Make Yourself
Incubus污 Lyrics
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I would have been made somehow
If I hadn't assembled myself
I'd have fallen apart by now
If I hadn't made me
I'd be more inclined to bow
Powers that would be have swallowed me up
But that's more than I can allow
If you let them make you
They'll make you papier-mâché
At a distance you're strong
Until the wind comes
Then you crumble and blow away
If you let them fuck you
There will be no foreplay
But rest-assured
They'll screw you complete
?Til your ass is blue and gray
You should only make amends with you
If only for better health
But if you really want to live
Why not try and make yourself?
If I hadn't made me
I'd have fallen apart by now
I won't let ?em make me
It's more than I can allow
So when I make me
I won't be papier-mâché
And if I fuck me
I'll fuck me in my own way
You should only make amends with you
If only for better health
But if you really want to live
Why not try and make yourself?
The song "Make Yourself" by Incubus is a call for individuals to take control of their lives and not let external forces shape their identity. The opening lines, "If I hadn't made me, I would have been made somehow; If I hadn't assembled myself, I'd have fallen apart by now," suggest that the singer has actively taken charge of their own life and identity. The repetition of "If I hadn't made me" reinforces the importance of personal agency and the need to constantly work on oneself.
The second verse warns against letting others control one's identity. The line "If you let them make you, they'll make you papier-mâché" implies that if one allows external forces to shape them, they will become weak and easily manipulated. The use of the metaphor of papier-mâché suggests that the individual will not have their own distinct identity but will instead be a mere shell of a person. The second half of the verse warns against allowing others to take advantage of one's vulnerability.
The chorus reinforces the idea that individuals should work on themselves for their own betterment. The line "You should only make amends with you, if only for better health" suggests that taking control of one's life is both a mental and physical health benefit. The final line, "But if you really want to live, Why not try and make yourself?" is a call to action for people to actively work on themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
If I hadn't made me
If I hadn't created my own identity
I would have been made somehow
I would have been molded by external forces
If I hadn't assembled myself
If I hadn't put together all the aspects of myself
I'd have fallen apart by now
I would have lost my sense of self
I'd be more inclined to bow
I would be more submissive to others' expectations
Powers that would be have swallowed me up
External forces would have overwhelmed me
But that's more than I can allow
But I refuse to let that happen
If you let them make you
If you allow external forces to shape you
They'll make you papier-mâché
They'll make you fragile and easily broken
At a distance you're strong
You appear strong from afar
Until the wind comes
Until a challenge or obstacle arises
Then you crumble and blow away
Then you fall apart and lose your sense of self
If you let them fuck you
If you allow them to take advantage of you
There will be no foreplay
There will be no warning or preparation
But rest-assured
But be sure
They'll screw you complete
They'll screw you until you're fully broken
?Til your ass is blue and gray
Until you're completely destroyed and defeated
You should only make amends with you
You should only reconcile with yourself
If only for better health
For the sake of your well-being
But if you really want to live
But if you truly want to thrive
Why not try and make yourself?
Why not actively create and shape your own identity?
I won't let ?em make me
I won't allow external forces to shape me
So when I make me
So when I shape my own identity
I won't be papier-mâché
I won't be easily broken or molded
And if I fuck me
And if I make a mistake or do something wrong to myself
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll handle it on my own terms
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX KATUNICH, BRANDON BOYD, BRANDON CHARLES BOYD, CHRISTOPHER KILMORE, JOSE PASILLAS II, JOSE ANTHONY II PASILLAS, MICHAEL EINZIGER, MICHAEL AARON EINZIGER
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