She self-released her first two albums, Lush and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, while studying studio composition at Purchase College's Conservatory of Music. The albums were originally made as her senior project. Her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, was released in 2014 on the label Double Double Whammy.
Mitski signed with Dead Oceans in 2015 and released Puberty 2, Be the Cowboy and Laurel Hell , the last of which made the top ten in several countries. In 2022, The Guardian dubbed her the "best young songwriter" in the United States. That same year, she co-wrote "This Is a Life" for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, was released in 2023.
The Baddy Man
Mitski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sneakin' an' a schemin' just to see what he could find
Creepin' an' a crawlin' through the wanton avenues
Walkin' through your secrets like them expert sneaks can do
What those dead men say that they do
Will never be the absolute truth
'Cause the baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Doo doo doo doo doo
Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm
Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm
Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm
Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm
You still there, robot lady? (Oh yeah)
'Cause I hate singing alone
What those dead men say that they do
Will never be the absolute truth
'Cause the baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Oh yeah, I tell ya
Doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo
In "The Baddy Man," Mitski sings about an insidious character who invades and navigates the hidden parts of the mind. The baddy man is described as a creep who sneaks and schemes in the alleys of the mind and wanders through the secret avenues with expert ease. Mitski suggests that the baddy man can access and observe the things that lie beneath the surface, beyond what the dead men say they can do. In other words, the baddy man represents the kind of elusive, dark and unconscious thoughts and motivations that are hard to detect and yet exert a powerful influence on our lives.
The lyrics convey a sense of unease and discomfort, as if the song is trying to warn us about something lurking within us. It could be seen as a meditation on the complexity and ambiguity of the human psyche and the difficulty in understanding oneself fully. Perhaps Mitski is suggesting that there is always a risk of being taken over by the baddy man and losing control over one's own thoughts and feelings. The repetition of the doo-doo-doo chorus reinforces the hypnotic and unsettling nature of the baddy man's presence.
Line by Line Meaning
The baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
A troublesome and insidious figure was making his way through your thoughts and emotions.
Sneakin' an' a schemin' just to see what he could find
The baddy man was up to no good, prowling for secrets and hidden desires.
Creepin' an' a crawlin' through the wanton avenues
The malevolent presence slithered through the darker parts of your mind searching for misdeeds.
Walkin' through your secrets like them expert sneaks can do
The baddy man was manipulating your personal life just like a skilled thief would.
What those dead men say that they do
The proclamations of those who've passed away about their actions cannot be considered definite and truthful.
Will never be the absolute truth
Their stories will never be wholly accurate because of the baddy man's intrusion.
Oh yeah, I tell ya
The singer assures the listener that the baddy man's impact is real.
You still there, robot lady? (Oh yeah)
The singer speaks to an AI voice and confirms its presence.
'Cause I hate singing alone
The singer expresses her dislike of lonely performance.
Doo doo doo doo doo
Non-lyrical elements of the song.
Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm
Non-lyrical elements of the song.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mitsuki Laycock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mitskinecessarycontent9128
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
The baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Sneakin' an' a schemin' just to see what he could find
Creepin' an' a crawlin' through the wanton avenues
Walkin' through your secrets like them expert sneaks can do
[Chorus]
What those dead men say that they do
Will never be the absolute truth
'Cause the baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Oh yeah, I tell ya
[Dialogue]
You still there, robot lady?
'Cause I hate singing alone
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, what those dead men say that they do
Will never be the absolute truth
'Cause the baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Oh yeah, I tell ya
@mitskinecessarycontent9128
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
The baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Sneakin' an' a schemin' just to see what he could find
Creepin' an' a crawlin' through the wanton avenues
Walkin' through your secrets like them expert sneaks can do
[Chorus]
What those dead men say that they do
Will never be the absolute truth
'Cause the baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Oh yeah, I tell ya
[Dialogue]
You still there, robot lady?
'Cause I hate singing alone
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, what those dead men say that they do
Will never be the absolute truth
'Cause the baddy man was creepin' through the alleys of your mind
Oh yeah, I tell ya
@fia3523
i love to see the mitski community supporting each other
@macabre_mess
excuse me this is actually NECESSARY content contrary to your username
@saulgoodmanshellokittyphone
@Brentley Joel @Mekhi Caiden hella sus
@delusional6993
I love this
@lewisinman3473
NOW SHE REALLY IS THE COWBOY
@carpiioo.806
purr, so true bestie!
@Luke-qi6pf
She became the cowboy, can't believe she invented self love
@alexis896
THATS JUST WHAT I SAID
@totoro7419
@Moaben St. Louis she's a cowboy and cowgirl‼😎🤟
She can be anything and everything because she's mitski 🐁