Rehab
Amy Winhouse Lyrics


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They tried to make me go to rehab, 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
Just try to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go

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

I didn't get a lot in class
But I know it don't come in a shot glass

They tried to make me go to rehab, 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
Just try to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go

The man said: "Why you think you're here?"
I said: "I got no idea
I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby
So I always keep a bottle near"

He said: "I just think you're depressed"
this, me, yeah, baby, and the rest

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said: "No, no, no"
Yes, I've been black, but when I come back, you'll know, know, know

I don't ever wanna drink again
I just, oooh, just need a friend
I'm not gonna spend ten weeks
Have everyone think I'm on the mend

And It's not just my pride
It's just 'till these tears have dried

They tried to make me go to rehab, 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
Just try to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go

Overall Meaning

"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse is a song about a woman who is struggling with addiction and refuses to go to rehab. The lyrics describe the pressure put on her by those around her to seek treatment, but she resists, insisting that she doesn't have the time and can handle it on her own. She would rather be at home with Ray Charles and believes that she doesn't need anyone to teach her how to overcome her addiction. However, she reveals her fear of losing her baby and her dependence on alcohol to help numb her pain. Despite her resistance, she acknowledges that she doesn't want to continue down this path and expresses a need for a friend to help her through it.


The song is a reflection of Winehouse's own struggles with addiction and her refusal to seek treatment. She was known for her heavy drinking and drug use, which led to frequent public incidents and hospitalizations. "Rehab" was written as a response to her management company's insistence that she seek treatment, which she initially refused. The lyrics are a plea for understanding and a defense of her right to make her own choices, even if they are harmful.


Line by Line Meaning

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said: "No, no, no"
Amy is being pressured to go to rehab for her addiction, but she refuses to go and asserts her independence.


Yes, I've been black, but when I come back, you'll know, know, know
She has struggled with her African-American identity, but she will return from her current troubles stronger and wiser.


I ain't got the time, and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
Amy is too busy with her career to go to rehab, and she believes her father believes she is still okay.


Just try to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go
Despite the pressure, she will not give in and go to rehab.


I'd rather be at home with Ray
She would rather be in the company of her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil.


I ain't got seventy days
She is unwilling to commit to a long rehab program.


'Cause there's nothing, there's nothing you can teach me
Amy believes rehab will not teach her anything new about addiction and recovery.


That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway
She believes she has already learned enough about addiction and recovery from musician Donny Hathaway.


I didn't get a lot in class
Amy didn't learn much in school.


But I know it don't come in a shot glass
She knows that alcohol is not the solution to her problems.


The man said: "Why you think you're here?"
The man in rehab is asking Amy why she thinks she needs to be there.


I said: "I got no idea
Amy genuinely doesn't know why she is in the rehab facility.


I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby
Amy is afraid she will lose her husband Blake Fielder-Civil if she doesn't get help for her addiction.


So I always keep a bottle near"
Amy relies on alcohol to make her feel better about the possibility of losing her husband.


He said: "I just think you're depressed"
The man in rehab believes Amy's addiction stems from her depression.


This, me, yeah, baby, and the rest
Amy acknowledges that her depression is a factor in her addiction, but adds that other factors are in play as well.


I don't ever wanna drink again
Amy is trying to break her addiction to alcohol and doesn't want to drink ever again.


I just, oooh, just need a friend
Amy is lonely and wants someone to support her through this difficult time.


I'm not gonna spend ten weeks
Amy is reluctant to commit to a long rehab program.


Have everyone think I'm on the mend
She's afraid of appearing to have made progress if she doesn't fully address her addiction issues.


And It's not just my pride
Amy's stubbornness and refusal to go to rehab is not just about pride.


It's just 'till these tears have dried
She needs time to heal before she can commit to going to rehab.




Contributed by Lucy Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@shawntalrenay3833

"I don't ever wanna drink again, I just, oh I just need a friend" rest in peace Amy, you are so loved.

@haseebhassan6955

Funny i just 911'D your comment xD

@tyradeshift6832

"Ohhh, no no nooo!"

@musicloops2565

Tyrade Shift I was gonna say that

@ShellyMischelle

SO Many WOULD,and DID ADORE and LOVE YOU*💫AMY🌟...one was too many,a Trillion would not been enough STARS to SHINE As BRIGHT as YOU Beautiful, Awesome&DEAREST AMY WINEHOUSE, Angel In My Heart!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💜🎼⚡️✨🦄💜 SAD *ONLY That Your ILLNESS was STIGMATIZING,and Other ILLNESS,such as diabetes or other illnesses are NOT,for ANY other illness Amy WOULD have been Saved !NOT Rebuked & Eaten by media- PaperazziTrash!
That’s What’s SAD ab our Music,entertainment Business!

@jameswright6839

you caught it too Shawntal.

82 More Replies...

@unknownknown2078

She opened the doors for Adele, Lana Del Rey, Birdy etc.. I cant explain how but she MADE something.

@rgblove4431

+Pink Pikachu Birdy Already had her doors open

@PromoDragon

+Pink Pikachu I learned it recently how from my media class, well for adele at least I can answer. She opened the doorway for female pop/rnb singers who don't look like the typical Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez type (Both physically and personality). She was literally a chick who sang an awesome song about how she likes her lifestyle of drugs and is not going to change it. People then thought oh wait if she looks like that and can sing like that then lets give these unconventional chicks like adele, lady gaga, etc a try.

@SimonK104

And Paloma Faith. She has a similar voice to Amy.

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