Peak
45
Weeks
8
Score
455
Chart Year
2014
This song is a heartfelt message to Eminem's mother, Debbie Mathers, who he has skewered lyrically on previous offerings. The pair remain estranged, although Em reaches out to her here offering the sincerest of apologies. Eminem specifically references the hurt caused by his The Eminem Show hit song "Cleanin Out My Closet," where he heavily criticized his mother for neglecting and mistreating him. Marshall explains it as an angry moment, adding that he no longer plays it at shows and he cringes every time it's on the radio. During a Q&A session at SiriusXM's Town Hall mediated by Sway Calloway, Eminem was asked why he decided to apologize to his mother on this song after years of verbally abusing her. Slim Shady replied: "What I said on that record is what I have to say about it and I put it out there and that's pretty much all I'm gonna probably say about that,. Everything I needed to say and get off my chest I said it. So there's no need for me to even elaborate on it." Marshall shut down further discussion, saying "Headlights" is a "really personal" song for him that he doesn't want to say any more. The song features Nate Ruess, the lead singer of pop-rockers Fun, crooning the hook. He recalled the collaboration during a 2015 Reddit AMA: "I didn't work with Eminem in the flesh. But the back & forth was amazing. He keeps (rightfully) everything really under wraps. So I didn't hear his verses until the song was released. To this day, it's one of my top three songs I've ever written. And all because of the verses he did." The heartfelt video was was filmed in Detroit on April 5, 2014, and directed by film director Spike Lee. It was the first time that Lee had worked on a music clip since Michael Jackson's "This Is It" back in 2009. The clip takes a look at the turbulent times between Eminem and his mom before a moving reunion. It includes personal footage and photos of Marshall Mathers' childhood growing up in the Detroit neighborhood of 8 Mile. "It's a great, great story. It's heartfelt, some pain in it, but that's life," said Lee about the visual. "So that's why we're here, back in the 'hood, 8 Mile Detroit, shooting where all this took place."
Mom, I know I let you down And though you say the days are happy Why is the power off and I'm fucked up? And mom, I know he's not around But don't you place the blame on me As you pour yourself another drink, yeah I guess we are who we are Headlights shining in the dark night, I drive on Maybe we took this too far I went in headfirst, never thinkin' about who what I said hurt In what verse, my mom probably got it the worst The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are, did I take it too far? 'Cleaning Out My Closet' and all them other songs But regardless I don't hate you 'cause, ma You're still beautiful to me, 'cause you're my mom Though far be it from you to be calm Our house was Vietnam, Desert Storm And both of us put together can form an atomic bomb Equivalent to chemical warfare And forever we can drag this on and on But agree to disagree That gift from me up under the Christmas tree don't mean shit to me You're kicking me out? It's fifteen degrees And it's Christmas Eve, "Little prick, just leave" Ma, let me grab my fucking coat Anything to have each other's goats Why we always at each others throats? Especially when dad, he fucked us both We're in the same fucking boat You'd think that'd make us close (nope) Further away it drove us, but together headlights shine And car full of belongings, still got a ways to go Back to grandma's house, it's straight up the road And I was the man of the house, the oldest So my shoulders carried the weight of the load Then Nate got taken away by the state at eight years old And that's when I realized you were sick and it wasn't fixable or changeable And to this day we remained estranged, and I hate it though, but I guess we are who we are Headlights shining in the dark night, I drive on Maybe we took this too far 'Cause to this day we remain estranged, and I hate it though 'Cause you ain't even get to witness your grandbabies grow But I'm sorry, mama, for 'Cleaning Out My Closet', at the time I was angry Rightfully? Maybe so, never meant that far to take it though 'Cause now I know it's not your fault, and I'm not making jokes That song I no longer play at shows and I cringe every time it's on the radio And I think of Nathan being placed in a home And all the medicine you fed us And how I just wanted you to taste your own, but Now the medications taken over and your mental states deterioratin' slow And I'm way too old to cry, that shit's painful though But, ma, I forgive you, so does Nathan, yo All you did, all you said, you did your best to raise us both Foster care, that cross you bare, few may be as heavy as yours But I love you Debbie Mathers, oh, what a tangled web we have 'cause One thing I never asked was where the fuck my deadbeat dad was Fuck it, I guess he had trouble keepin' up with every address But I'da flipped every mattress, every rock and desert cactus Owned a collection of maps, and followed my kids to the edge of the atlas Someone ever moved them from me That you coulda bet your asses If I had to come down the chimney dressed as Santa, kidnap 'em And although one has only met their grandma once You pulled up in our drive one night as we were leaving to get some hamburgers Me, her and Nate, we introduced you, hugged you And as you left I had this overwhelming sadness come over me As we pulled off to go our separate paths and I saw your headlights as I looked back And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to Thank you for being my mom and my dad So, mom, please accept this as a tribute, I wrote this on the jet I guess I had to get this off my chest I hope I get the chance to lay it 'fore I'm dead The stewardess said to fasten my seatbelt, I guess we're crashin' So if I'm not dreaming I hope you get this message that I will always love you from afar 'Cause you're my mom I guess we are who we are Headlights shining in the dark night, I drive on Maybe we took this too far I want a new life (start over) One without a cause (clean slate) So I'm coming home tonight (yeah) Well, no matter what the cost And if the plane goes down Or if the crew can't wake me up Well, just know that I'm alright I was not afraid to die Oh, even if there's songs to sing Well, my children will carry me Just know that I'm alright I was not afraid to die Because I put my faith in my little girls So I'll never say goodbye cruel world Just know that I'm alright I am not afraid to die I guess we are who we are Headlights shining in the dark night, I drive on Maybe we took this too far I want a new life
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 29, 2014 | 86 | 40 |
| 2 | Apr 5, 2014 | 81 | 45 |
| 3 | Apr 12, 2014 | 73 | 53 |
| 4 | Apr 19, 2014 | 73 | 53 |
| 5 | Apr 26, 2014 | 78 | 48 |
| 6 | May 3, 2014 | 80 | 46 |
| 7 | May 10, 2014 | 93 | 33 |
| 10 | May 31, 2014 | 45 | 81 |