The Monster
Rihanna (ft. Eminem) Lyrics

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
I coexist with the fear and insecurity that resides within me

Get along with the voices inside of my head
I have learned to accept and handle the conflicting thoughts and ideas that exist within my own mind

You're tryin' to save me, stop holding your breath
You want to help me, but you can't keep putting your own life on hold to do so

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy (crazy)
You believe that I am mentally unstable or irrational

I wanted the fame but not the cover of Newsweek
I desired recognition and success, but I did not want the negative publicity or scrutiny that often accompanies it

Oh well, guess beggars can't be choosey
I understand that when I was just starting out, I had to take whatever opportunities came my way

Wanted to receive attention for my music
I hoped that my talent would be recognized and appreciated by others

Wanted to be left alone in public, excuse me
I wanted to have privacy and be able to enjoy my life without constant attention and intrusion from fans and the media

For wantin' my cake, and eat it too, and wantin' it both ways
I was being greedy and unrealistic, wanting all the benefits of fame without any of the drawbacks

Fame made me a balloon 'cause my ego inflated
My success and recognition caused me to become overly confident and arrogant

When I blew, see, but it was confusing
When my ego got the better of me, it created a lot of confusion and difficult situations

'Cause all I wanted to do's be the Bruce Lee of loose leaf
I simply wanted to be the best at what I did

Abused ink, used it as a tool when I blew steam (ooh)
I would express my anger and frustration through my art, using it as an outlet for my emotions

Hit the lottery, ooh-wee
I struck it big and achieved a level of success beyond my wildest dreams

But with what I gave up to get, it was bittersweet
Although I achieved my goals, I had to sacrifice a lot to get there, making it a mixed or bittersweet accomplishment

It was like winnin' a used mink
My success had lost some of its luster and felt like a hand-me-down or secondhand achievement

Ironic 'cause I think I'm gettin' so huge I need a shrink
Despite my success, I feel like I am losing control and need help to manage my emotions and thoughts

I'm beginnin' to lose sleep, one sheep, two sheep
I am having trouble sleeping, struggling to calm my mind and relax

Going coo-coo and kooky as Kool Keith
I am becoming more and more unpredictable and erratic

But I'm actually weirder than you think, 'cause I'm
Despite what you might believe, I am even stranger and more unusual than you can imagine

Now, I ain't much of a poet
I am not particularly skilled at writing poetry

But I know somebody once told me to seize the moment
Someone once advised me to take advantage of opportunities when they arise

And don't squander it
Do not waste or misuse the opportunities that come your way

'Cause you never know when it all could be over tomorrow
Life is unpredictable and can change suddenly or unexpectedly

So I keep conjurin'
I keep trying to create and come up with new ideas and projects

Sometimes I wonder where these thoughts spawn from
I am curious about the source of my own ideas and inspirations

Yeah, ponderin'll do you wonders
Contemplating and reflecting can be very beneficial and enlightening

No wonder you're losing your mind, the way it wanders
It is no surprise that you are struggling with your own thoughts, given how unpredictable and wandering they can be

Yodel-odel-ay-hee-hoo
This is a nonsensical phrase, used for its rhythmic and lyrical qualities rather than its meaning

I think it went wanderin' off down yonder
I believe that my thought process has wandered off in a different direction

And stumbled onto Jeff VanVonderen
This is a reference to the TV show Intervention, where Jeff VanVonderen is an interventionist who helps people struggling with addiction

'Cause I need an interventionist
I feel like I need someone to intervene and help me overcome my own problems and issues

To intervene between me and this monster
I need someone to stand between me and the damaging effects of my own psyche

And save me from myself and all this conflict
I need help to overcome the inner conflict and turmoil that is causing me problems

'Cause the very thing that I love's killing me
My passion and drive are causing me harm and making my life difficult

And I can't conquer it
I am unable to overcome or defeat my own demons and issues

My OCD is conkin' me in the head, keep knockin'
My obsessive-compulsive disorder is causing me severe mental distress and is difficult to manage

Nobody's home, I'm sleepwalkin'
I feel disconnected from myself and my life, like I am going through the motions without really being present

I'm just relayin' what the voice in my head's sayin'
I am simply expressing the thoughts and ideas that are going through my own mind

Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just friends with the
Please do not take your frustrations out on me - I am simply being honest and expressing my own thoughts

Call me crazy, but I have this vision
You might think I am insane, but I have a clear idea or plan for my life

One day that I'll walk amongst you a regular civilian
I hope to someday be able to live a more normal or average life, without the pressures and scrutiny of fame

But until then, drums get killed and
Until that time, I will continue to make music and inspire others

I'm comin' straight at MC's, blood gets spilled and
I am a skilled rapper who will not hold back and will compete fiercely with other artists

I'll take it back to the days that I'd get on a Dre track
I will return to the time when I was working with Dr. Dre and making some of my most successful music

Give every kid who got played that pumped-up feelin'
I want to inspire and motivate other people, especially those who have been overlooked or undervalued in the past

And shit to say back to the kids who played him
I want to give people the confidence and tools they need to stand up for themselves and fight back against those who have mistreated or underestimated them

I ain't here to save the fuckin' children
I am not trying to be a hero or savior for anyone else

But if one kid out of a hundred million
But if just one person can relate to my music and feel inspired or empowered by it

Who are going through a struggle feels it and relates, that's great
If someone who is struggling hears my music and feels a connection or sense of hope, that is a great accomplishment

It's payback, Russell Wilson
This is a reference to Russell Wilson, a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, who was passed over by many teams in the NFL draft before becoming a successful player. The singer feels like he is getting revenge or payback against those who doubted him in the past by achieving success

Falling way back in the draft
Russell Wilson was not chosen until late in the NFL draft, despite his talent and potential

Turn nothin' into somethin', still can
Even if you start with very little, you can still create something great or valuable

Make that, straw into gold, chump, I will spin
This is a reference to the fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin, who was able to spin straw into gold. The singer feels like he can work miracles or create something valuable out of nothing

Maybe I need a straight jacket, face facts
The singer feels like he might need to be institutionalized or put in a straight jacket to control his own thoughts and impulses

I am nuts for real, but I'm okay with that
The artist is acknowledging that he has a mental illness or disorder, but he has come to terms with it and is not ashamed of who he is

It's nothin', I'm still friends with the
Despite all of his issues and struggles, the artist is still able to maintain a relationship with the dark or negative parts of his own psyche