The first track on his EP Blue featuring six singles, Down Bad is followed by a song about heartbreak "Don't Say Hi To Me" and the feeling of no escape in "Erase It". "Hold Me Down" is the midpoint of the album begging for help - asking someone, anyone to hold him down from falling off the edge. With Higher, the album takes a positive turn expressing feelings of taking that step to go a little bit farther and a little bit "Higher". The final song of the EP, "Saved Me" is to that special person who saved him from falling off the edge.
The EP is titled Blue - to denote the shades of Blue, from the darker shades of Blue to the soothing light blues which bring positivity and calm into your life.
Down Bad
Shawn Mathews Lyrics
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Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I been down bad
I been down bad
I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired
Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I been down bad
I been down bad
Need to get away maybe take a vacation
Took one back in may, need a change of location
I don't wanna talk, I ain’t in the right place yeah
I just need sometime gettin to the right space yeah
Feelin' outta time, gettin older everyday
I been in my mind tryna throw it all away yeah
I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired
Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I been down bad
I been down bad
I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired
Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I been down bad
I been down bad
Always spot the wrong but I can never seem to right it
Another thing goes wrong and now I'm feeling all behind yeah
Quarter after one, the only thing that’s on my mind yeah
Feeling all alone can someone tell me where the light is
Don’t feel like I belong, I got insecurities
So, I feel alone, like I only got me
Maybe I’ve grown cause I do enjoy the peace
And quiet of my room when no one’s around me
I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired
Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I been down bad
I been down bad
I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired
Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I been down bad
I been down bad
The lyrics of Shawn Mathews's song "Down Bad" convey a deep sense of sadness, exhaustion, and mental turmoil. The repetition and emphasis on these feelings reflect the artist's overwhelming emotional state. The opening lines, "I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired," express a sense of weariness and a heaviness that the artist has been carrying for a while.
The line "Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya" suggests a state of confusion and disorientation. It implies that the artist is so consumed by their emotions that they have lost sight of their own thoughts and mental state. It also implies a feeling of isolation, as they are unable to fully articulate or understand their own experiences.
The phrase "I been down bad" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a mantra and affirmation of the artist's struggles. It signifies a significant period of hardship, both emotionally and potentially in other aspects of life. This repetition emphasizes the depth of the artist's pain and the enduring nature of their difficulties.
The following verses touch upon the artist's need for a break or escape. They express a desire to find a different environment or a change of scenery to alleviate the burden they are carrying. The artist acknowledges that they are in a place where they cannot engage in conversations or connect with others effectively. They yearn for some time alone to find their right mental space and perhaps gain clarity.
The later verses reveal a sense of inadequacy and self-doubt. The artist mentions always spotting the wrong and struggling to make things right. They express feeling behind, alone, and uncertain about the future. The line "can someone tell me where the light is" conveys a plea for guidance and hope amid their darkness.
In conclusion, Shawn Mathews's "Down Bad" portrays a deep emotional struggle, fatigue, and a longing for solace. The lyrics delve into feelings of isolation, confusion, and a yearning for a break from the overwhelming weight of their emotions. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes the artist's enduring pain, while subsequent verses expose their insecurities and desire for a sense of belonging and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I been so sad, I'm so sick and tired
I have been feeling extremely unhappy and exhausted
Where my head at, couldn’t even tell ya
I am mentally lost and confused, unable to determine my current state of mind
I been down bad
I have been in a deeply negative and challenging situation
So much on my plate feel like I need a break yea
I have too many responsibilities and it feels overwhelming, necessitating a pause
Need to get away maybe take a vacation
I require an escape, a temporary getaway, perhaps through a vacation
Took one back in may, need a change of location
I had a vacation in May, but I now recognize the need for a change in my surroundings
I don't wanna talk, I ain’t in the right place yeah
I have no desire to engage in conversation as I am not in a good mental state
I just need sometime gettin to the right space yeah
I simply need some time alone to find a peaceful mental state
Feelin' outta time, gettin older everyday
I feel as though I am running out of time and growing older with each passing day
I been in my mind tryna throw it all away yeah
My thoughts have been consumed by wanting to discard everything, to escape my current situation
Always spot the wrong but I can never seem to right it
I consistently notice mistakes or problems, but struggle to correct or fix them
Another thing goes wrong and now I'm feeling all behind yeah
When another problem arises, I start to feel even more overwhelmed and left behind
Quarter after one, the only thing that’s on my mind yeah
At a quarter past one, the only thing occupying my thoughts is
Feeling all alone can someone tell me where the light is
Experiencing a deep sense of loneliness, I long for guidance or hope to find my way out
Don’t feel like I belong, I got insecurities
I do not feel like I fitting in anywhere, as I have deep-seated doubts and uncertainties
So, I feel alone, like I only got me
Consequently, I feel isolated, as if I am the only one I can rely on
Maybe I’ve grown cause I do enjoy the peace
Perhaps I have matured, as I now find solace
And quiet of my room when no one’s around me
In the calm and silence of my room when I am alone
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, RDSD PUBLISHING
Written by: Dominic Stumpo, Kylie Fernands, Shawn Mathews
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind