Released: 2017 • Features: Oh Wonder
Lil Uzi Vert’s “The Way Life Goes,” featuring Oh Wonder, dives deep into the emotional turmoil of navigating post-breakup feelings, juxtaposing a sense of personal growth and the never-ending cycle of moving on. It’s a rich tapestry of acknowledging pain while simultaneously embracing the inevitiveness of healing, all wrapped up in a melodious yet poignant flow. Let’s break it down, shall we?
The song kicks off with Uzi reflecting on luxury and success but quickly pivots to the heart of the matter: the lingering feelings for an ex-lover. Words like “She’s sipping Moët, and yeah, I swear it gets her wetter” and “My Louboutins new, so my bottoms, they is redder” paint a picture of a lifestyle filled with glamour, yet the rapper’s true focus is on the emotional void left by a past relationship. The mention of “Moët” and “Louboutins” aren’t just flexes—they symbolize the temporary distractions from the pain. “No, I’m not a rat, but I’m all about my cheddar” cleverly states Uzi’s priorities in wealth while distancing himself from being a snitch, yet subtly admits that even success can’t fill the emotional gap.
As Uzi pours out his heart, admitting “But I like that girl too much, I wish I never met her,” it’s clear that this isn’t just about the flaunt; it’s about the haunt. The emotional weight of wishing to erase someone from your memory because the pain they’ve caused is too much to bear. When we dive into the chorus, “I know it hurts sometimes, but you’ll get over it,” featuring Oh Wonder’s soothing vocals, it serves as both a reminder and a mantra that healing is a journey—a process of finding new reasons to live and ways to let go of the pain.
In the subsequent verses, Uzi touches on various coping mechanisms and reflections post-breakup: trying to show off (with “Iced out heart on your neck tried to froze your ring”), moving on to new relationships (“I had to get a me a new bitch to hold the pain”), and even moments of petty satisfaction seeing his ex with someone he considers lesser (“She smiling happy, but I’m laughing ’cause her new man a lame”). These lines are steeped in the complexity of human emotions post-breakup, ranging from revenge, regret, to the reluctant acceptance of moving forward.
Throughout, Uzi emphasizes the cycle of moving on with mentions of new flings and material success as temporary salves, but the chorus always brings us back to the core message—a universal truth about heartbreak and healing. The repetition of “you’ll find another life to live” and “I know that you’ll get over it” serves as the song’s heartbeat, reminding us that life, with all its highs and lows, goes on. The phrase “tied up my RAF you strapped up your Rick” likely refers to fashion choices (RAF Simons and Rick Owens, both high-end designers), symbolizing personal growth and change, even in the ways we present ourselves to the world.
In essence, “The Way Life Goes” is a masterful blend of braggadocio and vulnerability, a track where designer labels and opulent lifestyles meet the raw, unfiltered reality of heartbreak. Lil Uzi Vert, with the aid of Oh Wonder, crafts a narrative that’s both deeply personal and universally relatable, reminding us that while the pain might be inevitable, so is the healing. It’s a bittersweet symphony of life’s ups and downs—a hip-hop anthem that acknowledges the hurt but ultimately champions the resilience of the human spirit.
