Darkness
Eminem Lyrics

I don't wanna be alone, I don't wanna be
The artist expresses a desire not to be alone.

I don't wanna be alone in the darkness
The artist does not want to be alone in the darkness.

I don't wanna be alone in the darkness anymore
The artist doesn't want to be alone in the darkness anymore.

(Hello darkness, my old friend)
A reference to the song 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon & Garfunkel, indicating the artist's familiarity with feelings of isolation and desperation.

Here I am, alone again
The artist finds himself in a state of isolation once again.

Can't get out of this hole I'm in
The artist feels trapped and unable to escape a difficult situation.

It's like the walls are closin' in
The artist feels like his situation is getting more and more difficult.

You can't help me, no one can
Despite feeling trapped and lonely, the artist doesn't believe that anyone can help him.

I can feel these curtains closin'
The artist feels like he is closing in on himself.

I go to open 'em
The artist tries to open the curtains.

But something pulls 'em closed again
But something outside of his control keeps pulling the curtains closed.

Feels like I'm loathing in Las Vegas
The artist feels like he is lost in a city and unable to escape his problems.

Haven't got the vaguest why I'm so lost
The artist is confused about why he's feeling so lost.

But I'd make you this small wager
The artist is willing to bet.

If I bet you I'll be in tomorrow's paper
The artist believes that he will be in the newspaper tomorrow.

Who would the odds favor?
The artist wonders who would bet against him.

I'm so much like my father, you would think that I knew him
The artist feels like he is a lot like his father even though he didn't know him very well.

I keep pacin' this room, Valium
The artist is pacing around his room and taking Valium.

Then chase it with booze, one little taste it'll do
After taking the Valium, the artist drinks some alcohol.

Maybe I'll take it and snooze, then tear up the stage in a few
The artist is considering the possibility of sleeping and then performing later.

Fuck the Colt 45, I'ma need somethin' stronger
The artist decides that Colt 45 isn't strong enough for him.

If I pop any caps, it better be off of vodka
The artist prefers to drink vodka.

Round after round after round, I'm gettin' loaded
The artist is getting drunk.

(Double entendre)
A reference to the multiple meanings of the phrase 'shots' in the previous lines.

Now I'm starin' at the room service menu off a Benzo
The artist is looking at a hotel room service menu while under the influence of a benzodiazepine.

I can hear the music continue to crescendo
The artist can hear the loud music getting louder.

I can see the whole fuckin' venue from my window
The artist can see the entire concert venue from his hotel room.

That's when you know you're schizo
The artist is suggesting that seeing the venue in this way is a sign of mental illness.

'Cause I keep peakin' out the curtain from the hotel
The artist keeps looking out the window.

The music is so loud, but it's almost as though
The artist is talking about the loud music.

I don't hear no sound, I should get ready for the show now
The artist feels like he should get ready to perform soon.

Wait is this the whole crowd?
The artist wonders if the crowd outside is the entire audience.

I thought this shit was sold out
The artist thought the concert was sold out.

But it's only the opening act, it's early, don't overreact
The opening act is performing and the artist reminds himself not to overreact.

Then something told me relax and just hope for the show to be packed
The artist tells himself to relax and hope that the concert is well-attended.

Don't wanna hit the stage before they fill each row to the max
The artist wants to perform when the venue is completely full.

'Cause that'd be totally wack, you can't murder a show nobody's at
The artist doesn't want to perform to an empty room.

But what if nobody shows?
The artist wonders what will happen if nobody shows up to the concert.

Panic mode 'bout to snap and go motherfuckin' wacko at any second
The artist is about to panic and go crazy.

'Bout to cancel the show, just as fans below rush the entrance
The artist considers cancelling the concert as fans show up to the entrance.

Plan is a go to wreck shit, cameras in all directions
The artist decides to cause chaos and destruction, and assumes there will be cameras recording the event.

The press is 'bout to go apeshit, bananas on all the networks
The press will be crazy about the event and will cover it on all networks.

Commando with extra clips, I got ammo for all the hecklers
The artist feels equipped to handle anyone who might criticize his performance.

I'm armed to the teeth, 'nother Valium fall off the bed
The artist has loaded up with weapons and is taking another Valium.

Hit the ground and crawl to the dresser
The artist falls to the ground and crawls to the dresser.

Alcohol on my breath as I reach for the Scope
The artist has alcohol on his breath as he reaches for mouthwash.

I'm blackin' out, I'm all out of meds
The artist is close to passing out and is out of his medication.

With them benzodiazepines gone
The artist has run out of benzodiazepines.

Now it's just magazines sprawled out on the floor
With no medication left, the artist is surrounded by magazines.

Fuck the media, I'm goin' all out, this is war
The artist decides to go ballistic on the media.

And I don't wanna be alone in the darkness (yeah)
The artist still doesn't want to be alone in the darkness.

People start to show up, time to start the show up
People are starting to arrive for the concert and it's time for the show to begin.

It's 10:05 PM and the curtain starts to go up
The curtain begins to rise at 10:05 PM.

And I'm already sweatin' but I'm locked and loaded
The artist is sweating but he is ready for the concert.

For rapid fire spittin' for all the concert-goers
The artist is ready to perform his rapping for the concert-goers.

Scopes for sniper vision, surprise from out of nowhere
The artist has a scope that gives him good vision, and he wants to surprise the crowd with his performance.

As I slide the clip in from inside the hotel
The artist is loading his weapon while still inside the hotel.

Leanin' out the window, going Kaiser Soze
The artist is leaning out of the window like the character Kaiser Soze in the movie 'The Usual Suspects'.

Finger on the trigger, but I'm a licensed owner
The artist is holding a gun, but it is legal and he is licensed to carry it.

With no prior convictions, so law says sky's the limit
The artist has no criminal record, which means he can legally own a firearm.

So my supplies infinite, strapped like I'm a soldier
The artist has an endless supply of ammunition and feels like he is a soldier.

Got 'em hopping over walls and climbing fences
The concert-goers are frantically trying to escape the chaos.

Some of 'em John Travolta, stayin' alive by inches
Some of the concert-goers are barely escaping the chaos.

Cops are knockin', oh, fuck, thought I blocked the entrance
The police are trying to break in and the artist realizes that he forgot to block the entrance.

Guess show time is over, no suicide note
The concert is over and the artist hasn't left a suicide note.

Just a note for target distance
The artist has left a note indicating the target distance for his weapon.

But if you'd like to know the reason why I did this
The artist is acknowledging that people might want to know why he committed the violent act.

You'll never find a motive, truth is I have no idea
The artist doesn't have a clear motive for the violent act.

I am just as stumped, no signs of mental illness
The artist is just as confused as anyone else and doesn't have any clear signs of mental illness.

Just tryin' to show ya the reason why we're so fucked
The artist is trying to show that there is a larger societal problem behind these violent acts.

'Cause by the time it's over, won't make the slightest difference
The artist believes that nothing will change by the time all the violence is over.

And I don't wanna be alone in the darkness
The artist still doesn't want to be alone in the darkness.