Artist: NF
Track: The Search

Lyrics
"Hey, Nate, how's life?"
I don't know, it's alright
I've been dealin' with some things like every human being
And really didn't sleep much last night (last night)
"I'm sorry," that's fine
I just think I need a little me time
I just think I need a little free time
Little break from the shows and the bus rides (bus rides), yeah
Last year I had a breakdown
Thoughts tellin' me I'm lost gettin' too loud
Had to see a therapist, then I found out
Somethin' funny's goin' on up in my house
Yeah, I started thinkin' maybe I should move out
You know, pack my car, take a new route
Clean up my yard, get the noose out
Hang up my heart, let it air out (air out)
I've been searchin'
"What does that mean, Nate?"
I've been learning
Grabbin' my keepsakes, leavin' my burdens
Well, I brought a few with me, I'm not perfect
Lookin' at the view like, this concerns me
Pickin' up the cues, right? I'm quite nervous
Hate it when I lose sight, life gets blurry
And things might hurt me
It's prolly gonna be a long journey, but hey (but hey)
It's worth it, though
Cold world out there, kids, grab your coats
Been a minute, I know, now I'm back to roam
Lookin' for the antidote to crack the code
Pretty vivid, I admit it, I'm in classic mode
Don't need pity given to me, but I can't condone
Talkin' down to me, I'ma have to crack your nose for crackin' jokes
I'm lookin' for the map to hope, you seen it? (You seen it?)
Been makin' a whole lot of changes
Wrote a song about that, you should play it
I get scared when I walk on these stages
I look at the crowd and see so many faces, yeah
That's when I start to get anxious
That's when my thoughts can be dangerous
That's when I put on my makeup and drown in self-hatred
Forget what I'm saying, and

Where'd the beat go?
Oh, ain't that somethin'?
Drums came in, you ain't see that comin'
Hands on my head, can't tell me nothin'
Got a taste of the fame, had to pump my stomach
Throw it back up like I don't want it
Wipe my face, clean up my vomit
OCD, tryna push my buttons
I said don't touch it, now y'all done it
I can be critical, never typical
Intricate with every syllable, I'm a criminal
Intimate, but never political, pretty visual
Even if you hate it, I'll make it feel like you're in it, though
You call me what you wanna, but never call me forgettable
Leave you deep in thought, I could never swim in the kiddie pool
Way that I been thinkin' is cinematic, it's beautiful
Man, I don't know if I'm makin' movies or music videos (videos, videos, videos)

Yeah, the sales can rise
Doesn't mean much though when your health declines
See, we've all got somethin' that we trapped inside
That we try to suffocate, you know, hopin' it dies
Try to hold it underwater but it always survives
Then it comes up out of nowhere like an evil surprise
Then it hovers over you to tell you millions of lies
You don't relate to that? Must not be as crazy as I am
The point I'm makin' is the mind is a powerful place
And what you feed it can affect you in a powerful way
It's pretty cool, right? Yeah, but it's not always safe
Just hang with me, this'll only take a moment, okay?
Just think about it for a second, if you look at your face
Every day when you get up and think you'll never be great
You'll never be great, not because you're not, but the hate
Will always find a way to cut you up and murder your faith (woo!)

I am developin', take a look at the benefits
Nothin' to meddle with, I can never be delicate
Am I even relevant? That depends how you measure it
Take a measurement, then bag it up and give me the evidence
Pretty evident, dependable can never be tentative
I'm a gentleman, depending on if I think you're genuine
Pretty elegant, but not afraid to tell you to get a grip
Proper etiquette, I keep it to myself when I celebrate, ah (ah)
It's that time again
Better grab your balloons and invite your friends
Seatbelts back on, yeah, strap 'em in
Look at me, everybody, I'm smilin' big
On a road right now that I can't predict
Tell me, "Tone that down," but I can't resist
Y'all know that sound, better raise your fist
The search begins, I'm back, so enjoy the trip, huh

Full Lyrics and Meaning

SongTell Meaning
	Meaning of "The Search" by NF
	The song "The Search" by NF is about his journey through personal struggles and his search for hope and fulfillment. He reflects on his experience of havin...
	Meaning of "The Search (Edit)" by NF
	"The Search (Edit)" by NF delves into the personal struggles and self-reflection of the artist, Nate, as he navigates through life and battles with his inn...

Genius Meanings
	NF – The Search
	“The Search” is the second single and title track for NF’s fourth album and marks his first release of 2019. On the track, NF opens up about the struggles inside his head and
	NF – Time
	[Chorus] / Even if we both break down tonight / And you say you hate me, and we go to bed angry / I know everything will be alright / I'll be here waiting, I promise I'm changing
	NF – Change
	“Change” is a track where NF fights with his inner-self about needing change in his life, but is afraid to venture out and try new things. These feelings are reflected in the beat
	NF – Trauma
	“Trauma” is a ballad that NF uses to show a different side to his artistry, contrasting greatly against the dark, powerful hip-hop tracks in his discography. The track itself
	NF – When I Grow Up
	“When I Grow Up” is the third single off of NF’s 2019 album The Search. On the track, NF shares when growing up, he aspired to be a rapper, rather than go to college or work a nine
	NF – Hate Myself
	On “Hate Myself,” NF lets out some of his deepest thoughts which resonate as he ends the chorus with: And I wish I could help But it’s hard when I hate myself His fans simply
	NF – HOPE
	“HOPE” is NF’s first release of 2023 and his first release since his March 2021 mixtape, CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE), it serves as the lead single, intro and title track of his fifth
	NF – Nate
	“Nate” is an introspective track where NF talks to his younger self and gives advice based on what he has experienced since growing up as a person and an artist.
	NF – No Excuses
	“No Excuses” is one of the more high-energy tracks on The Search where NF explains his path to success and that excuses would have never helped him get there. The chorus references
	NF & Julia Michaels – GONE
	[Verse 1: NF] / Always saw my glass as / Half empty, it was never full / You were always passive / And I was irresponsible / Didn't have a chance but / We were scared to let things
	NF & Sasha Alex Sloan – Only
	“Only” is a personal ballad describing the want to have someone there in difficult times. The track features the sole-feature of the The Search, Sasha Sloan, who is a Los Angeles
	NF – I Miss the Days
	On “I Miss The Days,” NF reminisces his childhood and exposes many parts of himself that he has never talked about in his music. He talks about the days where he was truly happy
	NF – Leave Me Alone
	“Leave Me Alone” is a track where NF responds to fame, which is personified and originally referenced in the 2018 singles “NO NAME” and “WHY.” He wants his fame to “leave him alone
	NF – PAID MY DUES
	“Paid My Dues” is a surprise single, following NF’s July 2019 album The Search. On the track, NF talks about the critics bashing his album The Search, his burdens, and internal
	NF – HAPPY
	[Verse 1] / Dear God, please / Hear me out, I know it's been a couple years / Since I've reached / Out and said hello, I bet You're wondering / Why I keep / Obsessing on and
	NF – Let Me Go
	On “Let Me Go,” NF raps about his “dark side” and expresses his feelings towards freedom. While he doesn’t identify who he is communicating with throughout the song, the anonymous
	NF – WHY
	On “WHY,” NF talks about the recent success on his hit single “Let You Down,” being an outcast, his aggression and wrestles with inner conflict. Following “NO NAME,” this is the
	NF – Thinking
	“Thinking” is the calm penultimate track off of The Search, where NF reflects on life and his journey to success. Common themes of the album are raised for a final time, such as
	NF Reflects On Fame & Previews His New Album With “The Search”
	He blew up with “Let You Down” last year.
	NF – -Interlude-
	“Interlude” is simply a sit down where NF vents out how he felt during the Perception album cycle. Released in October of 2017, Perception was the third album to join NF’s
	NF – Dreams
	On “Dreams,” NF reflects on many sad days, feelings of regret, relationships with tight friends and just doing himself. The track was first previewed on NF’s social media. The
	NF – Options
	“Options” is a hard-hitting, aggressive track, sharing the only option is to make it in the industry. Along with “No Excuses,” this track features a more traditional hip hop beat.
	NF – Time (Edit)
	“Time (Edit)” is the fourth and final single off of NF’s 2019 album, The Search. NF uses the song to depict a relationship reaching a breaking point. Despite the fights and
	NF – Like This
	On “Like This,” NF reflects on life and its recent changes, comparing himself to his old self in both verses. With a common theme of feeling lost, NF raps about relationships with
	NF – My Stress
	On “My Stress,” NF combines his singing and rapping to vent out feelings of discomfort due to his stressful life. The song begins and ends with the imagery of NF going through
	NF – DRIFTING
	On “DRIFTING”, NF raps about insecurities and lack of self-love. He expresses feeling lost and helpless with no purpose, expanding on the song “Hate Myself” from his 2019 album The
	NF – Let You Down
	On “Let You Down,” NF laments the struggles he had earlier in his life, and looking back at himself he felt like he “let himself down.” This track is similar to his songs “Got You
	NF – Returns
	On “Returns,” NF pairs a refreshing, new flow with lyrical bars to announce the return of his misfit self. The last line specifically references his 2017 track “Outcast,” which was
	NF – STORY
	“STORY” follows a different approach than NF’s usual songs, on this track we hear Nate narrating a story about a woman named Erin. In the video and song, Erin stops at a gas
	NF – If You Want Love
	On “If You Want Love,” NF talks about the essentials of love, and how it takes going through the struggles and hardships in life and willingness to learn change to gain a sense of
	NF – HOPE (Video Version)
	[Part I] / [Intro] / Hope / Yeah, I'm on my way, I'm comin' / Don't / Don't lose faith in me / I know you've been waiting / I know you've been prayin' for my soul / Hope / Hope
	NF – Intro III
	On “Intro III,” NF talks about his old fears and describes the changes he has made to conquer them. At the end of the track, NF realizes that he can’t fully destroy his fear
	NF (Ft. Hopsin) – LOST
	“LOST” is the highly-anticipated collaboration between NF and Hopsin. The title was first alluded to towards the end of the music video for “PAID MY DUES”, which is featured on NF’
	NF (Ft. Mikayla Sippel) – Chasing_(Demo)
	“Chasing_(Demo)” is NF’s first song of 2020, following his December 2019 single “PAID MY DUES.” On the track, NF wants to escape his pain and struggling within relationships. He
	NF – Breathe
	“Breathe,” following an emotional track, “How Could You Leave Us,” highlights the importance of taking a breath. NF also talks about his past in Gladwin, Michigan, a broken
	NF (Ft. Tech N9ne) – TRUST
	On “TRUST,” NF teams up with veteran rapper Tech N9ne to deliver introspective bars at a rapid, jaw-dropping speed. The chaotic track showcases both artists lyrical ability across
	NF – CLOUDS
	“CLOUDS” marks NF’s first release of 2021, following his October 2020 track “Chasing_(Demo).” On the track, NF recounts success and shares how he doesn’t fit the classic rapper
	NF (Ft. Fleurie) – Mansion
	NF explains in his album promo video that his mind is a mansion. Every song on the album is a different emotion – a different story. NF reminisces on his past mistakes and memories
	NF – MISTAKE
	[Chorus] / I feel like I'm at a standstill / Waitin' for you to tell me I'm okay / If time heals, tell me, why do I kill / Myself tryna show you I'm not a mistake? / I've got
	NF – Oh Lord
	“Oh Lord” expresses some of Nate’s qualms and observations throughout life and the Christian walk, ultimately asking if God sees what is happening on earth.
	NF – Outcast
	On “Outcast,” NF shows us he doesn’t want to fit in with anyone in the rap industry and will pursue his own style. The music video for this track was released on October 6, 2017
	NF – LET EM PRAY
	On “LET EM PRAY,” NF addresses his haters who pray for his downfall, stating that it doesn’t matter if they keep praying; He is confident that God has his back. Additionally, NF
	NF – Notepad
	“Notepad” is a song in which Nate uses perfect personification by writing a letter to his best friend: his notepad. His notepad was his best and truest friend, having been with him
	NF – All I Have
	On “All I Have,” NF expresses that he gives “all he has” when he creates his music. He expresses his emotions and raps about his faith in God and the work he put in to become a
	NF – TURN MY BACK
	[Intro] / Ayy / Yeah / [Verse 1] / On even on my off days / Right even when I'm off-base / Life, live it like tomorrow ain't / Promised to me, gotta get it today / Why wait? Too

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SongMeanings Interpretations
NF - The Search Lyrics
This track is about is about questioning why the sky would choose to be blue if it had the choice to be anything else, “blue also meaning sad,” states frontman ...

Genius Artists
	NF
	NF (stylized as ИF), real name Nathan Feuerstein (pronounced “fire-STINE”), is a rapper and songwriter from the small town of Gladwin, Michigan. As a child, Nate’s parents went

SongFacts
	The Search by NF - Songfacts
	The Search by NF song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position

Encyclopedia of Lyrics, Song Meanings & Chords

Artist: NF Track: The Search

Artist: NF
Track: The Search