Alan Forever

## Song by Lupe Fiasco featuring Crystal "Røvél" Torres

"**Alan Forever**" is a song by Lupe Fiasco, released as the ninth track from his seventh studio album, *Drogas Wave* (2018). It features guest vocals from Crystal "Røvél" Torres on the chorus and the outro. The song is in tribute to Alan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian boy who drowned on September 2, 2015, in the Mediterranean Sea along with his mother and brother. They were Syrian refugees fleeing from Turkey during the European refugee crisis. Fiasco imagines an alternate reality for Alan, who grows up to become an Olympic swimmer.

## Background

Fiasco explained to *Vulture*, "My father used to have these placards made that would have sayings on them. He put one in a Chrysler and it said "Die Well"—to put yourself in a position to have a death that is meaningful and consequential. Or live a life that, when you die, the content of your life will be of such a caliber that it's like you can't die, because you've left so much of yourself in the world that transcends the physical existence in your physical body. You take someone like Jonylah and someone like Alan—they were unable to do that. So the only way to give them that opportunity is through the imagination: grow them up and give them purpose through the art."

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Lupe Fiasco]

(Are you scared? Are you scared?)

Uhh, turn up, turn up

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]

Let me flex, get up, brush sand off myself

I was just holding my breath

Blue shorts, red shirt, how I'm dressed

I look fresh, and I feel

Bleeeeeeeeeeessed

What's your name? My name Alan

Sounds like Aylan, I love smiling

I got talents, I can do flips

I can keep my balance, I love dancing

Matter of fact, can I have one?

Right now, y'all heard the man, lights out

And the moon turns into a disco ball

Heaven, better come and get your daughter

Waltzing all on top of that water

Then Whip, then Nae-Nae, then dip

Down in my submarine

I got a pair of seats

Raise the periscope, to see parakeets

And the dinosaurs don't be scaring me

I got my own personal Dairy Queen

Satisfaction is guaranteed

I'm rather dashing, apparently

Got an airplane too, won't you come fly through the air with me?

Best thing of all

My mother says that I'm very sweet

Jonylah says "It's all cool, but what about school?

And ain't you Muslim? You can't talk 'til you marry me”

[Chorus: Crystal Torres]

The waves can be your cover, the beach can be your pillow

My heart can be your house, my eyes can be your windows

To teach you how to swim and then we'll play Nintendo

Beating all of your friends, dancing to the tempo

Go Alan, go Alan

Go Alan, go Alan

Go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, go Alan

Go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, yeah

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]

And they say, yeah (*Now entering*)

Now entering that Canadian Olympic swimming team

And those medals are just glistening, so gold

So cold, yeah

And Alan did the most, all those world records he broke

That's why his nickname is the lifeguard and my God is he dope

Michael Phelps cannot believe it even though he is his coach

He might be the next Steve Zissou, or maybe Jacques Cousteau

Where he saw that little boy, go and fall off of that boat

So he jumped off in that water swam him right back to the shore

Now ain't that wild, crowd goes wild

Little boy scared so the child won't smile

So Alan get a towel to dry him off and wipe him down

Put an ice cream out, that's more his style

Father runs down that beach

Sees his son just playin' in the sand

Hugs Alan who says he's a brave little man

Walk away little boy, turns around and waves his hand

Call Jonylah say, "Guess what I did today?

Got my rescue on saved a kid today

Had my wet suit on and my fins today

Even taught him next time how to swim away"

You should really feel good that you gave your help

Might get you into heaven, might raise your health

Might get a lot of blessings, might raise your wealth

Bet you ain't even know that you saved yourself

[Chorus: Crystal Torres]

The waves can be your cover, the beach can be your pillow

My heart can be your house, my eyes can be your windows

To teach you how to swim and then we'll play Nintendo

Be with all of your friends, dancing to the tempo

Go Alan, go Alan

Go Alan, go Alan

Go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, go Alan

Go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, yeah

[Outro: Crystal Torres, *Lupe Fiasco*]

The waves can be your cover, the beach can be your pillow

My heart can be your house, my eyes can be your windows

To teach you how to swim and then we'll play Nintendo

Be with all of your friends, dancing to the tempo

(Are you scared?)

*Go Alan, go Alan*

*Go Alan, go Alan*

*Go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, go Alan*

*Go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, go Alan, yeah*

## References

1. ↑ Rindner, Grant (September 22, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Invents Alternate Realities On "Alan Forever" & "Jonylah Forever"". *Genius*.
2. ↑ Ketchum III, William (August 4, 2020). "Lupe Fiasco vs. Everybody (Even Himself) "People don't really know the basics of any f - - - - - - thing, let alone Lupe Fiasco rap."". *Vulture*.