Released: April 7, 2011

Songwriter: Frank Ocean

Producer: Midi Mafia

[Verse 1]
I heard my teacher say that I’d be better off
If I just took what I’ve been given
They said I never know what to do
Unless I’m told
I feel underestimated, So unaccounted for
Then you want to call me to your office right after school
And tell me your version of my future

[Hook]
But let’s take all the frames off your walls
I wanna see the one diploma that says "you can read the stars"
Don’t talk me out of it
Don’t talk me out of it
It’s my life, Don’t talk me out of my life
It’s my life

[Verse 2]
I used to put an apple on Ms. Jacob’s desk
But she never liked me
She said I’m gon’ fail, no matter what I give
She said ’cause my skin wasn’t light enough
Tuition wasn’t high enough
I couldn’t understand just what I did
So underestimated, You left me unaccounted for
Now you want to call me to your office right after school
And now you wanna tell me, your version of my future

[Hook]
But let’s take all the frames off your walls
I wanna see the one diploma that says "you can read the stars"
Don’t talk me out of it
Don’t talk me out of it
It’s my life, Don’t talk me out of my life
It’s my life

[Bridge]
Just tell me how
You’re much better than me now
You tore me down till there was nothing left
Look at me, Look at me, Look at me, Look at me
I’m still standing
Look at me
Look at me now, Look me in my eyes

[Hook]
But let’s take all the frames off your walls
I wanna see the one diploma that says "you can read the stars"
Don’t talk me out of it
Don’t talk me out of it
It’s my life, Don’t talk me out of my life
It’s my life

Frank Ocean

Christopher Edwin Breaux, professionally known as Frank Ocean, was born on the 28th of October, 1987 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has earned cult-icon status with his enigmatic persona and idiosyncratic approach to pop. It is reported that the name “Frank Ocean” was partially inspired by the original Ocean’s 11 (1960) film, which starred Frank Sinatra.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed his recording studio in New Orleans which prompted his move out to LA, joining hip hop collective Odd Future later in 2009. Ocean started out ghostwriting tracks for pop stars such as Justin Bieber and Beyoncé, but decided on a career

There was a point where I was composing for other people, and it might have been comfy to continue to do that and enjoy that income stream and the anonymity,“ he says. "But that’s not why I moved away from school and away from family.