The music video features Winona Ryder.
A$AP Rocky is finally gearing up to release his anticipated fourth album, Don’t Be Dumb, on January 16, and today, he’s given us the project’s lead single, “Punk Rocky,” a hypnotic hybrid of hip-hop and indie-rock that’s all about heartbreak. Rocky wrote the tune with Cristoforo Donadi, Zach Fogarty, and Ging, and all four share production credit. Plus, the music video features Winona Ryder!
On the chorus, Rocky sings about how he’d like to avoid breaking up and getting his heart shredded.
I wanna fall in love, don’t want no broken heart
Don’t wanna grow apart (Take me back)
I wanna fall in love, don’t want no broken heart
Don’t wanna grow apart (Take me back)
The first verse could almost be out of a country song. Rocky’s in his truck, feeling his feelings.
I cried alone in my truck, yeah
I felt alone in the front ‘cause I don’t know who to trust
And I’ve been going through some stuff
Don’t trust these hoes you love, yeah
Your ego’s one hell of a drug (Yeah, ooh)
In the second verse, he reveals he’s in a crumbling marriage. He’s either playing a character, or there’s trouble in paradise with him and Rihanna.
She don’t even wanna be my wife no more
Fuck it, man, life goes on
How I’m supposed to right my wrongs?
How many times do right go wrong?
Tell me how I’m supposed to write love song
But I don’t even like them sung
She ain’t gon’ be in my life no more
Rather than speculate about Rocky’s personal life, check out the song’s cinematic music video, which stars Ryder as well as composer Danny Elfman, Thundercat, and A$AP Nast. Elfman, like Ryder, is a frequent collaborator of director Tim Burton, who made the cover art for Don’t Be Dumb.
You can read all the lyrics to “Punk Rocky” on Genius now.