Meaning of “I Feel Like Dying” by Lil Wayne
All lyrics considered, Lil Wayne’s “I Feel Like Dying” can be taken as an anti-drug song, in a manner of interpretation. That’s not to say that Tunechi actually raps against drug consumption. To the contrary, most of the lyrics point to how he actually feels better when he’s high or intoxicated on substances such as marijuana, codeine, Xanax and alcohol. The hook also indicates that when Wayne isn’t under the influence of these drugs, then he ‘feels like dying’.
That statement can be taken in a couple of different ways. For instance, in relation to Weezy’s usual artistry (including most of the lyrics of this song), it can be most simply interpreted as the rapper’s way of saying that he’d much rather be high than not.
Or, more soberly speaking, it may also be understood as alluding to withdrawal symptoms. And the vocalist goes about clarifying, at the conclusion of the second verse, that the latter is more likely the case.
In other words, Wayne seems to be speaking to the less-than-ideal sensation he feels once the drugs have worn off which, in the case of an addict, is known as a comedown or crash. And with some of the substances mentioned in this song, such as alcohol and especially Xanax, the comedown or withdrawal symptoms can be quite serious, including the likes of anxiety and depression, as alluded to in this song.
But if not for that particular segment of the second verse, this could be alternatively interpreted as usual Lil Wayne fare, i.e. along the lines of the rapper celebrating his drug habits. But what can be gleaned from a song such as “I Feel Like Dying” is the fact that Weezy isn’t actually on it like that.
“Only once the drugs are done (Hahaha)
Do I feel like dying, I feel like dying (Heheh, C3, hello)
Only once the drugs are done (Yeah, hello)
Do I feel like dying, I feel like dying (Hehehe, get lifted)
Only once the drugs are done (Yeah, I get lifted)
Yeah, yeah, so get lifted, yeah
Do I feel like dying, I feel like dying (Yeah, haha)”
According to some reports he may still have drug problems to this day, some 15 years after this track was dropped. But this song was unconventional for its days, i.e. an A list rapper basically admitting that he’s an addict as opposed solely glamorizing drug consumption.
Release of “I Feel Like Dying”
“I Feel Like Dying” is a song Wayne and his team put out on the first day of June 2007. The track is not included on any of the rapper’s major projects. However, it features as the sixteenth song on the tracklist of Wayne’s unofficial compilation project titled “The Drought is Over 2: The Carter 3 Sessions”. Said compilation also dropped in June of 2007.
Songwriting and Production
The Louisiana-born rapper composed this hip hop tune all by himself. The production duties for the track were handled by a US music producer known as Jim Jonsin.