Stan (Song)

"Stan" is a song by American rapper Eminem featuring vocals sampled from the opening lines of British singer Dido's song "Thank You". It was released on November 20, 2000, as the third single from Eminem's third album, *The Marshall Mathers LP* (2000). "Stan" peaked at number 51 on the *Billboard* Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Stan" topped the charts in 12 countries, including United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Ireland.

The 45 King-produced track also uses a slightly modified break from "Thank You" as its base sample; both songs were released as singles in late 2000. "Stan" has been called one of Eminem's best songs and is considered one of his signature songs. In 2003, *Rolling Stone* magazine ranked "Stan" 296th on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, upping their ranking to 223rd in a 2021 updated list. The song was also listed 15th on VH1's list of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time and named in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

The song was nominated for multiple awards, including Best Song at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Video of the Year, Best Rap Video, Best Direction, and Best Cinematography at the MTV Video Music Awards. It won Best International Artist Video at the MuchMusic Video Awards. In April 2011, *Complex* magazine put together a list of the 100 greatest Eminem songs and ranked "Stan" second. The eponymous character's name gave rise to a slang term that refers to overzealous, maniacal, overly obsessed, entitled fans of a celebrity or personality; the term has since been included in the *Oxford English Dictionary*.

## Lyrics

* My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I
* Got out of bed at all
* The morning rain clouds up my window
* And I can't see at all
* And even if I could it'll all be gray
* But your picture on my wall
* It reminds me, that it's not so bad
* It's not so bad
* My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I
* Got out of bed at all
* The morning rain clouds up my window (window)
* And I can't see at all
* And even if I could it'll all be gray
* But your picture on my wall
* It reminds me, that it's not so bad
* It's not so bad
* Dear Slim, I wrote you but you still ain't callin'
* I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
* I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not've got 'em
* There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin'
* Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em
* But anyways, fuck it, what's been up, man? How's your daughter?
* My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm 'bout to be a father
* If I have a daughter, guess what I'ma call her?
* I'ma name her Bonnie
* I read about your uncle Ronnie too, I'm sorry
* I had a friend kill himself over some bitch who didn't want him
* I know you probably hear this every day, but I'm your biggest fan
* I even got the underground shit that you did with Skam
* I got a room full of your posters and your pictures, man
* I like the shit you did with Rawkus too, that shit was phat
* Anyways, I hope you get this, man, hit me back
* Just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan
* This is Stan
* My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I
* Got out of bed at all
* The morning rain clouds up my window (window)
* And I can't see at all
* And even if I could it'll all be gray
* But your picture on my wall
* It reminds me, that it's not so bad
* It's not so bad
* Dear Slim, you still ain't called or wrote, I hope you have a chance
* I ain't mad, I just think it's fucked up you don't answer fans
* If you didn't wanna talk to me outside your concert
* You didn't have to, but you could've signed an autograph for Matthew
* That's my little brother, man, he's only six years old
* We waited in the blistering cold for you
* For four hours and you just said, "No"
* That's pretty shitty, man, you're like his fuckin' idol
* He wants to be just like you, man, he likes you more than I do
* I ain't that mad though, I just don't like bein' lied to
* Remember when we met in Denver, you said if I'd write you you would write back
* See, I'm just like you in a way
* I never knew my father neither
* He used to always cheat on my mom and beat her
* I can relate to what you're saying in your songs
* So when I have a shitty day, I drift away and put 'em on
* 'Cause I don't really got shit else, so that shit helps when I'm depressed
* I even got a tattoo of your name across the chest
* Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds
* It's like adrenaline, the pain is such a sudden rush for me
* See, everything you say is real, and I respect you 'cause you tell it
* My girlfriend's jealous 'cause I talk about you 24/7
* But she don't know you like I know you Slim, no one does
* She don't know what it was like for people like us growin' up, you gotta call me, man
* I'll be the biggest fan you'll ever lose
* Sincerely yours, Stan
* P.S. we should be together too
* My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I
* Got out of bed at all
* The morning rain clouds up my window (window)
* And I can't see at all
* And even if I could it'll all be gray
* But your picture on my wall
* It reminds me, that it's not so bad
* It's not so bad
* Dear Mr. I'm Too Good To Call Or Write My Fans
* This will be the last package I ever send your ass
* It's been six months and still no word, I don't deserve it?
* I know you got my last two letters, I wrote the addresses on 'em perfect
* So this is my cassette I'm sending you, I hope you hear it
* I'm in the car right now, I'm doing ninety on the freeway
* Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka
* You dare me to drive?
* You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night"
* About that guy who could have saved that other guy from drowning
* But didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a a show he found him?
* That's kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from drowning
* Now it's too late, I'm on a thousand downers now, I'm drowsy
* And all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call
* I hope you know I ripped all of your pictures off the wall
* I love you Slim, we coulda been together, think about it
* You ruined it now, I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it
* And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it
* I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe without me
* See Slim, shut up bitch, I'm tryna talk
* Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screamin' in the trunk
* But I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain't like you
* 'Cause if she suffocates, she'll suffer more, and then she'll die too
* Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now
* Oh shit, I forgot, how am I supposed to send this shit out?
* My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I
* Got out of bed at all
* The morning rain clouds up my window (window)
* And I can't see at all
* And even if I could it'll all be gray
* But your picture on my wall
* It reminds me, that it's not so bad
* It's not so bad
* Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner but I just been busy
* You said your girlfriend's pregnant now, how far along is she?
* Look, I'm really flattered you would call your daughter that
* And here's an autograph for your brother
* I wrote it on a Starter cap
* I'm sorry I didn't see you at the show, I must've missed you
* Don't think I did that shit intentionally just to diss you
* But what's this shit you said about you like to cut your wrists too?
* I say that shit just clownin', dawg, come on, how fucked up is you?
* You got some issues, Stan, I think you need some counseling
* To help your ass from bouncing off the walls when you get down some
* And what's this shit about us meant to be together?
* That type of shit'll make me not want us to meet each other
* I really think you and your girlfriend need each other
* Or maybe you just need to treat her better
* I hope you get to read this letter, I just hope it reaches you in time
* Before you hurt yourself, I think that you'll be doin' just fine
* If you relax a little, I'm glad I inspire you but Stan
* Why are you so mad? Try to understand, that I do want you as a fan
* I just don't want you to do some crazy shit
* I seen this one shit on the news a couple weeks ago that made me sick
* Some dude was drunk and drove his car over a bridge
* And had his girlfriend in the trunk, and she was pregnant with his kid
* And in the car they found a tape, but they didn't say who it was to
* Come to think about, his name was, it was you
* Damn!