Deranged
Exodus Lyrics


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Voices inside my head are making me go mad
Now I'm afraid to sleep from nightmares that I've had
I feel I'm on the edge, I need some kind of cure
Now I've gone and killed someone, I'm mentally disturbed!

[Chorus]
THey can't keep me locked away
My psychiatrist says I'm ok
They think that they've got me trained
But I know I'm really deranged!

Arrested for murder, my case comes to trial
Prosecution's accusing me of things sick and vile
I admit I'm guilty, but plead insanity
Six months at Bellevue, then I'm walking free

[Chorus]

They want to calm me so they feed me thorazine
It doesn't make me calmer, it only makes me mean
Now they let me loose, back in society
With some psychiatric help and a lobotomy
But I've got them fooled, I'm playing at their game
I'm more psycho than before, I don't even know my name




I know they should have killed me when they had the chance
But the system let me off with a little song and dance!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Exodus's song "Deranged" portray the mental instability of an individual who is struggling with voices inside their head. These voices are causing nightmares, which further lead the individual towards the brink of insanity. In an attempt to find a cure, the singer of the song ultimately ends up committing murder, leading to their arrest and eventual trial.


Despite being sentenced to six months at Bellevue and the administration of psychiatric help and a lobotomy, the singer remains unrepentant and continues to play games with the system. The song hints at the inefficacy of the psychiatric system in dealing with people with mental illnesses and suggests a flawed understanding of the disorder that leads to individuals with mental health issues being let back into society.


The lyrics of "Deranged" capture a sense of chaos and turmoil. The tension within the song is created by the disturbing details of the singer's mental state, which is further emphasized by the complex guitar riffs and thrashing drum beats. The song's overall aggressive tone, delivered through the lead singer's raw and guttural voice, adds to the overall sense of madness and insanity.


Line by Line Meaning

Voices inside my head are making me go mad
The singer is struggling with mental health issues, experiencing auditory hallucinations.


Now I'm afraid to sleep from nightmares that I've had
The singer's mental state is causing them to experience disturbing dreams.


I feel I'm on the edge, I need some kind of cure
The singer is aware of their struggles and knows they need help.


Now I've gone and killed someone, I'm mentally disturbed!
The artist has committed a violent act and recognizes their state of mind.


They can't keep me locked away
The artist feels trapped and is resistant to any perceived attempts to control them.


My psychiatrist says I'm ok
The singer has been evaluated by a mental health professional who has determined that they do not pose an immediate threat to themselves or others.


They think that they've got me trained
The singer feels patronized by those who believe they can be 'trained' to behave differently.


But I know I'm really deranged!
The artist is unwilling to accept the perspective of others and insists on their own self-diagnosis.


Arrested for murder, my case comes to trial
The artist has been charged with committing a serious crime.


Prosecution's accusing me of things sick and vile
The prosecution is presenting evidence that suggests the artist committed a particularly heinous act.


I admit I'm guilty, but plead insanity
The singer is willing to take responsibility for their actions but is also arguing that their mental state was a contributing factor.


Six months at Bellevue, then I'm walking free
The artist will be committed to a psychiatric facility for a set period of time before potentially being released.


They want to calm me so they feed me thorazine
The singer's caregivers are attempting to medicate them.


It doesn't make me calmer, it only makes me mean
The medication is having negative side effects.


Now they let me loose, back in society
The singer is being released back into the general population.


With some psychiatric help and a lobotomy
The artist has undergone a controversial brain surgery meant to alter their behavior.


But I've got them fooled, I'm playing at their game
The artist believes they are manipulating those around them, making it appear as though they've been 'cured'.


I'm more psycho than before, I don't even know my name
The singer's mental health has deteriorated, leading them to feel out of control.


I know they should have killed me when they had the chance
The singer sees themselves as a danger to others and believes that others share this perspective.


But the system let me off with a little song and dance!
Despite their actions, the artist was ultimately not held fully accountable for their behavior.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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