song? It’s the first time Eminem has been open about his Neice Laney and hopefully there will be more songs about them.
that song is one of the best i have heard yet!! u rock shady!!
eminem_rapsmyworld@yzhoo.com
i luv eminem and i like the care ,love an drespect he has for Hailie and Laney. Eminem You ROCK and i wil always love you.
I WANT IT MY DAD 2 BE LIKE EM,,, BUT I GUESS IT’S NOT COMIN’ TRUE AYE?
I love EMINEM. He is the best. And this song left me without words. I love you Eminem just continue like this, don’t you dare change. With love, Monika
I love Eminem! Even if he’s a guy I still love him and I know that its kind of gay but I love his music and I love this song and I love him! He’s sooooooooooo sooooooooooo sexy!!