Lavigne's third studio album, The Best Damn Thing (2007), reached number one in seven countries worldwide and saw the international success of its lead single "Girlfriend", which became her first single to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Her next two studio albums, Goodbye Lullaby (2011) and Avril Lavigne (2013), saw continued commercial success and were both certified gold in Canada, the United States, and other territories. After releasing her sixth studio album, Head Above Water (2019), she returned to her punk roots with her seventh studio album, Love Sux (2022).
Alongside her music career, Lavigne voiced an animated character in the film Over the Hedge (2006) and made her screen acting debut in Fast Food Nation (2006). Her accolades include eight Grammy Awards nominations.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avril_Lavigne
Studio albums
Let Go (2002)
Under My Skin (2004)
The Best Damn Thing (2007)
Goodbye Lullaby (2011)
Avril Lavigne (2013)
Head Above Water (2019)
Love Sux (2022)
Basket Case
Avril Lavigne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About nothing and everything all at once?
I am one of those melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bone, no doubt about it
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up, I think I'm cracking up
I went to a shrink to analyze my dreams
She says it's lack of sex that's bringing me down
I went to a whore who said my life's a bore
So quit my whining 'cause it's bringing her down
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up, I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid? Yeah, yeah
Grasping to control
So I better hold on
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up, I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid or am I just stoned?
The lyrics of Avril Lavigne's song Basket Case deal with the struggles of mental health issues, especially anxiety and paranoia. The opening line, "Do you have the time to listen to me whine," sets the tone of the song as a lamentation of the singer's inner turmoil. The phrase "About nothing and everything all at once" suggests that the singer's problems are both vast and trivial at the same time, adding to her sense of confusion and helplessness.
The singer describes herself as a "melodramatic fool" who is "neurotic to the bone." These phrases suggest that her mental health issues are ingrained and hard to shake off. She experiences moments where she feels like she is losing control, and her mind is playing tricks on her. The imagery of giving herself the "creeps" emphasizes the unease she feels within herself.
The song also touches on the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The singer talks about going to a psychologist who suggests that her problems may be due to a lack of sex, and a sex worker who tells her to stop whining. These incidents show how the singer is struggling to find support and understanding, even from those who are supposed to help her.
Overall, Basket Case is a raw and honest portrayal of the struggles of mental health issues, and how they affect one's sense of self and relationships with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you have the time to listen to me whine
Can you spare some time to hear me complain about my problems?
About nothing and everything all at once?
My complaints may be trivial or serious, but they all occupy my thoughts at the same time.
I am one of those melodramatic fools
I am prone to overreacting and exaggerating my problems.
Neurotic to the bone, no doubt about it
I have deep-seated anxiety and worry that affects every aspect of my life.
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
I get a feeling of unease or discomfort about myself and my life.
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
My thoughts can deceive me or make me question my own sanity.
It all keeps adding up, I think I'm cracking up
My problems and worries are becoming overwhelming, and it feels like I'm losing control.
Am I just paranoid or am I just stoned?
I'm unsure if my fears and worries are justified or if it's just my imagination or drug use making things worse.
I went to a shrink to analyze my dreams
I sought professional help to understand my subconscious thoughts and feelings.
She says it's lack of sex that's bringing me down
My therapist diagnosed my problems as being caused by a lack of physical intimacy in my life.
I went to a whore who said my life's a bore
In desperation, I turned to a prostitute for advice, but she dismissed my problems as mundane and uninteresting.
So quit my whining 'cause it's bringing her down
The prostitute was annoyed with me constantly talking about my issues, and I realized that my complaints were a burden to others.
Grasping to control
I am struggling to maintain a sense of control over my emotions and thoughts.
So I better hold on
I need to try my best to stay grounded and not let my problems consume me.
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.