Teddy grew up navigating different worlds: he was a football player, a musical theater student and the grandson of a Pentecostal pastor. Teddy was exposed to a wider variety of music than most “country boys”. In high school and over the next few years he was in several bands, genres ranging from 80’s hair metal, funk, modern metalcore, soul, and country alternative bands.
These experiences make Teddy who he is as an artist.
In March of 2019, Teddy went on his first US tour as a hip-hop artist with his best friend Addy Maxwell, which he describes as freeing experience, as he was able to continue to expand into uncharted territory. With this in mind, Teddy began to explore integrating the various genres he loved: metal, pop-punk, soul/funk, country, gospel, r&b, and show-tunes, into one genre that is Teddy Swims.
Teddy is the accumulation of past projects. Swims stands for: someone who isn’t me sometimes, a reference to Teddy’s struggle to integrate the different parts of himself. For Teddy, the goal is to break barriers and bring people together. About the project, Teddy says, “There are no categories, no stereotypes, no statistic is a definite number. Until we learn to see every person as an individual, we will never truly reach unity.”
Lose Control
Teddy Swims Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, I don't know myself anymore
Feels like the walls are all closin' in
And the devil's knockin' at my door, whoa
Out of my mind, how many times
Did I tell you I'm no good at bein' alone?
Yeah, it's takin' a toll on me, tryin' my best to keep
From tearin' the skin off my bones, don't you know
I lose control
When you're not next to me (when you're not here with me)
I'm fallin' apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I lose control
When you're not next to me, mm-hm
Yeah, you're breakin' my heart, baby
You make a mess of me
Problematic
Problem is I want your body like a fiend, like a bad habit
Bad habits hard to break when I'm with you
Yeah, I know, I could do it on my own
But I want that real full moon black magic and it takes two
Problematic
Problem is when I'm with you, I'm an addict
And I need some relief, my skin in your teeth
Can't see the forest through the trees
Got me down on my knees, darlin' please, oh
I lose control
When you're not next to me (when you're not here with me)
I'm fallin' apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I lose control
When you're not next to me, mm-hm
Yeah, you're breakin' my heart, baby
You make a mess of me, yeah
I lose control
When you're not here with me, mm
I'm fallin' apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I lose control
When you're not here with me, mm-hm
Yeah, you're breakin' my heart, baby
You make a mess of me
The lyrics to Teddy Swims's song "Lose Control" convey a sense of desperation and vulnerability that arises when someone is deeply connected to another person. The singer is grappling with a sense of self-identity, feeling like they have lost touch with who they are. They describe the feeling of being trapped, as if the walls are closing in and the devil is knocking at their door. This imagery emphasizes the overwhelming turmoil they are experiencing.
The chorus reveals the depth of their emotions, expressing that they lose control when the person they are deeply connected to is not by their side. This loss of control manifests as falling apart in front of that person, desperately needing their presence to maintain a sense of stability. The singer acknowledges that they could navigate life on their own, but there is something irresistible and enchanting about being with this person. They describe it as a "real full moon black magic" that they crave and acknowledge that it takes both of them to create this intoxicating connection.
The verses further explore the singer's addiction to this person. They describe wanting their body like a fiend, comparing it to a bad habit that is difficult to break. The singer recognizes the problematic nature of their attachment, but they are unable to resist it. They want relief from the overwhelming desire, and they envision their own skin in the other person's teeth, emphasizing the primal and consuming nature of their attraction.
Overall, "Lose Control" captures the intense emotions and inner struggles that arise when two individuals share a deep connection that feels both exhilarating and destructive. The lyrics explore themes of addiction, vulnerability, and the inability to resist the magnetic pull of love, even when it leads to heartache and a loss of control.
Line by Line Meaning
Something's got a hold of me lately
I feel overwhelmed and influenced by something in my life recently
No, I don't know myself anymore
I feel disconnected from my own identity
Feels like the walls are all closing in
I feel trapped and suffocated by my circumstances
And the devil's knocking at my door, whoa
I feel tempted and challenged by negative influences
Out of my mind, how many times
I've lost count of how frequently
Did I tell you I'm no good at being alone?
I struggle with being by myself
Yeah, it's taking a toll on me, trying my best to keep
It's having a negative impact on me, and I'm doing my best to cope
From tearing the skin off my bones, don't you know
To avoid feeling intense emotional pain
I lose control
I lose my composure and stability
When you're not next to me
When you're not by my side
I'm falling apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I'm visibly breaking down when you're around
Yeah, you're breaking my heart, baby
You're causing emotional pain to me
You make a mess of me
You make me feel chaotic and unpredictable
Problematic, problem is
It's troublesome, and the issue is
I want your body like a fiend, like a bad habit
I desire your physical presence intensely and addictively
Bad habit's hard to break when I'm with you
It's difficult for me to overcome this addictive behavior when I'm around you
Yeah, I know, I could do it on my own
I'm aware that I can handle things independently
But I want that real full moon black magic and it takes two
But I crave that intense and mystical connection, and it requires both of us
When I'm with you, I'm an addict
Being with you turns me into an addict
And I need some relief, my skin in your teeth
I seek comfort and release by being intertwined with you
Can't see the forest through the trees
I can't see the bigger picture due to being consumed by the details
Got me down on my knees, darling please, oh
You have brought me to a point of desperation and I'm begging for your help
When you're not here with me
When you're not present in my life
I'm falling apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I'm visibly breaking down in your presence
Yeah, you're breaking my heart, baby
You're causing emotional pain to me
You make a mess of me
You make me feel chaotic and unpredictable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Jaten Collin Dimsdale, John Stephen Sudduth, Joshua Emanuel Coleman, Julian Collin Bunetta, Marco Antonio Jr. Rodriguez Diaz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind