NUMB by xxxtentacion Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Depths of Sorrow in Melody

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for xxxtentacion's NUMB at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

And every single year
I’m drowning in my tears, I’m drowning in my tears again
I can’t seem to forget the pain I seem to give
The pain I seem to give, my friend
And every single year
I’m drowning in my tears, I’m drowning in my tears again
I can’t seem to forget the pain I seem to give
The pain I seem to give, my friend

Woah, oh, woah, oh
Woah, oh, woah, oh
Woah, oh, woah, oh
Woah, oh, woah, oh
Woah, oh, woah, oh

And every single year
I’m drowning in my tears, I’m drowning in my tears again
I can’t seem to forget the pain I seem to give
The pain I seem to give, my friend
Woah, oh
And every single year (woah, oh)
I’m drowning in my tears (woah, oh), I’m drowning in my tears again (woah, oh)
Woah, oh
I can’t seem to forget (woah, oh) the pain I seem to give (woah, oh)
The pain I seem to give, my friend (woah, oh)
Woah, oh, woah, oh

And every single year
I’m drowning in my tears, I’m drowning in my tears again
I can’t seem to forget the pain I seem to give
The pain I seem to give, my friend
Woah, oh

In the landscape of modern music, where vulnerability sometimes takes a backseat to bravado, xxxtentacion delivered a haunting reverie infused with anguish. ‘NUMB’, a track from the late artist’s second studio album ‘?’, pierces the veil of emotional turmoil through an honest portrayal of personal torment and the cyclical nature of internal pain.

The song’s starkly repetitive lyrics and sorrowful melody together craft an anthem for a generation struggling with the tides of mental health challenges and the burden of unresolved heartache. It’s a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the soul of a troubled artist who tragically became an emblem of both talent and torment.

A Cyclical Torrent of Emotion: The Ritual of Pain

Parsing through the lyrics of ‘NUMB’, there’s a sensation of being caught in a relentless cycle—the ‘every single year’ he refers to is both a timestamp and a loop of suffering. It’s as though xxxtentacion is confessing to being ensnared in an annual ritual where tears are the only constant, a poignant acknowledgment of his own unresolved afflictions.

There’s unapologetic honesty in this expression, forcing listeners to confront the reality of personal demons and the difficulty of escaping them. It’s a reminder that for some, time does not heal all wounds; instead, it serves as a grim reminder of the unresolved.

Diving into the Abyss: Unpacking the Melancholy in Melody

‘NUMB’ leverages minimalist instrumentals to underscore the weight of the lyrics—creating space for the words to breathe and resonate. The choice of lethargic guitar riffs and the slow build of the music emulates the act of sinking, enhancing the metaphor of drowning in one’s tears.

The somber tonality of the sound invites listeners into a subdued state, perhaps mimicking the numbness xxxtentacion himself might have been striving, or failing, to feel amid his emotional tempest.

The Resonating Refrain: ‘Woah, oh’ as the Sound of Despair

The simplicity of the repetitive ‘Woah, oh’ vocalization serves as a mournful interlude, a chant-like mantra that encapsulates the very essence of grief. It’s this moan of sorrow that strikes a chord with listeners—a universal cry that transcends language and cuts to the core.

In its wordless conveyance, it carries the message of the song across cultural and personal boundaries, acting as a siren song for the emotionally adrift.

The Shadows Behind The Lyrics: Exploring the Hidden Meaning

While the lyrics seem straightforward, diving deeper reveals layers of possible meaning. The repetition, the consistent anchoring to ‘every single year,’ could hint at trauma anniversaries or seasonal depression, phenomena that echo across time in the psyche of the sufferer.

By delving into these repeating phrases, xxxtentacion might be portraying the inescapable gravity of certain memories and experiences, illuminating how they continue to shape present feelings and behaviors.

Memorable Lines Etched in Melancholy: ‘I’m drowning in my tears again’

Among the elements that lodge ‘NUMB’ in the collective consciousness are the piercingly relatable words ‘I’m drowning in my tears again’. This line is a raw admission of being overwhelmed, a sentiment many grapple with but often keep shrouded in silence.

Its recurrence throughout the song turns the phrase into an anthem of shared pain, a hook that invites empathetic resonance, offering solace in the shared human condition of sorrow and vulnerability.