I'm Crazy
Stephen Covell Lyrics
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Chap stick
It's a quick fix
Like a nervous tick
Check out my eyes
They're so clear
Not red veined
I tried
To recall
A life
Before I lived at all
Being small
A child's bliss
Focused in
I remembered this
I could never reach
What's on the shelf
I was looking
For your help
'Cause I'm just a little boy
Or maybe I'm crazy
Like I fell and cut my self
You walked up and saved me
From hating what I felt
This party's
Grown tired
My invitations worn
Back home on the TV
Frauds sell pieces of their lord
So what's a kid to do
They don't make books on how to choose
The path of least resistance
May be the fastest way to lose
I still try to see
If that road is right for me
No one can tell what I'll find
But I want you by my side
I'm just a little boy
Or maybe I'm crazy
And there's no pill to save the world
We're all just so lazy
But if wisdom is a pearl
We've been misusing her
Oh, strung round a neck her voice cannot be heard
But what am I to do?
I'm just a little boy
Oh maybe I'm crazy
And it's empty on that shelf
It's less than amazing that I'll have to find out for my self
'Cause I'm just a little boy
In "I'm Crazy," Stephen Covell describes the complex emotions and struggles of growing up and finding one's place in a world that often feels overwhelming and unforgiving. The song begins with a physical description of the singer's chapped lips and reliance on chapstick, which serves as a metaphor for the way he tries to cope with his anxiety - it's a "quick fix" that only provides temporary relief, like a nervous tic. However, the singer acknowledges that his eyes are clear and sincere, suggesting that even though he may struggle with certain aspects of his life, he is still fundamentally honest and authentic.
As the song progresses, Covell delves deeper into the singer's past and present struggles. He remembers being a child and feeling blissfully unaware of the world's complexities, but now he is struggling to navigate his way through life. He feels like he can't reach the things he wants on his own and needs help - possibly from a parental figure or mentor. He repeats the line "I'm just a little boy" throughout the song, which could be interpreted as a reference to his own youth and inexperience, or as a way of acknowledging his vulnerability in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving.
Ultimately, the song is about the singer's search for meaning and connection in a confusing and sometimes overwhelming world. He recognizes that the path of least resistance may not be the best one, and that wisdom is something that can be hard to come by. However, he still holds out hope that he can find his way if he has someone to share the journey with. The song ends on a note of uncertainty - "It's less than amazing that I'll have to find out for myself" - but also with a sense of determination and resilience. It's a poignant and moving meditation on the challenges of growing up and finding one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Cracked lips
My lips are dried up and chapped
Chap stick
I use chap stick to relieve my dry lips
It's a quick fix
Chap stick only provides temporary relief
Like a nervous tick
Using chap stick has become a habit, like a nervous tick
Check out my eyes
Take a look at my eyes
They're so clear
My eyes are not bloodshot or unclear
Not red veined
My eyes don't have red veins in them
Or insincere
My eyes don't give a false impression of my emotions
I tried
I attempted
To recall
To remember
A life
My past experiences
Before I lived at all
From before I was aware of my existence
Being small
As a child
A child's bliss
The simplicity and carefreeness of being a child
Focused in
Concentrated on
I remembered this
I recalled this memory from my childhood
I could never reach
I was unable to reach something
What's on the shelf
Something I was trying to get off a high up shelf
I was looking
I tried to find something
For your help
Asking for someone's assistance
'Cause I'm just a little boy
I feel small and vulnerable
Or maybe I'm crazy
Perhaps I am irrational
Like I fell and cut my self
I feel hurt and wounded
You walked up and saved me
A friend came to my aid and helped me through tough times
From hating what I felt
From feeling bad about my situation
This party's
The current situation is
Grown tired
Has become boring and uninteresting
My invitations worn
My invitations have been overused
Back home on the TV
Watching TV as a way to escape
Frauds sell pieces of their lord
People are selling religion insincerely
So what's a kid to do
What can I, as a young person, do about this?
They don't make books on how to choose
There isn't a guide for making life choices
The path of least resistance
The easiest way to go
May be the fastest way to lose
It could lead to negative consequences
I still try to see
I continue to search for
If that road is right for me
Determine if the easiest way is what I want to do
No one can tell what I'll find
I don't know what the outcome will be
But I want you by my side
I want someone to support me in my journey
And there's no pill to save the world
There's no easy solution to global problems
We're all just so lazy
People are too lazy to try and find solutions
But if wisdom is a pearl
If knowledge is valuable
We've been misusing her
We are not using our knowledge for good purposes
Oh, strung round a neck her voice cannot be heard
If we keep knowledge only for ourselves, no one can benefit from it
But what am I to do?
What can I do about this?
'Cause I'm just a little boy
I am small and not powerful
Oh maybe I'm crazy
Perhaps my views are unconventional
And it's empty on that shelf
Even if I succeed, I may still feel empty
It's less than amazing that I'll have to find out for my self
I have to discover the truth for myself, despite the disappointment
Contributed by Julia Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.