I Need A Doctor
Dr. Dre feat Eminem & Skylar Grey Lyrics

I'm about to lose my mind
The singer is at a breaking point due to their current situation.

You've been gone for so long, I'm runnin' out of time
The absence of someone important has caused the singer to feel like they are running out of time to fix their problems.

I need a doctor, call me a doctor
The singer is in dire need of professional help to get back to a stable state.

I need a doctor, doctor
The artist is reiterating their need for medical attention to emphasize the urgency of their situation.

To bring me back to life
The artist needs help to revive their spirit and motivation to keep going.

I told the world, one day I would pay it back
The singer had promised to give back to society for something in the past.

Say it on tape, and lay it, record it so that one day I could play it back
The singer had recorded their promise in a public manner, possibly to hold themselves accountable for keeping it.

But I don't even know if I believe it when I'm sayin' that
The artist is uncertain of their own ability to follow through with their promise.

Doubts startin' to creep in, every day, it's just so grey and black
The artist is beginning to lose confidence in themselves and their future prospects, making everything seem bleak.

Hope, I just need a ray of that, 'cause no one sees my vision
The artist is looking for any shred of positivity or affirmation, as they feel like their goals and vision are unsupported.

When I play it for 'em, they just say it's wack, they don't know what dope is
People haven't responded well to what the singer is showcasing, not recognizing its potential or value.

And I don't know if I was awake or asleep when I wrote this
The artist is unsure about the clarity of their thoughts and creativity, possibly due to a cloudy mental state.

All I know is you came to me when I was at my lowest
The person being addressed (presumably the doctor) had come to the singer during their worst point and helped them through it.

You picked me up, breathed new life in me, I owe my life to you
The doctor had saved the singer's life and given them a renewed sense of purpose and drive, leading to an immense feeling of indebtedness.

But for the life of me, I don't see why you don't see like I do
The singer is having trouble understanding why the doctor doesn't share their perspective or outlook.

But it just dawned on me you lost a son, demons fighting you, it's dark
The artist just realized that the doctor is going through their own personal struggles and grief, which explains their distant behavior.

Let me turn on the lights and brighten me and enlighten you
The artist wants to help the doctor overcome their difficulties by bringing positive energy and perspective into their life.

I don't think you realize what you mean to me, not the slightest clue
The singer feels like the doctor doesn't understand the impact they have had on their life.

'Cause me and you were like a crew, I was like your sidekick
The singer and the doctor had a close relationship, with the singer feeling like they were a trusted and reliable partner to the doctor.

You gon' either wanna fight me when I get off this fuckin' mic
The artist is acknowledging that what they are saying might be contentious or difficult for the doctor to hear.

Or you gon' hug me, but I'm outta options, there's nothin' else I can do 'cause
The artist feels like they have exhausted all other options and ways to get through to the doctor.

It hurts when I see you struggle, you come to me with ideas
The artist is pained to see the doctor struggling and reaching out to them for help and support.

You say they're just pieces, so I'm puzzled, 'cause the shit I hear is crazy
The singer is confused by the doctor's self-doubt and cynicism towards their own ideas, as the singer thinks highly of them.

But you're either gettin' lazy or you don't believe in you no more
The artist is unsure if the doctor is losing passion for their work or if they have stopped believing in their own abilities.

Seems like your own opinions, not one you can form
The singer thinks that the doctor is struggling to develop their own opinions and perspectives, possibly due to feeling uninspired or disconnected.

Can't make a decision, you keep questionin' yourself
The singer thinks that the doctor is chronically indecisive and unsure of themselves in their decision-making.

Second guessin' and it's almost like your beggin' for my help
The singer thinks that the doctor is constantly seeking their approval and direction, feeling like they need guidance to make decisions.

Like I'm your leader, you're supposed to fuckin' be my mentor
The artist feels like the roles have been switched, with the doctor depending on the artist for guidance and support.

I can endure no more I demand you remember who you are
The artist is at their limit and is demanding that the doctor recapture their sense of self and purpose.

It was you, who believed in me when everyone was tellin'
The singer is reminding the doctor of how they had been there for them in the past, even when others doubted them.

You don't sign me, everyone at the fuckin' label, let's tell the truth
The singer is referencing a past situation where the doctor had taken a risk on them, despite opposition from others in the industry.

You risked your career for me, I know it as well as you
The artist acknowledges that the doctor had put their own professional reputation on the line to support the artist's career.

Nobody wanted to fuck with the white boy, Dre, I'm cryin' in this booth
The artist felt like they were struggling to fit in and gain acceptance in the music industry, leading them to feel vulnerable and emotional.

You saved my life, now maybe it's my turn to save yours
The artist feels an obligation to help the doctor, as they had previously saved the artist's own life and career.

But I can never repay you, what you did for me is way more
The singer doesn't feel like they could ever fully repay the debt they owe to the doctor for what they had done for them in the past.

But I ain't givin' up faith and you ain't givin' up on me
The artist is determined to maintain hope and motivation, and is confident that the doctor won't abandon them despite their struggles.

Get up, Dre, I'm dyin', I need you, come back for fuck's sake
The singer is pleading with the doctor to help them get back on track and is desperate for their assistance.

Bring me back to life
The singer is asking the doctor to help revive their sense of purpose and motivation so that they can continue to pursue their goals.

It literally feels like a lifetime ago
The singer is reflecting on past experiences and feeling like they are now distant and unrecognizable.

But I still remember the shit like it was just yesterday, though
The artist is highlighting how vivid and memorable certain past events were, despite them feeling like a long time ago.

You walked in, yellow jump suit, whole room, cracked jokes
The artist is recalling a specific moment when they first met the doctor and how they had immediately brought a lighthearted energy into the room.

Once you got inside the booth, told you, mic smoke
The singer is referencing a time when the doctor had delivered an impressive recording performance in the studio.

Went through friends, some of them I put on, but they just left
The singer had helped some of their friends get started in the music industry, but those friends had since abandoned them.

They said they was ridin' to the death, but where the fuck are they now?
The artist is expressing frustration and disappointment with friends who had promised loyalty and support, but who were not there when the artist needed them most.

Now that I need them, I don't see none of them
The artist is pointing out that the fair-weather friends who had promised to always be there had disappeared when the artist hit hard times.

All I see is Slim, fuck all you fair-weather friends, all I need is him
The artist is emphasizing that the only person they need in their corner is the doctor (Slim), as they have proven to be the only true friend and supporter.

Fuckin' backstabbers, when the chips were down you just laughed at us
The singer is calling out the fair-weather friends for being traitorous and unsupportive, even taking pleasure in the singer's misfortune.

Now you 'bout to feel the fuckin' wrath of Aftermath, faggots
The artist is announcing their intent to seek revenge on those who had betrayed and turned their back on the artist, with Aftermath (the label associated with Dr. Dre) being the group who will stand with the artist in this crusade.

You gon' see us in our lab jackets and ask us where the fuck we been?
The singer is proud of their association with Aftermath and is anticipating a moment when the fair-weather friends will see them achieving success (in lab jackets symbolizing their professional collaborations) and want to know how they did it.

You can kiss my indecisive ass crack, maggots
The singer is expressing disdain and rejection for the fair-weather friends who had abandoned them in their time of need.

And the crackers' ass, little cracker jack beat
The singer is belittling the contributions and accomplishments of the fair-weather friends, seeing them as insignificant and unimportant.

Makin' wack math, backwards producers, I'm back bastards
The artist sees the fair-weather friends as being bad producers who can only make sub-par music, while the artist is proclaiming their return to making quality music.

One more CD and then I'm packin' up my bags and as I'm leavin'
The artist is planning on producing one more album before retiring from the industry.

I guarantee they'll scream, "Dre, don't leave us like that man" 'cause
The singer is confident that the fair-weather friends will beg for the singer to stay in the industry and continue working with them, despite having previously abandoned the singer during tough times.