The Monster
The Monster (Feat. Rihanna) - Eminem Lyrics

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
I have accepted the inner demons that constantly haunt me and reside within me

Get along with the voices inside of my head
I have befriended and learned to live with the conflicting thoughts and ideas in my mind

You're trying to save me, stop holding your breath
Don't waste your efforts trying to change me, as I am content with my inner turmoil

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy
I am fully aware that my actions and thoughts may seem irrational and insane to others

I wanted the fame but not the cover of Newsweek
I desired recognition and success, but was not prepared for the scrutiny and negative attention that came with it

Oh well, guess beggars can't be choosey
I had to accept whatever opportunities were presented to me, even if they weren't ideal

Wanted to receive attention for my music
My desire for fame stemmed from a desire to share my music with the world and have it resonate with others

Wanted to be left alone in public, excuse me
I craved privacy despite being in the public eye constantly, and felt entitled to it

For wantin' my cake, and eat it too, and wantin' it both ways
I had unrealistic expectations and wanted all the benefits of success without any of the drawbacks or responsibilities

Fame made me a balloon ‘cause my ego inflated
Success and attention fueled my ego and made me feel larger than life, but also made it fragile and prone to popping

When I blew, see, but it was confusing
When I finally achieved success, it was overwhelming and bewildering

‘Cause all I wanted to do's be the Bruce Lee of loose leaf
I aspired to be a master of the art of rapping without constraints or limitations

Abused ink, used it as a tool when I blew steam
I channeled my anger and frustration into my writing and used it as an outlet

Ooh! Hit the lottery, ooh-wee!
I was lucky enough to achieve success beyond my wildest dreams

But with what I gave up to get it was bittersweet
Although I achieved success, I had to sacrifice personal relationships and parts of myself to get there

It was like winnin' a used mink
Success wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and was like receiving a trophy that had already been won and discarded

Ironic ‘cause I think I'm gettin' so huge I need a shrink
Despite achieving success, I still felt small and insignificant, and needed therapy to deal with my inner demons

I'm beginnin' to lose sleep: one sheep, two sheep
My inner struggles were starting to affect my mental health and sleeping patterns

Going coo-coo and kooky as Kool Keith
I was becoming more and more unhinged, like the eccentric rapper Kool Keith

But I'm actually weirder than you think, ‘cause I'm
Despite appearing strange to others, my true weirdness and inner turmoil went even deeper

Well, that's nothin' (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Compared to the inner struggles I face, the concerns and worries of others are insignificant

(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

Now, I ain't much of a poet
I am not skilled at writing poetry or expressing myself through flowery language

But I know somebody once told me to seize the moment
Despite my shortcomings, I am aware of the importance of seizing opportunities as they arise

And don't squander it
I understand that I should make the most of the chances I get, and not waste them

‘Cause you never know when it all could be over tomorrow
I am conscious of the fleeting nature of success and how it can vanish in an instant

So I keep conjurin'
I continue to create music and write as a means of coping with my inner struggles

Sometimes I wonder where these thoughts spawn from
I am unsure of the origin of my inner conflicts and where they come from

Yeah, ponderin' will do you wonders
Reflecting and contemplating can be beneficial for personal growth and understanding

No wonder you're losing your mind, the way it wanders
It's no surprise that my mind is chaotic and unfocused, given how often it wanders and ruminates

Yodel-odel-ay-hee-hoo!
An exclamation of frustration or exasperation

I think it went wanderin' off down yonder
My mind has likely wandered off even further and deeper, beyond my reach or control

And stumbled onto Jeff VanVonderen
A reference to the TV interventionist who helps people overcome addictions and inner demons

‘Cause I need an interventionist
I require outside help and guidance to overcome my inner struggles and demons

To intervene between me and this monster
I need someone to step in and help me battle the metaphorical 'monster' within myself

And save me from myself and all this conflict
I need to be rescued from the self-destructive patterns and inner conflicts that are plaguing me

‘Cause the very thing that I love's killing me
Despite my love for music and success, it is taking a toll on my mental and emotional well-being

And I can't conquer it
I am struggling to overcome my inner conflicts and demons on my own

My OCD is conkin' me in the head, keep knockin'
My obsessive-compulsive tendencies are causing me distress and turmoil, and won't let up

Nobody's home, I'm sleepwalkin'
I feel alone and disconnected from myself and others, like I am just going through the motions

I'm just relayin' what the voice in my head's sayin'
I am merely expressing the thoughts and ideas that are constantly bouncing around in my mind

Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just friends with the
Don't blame me for my inner demons and struggles, as I have no control over them

Call me crazy, but I have this vision
I may seem irrational or mad, but I have a clear picture of what I want to achieve

One day that I'll walk amongst you a regular civilian
I aspire to return to a simpler, more ordinary life that is not dominated by my inner demons and fame

But until then, drums get killed and
Until I reach my goal, I will continue to write and produce music that resonates with others and express my inner turmoil

I'm comin' straight at MC's, blood gets spilled and
I am determined to dominate the rap game and leave my mark, even if it means clashing with other artists and making enemies

I'll take it back to the days that I'd get on a Dre track
I will revisit the early days of my career when Dr. Dre produced my music and helped me achieve success

Give every kid who got played that pumped-up feelin'
I aim to inspire and empower those who have felt downtrodden or marginalized through my music

And shit to say back to the kids who played him
My music will give a voice to those who have been silenced or ignored, providing them with rallying cries and mantras

I ain't here to save the fuckin' children
I am not a savior or messiah, but rather an artist who hopes to uplift and inspire through my music

But if one kid out of a hundred million
If only a single person is positively impacted by my music or message, then it is all worth it

Who are going through a struggle feels it
If my music can provide solace or comfort to those who are struggling, then I have fulfilled my purpose

And relates, that's great, it's payback, Russell Wilson
If my music resonates with someone and helps them, then it is a type of reward or monetary compensation, similar to NFL player Russell Wilson's contract

Falling way back in the draft
An allusion to Russell Wilson's low draft pick, meaning that success can come from overlooked or unexpected sources

Turn nothin' into somethin', still can
Even if you start from nothing, you can still achieve greatness and success

Make that, straw into gold chump, I will spin
I will craft something valuable and meaningful out of seemingly worthless or mundane material

Rumpelstiltskin in a haystack
A reference to the fairy tale where Rumpelstiltskin spun straw into gold, indicating that I have the ability to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary

Maybe I need a straight jacket, face facts
I may be in need of mental health treatment or institutionalization, and must come to terms with my inner demons to move forward

I am nuts for real, but I'm okay with that
I acknowledge that I am dealing with serious mental health issues, but have learned to accept and live with them

It's nothin', I'm still friends with the
Despite my inner turmoil and struggles, I am still able to befriend and accept my inner demons as a part of myself