“Tales of Dominica” is the tenth track on Lil Nas X’s 2021 album ‘MONTERO.’ In the song, Nas X talks about his experiences of a broken home and the psychological impacts that it brings on a person.
‘MONTERO’ is Lil Nas X’s debut studio album, a journey that started with his mega-hit “Old Town Road” in 2019. Nas X has released one mixtape and extended play since. However, the ‘MONTERO’ album is the singer’s ‘baby,’ which he teased for weeks with fake pregnant images of himself.
“Tales of Dominica” might have drawn inspiration from Lil Nas X’s real life, growing up with no money, having no success with his music career, and his mother being a drug addict. Lil Nas X has previously opened up about being depressed and having suicidal thoughts when his music did not seem to work out prior to 2018.
Responding to a fan question on Twitter, Lil Nas X explained the meaning behind this song; “dominica is this beautiful place. and the song is about living the worst place/time of my life. it’s like a metaphor for when you trick yourself into pretending everything is fine when it’s not.”
Lil Nas X also Tweeted that “Tales of Dominica” is his favorite track on the album, followed by “Lost in the Citadel” and “Industry Baby.”
Listen to “Tales of Dominica” by Lil Nas X
Buy ‘MONTERO’ Album on Apple Music / Amazon
Lil Nas X “Tales of Dominica” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
The song starts off with Lil Nas X singing about waking up on the floor. This line is both metaphorical and literal. He wakes up on the floor as his inflatable plastic mattress has lost its air. An inflatable plastic mattress is no sign of luxury, to say the least. It has been used so much, that the mattress cannot even hold its air anymore.
Also, these lines represent how Lil Nas X has hit rock bottom in his life.
Lil Nas X calls his house a broken home. Again, these lines are both metaphorical and literal. In a literal sense, things in his house are broken, for example, his inflatable bed. In a metaphorical sense, his house has nothing to offer him. There is no warmth or love at his home. There is no happiness in his home.
Oh, sometimes you’re angry
Sometimes you’re hurting
Sometimes you’re all alone
A broken home gives Lil Nas X a mix of emotions, but none of them are any positive. He feels alone, he is angry at his parents, siblings, and himself. He is hurting.
Before his breakthrough hit “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X had little success with his music career. But music was his only option. He dropped out of school to pursue his music career and it was not working out. He was running out of options. In fact, he had no other options.
On the “Dead Right Now” track on the album, Lil Nas X sings about how he was living at his sister’s house in 2018. He could not even afford to pay his own rent.
Can’t go running back to home, I can’t face hеr face (Oh)
In this line, Lil Nas X says that he cannot even return home. For him ‘home’ is only a broken house. He has no fond memories of that place. Here ‘her’ refers to Nas X’s mother who was a drug addict. He cannot face her because he has had no success with his music and also because he was never able to help his mother fight her addiction.
In the only verse of the song, Lil Nas X sings about the present. He has really made it in the music industry now. We know this because he has so many haters now. But Nas X cannot help but feel unfulfilled; “I’m floating in an oceanless sea.”
Lil Nas X questions if this is what he wanted. He even begins to feed into the words of his haters! Was everyone else right about him!
With this song, Lil Nas X proves that his music is not all catchy radio hits. He does have a deeper sense of self-awareness that we don’t usually see in him.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics on Genius.