The song "97 Bonnie and Clyde" by Eminem tells a dark story involving the rapper and his daughter, Hailie Jade. The lyrics depict a fictional situation where Eminem takes his daughter to the beach after causing harm to her mother, who is depicted as his ex-wife. Throughout the song, Eminem tries to justify his actions to his young daughter and portrays himself as a caring and loving father. The song begins with Eminem assuring his daughter that he loves her and will always be there for her. He emphasizes their bond as father and daughter and states that she is all he has in this world. Eminem then proceeds to take his daughter to the beach, describing their journey in a light-hearted manner. As the song progresses, Eminem reveals disturbing details about the situation. He mentions his ex-wife sleeping in the trunk of the car, a scratched throat, and a messy ketchup stain on her shirt. These details hint at harm done to the mother, suggesting that Eminem killed her and disposed of her body in the trunk. This is followed by Eminem encouraging his daughter to play and build sandcastles, distracting her from the gruesome reality. Eminem continues to justify his actions, claiming that his ex-wife was mean to him and made him angry. He paints himself as the victim and implies that he had no choice but to harm her. He tells his daughter that when she is older, he will explain the situation to her. In the meantime, he distracts her with baby talk and promises of taking care of her. The song concludes with Eminem arriving at the beach and planning to drown his daughter's mother. He ties a rope around a rock and plans to roll her off the dock into the water. He assures his daughter not to worry and encourages her to say goodbye to her mother. Overall, "97 Bonnie and Clyde" is a disturbing song that delves into a fictional story of murder and dysfunction. It explores themes of domestic violence, manipulation, and justifications for harmful actions. The song highlights Eminem's storytelling abilities and use of dark and provocative lyrics to address complex issues.
