Make Yourself
Incubus Lyrics


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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

If I hadn't made me
I'd be more inclined to bow
Powers that be would have swallowed me up
But that's more than I can allow, bye-bye

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
Rest assured, they'll screw you complete
'Til your ass is blue and gray

You should make amends with you
If only for better health, better health
But if you really want to live
Why not try and make yourself?
Make yourself, 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

I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way

You should make amends with you
If only for better health, better health
But if you really want to live
Why not try and make yourself?




Make yourself, make yourself
Make yourself, make yourself

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Incubus's song "Make Yourself" is a powerful message about self-empowerment and self-discovery. The song urges listeners to take control of their lives and not let external factors mold them into something they don't want to be. The first few lines of the song set the tone for the message of the song. The singer acknowledges that without taking control of his own life, he would have been at the mercy of external factors that would have consumed him. Instead, he made himself, and he's in control of his own destiny instead of being controlled by others.


The lyrics also warn against allowing others to make you into something you don't want to be. It urges listeners to be wary of external influences that may try to mold you into something you're not. The warning is stated plainly, "If you let them make you, they'll make you papier-mâché." The image is powerful, evoking the fragile nature of papier-mâché, which can easily be crushed or destroyed.


The song ends on a positive note, urging listeners to make amends with themselves and take control of their own lives. The lyrics are a reminder that we should be true to ourselves and pursue the life we want rather than accepting the life that's given to us.


Line by Line Meaning

If I hadn't made me
Without the decision to create oneself, one's identity would be shaped by external forces


I would have been made somehow
One's identity is not entirely controllable, but can be shaped through conscious effort


If I hadn't assembled myself
Without the ability to put oneself together, one's being would be fragmented


I'd have fallen apart by now
Without the effort to maintain coherence, one would lose their sense of identity


If I hadn't made me
One's self-determined identity is resistant to the pressures of external powers


I'd be more inclined to bow
Without a strong sense of self, one is more susceptible to manipulation and control


Powers that would be have swallowed me up
Forces beyond oneself have the potential to overpower and consume individual identity


But that's more than I can allow
The desire to resist external control is strong enough to maintain a sense of self


If you let them make you
Giving up self-determination leaves one at the mercy of others


They'll make you papier-mâché
The resulting identity will be fragile and easily manipulated


At a distance you're strong
The appearance of strength can be maintained when not confronted with external pressures


Until the wind comes
External factors can shake the foundation of an identity


Then you crumble and blow away
Without a strong sense of self, external factors can cause one to lose their identity


If you let them fuck you
Giving in to external pressure for temporary pleasure will ultimately harm oneself


There will be no foreplay
The consequences of giving in will be immediate and severe


But rest-assured
The harm caused will not be addressed by external powers


They'll screw you complete
The damage caused by external pressures will be extensive and long-lasting


?Til your ass is blue and gray
The consequences will be severe and potentially irreversible


You should only make amends with you
Self-acceptance and self-improvement is the only way to achieve inner harmony


If only for better health
The benefits of self-improvement are numerous, including physical and mental health


But if you really want to live
True fulfillment comes from embracing the challenge of self-creation


Why not try and make yourself?
The only way to achieve a fulfilling and authentic life is to actively shape one's own identity


I won't let ?em make me
Continued self-determination is essential to maintaining an authentic identity


So when I make me
The process of self-creation is an ongoing effort


I won't be papier-mâché
The resulting identity will be strong and resilient


And if I fuck me
Mistakes and setbacks in the process of self-creation are inevitable


I'll fuck me in my own way
One must take responsibility for their own mistakes and continue to shape their identity in a personal and meaningful way




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alex Katunich, Brandon Charles Boyd, Christopher Kilmore, Jose Anthony Pasillas II, Michael Aaron Einziger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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