Bad Husband
Eminem feat. X Ambassadors Lyrics

We never saw from each other's sides
We never truly understood each other or empathized with each other's perspectives

Or eye to eye
We never agreed or saw things the same way

Just eye for eye, lie for lie, fight or flight
Our relationship was filled with retaliation, lies, and a constant state of conflict

So much baggage, need a luggage rack
Our relationship was burdened with unresolved issues and emotional baggage

But we carry on with our public spats and our feuds
Despite our problems, we continue to engage in public arguments and conflicts

Up back in the news, love taps when I dissed you
Our conflicts often made headlines, and I used to mock and insult you

Like it was fun, actually used to run back to the booth
I used to find pleasure in provoking you and would eagerly return to the recording studio to do so

Jump back in the studio
I would quickly return to the studio

Give you a tongue lashing, then you
I would verbally attack you, criticize you harshly

Laughed at the stomach tat with the tombstone
I made fun of your tattoo, a tombstone on your stomach

It was funny back in our youth
We used to find humor in such things when we were younger

But then it wasn't after we knew
As we grew older, those mocking gestures became hurtful

That we were done and actually through (and actually through)
We realized that our relationship was over and truly ended

But if there's one fraction of truth
If there's a small kernel of truth

If it could be spun back I would do
If we could go back in time, I would change things

So many things different (things different)
I would have done many things differently

'Cause it was such a dumbass excuse
Because my behavior was foolish and inexcusable

You hit me once and that I would use
You physically assaulted me once, and I used that as an excuse for my own abusive behavior

To continue the pattern of abuse
To perpetuate the cycle of mistreatment

Why did I punch back?
Why did I retaliate with violence?

Girls, your dad is a scumbag, I'm confused
My daughters, your father is a terrible person, and I'm conflicted about it

How come you can be a Lord and a loser?
Why is it possible for someone to have noble characteristics but still be a failure?

You can be a liar and a good father?
How is it possible to be deceptive but still fulfill the responsibilities of a parent?

A good dad, but a bad husband
You may be a caring father, but you're a terrible spouse

You were the beat I loved with a writer's block
You were the inspiration for my music, even when I struggled to create

The line that's hot, that I forgot
The brilliant lyrics I once had in mind, but I lost

We laughed a little, cried a lot
We had moments of happiness, but they were overshadowed by frequent tears

I'll never forget when you came home and you held Hailie
I'll always remember the time you came home and embraced our daughter Hailie

Day before you went to jail and daily
The day before you were imprisoned, and every day thereafter

How we'd wait for that mail lady
How we'd eagerly anticipate the arrival of the mail carrier

Or by the phone for Mom to call
Or wait anxiously for your mother's phone call

And I watched you pull yourself up and we decided on
I witnessed your determination to improve yourself, and we made a mutual decision

Givin' it one more try despite it all
To give our relationship another chance, despite the difficulties we faced

You're my lightning rod when my sky gets dark
You are my source of support when I'm emotionally distressed

I'm your shiny rocks in that tiny box
I provide you with comfort and stability in a small, precious package

When we tied the knot, when we broke the knot
When we got married, and when we eventually ended our marriage

Every line we crossed we were s'pposed to not
We were supposed to avoid crossing boundaries, but we did it anyway

Every time we fought, the insults, they got
Each time we argued, the insults escalated

Thrown too far
We went too far with our hurtful words

Words that we said that we didn't mean
We uttered words that we didn't truly intend or believe

The words that we meant that we didn't say
We failed to express the words and feelings that truly mattered

The ones that we thought that we shoulda said
The words we believed we should have said

Letters written that we coulda read
We had written letters that we should have taken the time to read and understand

Which maybe woulda lead to some good instead
Perhaps if we had read and understood those letters, it could have brought positive change

And had this put to bed
And resolved the issues between us

But I'd be lyin' still if I said I wasn't sittin' here askin' myself
I would be dishonest if I said I wasn't sitting here, questioning myself

We brought out the worst in each other
Our relationship caused us to display our worst qualities

Someone had to make the sparring end
One of us needed to stop the constant fighting

'Cause I loved you, but I hated that me
I had feelings of love for you, but I despised the person I became in the relationship

And I don't wanna see that side again
I have no desire to witness or experience that negative side of myself again

But I'm sorry, Kim
But I apologize, Kim

More than you could ever comprehend
I apologize in a way that you may struggle to fully understand

Leavin' you was fuckin' harder than
Breaking up with you was incredibly difficult

Sawing off a fuckin' body limb
It felt like cutting off a part of myself

Once upon a time we're all we had
There was a period when we only had each other

Maybe that's what drew us
Perhaps that's what attracted us to each other

To each other, it was true love
We believed it was genuine love

Shit, we never knew was possible
We were unaware of the difficult challenges love could bring

We might have loved each other too much
Perhaps we had an intense, overwhelming love for each other

And maybe that's what made us do what
And that intense love perhaps influenced our actions

We did to each other, all the screw-ups
The mistakes and hurtful actions we inflicted upon each other

'Cause you always thought that you was more in love with me
Because you believed that you loved me more than I loved you

And I was thinkin' I was more in love than you was
While I was under the impression that I loved you more than you loved me

For all the times that we thought it worked
Despite our struggles, there were instances when we believed our relationship was functioning well

'Til we saw how wrong we were
Until we realized how mistaken we were

When the dust settles now and all the dirt
Now that the chaos has subsided and all the negative aspects are revealed

If I touch the rawest nerve
If I address the most sensitive and painful issue

All I want is for us not to hurt
All I desire is for us to no longer cause each other pain

And it's been an exhaustive search to find the words
I have been tirelessly searching for the right words

But I just heard 'Mockingbird'
But then I listened to the song 'Mockingbird'

And got the urge to jot some verses and thoughts
And it inspired me to write down some lyrics and thoughts

The purpose was not to stir up or open wounds
The intention wasn't to provoke or reopen old wounds

I've caused a few and so have you
I have caused some wounds in this relationship, and so have you

Or argue whose fault it was
Or argue about who is to blame

Partly yours, partly mine, but really no one's
It's partially your fault, partially mine, but ultimately no one's fault entirely

This is so tough, I'm gettin' choked up
This is so difficult, I'm becoming emotional and struggling to speak

Oh fuck it, we both suck
Oh, forget it, we both have our flaws

We broke up, got back together
We broke up and reunited multiple times

We both thought we had forever
We both believed our love would last indefinitely

Not bad people, just bad together
We are not inherently bad individuals, but our compatibility as a couple is poor

We were so nuts, back-stabbed each other
We were so crazy, constantly betraying each other

Another blow struck, but there's no duckin' this blow
Another painful blow was dealt, but we can't avoid facing it

'Cause it's over and it's closure
Because our relationship has ended, and this is the closure

But I'm not so sure how to close this
But I'm uncertain about how to bring this to a definite end

I just don't know how some people can be so good
I simply don't understand how some individuals can excel

At one thing and so fucked at a whole 'nother, shit, it's no wonder
In one aspect of their lives while struggling immensely in another, it's no surprise

How come, how come, you can be a Lord and a loser?
Why is it possible for someone to have noble characteristics but still be a failure?

How come, how come
Why is it that

You can be a liar and a good father?
How is it possible to be deceptive but still fulfill the responsibilities of a parent?

A good dad, but a bad husband
You may be a caring father, but you're a terrible spouse

Why are you a good father?
Why are you able to fulfill your role as a father so well?

A great dad, but a bad husband (Dad, you said)
You are an excellent father, but an unsuccessful husband (as you mentioned)

Forever be a hero in my eyes (I reply)
You will always be my hero, from my perspective (I respond)

But there's always another side to a good father
However, there is always another aspect to a person who is a good father

A great dad, but a bad husband
A phenomenal father, but a terrible spouse