Katy Perry (from Q magazine September 2010): "'Circle The Drain' is about having a boyfriend self-destructing. I have to tell him, 'I'm not your f--king mother! All of the songs are from my diary but what I was really talking about is that 'Mother Syndrome' women have, thinking that we'll be the one to save the person we love, and that's why we stay with them even while they're circling the drain. And at some point it's time to flush or time to s--t and take care of yourself."
Circle the Drain
Katy Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After the last line you break
It's not even a holiday
Nothing to celebrate
You give a hundred reasons why
And you say you're really gonna try
If I had a nickel for every time
Thought that I was the exception
I could rewrite your addiction
You could've been the greatest
But you'd rather get wasted
You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
You say you have to write your rhymes
Whatever helps you sleep at night
You've become what you despise
A stereotype
You think you're so rock and roll
But you're really just a joke
Had the world in the palm of your hands
But you fucking choked
Should've been my team mate
Could've changed your fate
You say that you love me
You won't remember in the morning
You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
"Circle the Drain" is a powerful song that speaks about the frustration and helplessness that can come from loving someone who is struggling with addiction. The lyrics are filled with raw emotion as Katy Perry sings about trying to love someone who is self-destructive and who she can't save. She starts off by saying that this is the last time they'll say goodbye, indicating that this isn't the first time they've had this conversation. The line "It's not even a holiday, nothing to celebrate" illustrates the pointlessness of the situation and how it's draining her.
She then talks about how her partner always promises to change but never does, and how she can't keep counting the excuses they give. She thought that she could be the exception, that she could help rewrite their addiction, but it seems that their relationship is doomed. Perry then sings about how her partner's addiction has turned them into a stereotype, someone who's lost and trying to find solace in drugs. She tries to tell them that they used to have it all and could change their fate by staying on the right path, but it falls on deaf ears. In the end, she decides that she cannot be her partner's savior, as she doesn't have the power to stop them from spiraling downwards.
Overall, "Circle the Drain" is a song about loving someone with addiction and the painful emotions that come with it. Perry illustrates the difficulties of trying to help someone who doesn't want to be helped, recognizing that sometimes the only thing to do is step back.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the last time you say
This is the last instance of you making this claim
After the last line you break
After you break the final promise
It's not even a holiday
There's no occasion to celebrate
Nothing to celebrate
No reason to rejoice
You give a hundred reasons why
You provide a countless number of excuses
And you say you're really gonna try
You claim to be making a legitimate effort
If I had a nickel for every time
I would be immensely wealthy if I received payment for each instance
I'd own the bank
I would be the wealthiest person in the world
Thought that I was the exception
I believed that I was a unique case
I could rewrite your addiction
I thought I had the power to alter your addictive habits
You could've been the greatest
You had the potential to be remarkable
But you'd rather get wasted
But you'd instead choose to become intoxicated
You fall asleep during foreplay
You lose consciousness before sexual activity begins
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
Because you are more skilled in the area of taking pills
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
I will not stay to witness your decline
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
I desire to be your lover, not someone who must incessantly care for you
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I cannot act as your savior or rescue you from your own destructive behavior
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
I refuse to remain and observe as you spiral towards collapse
You say you have to write your rhymes
You state that you must compose lyrics
Whatever helps you sleep at night
Whatever aids your ability to sleep soundly
You've become what you despise
You have transformed into the very thing you loathe
A stereotype
A cliched and unoriginal archetype
You think you're so rock and roll
You view yourself as a true rockstar
But you're really just a joke
But in reality, you are the subject of ridicule
Had the world in the palm of your hands
You once had complete control over your life and opportunities
But you fucking choked
But you ultimately failed to seize those opportunities and succeed
Should've been my team mate
You should have been my collaborator and partner
Could've changed your fate
You had the possibility of altering your destiny
You say that you love me
You express your affection for me
You won't remember in the morning
You will forget those words by tomorrow
Watch you circle the drain
Observe you steadily decline and fall apart
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KATY PERRY, CHRISTOPHER STEWART, MONTE NUEBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jacob-pd2dd
I’m a punk rock dude who struggles with addiction issues. Recently my gf left me because of my drinking. This song keeps coming on my Spotify which is weird because I don’t listen to Katy Perry. While we were together I always wondered why she let my addiction keep coming between us but because of this song and the things she said to me I’m really starting to get it. She told me “I always thought you’d be the person who would never hurt me” I’m convinced that sober me never would. I guess all I can say is I’m truly sorry that I’m still drinking. I lost a really great girl to my habits and I can never get her back.
Edit:
I posted this 2 years ago. I thought I was hopeless and would never get past my addiction. I had accepted that I was just gonna die from this. Luckily I found the program of AA and I’ve been recovering. I have decided that I’m never going to drink or drug again. It’s absolutely imperative that I don’t. I am finding the true meaning of love, happiness, serenity and learning how to cope with life. I never thought I’d be able to recover but I am. I’m so blessed for the life I’m living today.
@lunar4724
Jacob Aten Hey man. You’re feeling bad right now but it’ll get better. I encourage you to seek some help for your drinking and become the best version of you. It’s a long and hard process but I believe in you. You can do it man.
@Jacob-pd2dd
@@berealsupportive2744 I understand your sentiment but telling an alcoholic just not to drink is not helpful. If I could just not drink I would’ve done it long ago before she left. I understand that capitalism and the government profits off of addicts through the prison industrial complex and through alcohol and cigarette sales but that doesn’t make me some sort of government pawn. I’m a human being with an illness that goes beyond just not buying alcohol. I fully appreciate the support and am beyond grateful to everyone who has shown me kindness through this time. I will get better someday because I absolutely refuse to let myself die this way and you’re right, I refuse to let myself die in a way that would benefit the government in any form. So thank you but be mindful that addiction is an illness that requires years of constant therapy and hard work and just saying “don’t drink” comes off as insensitive even if you didn’t mean it in that way. Thank you again I appreciate your support.
@emmicah7720
@@berealsupportive2744 unfortunately in addiction, it isn't as simple as "stop buying it." Addiction is a compulsive thing. Someone who's an alcoholic might not even like drinking anymore but their sensory systems, and the way their brains become wired over the course of addiction, are constantly firing off telling them they need the alcohol. They obsess over it. Same with drug addicts. Back when I was using, my brain constantly told me I needed the drugs. My self-esteem told me I wasn't good enough to be loved sober and I didn't deserve it. Towards the end of my active addiction, I HATED using drugs. I hated myself. I hated the feelings. But I couldn't stop. Fear of change, fear of cutting out the people I had considered friends at that time (because bad friends were better than no friends to me at the time) and being alone and fear of feeling all the emotions I was trying to escape again all led me to keep using. Unfortunately, some people get the low self-esteem I described and commit suicide because they believe they can never be a better person and that they aren't worthy of recovery and love. All these emotions and all the fear and just the obsessive-compulsive nature of addiction make it so much harder than "don't drink." I do know you mean well though and so that's why I've explained this here.
@emmicah7720
@@Jacob-pd2dd hey man, I've been where you're at right now, although my substance was meth/heroin back when I was using. I know it's hard to get clean. I know it's scary. I know the fear, the doubt, the lack of self-worth you feel. I just want you to know that you are worthy of a better life. That you are worth love, happiness and joy. I know it's hard to walk away from something you've been using so long but you can do it when you're ready. And if you ever do want to quit and need someone to talk to, please know you can message me (just comment on here and I'll give you my other social media account you can message). I've been clean for 6 years but I also started at day 1 and know how terrifying getting sober can feel. You got more strength than you give yourself credit for and you deserve a life that doesn't revolve around alcohol ❤
@karlar534
My cousin is an alcoholic and it's to the point where his brain is literally fried. He was so intelligent and hes 40. It's really hard but u know yourself and if certain things trigger you try to avoid those things. Get closer to people who love you and apart yourself from those who are a bad influence. Like try not to go to the stores or look at that section. Save yourself.
@peaceful_chaos14
This song is so BADASS!!! Love that she expresses her anger directly going straight to the point ..and not just whining about the situation.
@matter8138
Best part about the song.
@michaelcarey9567
She made a song about a man’s problems and then capitalized off it. That’s very wrong
@peaceful_chaos14
@@michaelcarey9567 then you must have a problem with each and every songwriter in the world.