You used to say that I'd never be
Nothing without you and I believe
I'm shot in the lungs, I gasp, I can't breathe
Just lay here with me, baby, hold me please
And I'd beg and I'd plead, drop to knees
And I'd cry and I'd scream, "Baby, please don't leave"
Snatch the keys from your hand
I would squeeze and you'd laugh
And you'd tease, you're just fucking with me
And you must hate me
Why do you date me if you say I make you sick?
And you've had enough of me
I smother you, I'm 'bout to jump off the edge

But you won't break me
You'll just make me stronger than I was
Before I met you, I bet you I'll be just fine without you
And if I stumble, I won't crumble
I'll get back up and uhhh
I'ma still be humble when I scream, "Fuck you"
'Cause I'm stronger than I was

A beautiful face is all that you had
'Cause on the inside you're ugly and mad
But you're all that I love
I grasp, you can't leave
Please stay here with me, baby, hold me please
And I'd beg and I'd plead, drop to knees
And I'd cry and I'd scream, "Baby, please don't leave"
But you left and you took everything I had left
And left nothing, nothing for me
So please don't wake me from this dream, baby
We're still together in my head
And you're still in love with me
'Til I woke up to discover that that dream was dead

But you won't break me
You'll just make me stronger than I was
Before I met you, I bet you I'll be just fine without you
And if I stumble, I won't crumble
I'll get back up and uhhh
I'ma still be humble when I scream, "Fuck you"
'Cause I'm stronger than I was

You walked out, I almost died
It was almost a homicide that you caused 'cause I was so traumatized
Felt like I was in for a long bus ride
I'd rather die than you not be by my side
Can't count how many times I vomited, cried
Go to my room, turn the radio on and hide
Thought we were Bonnie and Clyde, nah
On the inside you were Jekyll and Hyde, I
Felt like my whole relationship with you was a lie
It was you and I, why did I think it was ride or die?
'Cause if you could've took my life you would've
It's like you put a knife to my chest and pushed it right through to the
Other side of my back and stuck a spike, too, should've
Put up more of a fight but I couldn't at the time
No one could hurt me like you could've
Take you back now, what's the likelihood of that?
Bite me, bitch, chew on a nineteen footer
'Cause this morning I finally stood up
Held my chin up, finally showed a sign of life in me for the
First time since you left and left me with nothing but shattered dreams
And a life we could've had and we could've been
But I'm breaking out of this slump I'm in
Pulling myself out of the dumps once again
I'm getting up once and for all, fuck this shit
I'ma be late for the pity party
But you're never gonna beat me to the fucking punch again
Took it on the chin like a champ so don't lump me in with them chump-ions
I'm done being your punching bag
It was the November 31st today, would've been our anniversary
Two years, but you left on the first of May
I wrote it on the calendar
Was gonna call, but couldn't think of the words to say
But it came to me just now, so I put 'em in a verse to lay

And I thank you (uh) 'cause you made me (uh)
A better person than I was
But I hate you (uh) 'cause you drained me (uh)
I gave you all, you gave me none
But if you blame me (uh), you're crazy (uh)
And after all that's said and done
I'm still angry, yeah, I may be
I may never trust someone

But you won't break me
You'll just make me stronger than I was
Before I met you, I bet you I'll be just fine without you
And if I stumble, I won't crumble
I'll get back up and uhhh
I'ma still be humble when I scream, "Fuck you"
'Cause I'm stronger than I was

Overall Meaning

The song "Stronger than I Was" by Eminem presents a story of a man who is grappling with the emotional pain of a broken relationship. The opening verse conveys the singer's feelings of helplessness and desperation after the relationship ends. The repeated pleas for the partner to stay, the image of being shot in the lungs, and the assertion that he will be nothing without her all convey a deep emotional pain. In this verse, the singer is begging for his partner's love and touch, demonstrating a desire to cling to the relationship despite the pain.

The chorus, "But you won't break me, you'll just make me stronger than I was" signals a shift in tone. The singer changes from a position of acquiescence and emotional dependence on their partner to one of strength and determination, using the emotional pain they experienced to become a stronger person. The singer is motivated to never depend on or allow another person to make them feel that way again.

The second verse begins with an ironic compliment to the ex-partner's looks, then goes on to show the singer's refusal to let go of the relationship. The chorus is repeated thematically, and the third verse ventures into a description of the physical sickness brought on by the experience of the broken relationship. The final verse turns towards anger and resentment, blaming and reprimanding the ex-partner for causing pain while also acknowledging a personal responsibility for the pain experienced.

Line by Line Meaning

You used to say that I'd never be
The relationship was unhealthy because it was built on the abuser's belief that the singer was nothing without them.

Nothing without you and I believe
The singer's self-worth and identity were tied to the abuser's validation and approval.

I'm shot in the lungs, I gasp, I can't breathe
The singer feels suffocated and unable to function without the abuser's presence and affection.

Just lay here with me, baby, hold me please
The artist is desperate for the abuser's comfort and reassurance, even if it means putting up with their abuse.

And I'd beg and I'd plead, drop to knees
The artist would do anything to keep the abuser in their life, including sacrificing their dignity and self-respect.

And I'd cry and I'd scream, "Baby, please don't leave"
The singer is in constant fear of abandonment and will do whatever it takes to prevent it.

Snatch the keys from your hand
The singer's actions become more desperate and erratic as they try to control the abuser's actions and keep them close.

And you'd tease, you're just fucking with me
The abuser enjoys manipulating and playing with the artist's emotions and uses it as a form of control.

Why do you date me if you say I make you sick?
The artist is confused by the abuser's mixed messages and believes that they are the cause of the abuse.

And you've had enough of me
The abuser's true intentions come to light as they eventually leave the artist with nothing and take everything from them.

I smother you, I'm 'bout to jump off the edge
The singer's desire for the abuser's affection reaches a breaking point and they are on the brink of self-destruction.

But you won't break me
The artist realizes that they are stronger than they thought and will not let the abuser's actions define them.

A beautiful face is all that you had
The abuser's outward appearance is just a facade for their ugly and abusive personality.

Cause on the inside you're ugly and mad
The abuser's true nature is revealed, showing their anger and cruelty towards the singer.

But you're all that I love
Despite their abuse, the singer still loves the abuser and is willing to put up with it for their affection.

You left and you took everything I had left
The abuser takes everything from the artist, leaving them with nothing but shattered dreams and a broken heart.

But you won't break me
Despite everything, the artist remains strong and determined to rise above the abuse and move on.

You walked out, I almost died
The abuser's departure leaves the singer feeling like they can't go on and that they are close to death.

Felt like I was in for a long bus ride
The singer feels like they are on a never-ending journey of pain and suffering without the abuser.

I'd rather die than you not be by my side
The artist's attachment to the abuser is so strong that they would rather die than be without them.

Bite me, bitch, chew on a nineteen footer
The artist is done with the abuse and is ready to stand up for themselves, even if it means using vulgar language.

I thank you (uh) 'cause you made me (uh)
The artist is grateful for the lessons they learned from the abuse and how it made them a better person in the end.

But I hate you (uh) 'cause you drained me (uh)
The singer also feels resentment towards the abuser for taking everything from them and leaving them with nothing.

But if you blame me (uh), you're crazy (uh)
The artist takes responsibility for their role in the abusive relationship, but also knows that the abuser is the one at fault.

I'm still angry, yeah, I may be
The singer is still angry about what happened, but is also ready to move on and not let it define them anymore.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Luis Edgardo Resto, Marshall B. Mathers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Honour

on The Real Slim Shady

May I have your attention, please?
May I have your attention, please?
Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
I repeat, will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
We're gonna have a problem here

Y'all act like you never seen a white person before
Jaws all on the floor like Pam like Tommy just burst in the door
And started whoopin' her ass worse than before
They first were divorced, throwing' her over furniture (ah)
It's the return of the "ah, wait, no way, you're kidding
He didn't just say what I think he did, did he?"
And Dr. Dre said, nothing, you idiots
Dr. Dre's dead, he's locked in my basement (ha ha)
Feminist women love Eminem
"Chicka, chicka, chicka, Slim Shady, I'm sick of him
Look at him, walkin' around, grabbing' his you-know-what
Flippin' the you-know-who"
"Yeah, but he's so cute though"
Yeah, I probably got a couple of screws up in my head loose
But no worse than what s going' on in your parents' bedrooms
Sometimes I wanna get on TV and just let loose
But can't, but it's cool for Tom Green to hump a dead moose
"My bum is on your lips, my bum is on your lips"
And if I'm lucky, you might just give it a little kiss
And that's the message that we deliver to little kids
And expect them not to know what a woman's clitoris is
Of course they're gonna know what intercourse is
By the time they hit fourth grade
They've got the Discovery Channel, don't they?
We ain't nothin' but mammals, well, some of us, cannibals
Who cut other people open like cantaloupes
But if we can hump dead animals and antelopes
Then there's no reason that a man and another man can't elope
But if you feel like I feel, I got the antidote
Women, wave your pantyhose, sing the chorus, and it goes

I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?

Will Smith don't gotta cuss in his raps to sell records
Well, I do, so fuck him and fuck you too
You think I give a damn about a Grammy?
Half of you critics can't even stomach me, let alone stand me
"But Slim, what if you win, wouldn't it be weird?"
Why, so you guys could just lie to get me here?
So you can sit me here next to Britney Spears?
Shit, Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs
So I can sit next to Carson Daly and Fred Durst
And hear 'em argue over who she gave head to first
Little bitch put me on blast on MTV
"Yeah, he's cute, but I think he's married to Kim, hee-hee"
I should download her audio on MP3
And show the whole world how you gave Eminem VD (ah)
I'm sick of you little girl and boy groups
All you do is annoy me, so I have been sent here to destroy you
And there's a million of us just like me
Who cuss like me, who just don't give a fuck like me
Who dress like me, walk, talk and act like me
And just might be the next best thing, but not quite me

'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?

I'm like a headtrip to listen to, 'cause I'm only giving' you
Things you joke about with your friends inside your living' room
The only difference is I got the balls to say it in front of y'all
And I don't gotta be false or sugarcoat it at all
I just get on the mic and spit it
And whether you like to admit it, I just shit it
Better than ninety percent of you rappers out can
Then you wonder, "how can
Kids eat up these albums like Valiums?"
It's funny, 'cause at the rate I'm going, when I'm thirty
I'll be the only person in the nursing home flirting
Pinching nurses asses when I'm jacking off with Jergens
And I'm jerking, but this whole bag of Viagra isn't working
And every single person is a Slim Shady lurking
He could be working at Burger King, spitting' on your onion rings
Or in the parking lot, circling, screaming, "I don't give a fuck"
With his windows down and his system up
So will the real Shady please stand up
And put one of those fingers on each hand up?
And be proud to be outta your mind and outta control
And one more time, loud as you can, how does it go?

I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?

Ha ha, I guess there's a Slim Shady in all of us
Fuck it, let's all stand up

Noah

on Remember Me?

12w

Remember me? S executions
Remember me? I have no remorse
Remember me? I'm high-powered
Remember me? I drop bombs like Hiroshima

For this one, they scream "X, you retarded?!"
'Cause I grab the mic and get down like syndrome
Hide and roam into the masses
Without boundaries, which qualifies me
For the term "universal" without no rehearsal
I leak words that's controversial
Like I'm not the one you wanna contest, see
'Cause I'll hit your ass like the train did that bitch
That got banned from TV, heavyweight getup
Hit you, watch your whole head split up
Loco is the motion, we comin' through
Hollow-tips is the lead the .45 threw

Remember me? Throw your guns in the air
Remember me? Slam, slam
Remember me? Nigga, back the fuck up
Remember me? Chka-chka-Onyx

Niggas that take no for an answer get told no
Yeah, I been told no, but it was more like "No! No! No!"
Life a bitch, met her, fuck you if you let her
Better come better than better to be a competitor
This vet is ahead of the shit, it's all redder, you deader and deader
A medic instead of the cheddars and credda
Settle vendetta with metal Beretta from ghetto to ghetto
Evidence, nope, never leave a shred of
I got the soul of every rapper in me, love me or hate me
My moms got raped by the industry and made me
I'm the illest nigga ever, I told you
I get more pussy than them dyke bitches Total
Want beef, nigga? Pfft, you better dead that shit
My name should be Can't-Believe-That-Nigga-Said-That-Shit
Probably sayin' he ain't a killer, but I'm killin' myself
Smoke death, fuck bitches raw on the kitchen floor
So think what I'ma do to you, have done to you
Got niggas in my hood who'd do that shit for a blunt or two
What you wanna do? Cocksuckers, we Glock busters
'Til the cops cuff us, gon' start ruckus and drop blockbusters
Round the clock hustlers, you cannot touch us
I'm gettin' wires, niggas wantin' me dead
Wantin' my head, you think it could be somethin' I said?

Remember me? I just don't give a fuck
Remember me? Yeah, fuck you too
Remember me? I'm low down and I'm shifty
Remember me? I'm Shady

When I go out, I'ma go out shootin'
I don't mean when I die, I mean when I go out to the club, stupid
I'm tryin' to clean up my fuckin' image
So I promised the fuckin' critics
I wouldn't say "fuckin'" for six minutes
(Six minutes, Slim Shady, you're on)
My baby's mom, bitch made me an angry blonde
So I made me a song, killed her and put Hailie on
I may be wrong, I keep thinkin' these crazy thoughts
In my cranium, but I'm stuck with a crazy mom
(Is she really on as much dope as you say she's on?)
Came home and somebody must've broke in the back window
And stole two loaded machine guns and both of my trench coats
Six sick dreams of picnic scenes
Two kids, sixteen, with M-16s and ten clips each
And them shits reach through six kids each
And Slim gets blamed in Bill Clint's speech to fix these streets?!
Fuck that! Pfft, you faggots can vanish to volcanic ash
And reappear in hell with a can of gas and a match
Aftermath, Dre, grab the gat, show 'em where it's at
(What the fuck you starin' at, nigga?)

Don't you remember me?
Remember me?
Remember me?
Remember me? (Slim Shady!)