Musical Analysis and Interpretation of Frank Ocean's "Ivy"

At one point or another, everyone must cope with the loss of love. In such a confusing period of frustration and longing, anger and hostility are almost always cultivated in both parties. While most stories of the fallout of a relationship are oftentimes filled with this bitterness and regret, “Ivy” by Frank Ocean details a breakup in which the speaker instead focuses on the positive memories associated with the love affair and the lessons that they learned from the connection. The song’s use of fragmented vignettes of the relationship in its heyday and juxtaposition in relation to emotions felt about the lost love exhibit a truth that life is full of loss and regret, and it is only by learning to forgive and cope with these changes that anyone is to find true solace.

Interspersed throughout “Ivy,” Ocean presents a series of anecdotes to reflect memories of a failed relationship. The speaker reflects on driving around in a rental car with his lover, visiting the house of a friend, and a tender encounter between the two in the halls of a hotel. These memories are vague and sporadically presented throughout the song, and this is an intentional reflection of the way that memories are preserved in the mind. It is often these fragmented, small yet vivid images and memories of time, place, and feeling that linger long after life has changed. Regardless of how intense or powerful a period of life or love once was, time unrelentingly tears the memories apart, aside from these small but powerful moments of being. Ocean takes this personal patchwork of memories and emotions and presents it to the audience to then interpret and relate to themselves. Where most retelling of failed relationships are tainted with resentment, “Ivy” is open, assured, and has found peace with its ending and the memories associated with the love connection.

This idea of love, rather than hate, beyond the end of a relationship permeates the entire song, and is developed in a number of ways. One such way is through the juxtaposition of emotions pertaining to the ended relationship. Every verse ends with the lines, “I could hate you now. / It’s quite alright to hate me now. / But we both know that deep down / The feeling still deep down is good” (Ocean). These lines are so full of contradiction that it can become confusing, and this is done intentionally; they are ultimately an encapsulation and a surrender to the whirlwind of emotions that comes with the conclusion of a relationship. Ocean recognizes anger — he finds it in himself and in his lover, but he realizes that it is a defense mechanism to hide the hurt that they both feel. Beneath this ostensible, bitter emotion, Ocean understands that, deep down, the feeling between the two is unmarred. This idea is also expressed in the line, “If you could see my thoughts / You would see our faces / Safe in my rental like an armored truck back then” (Ocean). This image is one of the fragmented vignettes that Ocean paints of his time with his ex-lover, and with its few words, captures the carefree sense of invincibility that comes with new love and young adulthood by comparing Ocean’s rental car to an armored truck. Together, the two felt indestructible, and this sentiment of inviolability pervades the image of the two newly-connected lovers driving around in a rental car without a care in the world. This line functions at another level, drawing similarity between this invincibility that they felt together and the invincibility of the memories of their time together in Ocean’s thoughts. Just as they felt invulnerable in their time together, Ocean’s memories of that period of his life are invulnerable against anger, bitterness, and resentment.

Throughout “Ivy,” Ocean presents reflective and mature realizations that the reader can draw from the encounter he had with his failed relationship. One of these themes can be found in the seemingly trivial line, “My waves wouldn’t dip back then” (Ocean). Ocean is referring to his hair at the time of the relationship; regardless of anything he did to his hair, he couldn’t achieve the “waving” hairstyle that is popular in African American youths. In the same way, regardless of anything he could do for his partner and their relationship, some things just do not happen the way that is desired or expected. A relationship requires very specific circumstances: timing, personality, maturity, and environment are among the many factors that determine its success. However, pure love transcends these obstacles. Love exists without permission or constraints, and even if a relationship fails, that love was pure, and when faced with the eternity of his art, Ocean chooses to honor this love instead of immortalizing his surface-level anger or resentment. And at a basic level, this is what it means to forgive. He could hate his ex, and would likely be justified in doing so. But Ocean sets aside these emotions bred from haughtiness and hostility and acknowledges that the feeling between the two, beneath the hurt and pride, is still love.

“Ivy” by Frank Ocean is an ode to a failed relationship, where instead of breeding anger and resentment for a former lover, the memories and pure love of the relationship are honored. Ocean recalls his relationship without anger and handles his conflicted emotions honestly. Through this emotional maturity, “Ivy” demonstrates true forgiveness, and following this example of honoring love, forgiving fault, and coping honestly with life’s changes will lend itself to true peace and a deeper love for those who are a part of someone’s life, either past or present.