Sunday Music: I’m Sorry Ms. Jackson

Sometimes a song can make you feel young and old all at once. OutKast just released a 20th Anniversary edition of Stankonia. I was in college when the album and its chart-dominating single, “Ms. Jackson,” was playing everywhere. It’s been a mental time-warp revisiting the whole record, but especially this track.

I remember, but I’m almost surprised by just how mature the song is. To go past the baby momma and focus on the baby momma’s momma was clever, but it’s the honesty about the struggles and frustrations of being a parent across generations in a divided household that’s brilliant. Life is messy. “Ms. Jackson” is a beautiful interpretation of that mess.

A small sample of the lyrics from the middle of the song that I’m even more impressed by now:

Me and yo’ daughter, got’s this thing going on(We got a special kind of thing going on)You say it’s puppy loveWe say it’s full grownHope that we feel this, feel this way foreverYou can plan a pretty picnicBut you can’t predict the weather, Ms. Jackson

Ten times out of nine, now if I’m lyin’ fineThe quickest muzzle throw it on my mouth and I’ll declineKing meets queen, then the puppy love thing, together dreamBout that crib with the Goodyear swingOn the oak tree, I hope we feel like this foreverForever, forever, ever, forever, ever?Forever never seems that long until you’re grownAnd notice that the day by day ruler can’t be too wrongMs. Jackson my intentions were good I wish I couldBecome a magician to abracadabra all the sadderThoughts of me, thoughts of she, thoughts of heAsking what happened to the feeling that her and meHad, I pray so much about it need some knee, padsIt happened for a reason one can’t be, madSo know this, know that everything’s coolAnd yes I will be present on the first day of school, and graduation

I’m sorry Ms. Jackson (oh), I am for realNever meant to make your daughter cryI apologize a trillion times

Twenty years on, and this chorus is still so, so damn infectious. I’m sorry Ms. Jackson…