TI and JT

I was listening to the new chart-topping song “Dead and Gone” by rapper T.I. and pop-star Justin Timberlake, and noticed an odd omission. Near the end of the song, there is a set of verses with each line beginning with one of the cardinal directions – but not all of them:

“I turn my head to the east… I don’t see nobody by my side

I turn my head to the west… still nobody in sight

So I turn my head to the north, swallow that pill that they call pride

The old me is dead and gone, but the new me will be alright”

Leaving out the South is especially surprising since T.I. is from Atlanta, Georgia and Justin Timberlake is from Tennessee near Memphis. To add to the mystery, T.I. is the self-proclaimed “King of the South.”

One theory to explain this discrepancy comes from the BBC radio blog:

“The handy thing with this song, though, is that half way through Justin clarifies his geographical position (metaphorical or otherwise) by, according to the lyrics, turning his head every direction except South. So hopefully, that’s where he is . . .”

I’m not convinced that this explains the cold-shoulder to the South, but it is at least an ego-soothing explanation. You can listen to the song here:
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Dead_And_Gone/21198567