The Monster
Eminem Rihanna Lyrics

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
I have accepted my inner demons and choose to coexist with them

Get along with the voices inside of my head
I am at peace with the constant thoughts and ideas that plague my mind

You're tryin' to save me, stop holding your breath
Don't waste your energy on saving me from myself, it's futile

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy (crazy)
You may think that I have lost touch with reality, but that's just who I am

I wanted the fame but not the cover of Newsweek
I craved fame but not the scrutiny and criticism that comes with it

Oh well, guess beggars can't be choosey
I had to accept whatever opportunities came my way, even if they weren't ideal

Wanted to receive attention for my music
I wanted recognition for my talent and hard work as a musician

Wanted to be left alone in public, excuse me
I wanted to live a quiet life outside of my public persona

For wantin' my cake, and eat it too, and wantin' it both ways
I wanted to have the best of both worlds and didn't want to compromise

Fame made me a balloon 'cause my ego inflated
The attention and success made me become arrogant and self-absorbed

When I blew, see, but it was confusing
When I achieved my goals, it wasn't as fulfilling as I had expected

'Cause all I wanted to do's be the Bruce Lee of loose leaf
I aspired to be a master of my craft like Bruce Lee was in martial arts

Abused ink, used it as a tool when I blew steam (ooh)
I channeled my frustration and anger into my music when I needed to

Hit the lottery, ooh-wee
I achieved success beyond my wildest dreams

But with what I gave up to get, it was bittersweet
The sacrifices I made to achieve my success were both rewarding and regrettable

It was like winnin' a used mink
My success was like winning something that was valuable but had lost its luster

Ironic 'cause I think I'm gettin' so huge I need a shrink
Despite my success, I still have personal struggles that need addressing

I'm beginnin' to lose sleep, one sheep, two sheep
My success has made it difficult for me to rest and relax

Going coo-coo and kooky as Kool Keith
My mental state has become erratic and strange

But I'm actually weirder than you think, 'cause I'm
Despite what you may already know about me, there's more to me than meets the eye

Now, I ain't much of a poet
I don't consider myself a skilled poet or writer

But I know somebody once told me to seize the moment
I was once given advice to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way

And don't squander it
I was advised to not waste any opportunities

'Cause you never know when it all could be over tomorrow
Life is unpredictable and can change in an instant

So I keep conjurin'
I keep creating and working hard to achieve my goals

Sometimes I wonder where these thoughts spawn from
I question the origin of my thoughts and creative ideas

Yeah, ponderin'll do you wonders
Reflecting on your thoughts and ideas can be beneficial

No wonder you're losing your mind, the way it wanders
It's not surprising that I'm losing my sanity because of how often my mind wanders

Yodel-odel-ay-hee-hoo
Nonsense phrase to symbolize my erratic thoughts

I think it went wanderin' off down yonder
My thoughts have strayed and gone off track

And stumbled onto Jeff VanVonderen
My thoughts have wandered onto a person who is known for interventions and rehabilitation

'Cause I need an interventionist
I need someone to intervene and help me overcome my personal struggles

To intervene between me and this monster
I need someone to help me overcome the monster within me

And save me from myself and all this conflict
I need help to overcome the internal conflict within me

'Cause the very thing that I love's killing me
My passion for music is taking a toll on my mental health and well-being

And I can't conquer it
I am unable to overcome the struggles that come with my success and passion for music

My OCD is conkin' me in the head, keep knockin'
My obsessive-compulsive disorder is affecting my mental health and causing me distress

Nobody's home, I'm sleepwalkin'
I feel lost and alone in my struggles, like I'm going through the motions

I'm just relayin' what the voice in my head's sayin'
I'm just expressing the thoughts and ideas that come from within me

Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just friends with the
I am not responsible for the thoughts and ideas that come from within me, I'm just observing them

Call me crazy, but I have this vision
People may call me crazy, but I have a strong vision for my life and career

One day that I'll walk amongst you a regular civilian
I hope to one day live a normal life without the pressures and expectations of fame

But until then, drums get killed and
Until then, I will continue to work hard and create music

I'm comin' straight at MC's, blood gets spilled and
I am confident in my abilities as a rapper and am willing to take on anyone in the industry

I'll take it back to the days that I'd get on a Dre track
I reminisce about the times when I worked with Dr. Dre and created music that was meaningful to me

Give every kid who got played that pumped-up feelin'
I want to inspire and give hope to kids who have been bullied or overlooked

And shit to say back to the kids who played him
I want to provide a voice for the underdogs and those who have been mistreated in life

I ain't here to save the fuckin' children
I am not responsible for saving the world or fixing its problems

But if one kid out of a hundred million
If my music can inspire and help even just one person out of many, I consider that a success

Who are going through a struggle feels it and relates, that's great
If my music can help someone going through a similar struggle as me, it's fulfilling

It's payback, Russell Wilson
My success and ability to inspire others is a form of payback for all the struggles I've faced

Falling way back in the draft
Comparing my struggles to when NFL quarterback, Russell Wilson, was overlooked in the draft

Turn nothin' into somethin', still can
Despite the obstacles, I am still able to create and turn nothing into something

Make that, straw into gold, chump, I will spin
I have the ability to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary

Rumpelstiltskin in a haystack
Comparing myself to the fairy tale character who spun straw into gold

Maybe I need a straight jacket, face facts
My struggles and eccentricities may require professional help or medication

I am nuts for real, but I'm okay with that
I acknowledge that I have mental health struggles, but I am at peace with who I am

It's nothin', I'm still friends with the
Despite everything, I am still at peace with my inner demons and choose to coexist with them