It’s Been a While, by Staind: This song explores the themes of addiction and the struggles of recovery.
Music Video
Lyrics: It’s Been a While, by Staind (2001)
Verse 1 And it’s been awhile Since I could hold my head up high And it’s been awhile Since I first saw you And it’s been awhile Since I could stand on my own two feet again And it’s been awhile Since I could call you
Chorus And everything I can’t remember As fucked up as it all may seem The consequences that are rendered I’ve stretched myself beyond my means
Verse 2 And it’s been awhile Since I could say that I wasn’t addicted And it’s been awhile Since I can say I love myself as well And it’s been awhile Since I’ve gone and fucked things up, just like I always do And it’s been awhile But all that shit seems to disappear when I’m with you
Chorus And everything I can’t remember As fucked up as it all may seem The consequences that I’ve rendered I’ve gone and fucked things up again, again
Bridge Why must I feel this way? Just make this go away Just one more peaceful day
Verse 3 And it’s been awhile Since I could look at myself straight And it’s been awhile since I said I’m sorry And it’s been awhile Since I’ve seen the way the candles light your face And it’s been awhile But I can still remember just the way you taste
Chorus And everything I can’t remember As fucked up as it all may seem to be, I know it’s me I cannot blame this on my father He did the best he could for me
Outro And it’s been awhile Since I could hold my head up high And it’s been awhile Since I said I’m sorry
The More I Drink, by Blake Shelton: This song explores the themes of alcohol abuse and the consequences of excessive drinking.
Music Video
Lyrics: The More I Drink, by Blake Shelton (2007)
Verse 1 He was sittin’ at the bar, sippin’ on a regular Coke We were drinkin’ and smokin’ and makin’ him the butt of our jokes We all said, “Man, what happened to you? Why can’t you just have a few?” He said, “I would if I could, but it’s probably best that I don’t”
Chorus ‘Cause the more I drink, the more I drink Then I’m the world’s greatest lover and a dancin’ machine I get loud, I get proud But it gets worse Well, if I have one, I’ll have thirteen Nah, there ain’t no in-between ‘Cause, the more I drink, mm The more I drink
Verse 2 A couple of cold ones and somebody hands me a shot Hell, even buck-tooth and bow-legged women start lookin’ hot And pretty soon I’m bummin’ cigarettes And sweet-talkin’ some big brunettes Yeah, once I get on a roll There ain’t no tellin’ where I’ll stop
Chorus ‘Cause the more I drink, the more I drink Then I’m the world’s greatest lover and a dancin’ machine I get loud, I get proud And it gets worse Yeah, if I have one, I’ll have thirteen Nah, there ain’t no in-between ‘Cause, the more I drink, the more I drink The more I drink, yep, yep
Bridge Mm, that’s what I’m talkin’ about
Outro Man, if I have one, I’ll have thirteen And they can’t get me off the karaoke machine The more I drink The more I drink Yeah, the more I drink, the more I drink The more I drink
Going Through Changes, by Eminem (featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Hailie Jade): This song explores the themes of addiction and the challenges of recovery.
Music Video
Lyrics: Going Through Changes, by Eminem (2010)
Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
Verse 1: Eminem Lately, I really Feel like I’m rollin’ for delf like Philly Feel like I’m losin’ control of myself, I sincerely Apologize if all that I sound like Is I’m complainin’ but life keeps on complicatin’, and I’m debatin’ on leavin’ this world this evenin’ Even my girls can see I’m grievin’, I try and hide it But I can’t, why do I act like I’m all high and mighty When inside I’m dyin’? I am finally realizin’ I need Help, can’t do it myself, too weak Two weeks, I’ve been havin’ ups and downs Goin’ through peaks and valleys Dilly-dallyin’ ’round with the idea Of endin’ this shit right here, I’m hatin’ my reflection I walk around the house tryna fight mirrors I can’t stand what I look like, yeah I look fat, but what do I care? I give a fuck Only thing I fear’s Hailie I’m afraid if I close my eyes That I might see her… Shit
Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
Verse 2: Eminem I lock myself in the bedroom, bathroom, nappin’ at noon Yeah, Dad’s in a bad mood, he’s always snappin’ at you Marshall, what happened that you can’t stop with these pills? And you’ve fallen off with your skills and your own fans are laughin’ at you It become a problem you’re too pussy to tackle? Get up Be a man, stand, a real man woulda had this shit handled Know you just had your heart ripped out and crushed They say Proof just flipped out, homie just whipped out and bust Nah, it ain’t like Doody to do that, he wouldn’t fuckin’ Shoot at nobody, he’d fight first, but dwellin’ On it only makes the night worse, now I’m poppin’ Vics, Percs And Methadone pills, “Yeah, Em, tight verse You killed it!” Fuckin’ drug dealers hang around me like yes men And they gon’ do whatever I says when I says it It’s in their best interest to protect their investment And I just lost my fuckin’ best friend, so fuck it, I guess then—
Chorus: Eminem & Ozzy Osbourne (I’m going through changes) Don’t know what I’m gonna do (I’m going through changes) But I just keep on going through changes
Verse 3: Eminem & Hailie Jade My friends can’t understand this new me, that’s understandable Man, but think how bananas you’d be, you’d be an animal too If you were trapped in this fame and caged in it like a zoo And everybody’s lookin’ at you, what you want me to do? I’m startin’ to live like a recluse And the truth is, fame’s startin’ to give me an excuse To be at an all-time low; I sit alone in my home theater Watchin’ the same damn DVD of the First tour; the last tour, he was still alive And it hurts so I fast forward, sleeping pills’ll make me feel alright And if I’m still awake in the middle of the night I’ll just take a couple more, yeah, you’re motherfuckin’ right I ain’t slowin’ down for no one, I am almost homeward bound Almost in a coma, yeah homie, come on, dole ’em out! “Daddy, don’t you die on me! Daddy, better hold your ground!” Fuck, don’t I know the sound of that voice? Yeah, baby, hold me down (Daddy!)
Chorus: Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne & Hailie Jade (I’m going through changes) (Daddy!) Don’t know what I’m gonna do (I’m going through changes) But I just keep on going through changes
Verse 4: Eminem Wake up in the hospital, full of tubes But somehow I’m pullin’ through Swear when I come back I’ma be bulletproof I’ma do it just for Proof, I think I should state a few Facts, ’cause I may not get a chance again to say the truth Shit, it just hit me that what if I would not’ve made it through? I think about the things I woulda never got to say to you I’d never get to make it right, so here’s what I came to do Hailie, this one is for you, Whitney and Alaina too I still love your mother, that’ll never change Think about her every day We just could never get it together, hey Wish there was a better way for me to say it But I swear on everything, I’d do anything for her on any day There are just too many things to explain When it rains, guess it pours — yes, it does Wish there wasn’t any pain, but I can’t pretend there ain’t I ain’t placin’ any blame I ain’t pointin’ fingers, Heaven knows I never been a saint I know that it feels like we just pissed away our history And just today I looked at your picture, almost if to say I miss you subconsciously, wish it didn’t end this way But I just had to get away, don’t know why, I don’t know what else to say I guess I’m—
Chorus: Eminem & Ozzy Osbourne (I’m going through changes) Don’t know what I’m gonna do (I’m going through changes) But I just keep on going through changes
Otherside, by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: This song explores the themes of addiction and recovery.
Music Video
Lyrics: Otherside, by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2010)
Intro “Chad Butler, known as Pimp C, died in a Los Angeles hotel room…” “The L.A. County Coroner’s office ruled the rapper’s death accidental and attributed it to a combination of…” “Apnea?” “Yes” “And syrup, and we know that syrup on the streets usually has codeine?” “Absolutely, we have a problem now with the cough syrup epidemic…”
Verse 1 He rolled up, asked him what he was sippin’ on He said, “Lean, you wanna hit it, dawg?” That’s the same stuff Weezy’s sippin’, huh? And tons of other rappers that be spittin’ hard Yup, he had five up on Then went and passed him that Styrofoam The Easter Pink, heard a rhyme before Finally got to see what all the hype was on And then he took a sip, sittin’ in the Lincoln Thinking he was pimpin’ as he listened to the system Little did he know that it was just as addictive as base Not the kind of hit from the kick drum Hotbox, let the bass bump Take it to the face, gulp Months later the use went up Every blunt was accompanied by the pink stuff But goddamn, he loved that feeling Purple rain coated in the throat, just so healin’ Medicine alleviate the sickness Liquid affix and it comes with a cost Wake up, cold sweat, scratchin’, itchin’ Tryna escape the skin that barely fit him Gone, get another bottle just to get a couple swallows Headed towards the bottom couldn’t get off it Didn’t even think he had a problem Though he couldn’t sleep without gettin’ nauseous Room spinnin’ Thinkin’ he might have sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup His eyelids closed, shut Sat back in the chair clutchin’ that cup Girlfriend came and a couple hours later Said his name, shook him but he never got up He never got up, he never got up We live on the cusp of death thinkin’ that it won’t be us It won’t be us, it won’t be us, it won’t be us Nah, it won’t be us
Verse 2 Now he just wanted to act like them He just wanted to rap like him Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects that we have on these kids Blunt passed, ash in a tin Pack being pushed, harassed by the feds The fact of it is most people that rap like this Talkin’ about some shit they haven’t lived Surprise, you know the drill Trapped in a box, declinin’ record sales Follow the formula: violence, drugs, and sex sells So we try to sound like someone else This is not Californication There’s no way to glorify this pavement Syrup, Percocet, and an eighth a day Will leave you broke, depressed, and emotionally vacant Despite how Little Wayne lives It’s not conducive to being creative And I know ’cause he’s my favorite And I know ’cause I was off that same mix Rationalize the shit that I’d try after I listen to Dedication But he’s an alien I’d sip that shit, pass out or play PlayStation Months later I’m in the same place No music made, feelin’ like a failure And trust me, it’s not dope to be twenty-five And move back to your parents’ basement I’ve seen my people’s dreams die I’ve seen what they can be denied And “weed’s not a drug,” that’s denial Groundhog Day, life, repeat each time I’ve seen Oxycontin take three lives I grew up with them, we used to chief dimes I’ve seen cocaine bring out the demons inside Cheatin’ and lyin’ Friendship cease, no peace in the mind Stealin’ and takin’ anything to fix the pieces inside Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what the dealer’s supplyin’ That rush, that drug, that dope Those pills, that crumb, that roach Thinkin’ I would never do that, not that drug Growing up nobody ever does Until you’re stuck Lookin’ in the mirror like I can’t believe what I become Swore I was gonna be someone And growin’ up everyone always does We sell our dreams and our potential To escape through that buzz Just keep me up, keep me up Hollywood, here we come
Outro “You can tend to, um, go a little too far with some of these things, they have very strong addictive qualities, pills and syrups and whatnot, so um…” “Is it changing the music?” “Um, I can only speak for myself personally, you know what I’m saying? Um, we had been taking down, toning down the content of certain things in the music lately My new album, of course, probably won’t have any references to cough syrup in it But, uh, it’s a little bit more than the music I think it’s gonna start affecting the personal lives of a lot of artists and people…”
Swimming Pools (Drank), by Kendrick Lamar: This song explores the themes of drinking and the effects of alcohol on the singer’s life.
Music Video
Lyrics: Swimming Pools (Drank), by Kendrick Lamar (2012)
Intro Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank) Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank) Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank) Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)
Verse 1 Now, I done grew up round some people livin’ their life in bottles Granddaddy had the golden flask, backstroke every day in Chicago Some people like the way it feel, some people wanna kill their sorrow Some people wanna fit in with the popular, that was my problem I was in a dark room, loud tunes, lookin’ to make a vow soon That I’ma get fucked up, fillin’ up my cup I see the crowd mood Changin’ by the minute and the record on repeat Took a sip, then another sip, then somebody said to me
Chorus Nigga, why you babysittin’ only two or three shots? I’ma show you how to turn it up a notch First, you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it I wave a few bottles, then I watch ’em all flock All the girls wanna play Baywatch I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it Po-Pool full of liquor, I’ma dive in it
Post-Chorus Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank) Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank) Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank) Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)
Verse 2 Okay, now open your mind up and listen me, Kendrick I am your conscience, if you do not hear me, then you will be history, Kendrick I know that you’re nauseous right now and I’m hopin’ to lead you to victory, Kendrick If I take another one down, I’ma drown in some poison, abusin’ my limit I think that I’m feelin’ the vibe, I see the love in her eyes I see the feelin’, the freedom is granted as soon as the damage of vodka arrived This how you capitalize, this is parental advised, and apparently, I’m over-influenced By what you are doin’, I thought I was doin’ the most ’til someone said to me
Chorus Nigga, why you babysittin’ only two or three shots? I’ma show you how to turn it up a notch First, you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it I wave a few bottles, then I watch ’em all flock All the girls wanna play Baywatch I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it Po-Pool full of liquor, I’ma dive in it
Post-Chorus Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank) Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank) Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank) Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)
Bridge I ride, you ride, bang One chopper, one hundred shots, bang Hop out, do you bang? Two chopper, two hundred shots, bang I ride, you ride, bang One chopper, one hundred shots, bang Hop out, do you bang? Two chopper, two hundred shots, bang
Chorus Nigga, why you babysittin’ only two or three shots? I’ma show you how to turn it up a notch First, you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it I wave a few bottles, then I watch ’em all flock All the girls wanna play Baywatch I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it Po-Pool full of liquor, I’ma dive in it
Post-Chorus Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank) Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank) Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank) Faded (Drank), faded (Drank)
Interlude Sherane Sherane (Pool—Kendrick—Kendrick—lies in it) Sherane, Sherane (W-watch ’em all flock) Aw man… Sherane (Girls wanna play-play-play) Where is she takin’ me? (I got) Where is she takin’ me? (Pool full of liquor, I’ma die in…)
Verse 3 All I—all I—all I— All I have in life is my new appetite for failure And I got hunger pain that grow insane, tell me, do that sound familiar? If it do, then you’re like me, makin’ excuse that your relief Is in the bottom of a bottle and the greenest indo leaf As the window open, I release everything that corrode inside of me I see you jokin’, why you laugh? Don’t you feel bad? I prob’ly sleep And never ever wake up, never ever wake up, never ever wake up In God I trust, but just when I thought I had enough
Skit “They stomped the homie out over a bitch? K-Dot, you good, blood? Now we can drop, ye we can drop you back off” “That nigga’s straight, man, that nigga ain’t trippin'” “We gon’ do the same ol’ shit I’ma pop a few shots, they gon’ ru—they run opposite way Fall right in *’s lap And he gon’ tear they ass up, simple as that” “And I hope that bitch that set him up, out there We gon’ pop that bitch too” “Wait hold up, ayy, I see somebody” *Car door opens and gunshots are fired* “Aha! Got them niggas, K-Dot, you good?” “L*, you good?” “Yeah, blood, I’m good – Dave, you good? Dave? Dave, say somethin’ – Dave? These bitch-ass niggas killed my brother!”
