Demons
Kenny Chesney Lyrics


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Sometimes they're in a bottle
Sometimes a pair of high heal shoes
Some come rolled in paper
Some have six strings and only play the blues
Once you meet the devil
There's no way he'll let you be
When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

Skeletons in closets
Ghost underneath the bed
They hide out in pictures
And in words better left unsaid
They hang around like perfume
And haunt me like an ancient melody
When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

[Chorus:]
There's things I can?t leave alone
'Cause they won't leave me alone
What I want ain't what I need
Still I reach for the things I crave
Better try to runaway
Maybe I'm afraid of being free
When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

So roll one up and light it
Pickup my old guitar
I'm playing crossroads
Drinkin' whiskey from the mason jar
There's heartache at my front door
Says she needs my company
When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

[Chorus]

When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

There's demons chasing me
There's demons chasing me

When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

There's demons chasing me
There's demons chasing me
There's demons chasing me
There's demons chasing me





When I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me

Overall Meaning

The song "Demons" by Kenny Chesney addresses the struggles a person can face with their personal demons. These demons are represented in different forms - sometimes they are found in a bottle, in a pair of high heels, in rolled paper, or even in six strings that only play the blues. Once the devil has been encountered, there is no escaping him. It's said that when the singer is not pursuing his demons, they are the ones pursuing him.


The lyrics go on to highlight how these demons manifest in different forms - from skeletons in closets to ghosts under the bed, and they can be hidden in pictures or words that are better left unsaid. They hang around like perfume and haunt the singer like an ancient melody, and he finds himself reaching for things he doesn't really need, but craves for anyway. The singer even questions the possibility of running away, but he wonders whether he’s actually scared of being free.


Overall, the song portrays the idea that no matter how much a person tries to escape their demons, they will always be there, and sometimes, the only way to deal with them is to confront them.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes they're in a bottle
Sometimes the demons are found in a bottle.


Sometimes a pair of high heal shoes
Sometimes the demons are found in a pair of high heel shoes.


Some come rolled in paper
Sometimes the demons are found in rolled paper, probably in reference to drugs.


Some have six strings and only play the blues
Sometimes the demons are in the form of a guitar that only knows how to play songs of sadness, heartbreak, and despair.


Once you meet the devil
If you have ever encountered your demons, you know that it feels like you have met the devil.


There's no way he'll let you be
The devil or the demons can never leave a person alone once they have been encountered.


Skeletons in closets
The demons can be found in hidden or secret places, probably in reference to past mistakes or regrets.


Ghost underneath the bed
The demons can also be found in fears or phobias.


They hide out in pictures
The demons can be represented by certain people or memories captured in photographs.


And in words better left unsaid
The demons can also be in unspeakable thoughts and feelings.


They hang around like perfume
The demons can linger like a fragrance that never fades away.


And haunt me like an ancient melody
The demons can haunt a person the same way an old, familiar melody plays on repeat.


There's things I can?t leave alone
Some demons are hard to let go of or get rid of.


'Cause they won't leave me alone
Some demons can't be easily defeated or ignored.


What I want ain't what I need
Some people mistake their desires for what they truly need and in turn, feed their demons.


Still I reach for the things I crave
Even though some things might not be good for a person, they still find themselves reaching out for them.


Better try to runaway
Running away from the demons might seem like the best solution.


Maybe I'm afraid of being free
Sometimes people don't know what to do or who to be without the demons that define them.


So roll one up and light it
Taking drugs might be a way to cope with the demons, despite not being a healthy solution.


Pickup my old guitar
Playing music can be therapeutic and a way to cope with the harsh realities of life.


I'm playing crossroads
Playing at crossroads is often associated with a pact made with the devil.


Drinkin' whiskey from the mason jar
Drinking alcohol can also be a way to cope with difficult emotions or thoughts.


There's heartache at my front door
Sometimes the demons come in the form of heartbreak or relationship issues.


Says she needs my company
Others might be drawn to someone who has demons, possibly because they share similar demons or can provide comfort.


When I'm not chasing demons
Sometimes, a person is not actively focusing on trying to defeat or handle their demons.


There's demons chasing me
Regardless of whether a person is actively trying to cope with their demons or not, they are always present in some way.




Lyrics © ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: BILL ANDERSON, JON RANDALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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