Around the time of “madhouse”’s release, Nessa had got vulnerable on TikTok. On August 6, 2022 Nessa had turned 20, and around late August Nessa had gone into a psych ward. This would be her first psych ward experience as being 20. Nessa took to TikTok to express her feelings on this experience. This song is very similar to Nessa’s experience in her first psych ward experience being 20.
madhouse
Nessa Barrett Lyrics
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So go grab a seat now
There will be blood and gore
A box office killer, a sellout
Make me a spectacle
I'll have a beautiful chemical meltdown
Loosing the screws in my brain, could be any day now
(Ah, ah)
Shove pills down my throat 'til I space out
(Ah, ah)
They wanna love me and they then slut-shame me
Batshit crazy, can you b-b-blame me?
(La-la-la-la-la-la, ahh, ahh)
They gon' put me in the madhouse
But is it you or is it me?
(Yeah) no more brain, serotonin, and kerosene
Diagnosed with seeing things
Maybe 'cause I know my brain (brain, brain)
Go ahead, take a peek
Maybe let you under the hood
I'll scare the shit out of you like nothing else ever could
I scare myself sometimes, I almost took my life
Now look who's got the knife
They gon' put me in a madhouse
(Ah, ah)
Shove pills down my throat 'til I space out
(Ah, ah)
They wanna love me and they then slut-shame me
Batshit crazy, can you b-b-blame me?
(La-la-la-la-la-la)
They gon' put me in the madhouse
But is it you or is it me?
(Ah, ah)
(But is it you or is it me?)
(Ah, ah)
They gon' put me in a madhouse
(Ah, ah)
Shove pills down my throat 'til I space out
(Ah, ah)
They wanna love me and they then slut-shame me
Batshit crazy, can you b-b-blame me?
(La-la-la-la-la-la)
They gon' put me in the madhouse
But is it you or is it me?
The lyrics to Nessa Barrett's song "Madhouse" convey a sense of inner turmoil and the pressure society puts on individuals who struggle with their mental health. The song opens with Nessa expressing her desire to take control of her own narrative and be the star of her own psychological thriller. She invites the listeners to grab a seat and witness the chaos unfold. The mention of blood and gore suggests that she will expose the darker aspects of her psyche, becoming a box office success, but also a sellout in the eyes of others.
Nessa talks about experiencing a chemical meltdown and feeling like the screws in her brain are coming loose. This highlights her emotional instability and the looming possibility of losing control. She then contemplates the prospect of being confined in a madhouse, where pills would be forced upon her until she becomes detached from reality.
The lyrics also touch upon the dichotomy of being both loved and slut-shamed by others. Society's judgment makes her question whether her struggles are a result of her own actions or if external forces contribute to her mental state. The chorus repeats the idea of being put in a madhouse, but raises the question of who is truly responsible for the turmoil she faces.
Overall, "Madhouse" delves into the complexities of mental health, societal expectations, and the internal battles individuals face when trying to comprehend the source of their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna star in my own psychological thriller
I am going to be the main character in my own intense and suspenseful story, exploring the depths of my mind.
So go grab a seat now
Get ready and prepare yourself to witness what is about to unfold.
There will be blood and gore
The events that will take place will be filled with violence and graphic imagery.
A box office killer, a sellout
This story will captivate the masses and be incredibly popular, making profit.
Make me a spectacle
I want to be the center of attention, drawing the gaze of others towards my actions.
I'll have a beautiful chemical meltdown
My emotional breakdown will be devastatingly intense and visually captivating.
Loosing the screws in my brain, could be any day now
The stability of my mental state is deteriorating rapidly, and a complete breakdown could occur at any moment.
They gon' put me in a madhouse
Others will try to confine me in a psychiatric facility due to my behavior.
Shove pills down my throat 'til I space out
They will forcefully medicate me with pills until my consciousness becomes altered.
They wanna love me and they then slut-shame me
They desire to be in a relationship with me, but when they cannot possess me, they criticize and degrade me.
Batshit crazy, can you b-b-blame me?
Being considered insane by society, can you really fault me for my actions?
They gon' put me in the madhouse
They will continue their attempts to confine me in a psychiatric facility.
But is it you or is it me?
However, the question remains whether the problem lies with them or with myself.
(Yeah) no more brain, serotonin, and kerosene
I no longer have control over my thoughts, emotions, and the burning passion within me.
Diagnosed with seeing things
Medical professionals have labeled me as experiencing hallucinations or delusions.
Maybe 'cause I know my brain (brain, brain)
Perhaps it is because I am aware of the inner workings and complexities of my own mind.
Go ahead, take a peek
Feel free to try and understand the depths of my psyche.
Maybe let you under the hood
Possibly allowing you access to the inner workings of my mind and emotions.
I'll scare the shit out of you like nothing else ever could
I will evoke fear and shock in you like no other experience or person ever could.
I scare myself sometimes, I almost took my life
At times, I terrify myself with the thoughts and actions that have pushed me close to ending my own existence.
Now look who's got the knife
Now, I have the power and control in this situation, and I can be a threat to others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Evan Blair, Megan Buelow, Nessa Barrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nessa Barrett
I can’t believe my debut album, young forever, is finally going to be yours 10/14!!! 🕊 you can pre-save it now: https://nessa.lnk.to/youngforever
vanii
💞🕊
Gabi
Yayy so excited 🖤
Naomi Rios
So proud wueen
🥀𝕹𝖆𝖍𝖓𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆🥀
Awesome! So excited!
Thank you Nessa
Holly Daury
Congratulations! You deserve this and so much more!
Autumn Monique
Iconic ❤️
Kaceey W3averr
You are absolutely correct❤❤
Delena4ever #TVD
dude Nessa Barrett genuinely never disappoints. her lyrics, her visuals, the melody’s and sounds she chooses, it’s all always so perfect. she definitely has a secured spot in the music industry and is gonna have a long successful career. she is making art. this is music with a meaning, with intention, with care and feelings put into it. you can tell that this really is her way of expressing herself. she’s very good at this. we are lucky to be witnessing the beginning days of her career.
Sasha Moreno
thisss^^