Basket Case
Billie Joe Armstrong and Elvis Costello Lyrics
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To listen to me whine
cbout nothing and everything
cll at once
I am one of those
Melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bone
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
cm I just paranoid, ‘or am I just stoned?
I went to a shrink
To analyze my dreams
She says its lack of sex
That's bringing me down
I went to a whore
He 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
cm I just paranoid, ‘or am I just stoned?
Hey! Hey!
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
cm I just paranoid, ‘or am I just stoned?
The lyrics to "Basket Case" by Billie Joe Armstrong and Elvis Costello capture the inner turmoil and anxiety of the singer. The song opens with a plea for someone to listen to their complaints, expressing a mixture of frustration and overwhelm about everything and nothing at once. The singer identifies themselves as a melodramatic fool, someone who is prone to neuroticism and overthinking. They question their own mental state, wondering if they are just paranoid or under the influence of drugs.
The song then reveals that the singer has sought help for their mental struggles, visiting a therapist to analyze their dreams. However, the therapist's explanation that their lack of sex is the cause of their problems only adds to their frustration. Seeking further advice, they consult a sex worker, who dismisses their complaints and advises them to stop whining as it is affecting their life negatively.
Throughout the song, the singer constantly battles with their own mind, experiencing moments of self-doubt and feeling as if they are losing control. They acknowledge that sometimes their mind plays tricks on them, leading them to question their sanity. The repeated refrain of "Sometimes I give myself the creeps" reflects their ongoing struggle with their mental state.
Overall, "Basket Case" portrays the struggles of someone grappling with their own anxieties, self-doubt, and possibly substance abuse, seeking validation and understanding in a world that often fails to provide it.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you have the time
Can you spare a moment to listen to me
To listen to me whine
To hear me complain and express my dissatisfaction
About nothing and everything
About trivial and important matters alike
All at once
Simultaneously
I am one of those
I belong to a particular group
Melodramatic fools
Exaggerated and emotional individuals
Neurotic to the bone
Inherently anxious and obsessively worried
No doubt about it
Without any uncertainty
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Occasionally I scare or unsettle myself
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
At times my thoughts deceive or confuse me
It all keeps adding up
The cumulative effects continue to accumulate
I think I'm cracking up
I believe I'm losing my sanity
Am I just paranoid, or am I just stoned?
Do I have irrational fears, or am I under the influence of drugs?
I went to a shrink
I visited a therapist
To analyze my dreams
To examine and interpret my subconscious thoughts during sleep
She says it's lack of sex
She suggests that my dissatisfaction stems from a lack of sexual activity
That's bringing me down
That's causing my emotional decline
I went to a whore
I sought the services of a prostitute
He said my life's a bore
He commented that my existence is dull and uninteresting
So quit my whining
Therefore, stop complaining
‘Cause it's bringing her down
Because it's affecting her negatively
Grasping to control
Desperately trying to maintain control
So I better hold on
So I must continue to hold on tightly
Hey! Hey!
Expressing a shout or attention-getting exclamation
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Occasionally I scare or unsettle myself
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
At times my thoughts deceive or confuse me
It all keeps adding up
The cumulative effects continue to accumulate
I think I'm cracking up
I believe I'm losing my sanity
Am I just paranoid, or am I just stoned?
Do I have irrational fears, or am I under the influence of drugs?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Unbelievably great
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Never seen this before … wow is all I can say