Self
Khalid Lyrics

I ran away from love
The singer is running away from the concept of love as it is causing him distress

It's gettin' hard for me to breathe
The singer feels suffocated and weighed down by his emotions

'Cause the man that I've been runnin' from is inside of me
The singer is battling with his own inner demons that he has been avoiding for a long time

I tell him, 'keep it quiet'
The singer is trying to suppress his inner demons and negative emotions

So all he does is speak
Despite the singer's attempts to quiet his inner demons, they still manage to surface

'Cause he wants to keep his distance
The singer's inner demons want to remain separate from him and not cause him any harm

But it's hard for him to leave
The singer's inner demons are a part of him and it's difficult to completely detach from them

He knows I hear him cryin'
The singer is aware of his inner demons and how they are affecting him emotionally

Cryin' out for help
The singer's inner demons are in desperate need of assistance and support

I don't know how to save him
The singer is unsure of how to help himself and his inner demons

I can't even save myself
The singer is struggling to take care of his own well-being and mental health

I've always been afraid
The singer has lived in fear for a long time

Not that I'm scared of livin'
The singer's fear is not of life itself but rather the pain and suffering that comes with it

I'm scared of feeling pain
The singer's biggest fear is experiencing emotional pain and hurting emotionally

I don't need another hand, I need a couple suggestions
The singer doesn't necessarily want someone to do things for him, but rather he needs guidance and advice

Always had a little trouble with self-reflections
The singer has had difficulty reflecting on his own actions, thoughts, and feelings

Now, does my raw emotion make me less of a man? Hmm
The singer is questioning whether expressing his emotions makes him any less of a man, despite traditional societal beliefs on masculinity

I've been so used to winnin'
The singer has always been accustomed to succeeding and being on top

It was hard for me to lose
The singer is finding it difficult to accept and cope with loss

No, there's nothing wrong with me
The singer is implying that there is nothing inherently wrong with him, but rather external factors that have influenced him

There's just something wrong with you
The singer believes that others are responsible for their actions and have contributed to his personal struggles

So I've been making changes
The singer is actively taking steps to improve his life and well-being

Been workin' on my health
The singer is focusing on improving his physical, mental, and emotional health

No more competition
The singer is choosing to no longer compete with others and instead focus on personal growth

Can't compete against myself, no, no, no
The singer realizes that true success comes from competing with himself and bettering himself, rather than competing with others

I'm not doin' this to be loved, no, no
The singer is not improving his life for the sake of others' approval or love

I've been doin' this to be remembered
The singer is making positive changes in his life in order to make an impact and be remembered positively

Let the people hear it if they want to
The singer is not forcing his message on anyone but rather allowing others the choice to listen or not

All the ones around me get it on, too
The singer's new mindset and lifestyle is positively influencing those around him

If I die tomorrow and I'm gone, I'm gone
The singer accepts his own mortality and that his legacy will live on after his passing

Let the blood run high
The singer is urging himself and others to feel alive and experience everything life has to offer

Let the carpets drown
The singer is encouraging others to not be held back by mundane things but rather live life to the fullest

I'll be forever numb
The singer accepts that he will always carry emotional baggage and pain, but he is continuing to grow and learn how to cope

Let this be a promise
The singer is making a vow to himself and those around him

That when it's said and done
The singer acknowledges that everything will come to an end eventually

Be a flower in the garden
The singer is urging people to live their own lives and be unique and special in their own way

Be one with the sun
The singer is encouraging people to embrace warmth and positivity, much like the sun