Biking

Album: Not on an album (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Over Frank Duke's acoustic guitar production, Frank Ocean, Jay Z and Tyler, The Creator croon and rap metaphoric lines related to riding a bike.

    Hova kicks things off on the first verse by noting how life is cyclical like the wheels of a bicycle. He goes on to name-drop the 12 O'Clock Boys – Baltimore's infamous dirt bike crew – and continues with several other cycling references.
  • During the chorus Ocean continues the theme by liking biking to his spiritual walk during testing times:

    God gave you what you can handle
    Gave you what you can handle
    I got the grip like the handle
    And I'm bikin'


    The lyrics play on the word "handle" as meaning both bike handles and dealing with personal hardships and temptations. Ocean is stating his belief that God wouldn't have given him the trials and tribulations he's faced if he didn't think the New Orleans raised singer could "handle" them. This ties in with the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TLV):

    No temptation has taken hold of you except what is common to mankind. But God is faithful - He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle.
  • Tyler raps the closing verse in which he talk about riding his favorite bike, which he calls Slater. The Odd Future rapper recorded a track about riding bikes on his 2013 album Wolf titled "Slater," which featured a certain Frank Ocean.
  • While Frank Ocean has a long history of working together with his Odd Future collaborator, Tyler the Creator the singer has also contributed on three previous occasions to Jay-Z tracks: 2011's "No Church in The Wild" and "Made In America" from Watch The Throne, and two years later on "Oceans" from Hova's Magna Carta, Holy Grail.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

U2

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.