Frankly, as Deep as the Ocean
- Keira Luk
- Jun 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Praised by many for his music production and lyricism, Frank Ocean, born Christopher Edwin Breaux, has long been one of the most acclaimed artists of our time. Recognized by Rolling Stone in their 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” (2016) ranks #79, joining classic greats such as Stevie Wonder and Elvis Presley in the top 100. Ocean kick-started his career as a ghostwriter in 2019, writing for famous artists such as Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, and John Legend. He went on to win numerous awards, the most notable ones being two Grammys – one for his album “Channel Orange” (2012), and one for the collaborative single “No Church in The Wild” (2011) alongside Jay-Z and Kanye West.
Frank Ocean remains one of the most beloved and accomplished artists of our generation. He proves time and time again that he’s deserving of his spot on the podium through his vulnerability in songwriting and melodies that, accompanied by his vocals, captivate listeners around the world.
When I first discovered Frank Ocean three years ago — I was admittedly very late to the party — his Grammy award-winning album “Channel Orange” was the first to catch my attention. With its bright orange cover and glowing font, one would be quite easily drawn to the album From it, my favorite song was, and still is, “Bad Religion”.
Often called “controversial” by some Internet users who argue that the song means to criticize the Islamic faith, “Bad Religion” is, at its core, a piece of art that openly depicts brokenness as a result of unrequited love.
The first verse starts off with the lyrics:
In this verse, Ocean gets into a taxi without any specific destination in mind, telling the taxi driver to be his psychiatrist for the duration of the trip. He makes another request: to keep the meter of the taxi running — this shows his disregard for the price of the taxi fee, which is the least of his worries at that moment. On another note, Ocean expresses his indifference to the path the taxi driver takes as shown in the word choice “wanna” — which is informal and classified as slang language. He pleads with the driver to simply “outrun the demons” - a haunting metaphor for the troubles that Ocean is desperately trying to escape.
Love me, love me
Love me, love me (Ooh-ooh-hoo)
Love me, love me (Ooh-ooh-hoo)
Love me, love me (Ooh-ooh-hoo)
Love me, love
“Allahu akbar” is an Arabic expression meaning “God is (the) greatest”, typically used in prayer, as well as during times of joy or depression. Ocean’s use of this expression was the main reason of controversy, however, it is not meant to offend, and is simply a response to Ocean’s mention of demons or simply his state of woe, the taxi driver utters a phrase of worship meant to comfort and bless. Ocean, however, misinterprets the driver’s sentiment as a “curse”. Another interpretation of this part of the chorus could be an allusion to how same-sex attracted individuals are – how the taxi driver says Ocean needs “prayer” is much like how some will attempt to convert same-sex attracted individuals in the name of religion.
In the lines “this unrequited love / To me, it’s nothin’ but a one-man cult / And cyanide in my styrofoam cup / I can never make him love me” Frank is not only referring to a romantic relationship, but his relationship with religion and God.
Focusing on the romantic aspect, it’s just as he says – his love is an unrequited one. His choice of the word “cult” expresses the level of obsession and dedication he possesses towards this person, and his loyalty is shown in the way the “cult” is described as “one-man”. The next line “And cyanide in my styrofoam cup” is a direct reference to the Jonestown massacre of 1978. Continuing Ocean’s cult metaphor, the Jonestown massacre was a mass murder-suicide under the command of Jim Jones, leader of the Peoples Temple cult, which was affiliated with the Christian church. Victims of the massacre drank a rip-off Kool-Aid beverage laced with cyanide, blindly following their leader’s orders – much like how Ocean would comply with his lover’s requests, explaining why, out of all the lethal chemicals, he chose cyanide.
The religious interpretation of these lyrics has much to do with the long-standing treatment of homosexual individuals by religious believers. Historically, homosexuality has been widely discriminated against, with religious justifications often used to marginalize gay men. In widespread Abrahamic religions, sodomy is considered to be a sin. Because of this, Frank says “I can never make him love me”, meaning he is led to believe that God will never accept him as he is.
It would take an eternity for me to dissect all the possible meanings behind this song, let alone Ocean’s entire discography. Now that you have an idea of just how deep his lyricism is, and how expertly he uses symbolism, I hope to see you at a streaming party when he finally decides to release a new album.
Reference List
“Frank Ocean – Bad Religion” Genius, 2012, https://genius.com/Frank-ocean-bad-religion-lyrics. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
“Frank Ocean: Nominations” Grammy
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.grammy.com/artists/frank-ocean/15669&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1717075987359092&usg=AOvVaw1zWptT2QD0OzetqSPVLrDO. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
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