The song seems to hint at Halsey’s previous works including, “Hold Me Down” and “Control” from her debut album, Badlands where she also talks about her demons linking to having bipolar disorder.
Halsey published a poem by the same name in her poetry collection, “I Would Leave Me If I Could.”
Devil in Me
Halsey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said I
You said I should eat my feelings
Head held high
I won't take anyone down if I crawl tonight
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
And I went tumbling down tryna reach your high
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
You said I'm too much to handle
You said I
Shine too bright, I burnt the candle
Flew too high
I won't take anyone down if I crawl tonight
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
And I went tumbling down tryna reach your high
But I scream too loud if I speak my mind
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
The devil in me
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
The devil in me
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
The lyrics to Halsey's song "Devil in Me" describe the struggle between her desire to maintain her individuality and her fear of the darkness within her. In the first verse, Halsey sings about how someone told her she would "hit the ceiling" and "should eat her feelings." These comments speak to the pressure society puts on us to stay within certain boundaries and not express our truest selves. Halsey goes on to say that she won't take anyone down if she crawls tonight, but she still lets everyone down when she changes in size. This idea of "changing in size" could be interpreted as Halsey adapting to fit into certain molds or expectations, but ultimately feeling like she's betraying herself by doing so. The verse ends with Halsey saying that she tried to reach someone else's high, but she screams too loud if she speaks her mind.
In the next verse, Halsey sings about being too much for someone to handle and burning too bright. These are common criticisms levied at people who don't conform to societal norms or who have a strong sense of self. The verse ends with the same sentiment as the first verse - Halsey doesn't want to wake up the devil inside of her.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I don't wanna wake it up, the devil in me" several times. Here, Halsey is expressing her fear of the darker parts of herself that she's trying to suppress. She feels like giving in to them would be dangerous and could lead to a loss of control. The chorus also contains the repeated phrase "gotta wake up, come back to life." This could be interpreted as a call to action for Halsey to face her fears and live authentically.
Overall, the lyrics to "Devil in Me" speak to the difficulties of being true to oneself in a world that often punishes us for doing so. Halsey's fear of the darkness within her is relatable and demonstrates the importance of self-acceptance and self-exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
You said I would’ve hit the ceiling
You told me that I would’ve reached the peak of my anger and frustration
You said I should eat my feelings
You told me that I should suppress my emotions by indulging in food
Head held high
In spite of your advice, I am maintaining my dignity and self-esteem
I won't take anyone down if I crawl tonight
Even if I feel vulnerable or weak, I won't hurt anyone intentionally
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
Whenever I display different sides of my personality or character, I disappoint those around me
And I went tumbling down tryna reach your high
I tried to live up to your standards or expectations, but failed miserably
But I scream too loud if I speak my mind
Whenever I express my thoughts or emotions, I tend to be too passionate or aggressive
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't want to trigger or awaken the negative impulses or tendencies inside me
The devil in me
I am referring to the side of me that embodies harmful or destructive thoughts or behaviors
Gotta wake up, come back to life
I must regain my energy, motivation and positivity and emerge from my negative state
You said I'm too much to handle
You remarked that I am too intense, complicated or demanding for you to deal with
Shine too bright, I burnt the candle
My radiance and brilliance led me to exhaust myself and suffer the consequences
Now I gotta wake it up
I am realizing that I need to confront and overcome my inner struggles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ASHLEY FRANGIPANE, GREG KURSTIN, SIA FURLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sonicscrewdriver3301
You said I
Would've hit the ceiling
You said I
You said I
Should eat my feelings
Head held high
I won't take anyone down if I cry tonight
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
And I went tumbling down trying to reach your high
But I scream too loud if I speak my mind
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
You said I'm
Too much to handle
You said I
Shine too bright
I burnt the candle
Flew too high
I won't take anyone down if I cry tonight
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
And I went tumbling down trying to reach your high
But I scream too loud when I speak my mind
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
The devil in me
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
The devil in me
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
@Clemma_10
Lyrics <3
[Verse 1]
You said I would've hit the ceiling
You said I
You said I should eat my feelings
Head held high
[Pre-Chorus]
I won't take anyone down if I crawl tonight
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
And I went tumbling down tryna reach your high
But I scream too loud if I speak my mind
[Chorus]
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
[Post-Chorus]
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
[Verse 2]
You said I'm too much to handle
You said I
Shine too bright, I burnt the candle
Flew too high
[Pre-Chorus]
I won't take anyone down if I crawl tonight
But I still let everyone down when I change in size
And I went tumbling down tryna reach your high
But I scream too loud when I speak my mind
[Chorus]
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
I don't wanna wake it up
The devil in me
[Post-Chorus]
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
[Interlude]
[Chorus]
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
The devil in me
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
Now I gotta wake it up
The devil in me
[Post-Chorus]
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, gotta wake up
Gotta wake up, come back to life
@jessiepaege
can I marry this music
@shanellealston8625
*this whole album please 🥺🤪
@sylviaguerrero6171
IKR
@halfasian3306
U gonna need a huge ass ring to portray your love for this music
@gloriaolajire1693
Me too🥺❤
@dekukun7415
IT'S MINE
@FallenforEric
I can honestly say I've never had an artist sing to my soul the way Halsey does. It isn't always in the lyrics either. It's just something in her voice.
@RylaDarkstar
Kayla Robertson factual
@madic2990
I love that, it's so true
@breannecandida0608
Kayla Robertson you are so right