The Monster
eminem (feat.rihanna) Lyrics

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
I have accepted the dangerous side of fame and am comfortable with it, acknowledging that it exists within me.

Get along with the voices inside of my head
I have learned to coexist with my intrusive thoughts and use them as inspiration for my music.

You're trying to save me, stop holding your breath
Others may try to protect me from the dangers of fame, but I understand and accept the risks.

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy
People see me as crazy for accepting and embracing the monster within me, but I am unapologetic about it.

I wanted the fame, but not the cover of Newsweek
I desired success in my music career but was not prepared for the intense media scrutiny and personal invasion that came with it.

Oh well, guess beggars can't be choosey
I understand that I cannot control every aspect of my fame and must accept the negative consequences that come with it.

Wanted to receive attention for my music
I craved recognition and validation for my talent as a musician.

Wanted to be left alone in public excuse me
I desired privacy and autonomy in my personal life, even as my fame grew.

For wanting my cake, and eat it too, and wanting it both ways
I struggled with the conflicting desires of fame and privacy, and ultimately wanted both.

Fame made me a balloon cause my ego inflated
My success and fame caused my ego to grow and become inflated.

When I blew; see, but it was confusing
Although I achieved great success, it was overwhelming and difficult to navigate.

Cause all I wanted to do is be the Bruce Lee of loose leaf
I aspired to be a master of my craft, likening my skill in songwriting to Bruce Lee's mastery of martial arts.

Abused ink, used it as a tool when I blew steam
I used writing and music as an outlet to deal with the intense pressure and stress that came with fame.

(Ooh!) Hit the lottery, oh wee
My sudden success and fame was like winning the lottery.

But with what I gave up to get was bittersweet
Although I achieved success, I also had to sacrifice privacy and personal relationships.

It was like winning a used me
I felt exploited and used by the music industry and media as my fame grew.

Ironic cause I think I'm getting so huge I need a shrink
Despite achieving great success, I felt overwhelmed and needed therapy to deal with the psychological impact of fame.

I'm beginning to lose sleep: one sheep, two sheep
I became anxious and struggled to sleep due to the constant pressure of fame.

Going cuckoo and cooky as Kool Keith
I felt like I was losing my grip on reality, similar to how eccentric musician Kool Keith behaved.

Call me crazy, but I have this vision
Others may see me as crazy, but I have a clear vision of what I want to achieve in my music career.

One day that I walk amongst you a regular civilian
I dream of being able to live a normal life and blend in with others outside of my fame.

And I take it back to the days that I get on a Dre track
I reminisce about working with Dr. Dre in the past and the exhilaration of creating music with him.

Give every kid who got played at, pumped up feeling
I want to inspire and uplift my fans, especially those who have faced adversity or challenges in their lives.

And shit to say back to the kids who play 'em
I want to empower my fans with lyrics and music that they can use to respond to those who have wronged or doubted them.

I ain't here to save the fucking children
While I want to inspire and connect with my fans, I understand that it is not my responsibility to save or fix their problems.

But if one kid out of a hundred million
Even if I can positively impact the life of just one fan out of the millions who listen to my music, it is worth it.

Who are going through a struggle feels and then relates, that's great
If my music can resonate with someone who is facing a difficult time, it is a great accomplishment for me as an artist.

It's payback, Russell Wilson falling way back in the draft
I use my success as payback for those who doubted and underestimated me, similar to how quarterback Russell Wilson fell in the NFL draft but went on to achieve great success.

Turn nothing into something, still can make that, straw into gold chump
I have a talent for turning unlikely or difficult situations into something positive or valuable, even if others doubt my abilities.

I will spin Rumpelstiltskin in a haystack
I have a knack for rising to challenges and overcoming obstacles, similar to the fairy tale character Rumpelstiltskin who spun straw into gold.

Maybe I need a straight jacket face facts, I am nuts for real
Despite achieving success, I recognize that I am far from perfect and may be seen as crazy for pursuing a career in music.

But I'm okay with that, it's nothing, I'm still friends with the...
Despite the challenges and risks of fame, I am still comfortable embracing the monster within me and pursuing my dreams in music.