Bria Jones 10/16/13 English 1101 Hinnant Pyramids The text being analyzed is a song called Pyramids by Frank

Ocean. Pyramids is a track on Frank Oceans first album called Channel Orange that was released in 2012. His target audience would have to be the younger generation from mid-teens to late twenties. Or, anyone that loves R&B. Each song is placed strategically to tell a story when the album is played chronologically. Its clear that Frank Ocean took his time with each song and lyric to pack it with subliminal messages and allusions. The song Pyramids is somewhat a history lesson. In the song he talks about the slow decline of women of color in particular, from having high power as queens to being seen as pieces of meat and acting as whores in Western culture. He makes connections to the ancient Cleopatra and present day women throughout the song. Pyramids is a two part song and each part reflects three very different perspectives. The Pharaoh Cleopatra was well respected but she brought dishonor to her country by leaving and becoming Marc Antonys mistress, then Frank Ocean talks about how the same thing happened with him and his partner in the present. As the song starts, its the flashback portion of the song. It has a high tempo with a lot of electric sounding instruments. Frank Ocean planned this out purposefully because in movies when someone has a flashback or an important memory, the background music is very upbeat and electric. The first half of the song takes place in ancient Egypt and is from the point of view of Cleopatras significant other. [Hook] Set the cheetahs on the loose There's a thief out on the move Underneath our legion's view They have taken Cleopatra [Bridge]

Run run run come back for my glory Bring her back to me Run run run the crown of our pharaoh The throne of our queen is empty

Allusions are made as the song begins in the hook, when he says Set the cheetahs on the looseThey have taken Cleopatra. Hes clearly talking about the events that took place in history with Marc Antony coming to conquer Egypt. Her significant other is telling them to set the cheetahs on the loose because they can be seen as the equivalent to watch dogs to find Cleopatra. He then goes on to the bridge basically saying he cant rule and have glory without his queen. So, he wants her brought back to him because things in the country cant happen without the queen at her throne. [Verse 1] And we'll run to the future Shining like diamonds in a rocky world A rocky, rocky world Our skin like bronze and our hair like cashmere As we march to the rhythm On the palace floor Chandeliers inside the pyramid Tremble from the force Cymbals crash inside the pyramid Voices fill up the halls

The first verse of the song starts with the simile, Well run to the future, shining like diamonds in a rocky world. Here Frank Ocean is comparing the life that the king couldve had with his queen. Its also a slight play on words because diamonds are considered rocks and precious stones. Essentially hes saying through all of the madness they would still be able to shine together. Later, we see him calling Cleopatra the Jewel of Africa which ties back to the verse about diamonds. He continues by making use of a cacophony by saying Tremble from the force, cymbals crash inside the pyramid. The word choice

indicates heavy action and just bad disturbing things going on in these pyramids that are continuously being talked about. [Verse 2] The jewel of Africa What good is a jewel that ain't still precious? How could you run off on me? How could you run off on us? You feel like God inside that gold I found you laying down with Samson And his full head of hair Found my black queen Cleopatra Bad dreams Cleopatra

After the continuation of the hook, Frank Ocean starts another verse with a metaphor, The jewel of Africa. Hes clearly calling Cleopatra the jewel or most important thing of Africa because he goes on to ask the rhetorical question What good is a jewel that aint still precious? Typically stones, gems, and jewels are associated with being precious. Since Cleopatra is the jewel of Africa she should be considered a precious jewel, but she isnt because of the things she has done to her country. Its revealed in the rest of the verse that she betrayed her country and ran off with another guy and started sleeping with him, which are things she should be ashamed of. As previously stated, this half of the song is told from the perspective of Cleopatras significant other. Her leaving is obviously taking a huge toll on him because the continuous questioning about why she left. At the end of the verse, he talks about how he found Cleopatra betraying her country by sleeping with a man of another race. Also, here Frank Ocean makes a blunt reference to the black community and their downfall, which is what the whole song is about.

[Outro] Remove her Send the cheetahs to the tomb Our war is over, our queen has met her doom

No more she lives, no more serpent in her room No more, it has killed Cleopatra, Cleopatra

The outro is full of more allusions, even a biblical one. To start, by reading the outro its obvious that the king has given up on his queen. He says Remove herto the tomb because mummifying cats the same way as humans was a practice in ancient Egypt. He then goes on to say, Our war is overNo more, it has killed Cleopatra. It is known that Cleopatra committed suicide, and common practices of the time were getting a serpent to bite you. Serpents are also known in the bible for being disloyal and that directly relates to her character which led to her demise. The king now feels absolutely nothing for his once beloved Queen Cleopatra. After the outro, there is a musical shift into the second part of the song. It sounds like a time machine and the chimes and dings give it a more futuristic sound. Thats because the song is now transitioning to the modern day Cleopatras and how that story applied to Frank Ocean and his significant other. [Verse 1] Big sun coming strong through the motel blinds Wake up to your girl for now let's call her Cleopatra, Cleopatra I watch you fix your hair Then put your panties on in the mirror, Cleopatra Then your lipstick, Cleopatra Then your six inch heels Catch her She's headed to the pyramid

As the second half of the song begins with imagery as if one was just waking up from a dream, or a wild night, hence the motel reference. He goes on to describe the girl called Cleopatra getting dressed then heading to the pyramid. From the description her outfit, it seems pretty raunchy. Also the narrator is referring to the girl as your girl not his, not to mention shes wearing six inch heels, which makes one believe shes into stripping or prostitution. This verse is where Frank Ocean sets up the

characterization of the modern day Cleopatra and the things she does. The hook and chorus is simply Shes working at the pyramid tonight and the narrator is talking about how shes working at a strip club. [Verse 2] Pimping in my convos Bubbles in my champagne Let it be some jazz playing Top floor motel suite, twisting my cigars Floor model TV with the VCR Got rubies in my damn chain Whip ain't got no gas tank But it still got woodgrain Got your girl working for me Hit the strip and my bills paid That keep my bills paid Hit the strip and my bills paid Keep a nigga bills paid Starting in the second verse the pimp to prostitute relationship that the modern day Cleopatra is having is made clear. The narrator uses imagery to describe his setting. Its obviously a very serene and calm area because hes drinking champagne and playing jazz. In the next few lines, he talks about a top floor motel suite, not a hotel. Motels are typically cheap and run down places to stay for one night. He then talks about the furnishings in the motel. In an age where we have moved on to plasma TVs and DVD players, there would be no need for a floor model TV with a VCR. Its shown that the narrator has money but isnt that wealthy; not everything is perfect in the pimps world. In the last line he says, Got your girl working for me, hit the strip and my bills paid. Again, he refers to the girl as your girl, so its blatantly stating that he is her pimp and the modern day Cleopatra works for him to keep his bills paid. [Verse 3] You showed up after work I'm bathing your body Touch you in places only I know You're wet and you're warm just like our bathwater Can we make love before you go The way you say my name makes me feel like

I'm that nigga But I'm still unemployed You say it's big but you take it Ride cowgirl But your love ain't free no more, baby But your love ain't free no more

In the final verse, the perspective has changed again. Its now from the point of view of her exboyfriend. Essentially, this is now when Frank Ocean talks about himself and the relationship with his woman. From the first two lines its obvious that they have a more intimate and special bond because hes bathing her and touches her in places only he knows of. As he describes their sexual encounter he makes it seem like its an actual relationship, but at the end of the verse he says her love isnt free anymore. This shows the correlation of the Ancient Cleopatra and Frank Oceans woman. She isnt loyal to him, shes a prostitute and he knows it, plus he even has to pay even though there was once something special between them. The song ends with a guitar solo by John Mayer. The way hes playing sounds sad and drawn out. The chords give a feeling of weeping and crying which would be how Frank Ocean is feeling about the way his woman betrayed him. Its sad that the men and women of the African American race had their gradual decline from grace and power to just being whores and players. Frank Ocean did a great job with depicting this in a song and correlating it to his personal life.