Swimming Pools

T-Minus

"**Swimming Pools**" is a song originally by Kendrick Lamar that Kim Petras covered on her Youtube channel.

## Background

Kim posted this cover on her Youtube channel in March 27, 2013. The video is now private.

## Theme

On this lead single from *good kid, m.A.A.d city*, Kendrick addresses the psychological connection between peer pressure and alcoholism. What sounds like a club anthem is actually an introspective take on the social pressure and self-defeating attitudes that drive people to drink.

The theme of swimming in pools as a metaphor for drinking and alcoholism could be a reference to the 1964 short story “The Swimmer” by author John Cheever.

## Video

The video can be seen on the Wayback Machine.

## Lyrics

[Intro]

Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank)

Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank)

Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank)

Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)

[Verse 1]

Now I done grew up 'round some people livin' their life in bottles

Granddaddy had the golden flask

Backstroke every day in Chicago

Some people like the way it feels

Some people wanna kill their sorrows

Some people wanna fit in with the popular, that was my problem

I was in a dark room, loud tunes

Lookin' to make a vow soon

That I'ma get fucked up, fillin' up my cup I see the crowd mood

Changin' by the minute and the record on repeat

Took a sip, then another sip, then somebody said to me

[Chorus]

Nigga, why you babysittin' only two or three shots?

I'ma show you how to turn it up a notch

First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

I wave a few bottles, then I watch 'em all flock

All the girls wanna play Baywatch

I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it

Pool full of liquor, I'ma dive in it

[Refrain]

Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank)

Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank)

Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank)

Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)

[Verse 2]

Okay, now open your mind up and listen me, Kendrick

I am your conscience, if you do not hear me

Then you will be history, Kendrick

I know that you're nauseous right now

And I'm hopin' to lead you to victory, Kendrick

If I take another one down

I'ma drown in some poison, abusin' my limit

I think that I'm feelin' the vibe, I see the love in her eyes

I see the feelin', the freedom is granted

As soon as the damage of vodka arrived

This how you capitalize, this is parental advice

Then apparently, I'm over-influenced by what you are doin'

I thought I was doin' the most 'til someone said to me

[Chorus]

Nigga, why you babysittin' only two or three shots?

I'ma show you how to turn it up a notch

First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

I wave a few bottles, then I watch 'em all flock

All the girls wanna play Baywatch

I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it

Pool full of liquor, I'ma dive in it

[Refrain]

Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank)

Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank)

Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank)

Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)

[Bridge]

I ride, you ride, bang

One chopper, 100 shots, bang

Hop out, do you bang?

Two chopper, 200 shots, bang

I ride, you ride, bang

One chopper, 100 shots, bang

Hop out, do you bang?

Two chopper, 200 shots, bang

[Chorus]

Nigga, why you babysittin' only two or three shots?

I'ma show you how to turn it up a notch

First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

I wave a few bottles, then I watch 'em all flock

All the girls wanna play Baywatch

I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it

Pool full of liquor, I'ma dive in it

[Refrain]

Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank)

Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank)

Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank)

Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)

[Interlude: Sherane]

Aw man… where is she takin' me?

Where is she takin' me?

[Verse 3]

All I have in life is my new appetite for failure

And I got hunger pain that grow insane

Tell me, do that sound familiar?

If it do, then you're like me

Makin' excuse that your relief

Is in the bottom of the bottle and the greenest indo leaf

As the window open I release

Everything that corrode inside of me

I see you jokin', why you laugh?

Don't you feel bad? I probably sleep

And never ever wake up, never ever wake up, never ever wake up

In God I trust, but just when I thought I had enough

[Outro]

They stomped the homie out over a bitch?

K-dot, you good, blood?

Now we can drop, ye we can drop you back off

That nigga's straight, man, that nigga ain't trippin'

We gon' do the same ol' shit

I'ma pop a few shots, they gon' run, they gon' run opposite ways

Fall right in \*\*\*\*'s lap

And he gon' tear they ass up, simple as that

And I hope that bitch that set him up out there

We gon' pop that bitch too

Wait hold up, ayy, I see somebody

[Car door opens and gunshots are fired]

Aha! Got them niggas, K-Dot, you good?

L\*\*\*\*, you good?

Yeah, blood, I'm good – Dave, you good?

Dave? Dave, say somethin' – Dave?

These bitch-ass niggas killed my brother!

## References

<references>

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130524050323/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smTcBkAVC7E&gl=US&hl=en