Released in 2016, Blonde explores themes that relate to the duality of man and living through a double consciousness. Throughout the album, Frank reminisces on past relationships and experiences that made him question his choices as well as give him a new perspective on life. Specifically, on the song “Seigfried”, he explores a double consciousness, one where he accepts the societal standards imposed on him, and one where he is free to be himself.
At the time of Blonde‘s release, Frank Ocean’s outward persona remained fairly ambiguous, with Ocean rarely commenting on fan speculation or providing lyrical breakdowns of songs, however, many had come to realize through hints in his projects that Frank Ocean was bisexual. On “Seigfried”, Ocean speaks on the societal pressure to be a representative to the community he is a part of.
I’d rather live outside
I’d rather chip my pride than lose my mind out here”
Seigfried, Frank Ocean (AZLyrics.com)
Ocean claims he would, rather live outside. Both literally and as a figure of speech, as we see in the start of verse 2. He claims to look at the homeless and admire them, perhaps he is showing that at someone’s rock bottom, when no one cares about what they do, is when they have the most creative freedom.
“I’m living over city
And taking in the homeless sometimes, I’ve
been living in idea
an idea from another man’s mind”
Seigfried, Frank Ocean (AZLyrics.com)
The first verse, which talks about his need of creative freedom versus the need to be influential, is connected to the third verse via a bridge that elegantly shows the death of one side of a double consciousness, through a clever reference to the late singer Elliot Smith. The song titled “A Fond Farewell”, by Elliot Smith, tells the story of a struggling addict, who is in the process of knowingly taking his last hit. Ocean uses the line “This is not my life, It’s just a fond farewell to a friend” to show the symbolic death of one of the doubles mentioned in the first verse. The artist who needs to create, versus the artist who needs to influence.
“This is not my life
It’s just a fond farewell to a friend
It’s just a fond farewell to a friend
This is not my life
It’s just a fond farewell to a friend
It’s not what I’m like
It’s just a fond farewell”
-Seigfried, Frank Ocean (AZLyrics.com)
The third and final verse shows Ocean in a psychedelic-induced existential rant. By using the first few lines to represent dissociation, he gives the listener a feeling of uncanniness, unsure of how far removed from reality the next few lines are going to be.
After reminding the listener that we could all be wiped out with one solar flare, something beyond our control, he then comments on his own mortality, associating his consciousness with a fragile, “flammable paper”, this is a reference to camera film, which is notoriously extremely flammable. He then states that he chooses to spend the film on his life, therefore prioritizing his artistic perspective. These few lines could also be saying that he is smoking his problems away. The extreme difference between the two interpretations of these lines is a great example of doubling, where one could see this as Ocean coming a grand realization that will affect his career from that point on, or one could assume that he is simply rambling because he’s high.
Less morose and more present
Dwell on my gifts for a second, a moment
One solar flare, we’re consumed
So why not, spend this flammable paper on this film that’s my life?
High flights, inhale the vapor, exhale once and think twice
Eat some shrooms, maybe have a good cry, about you
See some colors, light hang glide off the moon
Seigfried, Frank Ocean (AZLyrics.com)
The outro to the song is a promise to person/love interest which he plans to have a good cry about after reminiscing about their past relationship while high. The outro is direct call back to the person that he describes in the first 4 lines. Here, after spending the entirety of the second and third verse deciding who he wants to be as an artist, he goes back to topic of his sexuality and his openness about it, pertaining to how it has affected/will affect this relationship. Ocean comes to the conclusion that if he can fully commit to this relationship, then it must be completely private. “In the dark.”
I’d do anything for you
(In the dark)
I’d do anything for you
(In the dark)
I’d do anything for you
(In the dark)
I’d do anything for you
(In the dark)I’d do anything for you, anything for you
Seigfried, Frank Ocean (AZLyrics.com)
(In the dark)
I’d do anything for you, anything for you