Tyler, the Creator’s hit song “See You Again” is a genre-blending track that mixes R&B with soft hip-hop. Featuring vocals from Kali Uchis, the song focuses on an imagined relationship, one that exists only in dreams. It’s about wanting a connection with someone who feels real, but is only ever present in dreams or thoughts.
Below is a line-by-line breakdown of the lyrics in “See You Again.”
- Song: See You Again
- Artist: Tyler, the Creator, Kali Uchis
- Songwriter: Tyler Okonma
- Released: 2017
- Album: Flower Boy
- Genre: R&B, Pop-rap
What is “See You Again” About?
Verse 1: A Love That Only Exists in Dreams
You live in my dream state
Relocate my fantasy
I stay in reality
Tyler separates his real life from what he wishes he had.
The person he’s singing about lives in his imagination, and though his fantasies shift around this dream figure, he’s still grounded in a life where none of it is real.
There’s a gap between what he wants and what he has.
You live in my dream state
Any time I count sheep
That’s the only time we make up
The only time they connect is when he’s asleep. Counting sheep, a symbol of falling asleep, becomes the only gateway to this person.
The phrase “make up” could be about reconciliation or intimacy, but it only ever happens in dreams. That’s the only line that makes it seem like he’s talking about an ex, but he’s not.
You exist behind my eyelids
Now, I don’t wanna wake up
The fantasy is the only place he feels close to this person.
Waking up would mean letting go of the one thing that gives him comfort. He’d rather stay in sleep where things feel possible.
Pre-Chorus: Craving Something Real
20/20, 20/20 vision
Cupid hit me, Cupid hit me with precision
He sees this person clearly and feels love hit him straight on.
Mentioning Cupid brings in the image of being struck by love without warning.
There’s nothing vague about it. He knows exactly who he wants and how strong that feeling is.
I wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind
“Looking both ways” is what you’re supposed to do before crossing the street, so asking this suggests the person might be reckless with his feelings, constantly running through his thoughts without any care.
There could also be a double meaning. “Both ways” might hint at bisexuality, adding another layer to his confusion and frustration about where the other person stands.
I said I’m sick of chasin’
You’re the one that’s always running through my daydream
I can only see your face when I close my eyes
He’s tired of constantly chasing something that never stops moving. This person stays on his mind, but they never slow down or become real.
The only time he can really see them is in his dreams. In real life, they’re nowhere to be found.
Chorus: Stuck Between Fantasy and Reality
Can I get a kiss?
And can you make it last forever?
The kiss becomes a symbol for everything he can’t hold onto in real life.
If he can’t have this person fully, he wants at least one moment that feels real enough to keep with him.
I said I’m ’bout to go to war
And I don’t know if I’ma see you again
He compares real life to going to war.
Outside of his dreams, things feel chaotic and demanding, and this person isn’t part of that world. Once he wakes up and steps back into his day, he loses access to them.
He’s unsure when, or if, he’ll feel close to them again. That uncertainty adds pressure to the moment and makes every goodbye feel heavier.
Verse 2: Love, Lust, and Letting Go
I said, okay, okey-dokey, my infatuation
Is translatin’ to another form of, what you call it? (Love)
He’s describing a shift in how he feels. What began as infatuation has turned into love.
He knows what he’s feeling, and he’s admitting it, even if he doesn’t say the word right away.
Oh, yeah, I ain’t met you, I’ve been lookin’
Stop the waitin’ ‘fore I stop the chasin’, like a alcoholic
He hasn’t even met this person in real life, yet he’s been searching for them like they’re the missing piece.
He compares himself to an alcoholic who’s thinking about giving up his addiction altogether. He’s saying he’ll stop “chasing” this person if the love isn’t returned soon.
“You don’t understand me.” What the fuck do you mean?
He imagines being told this, possibly echoing things he’s heard in real relationships.
The relationship in his mind feels so real and detailed that any sign of misunderstanding hits like real rejection
It’s them rose-tinted cheeks, yeah, it’s them dirt-colored eyes
Sugar-honey iced tea, bumblebee on the scene
Yeah, I’d give up my bakery to have a piece of your pie
He’s describing the other person’s looks in the first line.
“Sugar-honey iced tea” is a clever way to spell out “shit,” probably meaning this person is “the shit.” This might mean that Tyler, the “bumblebee,” is drawn to the “sweetness” of the other person.
When he says he’d give up his bakery for a piece of their pie, he means he’d trade everything he’s worked for just to have a part of them.
“See You Again” Song Meaning: A Dream That’s Too Good to Be Real
“See You Again” is about wanting something or someone that feels just out of reach. Tyler, the Creator creates a version of love that only exists in dreams. He keeps seeing this person in his head, craving their attention and affection, but he never actually gets to have it. The real world just doesn’t give him the same feeling.
There’s also frustration running under everything. He wants to stop chasing, but he can’t help himself. The person he dreams of either doesn’t return the same feelings, or maybe isn’t even real. But the emotions are real for him, and that’s what makes the whole thing painful.
Songs Like “See You Again”
Here are some other songs that also deal with love that feels distant, one-sided, or dreamlike:
1. “Pink + White” by Frank Ocean
“Pink + White” is about fleeting moments with someone and how we can’t always hold on to the people we love.
Related: Best Songs with Colors in the Title
2. “Bound 2” by Kanye West
“Bound 2” plays with fantasy and real-life romance, mixing genuine affection with surreal, over-the-top energy.
3. “After Dark” by Mr. Kitty
“After Dark” is a new wave song that taps into late-night longing, love that stays in your head, and the sadness of always missing someone.
Related: “After Dark” Song Meaning
Conclusion: Wanting What You Can’t Have
Tyler, the Creator turns a daydream into a love story in “See You Again,” only it’s one that never reaches real life. It’s about being stuck with feelings you can’t act on, chasing something that might not be real, but still feels important.
Even if it’s just in his imagination, the emotions are real. That push and pull between fantasy and reality is what makes this song feel both sweet and frustrating at the same time.
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