Cocaine
Eminem Lyrics

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[Alicia Keys]
...yeah I made it
I'm addicted

[Eminem - First Verse]
This was a beat with no words at first, it's a blank painting
Exercising my mind, it's brain strength training
Starts off with the pain

Going to lengths explaining
Myself to myself, but I ain't great at delaying
The temptation and lust, the sensation's a must
A combination of rush and not giving a !!
So I'm giving up

Back to cabinet, a couple pills
Take enough to chill and just feel like nothing's real
But satisfy my appetite, I feel like nothing will
So I take a couple more, why the !! not?
I up the thrill
Wearing nothing but a bathrobe, got my wallet and that's it
Now I'm driving a back road, you could call it a bad trip

Act cool but I'm nervous under the surface, swerving in both lanes
Is this !! worth it? This life is my cocaine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eminem's song "Cocaine" featuring Alicia Keys talks about addiction - not necessarily to the drug, but addiction in general. Alicia Keys starts the song off by saying that she's made it, but she's addicted. This is followed by Eminem's first verse where he talks about how addiction can start from something as small as a beat with no words. He refers to his mind as a muscle that he's training for strength, but he's not good at delaying temptation and lust.

Eminem further explains the feeling of addiction by comparing it to getting a rush and not caring about the consequences. The temptation to do more is always there, and he feels like nothing is real unless he satisfies his appetite for more. He takes more pills to up the thrill and ends up in a bad trip, driving in both lanes and questioning if this life is worth it. He compares this addiction to cocaine - a highly addictive drug that creates a euphoric feeling that people keep chasing.

Line by Line Meaning

...yeah I made it
I have achieved success in my life

I'm addicted
I'm addicted to the lifestyle and the rush that comes with it

This was a beat with no words at first, it's a blank painting
The song started out as an empty canvas, waiting to be filled with lyrics

Exercising my mind, it's brain strength training
Creating music is a mental workout, requiring focus and creativity

Starts off with the pain
Writing music often comes from a place of personal pain and struggles

Going to lengths explaining
The artist goes to great lengths to express and convey their message

Myself to myself, but I ain't great at delaying
The artist struggles with procrastination and delaying their own progress

The temptation and lust, the sensation's a must
The artist is tempted by the rush and excitement that comes with their lifestyle

A combination of rush and not giving a !!
The artist is driven by both adrenaline and a disregard for consequences

So I'm giving up
The artist is surrendering to the allure of their lifestyle

Back to cabinet, a couple pills
The artist turns to drugs to escape reality

Take enough to chill and just feel like nothing's real
The artist takes drugs to numb their senses and escape their problems

But satisfy my appetite, I feel like nothing will
Despite the temporary relief, the artist knows that their addiction will never truly satisfy them

So I take a couple more, why the !! not?
The artist continues to use drugs, unconcerned with the dangers and consequences

I up the thrill
The artist increases their dosage to intensify the high

Wearing nothing but a bathrobe, got my wallet and that's it
The artist is reckless and impulsive, acting without concern for their own safety

Now I'm driving a back road, you could call it a bad trip
The artist's reckless behavior leads them into dangerous situations

Act cool but I'm nervous under the surface, swerving in both lanes
Despite putting on a brave face, the artist is aware of the risks and dangers of their actions

Is this !! worth it? This life is my cocaine
The artist questions whether their lifestyle and addiction are truly worth the risks, but ultimately cannot resist the allure of the rush it provides

Contributed by Evan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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