Released: 2024
“ÆON L U S T” by Bryson Tiller navigates through themes of admiration, infatuation, and lust for an intriguing and seemingly unattainable woman. Tiller draws comparisons to larger-than-life figures and imbues the lyrics with his sense of desire, frustration, and vulnerability, wrapped in modern-day romanticism.
The hook of the song immediately paints a picture of a captivating woman, referring to her as a ‘sexy lil’ diva’ and likening her allure to the legendary Beyoncé, indicating her high status and almost unreachable appeal. Tiller expresses that she occupies his thoughts effortlessly (‘living in my mind, rent-free’), establishing the central idea of longing and the struggle to reconcile this desire with reality.
In the first verse, Tiller reflects on the woman’s undeniable attractiveness and his intense intrigue towards her. He illustrates this with imagery like ‘looking like magazines,’ which underscores her perfection and unattainability, as if she’s a figure out of a dream or fantasy. He juxtaposes his capability to find other attractive women (‘I can find girls like them, no problem’) with her unique aura, making her the exception in his world.
Throughout the song, Bryson uses colloquial language and slang, such as ‘weed and greed’ representing the simple pleasures he needs in life, and phrases like ‘rock Vicky’s underneath’ referring to the woman’s use of Victoria’s Secret lingerie, adding layers to her seductive mystery. These details flesh out her character, showing a depth beyond surface beauty.
As the song continues, Tiller acknowledges the competition and challenges in capturing her interest, suggesting she has many admirers (‘many men feel like me’) but emphasizes how he feels a deeper connection or attraction. The notion of ‘no fair, this is not common’ suggests a struggle between his ordinary experiences and this extraordinary feeling.
Bryson touches on commitment (‘Gotta be committed for at least’), adding a contemplative dimension, where the balance between casual and serious affection plays out. His metaphor of reading Braille signifies an intense desire to understand her fully and intimately, hinting at his deep curiosity and infatuation.
Tiller’s usage of ‘cuffin” in ‘Reasons why I’m cuffin’ speaks to a slang term for securing someone in a relationship, implying his intent or desire to commit. However, the mystique remains intact as he refers to it with ‘kaleidoscope’ imagery, indicating her multifaceted and elusive nature, difficult to pin down.
The second half of the song emphasizes his lingering lust, using time (an eon) to exaggerate the depth and length of his desire. It brings an element of hyperbole to his feelings, yet showcases the sincere intensity of his attraction.
Bryson wraps the narrative with a return to frustration, acknowledging his infatuation with her isn’t unique to him but is still intensely personal (‘many men feel like me’). His acknowledgment of ‘these broads wack, she no ordinary female’ reiterates her uniqueness and why he singles her out among others.
The chorus reiterates a kind of exasperation in this cycle of admiration and longing, utilizing a repetition of phrases to emphasize the longing and singular focus he has for her, while the repetition of ‘like this’ serves to punctuate his resolve in expressing his emotions so vividly. The overall narrative conveys a passionate, almost yearning depiction of a relationship where longing is as palpable as the woman’s untouchable nature.
