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!”
Wasted, by Carrie Underwood: This song explores the consequences of excessive drinking and the feeling of being wasted.
Music Video
Lyrics: Wasted, by Carrie Underwood (2005)
Verse 1 Standin’ at the back door She tried to make it fast One tear hit the hardwood It fell like broken glass She said sometimes love slips away And you just can’t get it back Let’s face it For one split second She almost turned around But that would be like pouring raindrops Back into a cloud So she took another step And said, “I see the way out and I’m gonna take it”
Chorus I don’t wanna spend my life jaded Waitin’ to wake up one day and find That I let all these years go by Wasted
Verse 2 Another glass of whiskey, but it still don’t kill the pain So he stumbles to the sink and pours it down the drain He said, “It’s time to be a man and stop living for yesterday Gotta face it”
Chorus ‘Cause I don’t wanna spend my life jaded Waitin’ to wake up one day and find That I let all these years go by Wasted Oh, I don’t wanna keep on wishin’, missin’ The still of the morning, the color of the night I ain’t spendin’ no more time Wasted
Bridge She kept driving along Till the moon and the sun were floatin’ side-by-side He looked in the mirror and his eyes were clear For the first time in a while Hey, yeah
Chorus Oh, I don’t wanna spend my life jaded Waitin’ to wake up one day and find That I let all these years go by Wasted Oh, I don’t wanna keep on wishin’, missin’ The still of the morning, the color of the night I ain’t spendin’ no more time Wasted Oh, I don’t wanna spend my life jaded Waitin’ to wake up one day and find That I let all these years go by Wasted Yeah, yeah Oh, I don’t wanna keep on wishin’, missin’ The still of the morning, the color of the night I ain’t spendin’ no more time Wasted
One Day at a Time, by Joe Walsh: This song discusses the challenges of addiction and the importance of taking things one day at a time.
Music Video
Lyrics: One Day at a Time, by Joe Walsh (2012)
Verse 1 Well you know I was always the first to arrive at the party Oh, and the last to leave the scene of the crime Well it started with a couple of beers And it went I don’t know how many years Like a runaway train headed for the end of the line
Verse 2 Well I finally got around to admit that I might have a problem But I thought it was just too damn big of a mountain to climb Well I got down on my knees and said, “Hey! I just can’t go on livin’ this way Guess I have to learn to live my life one day at a time”
Chorus Oh yeah! One day at a time Oh yeah! One day at a time
Guitar Solo
Chorus Oh yeah! One day at a time Oh yeah! One day at a time
Verse 3 Well I finally got around to admit that I was the problem When I used to put the blame on everybody’s shoulders but mine All the friends I used to run with are gone Lord, I hadn’t planned on living this long But I finally learned to live my life one day at a time
Outro It was something I was too blind to see I got help from something greater than me And today I learned to live my life one day at a time
Dear Alcohol, by Dax: This song explores the themes of alcohol abuse and the cycle of addiction, with the lyrics reflecting on the desire to stop drinking but the inability to do so.
Music Video
Lyrics: Dear Alcohol, by Dax (2023)
Intro (LexNour)
Chorus I got wasted ’cause I didn’t wanna deal with myself tonight My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright And I keep drinkin’ ’til I’m someone I don’t recognize I got wasted I got wasted ’cause I didn’t wanna deal with myself tonight My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright I keep drinkin’ ’til I’m someone I don’t recognize I got wasted
Verse 1 Repeat the cycle every day, I gotta start with a drink My life been getting sorta crazy and I don’t wanna think I look myself right in the mirror and I don’t even blink Then I get angry, take the rest and pour it right in the sink I know where this road goes Alcohol ain’t my friend, but I keep drinkin’ ’cause these demons roam And follow me ’round everywhere I go It clouds my mind and soul, it turns my heart cold But I keep drinkin’ ’cause it makes me feel like I’m not alone I’m havin’ problems, my pride won’t let me reach out Lookin’ at this bottle, havin’ nothin’ but doubt Don’t wanna drink, but it keeps comin’ around and around and around
Chorus I got wasted ’cause I didn’t wanna deal with myself tonight My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright I keep drinkin’ ’til I’m someone I don’t recognize I got wasted I got wasted ’cause I didn’t wanna deal with myself tonight My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright I keep drinkin’ ’til I’m someone I don’t recognize I got wasted
Verse 2 I know I need to quit (I need to quit) I gotta do better (I gotta do better) Example to these kids (Example to these kids) ‘Cause they watchin’ when I’m in there, but I’m scared ‘Cause I’ve been chasin’ the man that I am when I start to drink He’s cocky, confident and he don’t give a damn what you think This world is beatin’ me down, it has pushed me right to the brink I take a shot every time because man it helps me escape I’m takin’ care of these people, but no one takes care of me I wanna talk to somebody, but I feel no one relates I need better now, I think I’ve lost my way I’m havin’ battles with faith, it’s painted right on my face I hope better times are comin’, no chase but I’m still runnin’ I gotta take control, and I won’t stop for nothin’ Dear God, this is my test, promise that I’ll do my best Just help me with this pain I feel and pressure that is on my chest
Chorus I got wasted ’cause I didn’t wanna deal with myself tonight My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright I keep drinkin’ ’til I’m someone I don’t recognize I got wasted I got wasted ’cause I didn’t wanna deal with myself tonight My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright I keep drinkin’ ’til I’m someone I don’t recognize I got wasted
The A-Team, by Ed Sheeran: This song, though not explicitly about alcohol abuse, touches on the themes of addiction and the struggles faced by those with substance use disorders.
Music Video
Lyrics: The A-Team, by Ed Sheeran (2011)
Verse 1 White lips, pale face Breathin’ in the snowflakes Burnt lungs, sour taste Light’s gone, days end Struggling to pay rent Long nights, strange men
Chorus And they say She’s in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen, but lately Her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries And they scream “The worst things in life come free to us”
Post-Chorus ‘Cause we’re just under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams And she don’t wanna go outside tonight And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland Or sells love to another man It’s too cold outside For angels to fly Angels to fly
Verse 2 Ripped gloves, raincoat Tried to swim and stay afloat Dry house, wet clothes Loose change, banknotes Weary-eyed, dry throat Call girl, no phone
Chorus And they say She’s in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen, but lately Her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries And they scream “The worst things in life come free to us”
Post-Chorus ‘Cause we’re just under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams But she don’t wanna go outside tonight And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland Or sells love to another man It’s too cold outside For angels to fly
Bridge An angel will die, covered in white Closed eye and hopin’ for a better life This time, we’ll fade out tonight Straight down the line
Chorus And they say She’s in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen, but lately Her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries And they scream “The worst things in life come free to us”
Post-Chorus And we’re all under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams And we don’t wanna go outside tonight And in a pipe, we fly to the Motherland Or sell love to another man It’s too cold outside For angels to fly
Outro Angels to fly Fly, fly For angels to fly To fly, to fly Angels to die
Starting Over, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Ben Bridwell: This song explores the journey of recovery and the possibility of relapse, offering a message of hope and resilience.
Music Video
Lyrics: Starting Over, by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2012)
Intro: Macklemore One, two, now
Verse 1: Macklemore Those three-plus years, I was so proud of And I threw ’em all away for two Styrofoam cups The irony, everyone will think that he lied to me Made my sobriety so public, there’s no fuckin’ privacy If I don’t talk about it, then I carry a date A 08/10/08 that now has been changed And everyone that put me in some box as a saint That I never was, just a false prophet that never came And will they think that everything that I’ve written has all been fake? Or will I just take my slip to the grave? Uh, what the fuck are my parents gonna say? The success story that got his life together and changed And you know what pain looks like When you tell your dad you relapsed and look him directly into his face Deceit on your shoulders, deceivingly heavy weight Haven’t seen tears like this on my girl in a while The trust that I once built’s been betrayed But I’d rather live tellin’ the truth and be judged for my mistakes Than falsely held up, given props, loved and praised I guess I gotta get this on the page Feeling sick and helpless, lost the compass where self is I know what I gotta do, and I can’t help it One day at a time is what they tell us Now I gotta find a way to tell them, uh God help ’em, yeah One day at a time is what they tell us Now I gotta find a way to tell them
Chorus: Ben Bridwell We fall so hard Now we gotta get back what we lost, lost I thought you’d go But you were with me all along, along
Verse 2: Macklemore And every kid that came up to me And said I was the music they listened to when they first got clean Now look at me, a couple days sober, I’m fightin’ demons Back of that meeting on the east side, shakin’, tweakin’ Hope that they don’t see it, hope that no one is lookin’ That no one recognizes that failure under that hoodie Just posted in the back with my hands crossed, shooken If they call on me, I’m passin’, if they talk to me, I’m bookin’ Out that door, but before I can make it Somebody stops me and says, “Are you Macklemore? Maybe this isn’t the place or time, I just wanted to say that If it wasn’t for ‘Otherside,’ I wouldn’t have made it” I just look down at the ground and say, “Thank you” She tells me she has nine months and that she’s so grateful Tears in her eyes, lookin’ like she’s gonna cry, fuck I barely got forty-eight hours, treated like I’m some wise monk I wanna tell her I relapsed, but I can’t I just shake her hand and tell her, “Congrats” Get back to my car, and I think I’m trippin’, yeah ‘Cause God wrote “Otherside,” that pen was in my hand I’m just a flawed man, man, I fucked up Like so many others, I just never thought I would I never thought I would, didn’t pick up the book Doin’ it by myself didn’t turn out that good
Bridge: Macklemore If I can be an example of gettin’ sober Then I can be an example of startin’ over If I can be an example of gettin’ sober Then I can be an example of startin’ over
Chorus: Ben Bridwell We fall so hard Now we gotta get back what we lost, lost I thought you’d go But you were with me all along, along
Outro: Ben Bridwell We fall so hard Now we gotta get back what we lost, lost
Sober, by Demi Lovato: This song is a personal account of the singer’s struggles with addiction and her journey towards sobriety.
Music Video
Lyrics: Sober, by Demi Lovato (2018)
Verse 1 I got no excuses for all of these goodbyes Call me when it’s over ’cause I’m dying inside Wake me when the shakes are gone And the cold sweats disappear Call me when it’s over and myself has reappeared
Pre-Chorus I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know why I do it every, every, every time It’s only when I’m lonely Sometimes I just wanna cave and I don’t wanna fight I try and I try and I try and I try and I try Just hold me, I’m lonely
Chorus Momma, I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore And daddy, please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor To the ones who never left me, we’ve been down this road before I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore
Verse 2 I’m sorry to my future love for the man that left my bed For making love the way I saved for you inside my head And I’m sorry for the fans I lost who watched me fall again I wanna be a role model, but I’m only human
Pre-Chorus I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know why I do it every, every, every time It’s only when I’m lonely Sometimes I just wanna cave and I don’t wanna fight I try and I try and I try and I try and I try Just hold me, I’m lonely
Chorus Momma, I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore And daddy, please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor To the ones who never left me, we’ve been down this road before I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore I’m not sober anymore
Outro I’m sorry that I’m here again, I promise I’ll get help It wasn’t my intention, I’m sorry to myself
Under the Bridge, by Red Hot Chili Peppers: This song is a powerful and emotional reflection on the struggles with addiction and the feeling of loneliness and despair that can accompany it.
Music Video
Lyrics: Under the Bridge, by Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)
Verse 1 Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a partner Sometimes I feel like my only friend Is the city I live in, The City of Angels Lonely as I am, together we cry
Verse 2 I drive on her streets ’cause she’s my companion I walk through her hills ’cause she knows who I am She sees my good deeds and she kisses me windy Well, I never worry, now that is a lie
Chorus I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day Take me to the place I love, take me all the way I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day Take me to the place I love, take me all the way
Post-Chorus Yeah, yeah, yeah
Verse 3 It’s hard to believe that there’s nobody out there It’s hard to believe that I’m all alone At least I have her love, the city she loves me Lonely as I am, together we cry
Chorus I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day Take me to the place I love, take me all the way I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day Take me to the place I love, take me all the way
Bridge Yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, no, no, no, yeah, yeah Love me, I say, yeah, yeah (One time)
Outro (Under the bridge downtown) Is where I drew some blood (Under the bridge downtown) I could not get enough (Under the bridge downtown) Forgot about my love (Under the bridge downtown) I gave my life away, yeah Yeah, yeah (Away) Oh, no, no no no, yeah yeah (Away) Oh no, I said, yeah yeah (Away) Where I’ll stay
Rehab, by Amy Winehouse: This song explores the singer’s struggle with addiction and her refusal to go to rehab, highlighting the cycle of self-destruction.
Music Video
Lyrics: Rehab, by Amy Winehouse (2006)
Chorus They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said, “No, no, no” Yes, I’ve been black, but when I come back, you’ll know, know, know I ain’t got the time and if my daddy thinks I’m fine He’s tried to make me go to rehab, but I won’t go, go, go
Verse 1 I’d rather be at home with Ray I ain’t got seventy days ‘Cause there’s nothing, there’s nothing you can teach me That I can’t learn from Mr. Hathaway
Pre-Chorus I didn’t get a lot in class But I know it don’t come in a shot glass
Chorus They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said, “No, no, no” Yes, I’ve been black, but when I come back, you’ll know, know, know I ain’t got the time and if my daddy thinks I’m fine He’s tried to make me go to rehab, but I won’t go, go, go
Verse 2 The man said “Why do you think you here?” I said, “I got no idea” I’m gonna, I’m gonna lose my baby So I always keep a bottle near
Pre-Chorus He said, “I just think you’re depressed” This, me: “Yeah, baby, and the rest”
Chorus They tried to make me go to rehab but I said, “No, no, no” Yes, I’ve been black, but when I come back, you’ll know, know, know
Verse 3 I don’t ever wanna drink again I just, ooh, I just need a friend I’m not gonna spend ten weeks Have everyone think I’m on the mend
Pre-Chorus It’s not just my pride It’s just till these tears have dried
Chorus They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said, “No, no, no” Yes, I’ve been black, but when I come back, you’ll know, know, know I ain’t got the time and if my daddy thinks I’m fine He’s tried to make me go to rehab, but I won’t go, go, go
