The first one out from Lil’ Empath’s debut EP, Emotional Labor - and the only
proper hook on the record: I hear you, pitched down four times until the
affirmation finally sounds like it means it.
Half-time hats, underwater 808s, adlibs that are just validation. The single
flex is active listening, held at industrial scale. He’d like you to know the
rest of the EP is coming when it’s ready, and that there’s genuinely no pressure
either way.
Backed with No Worries If Not - a non-EP B-side, and the closest he gets to a
love song. He texts the paragraph, holds the space, sends a second heart to
validate the first, and then pre-forgives you for never answering, because a
boundary is beautiful and he’s honored you have one. The flip is that he asks for
nothing the entire runtime and means it - he’s not upset, he’s regulated. It’s
the saddest song on a release that would never call itself sad.
Lyrics
A - I HEAR YOU
(Hook)
I hear you.
I hear you.
I hear you.
I hear you.
(adlibs)
(mm) (I feel that) (that's so valid) (mm)
B - NO WORRIES IF NOT
(Verse 1)
Sent you a paragraph, then typed "no rush,"
Left on delivered and that's okay, that's okay.
Made a little space for you and held it open wide,
You don't gotta walk through it - no worries either way.
(Hook)
No worries if not. (no worries)
No worries if not. (it's chill)
I'll be right here regardless, holdin' the spot.
No worries if not.
(Verse 2)
Double-checked your boundary 'fore I sent the heart,
Then I sent a second heart to validate the first.
If you need to take your time, I already understand -
I rehearsed forgiving you before you did me dirt.
(adlibs)
(you're valid) (take your time) (I'm proud of you)
(Bridge)
And if you never answer, that's a boundary too,
And boundaries are beautiful - I'm honored that you set 'em.
I'm not upset, I'm regulated.
I'm just sittin' with it. (breathe)
(Hook)
No worries if not. (no worries)
No worries if not. (it's chill)
I'll be right here regardless, holdin' the spot.
No worries if not.
(outro)
(mm) I hear you. (no worries)
