"Headlights" | |||||||||||||||||
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Single by Eminem featuring Nate Ruess | |||||||||||||||||
from the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Released | February 5, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
Format | Digital download | ||||||||||||||||
Recorded | 2013; Effigy Studios (Ferndale, Michigan) | ||||||||||||||||
Genre | Hip hop | ||||||||||||||||
Length | 5:43 | ||||||||||||||||
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Eminem singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||
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"Headlights" is a song by American rapper Eminem, featuring Fun's lead singer Nate Ruess. It features production from Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, and Eminem himself. In the song, Eminem apologizes to his mother, Debbie Mathers, for criticizing her in his earlier songs and for showing scorn and resentment towards her in the past. It was released on February 5, 2014 as the album's fifth and the final single. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Eminem has had a difficult relationship with his mother since childhood. In his music, Eminem has had a history of insulting his mother on various songs, including his debut single, "My Name Is", "Role Model", "Kill You", "My Mom", "Without Me", and most notably "Cleanin' Out My Closet." "Headlights" is an apology to his mother for the years of insults and "his plea for a united (or at least less dysfunctional) family." The title "Headlights" is a reference to their last meeting. As she drove away, he became fixated on the headlights of her car as he coped with feelings of "overwhelming sadness." In the song, Eminem references to a few incidences from their rocky relationship, getting kicked out of the house on Christmas Eve, constant fighting, and his younger brother Nathan's removal to foster care. He also expresses regret that he has never let his mother be involved in his children's lives. In the song he acknowledges that his mother wrongfully endured the brunt of the blame for his tough upbringing and even gives her credit for her efforts to raise him as a single parent. Eminem admits that he remains estranged from his mother to this day. He also states that he cringes when he hears "Cleanin' Out My Closet" on the radio and he no longer performs it at shows.
In an interview with Sway Calloway, Eminem stated that, "everything he wanted to address" in regard to his mother is on "Headlights" and he likely will not speak on the topic outside of that particular song. He also told Zane Lowe that "It was one of those things that’s bothered me for a little bit. It was one of those things that I needed to get off my chest. So I don’t really have anything to elaborate or expand on that record other than everything that I needed to say, I put on that record."