Crazy
Barenaked Ladies Lyrics
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I am more than content with the state of mind I am in
'Cause I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I don't think I need a rubber room, but that might be nice
I'm not a manic depressive, paranoid or schizophrenic, so I don't need your advice
'Cause I'm just crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
The lights are on but nobody's home
My elevator doesn't go to the top
I'm not playing with a full deck
I've lost my marbles
The lights are on but nobody's home
My elevator doesn't go to the top
I'm not playing with a full deck
I've lost my marbles (oh, oh oh)
I'm a few bricks short of a load, but a full load always hurt my back
I flew over the cuckoo's nest and I'm never ever coming back
'Cause I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I am crazy (crazy)
You wanna get out of here, don't you?
You wanna get out? Then run, then run, then run
Don't answer that, bring that helicopter back down will ya?
Was proud of his new harmonica, he decided to become an expert
Crazy
He was a quiet long-legged skinny man with a dignified beard and mustache
Tell me this, Eddie, I've got to know, isn't there a house for me?
You wanna get out of here don't you?
Don't answer that, bring that helicopter back down will ya?
We're rollin' man!
Found my locker
That is the take
As I prepare a suit that's made from monkey
Bad (just cheese you know)
Ah
Goes to the theatre 'cause he watches everybody else
But no one watches him, everybody knows
And if I phoned my friends in Ireland
I'd have my own radio talk show and I'd talk to myself
And if I filmed my sister walking
I'd yell stuff like, "hey, get off the phone"
Gordon? Yeah, Gordon, King Gordon
The Barenaked Ladies’ Song “Crazy” is an ode to embracing one’s quirks and imperfections. The singer of the song acknowledges that he may not be the picture of mental stability (climbing the walls of his mind like a jungle gym), but he is content with how he is, and he likes to think that everyone else is also a little crazy.
The repeated chorus “I am crazy just like you” reinforces the idea that everyone has their quirks and eccentricities, and it’s okay to embrace them. The pre-chorus, where the singer comically lists off various mental illnesses he doesn’t have, serves to further highlight this point. He pokes fun at the labels and stigmas surrounding mental illness and instead chooses to identify himself as simply crazy, a term that can apply to anyone in some way or another.
The bridge is where the song takes on a more nonsensical and playful tone, with lines like “I flew over the cuckoo’s nest and I’m never ever coming back.” The final lines of the song reference a character named King Gordon, who is likely a reference to a Toronto musician named Gordon Lightfoot, whom the Barenaked Ladies have cited as an influence.
Overall, “Crazy” is a fun, upbeat song that encourages listeners to embrace their quirks and not take themselves too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
I climb the walls of my mind just like I'm climbing on a jungle gym
I am imaginative and creative; my thoughts take me to new heights like climbing on a jungle gym.
'Cause I am crazy (crazy, crazy) just like you
I embrace my eccentricities because they make me who I am, just like you.
I don't think I need a rubber room, but that might be nice
I am not completely insane, but sometimes it might be nice to have some peace and quiet in a padded room.
I'm not a manic depressive, paranoid or schizophrenic, so I don't need your advice
I am aware of my own state of mind and don't need others telling me how to handle my own mental health.
The lights are on but nobody's home
I might look like I'm present, but my mind is somewhere else entirely.
My elevator doesn't go to the top
I might not always be firing at 100%, but I try my best.
I'm not playing with a full deck
I'm not one to play it safe and prefer to take risks.
I've lost my marbles
I am crazy and eccentric, but that is what makes me unique and special.
I'm a few bricks short of a load, but a full load always hurt my back
I might not have it all together, but at least I don't carry too much emotional baggage.
I flew over the cuckoo's nest and I'm never ever coming back
I have been on a journey and I've realized that it is better to be yourself and embrace your craziness than to try to fit into society's strict standards.
You wanna get out of here, don't you?
I sense that you are bored and want to change the conversation or location.
Don't answer that, bring that helicopter back down will ya?
I was only joking about the helicopter, but let's move on to something more interesting.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ed Robertson, Tim Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind