A thread of what I think the meaning of the song 12.38 by Childish Gambino is, and why it’s one of the best songs of 2020, and possibly Gambino’s best song.

The song starts with Gambino in a bad mental state. Very likely on some combination of drugs. He’s spending all his money on what seems to be a perfect girl. Then she says “eat this psilocybin” and hands him mushrooms. He enters a trip. He thinks they are about to have sex.

Then the cat interrupts them with a meow. The girl tells him to sing to the cat. He turns on the radio, and his mind briefly returns to the real world. He starts to think about his ex (likely the reason he’s in this mental state) He goes for a walk with the girl

He starts to talk about how everyone is jealous of this girl, because he has money and has a special power to attract any girl. Then his ex calls him again. The girl says she wants to answer it so the ex knows it’s over. But Gambino gets mad, says the girl is trying to ruin him.

Then they fight. Gambino wakes up alone, with the radio playing a sad song. He urns to see the girl again. But he nods back to sleep. He enters a dream. 21 Savage’s verse represents the life Gambino wants. Rich, any girl, and fly as hell.

Gambino wakes up in the morning. He isn’t high anymore and can’t get his ex off his mind. He’s fighting himself, he doesn’t know what to do at all. He’s going crazy

Not only is this story insane, but the production and vocal performance are incredible.

This is also a very relatable experience to the pain that love can bring.

Let me know what you guys think of this potential meaning :)