Novacane

"Novacane" is the debut single by American recording artist Frank Ocean. It was released as the lead single from his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. The song was written by Ocean, Tricky Stewart and Victor Alexander, and produced by Stewart. Lyrically, the song narrates a tale of a young female dental student who makes a living doing porn and who recreationally uses local anesthetic drugs that she acquires from her place of study. The song explores themes of isolation, loneliness and a lack of feeling caused by numbness. The song received highly positive reviews from music critics and was listed as one of the best songs of the year by publications such as The New York Times, Spin, Ology, Zimbio and Pitchfork Media. Reviews praised the dark subject matter of the song, and praised Ocean's ability to create narratives and the sonic atmosphere of the track. When Nostalgia, Ultra was expected to be released as an EP by Def Jam, "Novacane" was released as the first single, though the EP release was later cancelled. The song peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 10 on the Heatseekers Songs chart. The song received a music video directed by Australian director Nabil Elderkin released on June 16. The highly stylized video shows a long take of Ocean sitting around in a darkly lit room. Ocean performed the song during a show in New York with alternative hip hop group OFWGKTA, and during his seven show tour through North America and Europe. It was also performed during his 14 show Channel Orange tour through North America.

[Verse 1] I think I started something I got what I wanted Did-didn't I can't feel nothing, superhuman Even when I'm fucking, Viagra popping Every single record, autotuning Zero emotion, muted emotion Pitch corrected, computed emotion, uh-huh I blame it on the model broad with the Hollywood smile, ow Stripper booty and a rack like wow Brain like Berkeley Met her at Coachella I went to see Jigga, she went to see Z Trip, perfect I took a seat on the ice cold lawn She handed me a ice blue bong, whatever She said she wanna be a dentist really badly She's in school paying For tuition, doing porn in the Valley At least you workin' But, girl, I can't feel my face What are we smoking anyway? She said, "Don't let the high go to waste" But can you taste a little taste? [Chorus] Novacane, baby, baby Novacane, baby, I want you Fuck me good, fuck me long, fuck me numb Love me now, when I'm gone, love me none Love me none, love me none Numb, numb, numb, numb [Verse 2] Sink full of dishes, pacin' in the kitchen Cocaine for breakfast, yikes Bed full of women, flip on a tripod Little red light on shootin' I'm feelin' like Stanley Kubrick This is some visionary shit Been tryna film pleasure with my eyes wide shut But it keeps on movin' I blame it on the model broad with the Hollywood smile Stripper booty with a rack like wow I'll never forget ya You put me on a feelin' I never had Never had, never had (Never) And ever since I've been tryna get it back And pick it up and put it back Now I'm something like the chemist on campus But there's no drug around Quite like what I found in you, you I still can't feel my face What am I smokin' anyway? (Ahh) She said, "Don't let the high go to waste" (Ooh) But can you taste a little taste? [Chorus] Novacane, baby, baby (Ohh) Novacane, baby, I want you Fuck me good, fuck me long, fuck me numb Love me now, when I'm gone, love me none Love me none, love me none Numb, numb, numb, numb [Bridge] Novacane, novacane, novacane Novacane, novacane (Ohh) Numb the pain, numb the pain, numb the pain Numb the pain, numb the pain (Ohh, ohh) Novacane, novacane, novacane Novacane, novacane For the pain, for the pain (Ohh, ohh, ohh) Novacane, novacane (Ooh) [Outro] Pretty girls involved with me Making pretty love to me, pretty Pity, pity All the pretty girls involved with me Making pretty love to me, pretty Pity, pity I can't feel a thing, I can't feel, I can't feel a thing I can't feel a thing, I can't feel, feel, feel, feel her I can't feel, feel her Novacane, novacane, novacane I can't feel, feel her Novacane for the pain, for the pain I can't, can't feel her Feel her, feel her, ohh Novacane, novacane-cane