You know that feeling when you're grinding so hard you actually start to lose the people who were there from day one? That’s the exact nerve Brent Faiyaz hits in "Been Away." It’s not just a song; it’s a mood that’s haunted R&B since it dropped in 2020 on the Fuck the World EP. Honestly, if you’ve ever felt the friction between chasing a dream and keeping a relationship alive, these lyrics feel less like a song and more like a personal call-out.
Brent doesn't do the whole "superhero" celebrity thing. He’s messy. He’s honest. And in Brent Faiyaz been away lyrics, he basically admits that his ambition is the very thing tearing his personal life apart.
The Core Conflict: Money vs. Presence
The hook is deceptively simple. Brent repeats the line about "tryna get my papers straight." It sounds like a standard hustle anthem on the surface, but the delivery tells a different story. He’s pleading. He’s asking for patience he probably hasn't earned.
When he says, "Don't give my shit away," he isn't just talking about his physical belongings in an apartment. He’s talking about his spot in her heart. He knows he’s been a ghost. He knows the "away" part of "Been Away" isn't just about physical distance—it's about emotional unavailability.
Why the "Paper" Metaphor Works
Most artists brag about their wealth once they have it. Brent is different. He’s documenting the process of getting it and the collateral damage that comes with the territory.
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- The sacrifice: He’s choosing the studio or the tour bus over "dinner at 8."
- The anxiety: There’s a constant fear that while he’s out building a kingdom, the person he’s doing it for is moving on.
- The irony: You need the money to provide a better life, but the time spent getting the money ruins the life you already had.
Breaking Down the Verse: The "Village" and the Villainy
There’s a specific line where he mentions his "people." Some listeners misinterpret this as just his crew or his boys. But if you look at Brent's broader discography—especially tracks like "Clouded" or "Price of Fame"—he’s obsessed with the idea of legacy and the people back home.
In "Been Away," he’s trying to balance being a provider for an entire "village" while trying to keep one specific woman from leaving. It’s a heavy weight. You can hear the exhaustion in his falsetto.
Brent’s persona is often labeled as "toxic R&B," but "Been Away" feels more vulnerable than toxic. He’s admitting he’s not enough right now. He’s asking for a placeholder. He’s saying, "I’m not there, but please act like I am." It’s selfish, sure. But it’s incredibly human.
Production That Mirrors the Lyrics
The beat, produced by a heavy-hitting team including Jake One and Sam Wish, has this hazy, late-night atmosphere. It feels like a drive through a city where you don't know anyone. The bass is thick, but the melody is sparse. This mirrors the lyrical content: there’s a lot of "weight" (the bass/the hustle), but it feels "empty" (the melody/the loneliness).
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The "Sonder" Connection
You can't talk about Brent Faiyaz been away lyrics without mentioning the concept of "Sonder." For those who don't know, Brent has the word tattooed above his eye. It’s the realization that every random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
In "Been Away," he’s finally applying that logic to his partner. He’s realizing that while he’s been "away" living his complex life of fame and recording sessions, she has been living a complex life of waiting, doubting, and potentially finding someone else.
The song is a moment of clarity. It’s the realization that his "away" is her "alone."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Song
A lot of fans on TikTok or Twitter use this song for "get ready with me" videos or "hustle" montages. They focus on the "get my papers straight" part like it’s a motivational quote from a LinkedIn influencer.
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It’s not.
This song is a tragedy. It’s a song about a man who is terrified of being forgotten. If you listen to the end of the track, the looping vocals create a sense of being stuck. He’s in a cycle. He’s always "away," and he’s always "tryna get straight," but he never quite gets there.
Actionable Takeaways from the "Been Away" Vibe
If you're vibing with this track, there's more to explore than just hitting repeat. Here is how to actually engage with the world Brent Faiyaz built in this era:
- Listen to the full Fuck the World EP in order: "Been Away" hits differently when it’s sandwiched between "Clouded" and "Fuck the World (Summer in London)." It’s a narrative arc of a man losing his mind to his own success.
- Analyze the "Sonder" philosophy: Check out his group, Sonder, specifically the Into EP. It provides the sonic DNA for "Been Away."
- Journal your own "Away" moments: Use the song as a prompt. Where are you putting so much energy that other parts of your life are suffering? It’s a great way to check your own priorities.
- Watch the Visuals: Brent is big on aesthetics. Look at the "Been Away" official audio or related tour visuals. The grainy, film-like quality is intentional. It’s meant to feel like a memory that’s fading.
The brilliance of Brent Faiyaz is that he doesn't give you the answers. He just gives you the feeling. "Been Away" remains a staple because we’ve all been the person leaving, or the person left behind, waiting for the "papers" to finally be straight.
To truly understand the impact, go back and listen to the transition between the second verse and the final hook. Pay attention to how the instruments slightly drop out. That silence? That’s the "away" he’s talking about.
Next Steps for the Listener:
Head over to a high-quality streaming platform and listen to the song with noise-canceling headphones. Focus specifically on the layering of his background vocals—there are at least three different "Brents" singing at once, representing the different versions of himself he’s trying to manage.