The devil they know is addiction; the devil they don’t know is recovery. The speaker feels more comfortable in the presence of their own addiction rather than recovering, because recovering is an entirely different beast, and they are scared to face it. This addiction interpretation is supported by the fact that “Madame X” of the same album is about hard drugs.
“This one’s maybe the most accessible song, the one you remember right away. But lyrically, it’s pretty dark! I’m singing about myself—for me, it’s about battling your own demons. There’s a line: ‘I can pretend that I’m just praying now, but I’m only on my knees/I could scream, “Somebody, help me out,” but the wicked one is me.’ When you boil it down, that’s the message of the song.“
—via Apple Music
Devil I Know
Allie X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You keep messing with my brain
You tell me, "Eat the whole cake," it's what I deserve
Every time I take your lead, feels like a curse
And every time I try to stop, feels even worse
(Uh, uh)
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't)
'Cause baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
I know
I could pretend that I'm just praying now
But I'm only on my knees
I want to, wanna get free (get free)
But staying with you is easier than leaving (easy)
Feels like a holiday breeze when we go out
'Cause you bring me down to my knees when push comes to shove
Guess that's the price that you pay when you're in love
(Uh, uh)
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
Better than the devil I don't (I don't)
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't)
'Cause baby you're the devil I know (I know)
I know
I could pretend that I'm just praying now
But I'm only on my knees
I could scream, "Somebody help me out"
But the wicked one is me
Hee-hee
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
Better than the devil I don't (I don't) (better than the devil that I don't)
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't)
Oh, 'cause baby you're the devil I know (I know)
You're going to heaven 'cause you are the devil I know
You are the devil I know
(Baby, I'm the devil now)
The song "Devil I Know" by Allie X is about a complicated relationship where one partner feels trapped and manipulated by the other. In the first verse, she sings about feeling like she has made a big mistake by getting involved with this person who keeps messing with her brain. The other person tells her to indulge in harmful behavior, but she feels trapped and cursed when she follows their lead. She knows that this person is like the devil, but she continues to stay with them because it's easier than leaving.
The chorus is repetitive, emphasizing the point that the devil she knows is easier to deal with than the unknown. She acknowledges that she could stop, but she won't because she doesn't know what the future will hold without this person. In the second verse, she sings about pretending to pray for help, but really only being on her knees because she feels powerless to change her situation. She wishes she could be free of this person, but she feels like staying with them is easier than leaving.
Overall, the song is about being stuck in a toxic relationship and struggling to break free, even when you know that the person is bad for you. It's a common theme in many pop songs, but Allie X's approach is unique and sincere, with her vocals conveying a sense of desperation and resignation.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I made a big mistake
I believe that I have made a significant error in judgment
You keep messing with my brain
You continuously manipulate my thoughts and emotions
You tell me, "Eat the whole cake," it's what I deserve
You encourage me to indulge and overconsume, insisting that I have earned it
Every time I take your lead, feels like a curse
Whenever I follow your instructions, it brings about feelings of misery and misfortune
And every time I try to stop, feels even worse
Each attempt to resist your influence results in heightened levels of discomfort and distress
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
You are the familiar evil that I have grown accustomed to
Better than the devil I don't (I don't)
I would rather knowingly deal with your malevolence than face an unknown, potentially worse opponent
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't)
Although I may possess the ability to stop, I consciously choose not to do so
'Cause baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
Because you are the familiar evil that I have grown accustomed to
I could pretend that I'm just praying now
I could deceive myself and claim that I am merely in the midst of prayer
But I'm only on my knees
However, I am actually in a position of subservience to you
I want to, wanna get free (get free)
I desire to break free from your grasp
But staying with you is easier than leaving (easy)
Remaining under your influence is less challenging than trying to separate myself from you
Feels like a holiday breeze when we go out
Spending time with you initially feels like a carefree, enjoyable experience
'Cause you bring me down to my knees when push comes to shove
However, when faced with hardship or adversity, your presence becomes overwhelming and overpowering
Guess that's the price that you pay when you're in love
Perhaps this is the consequence of being emotionally invested in someone, even when they are harmful
I could scream, "Somebody help me out"
I could cry for assistance and request liberation
But the wicked one is me
However, I am the villain in this situation
You're going to heaven 'cause you are the devil I know
You are so familiar to me that it feels like being in heaven, despite your malevolent nature
You are the devil I know
You are the known evil in my life
(Baby, I'm the devil now)
(Perhaps I have become just as wicked as you in this toxic relationship)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexandra Ashley Hughes, Cara Salimando, Jens Patrik Duvsjo, Jonathan Percy Saxe, Oscar Gorres
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kyle_xx_3456
Lyrics
I think I made a big mistake
You keep messing with my brain
You tell me, “Eat the whole cake,” it's what I deserve
Every time I take your lead, feels like a curse
And every time I try to stop, feels even worse
(Uh, uh)
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
Better than the devil I don't (I don't)
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't)
'Cause baby you're the devil I know (I know)
I know
I could pretend that I'm just praying now
But I'm only on my knees
I want to wanna get free (get free)
'Cause staying with you is easier than leaving (easy)
Feels like a holiday breeze when we go out
'Cause you bring me to down to my knees when push comes to shove
Guess that's the price that you pay when you're in love
(Uh, uh)
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know)
Better than the devil I don't (I don't)
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't)
'Cause baby you're the devil I know (I know)
I know
I could pretend that I'm just praying now
But I'm only on my knees
I could scream, “Somebody help me out”
But the wicked one is me
Hee-hee
Baby, you're the devil I know (I know, I know, ooh, ooh)
Better than the devil I don't (Better than the devil that I don't)
Maybe I could stop, but I won't (I won't, I won't, oh, oh)
'Cause baby you're the devil I know (I know)
You're going to heaven 'cause you are the devil I know
You are the devil I know
(Baby I'm the devil now)
@valeriahernandezhernandeza4094
Me tomo media hora encontrar esta cancion después de ver el trailer de ATDMV y ahora la amo, tengo nuevo himno
@jackyvaldes9174
yo
@Leirem
Yoo
@Yane5885
yo
@ariadnacarrete90
Tip: cuando quieras conocer la música de un trailer o de un episode de una serie de Netflix, mira el trailer/episodio desde la plataforma y pon subtítulos con un idioma que contenga [CC] al lado -normalmente es el ingles-. Así te salen el nombre de la canción y el artista.
@genesismartinez1640
YO
@craadiamandis8904
People: How much perfection can you put in a song?
Allie: yes
@asphyxiation9149
lmao what an impressive comment
@marielysilvia7186
Yep
@hazelgiacomucci7527
Craa Diamandis that is the biggest truth