Psycho by Dave Lyrics Meaning – The Intense Journey Through the Mind of an Artist
Lyrics
I’m here with David
This is our first session
We’re just gonna talk about your background
Where you’re from, any issues you’ve been dealing with
So, where should we start?
Look
Stop all the pain
How do you stop all the pain, huh?
I used to hear a voice when I was praying
But nowadays, I don’t even wanna be saved
Nah, fuck that, I don’t wanna be saved
I was born to be wild, I don’t wanna be tamed
Talent’s in my blood and I don’t wanna be vain
But if I’m a psycho, then I don’t wanna be sane
I used to dream of this shit when I was hopping on train
So, so bad, I used to want all the fame
My ex-girl want to shoot a cover for Vogue
Which is pretty ironic ’cause she’s top of the range
If any one of you take a shot on a track
My niggas come back and put a shot in your frame
Easy as the alphabet
Three G’s in the ring, call me Alvarez
My teacher used to say I need counseling
Couldn’t stop asking me, “What do you feel?”
There’s so many old scars that they wanna reveal
We got off on the wrong foot ’cause I don’t want him to heal, nah
But if you’re looking for a psycho, you got one
I thought I had a screw loose but I lost one
Ninety-nine problems, money, it is not one
My currency’s Kenyan, that’s in it for the long run, huh
Tears on a pillow
Bro, I shed so many tears on a pillow
I used to tell my teachers that nobody gets it
I don’t know Clarke but I know that I’m a Kidult
‘Cause my mummy ain’t been home, miss thinks I’m involved
Blame my environment, it made me a sicko
Furthermore, I should bring that bitch down to Streatham
And then make her spend a day in a veil like a widow
Kiddo, we seen swords longer than a limo
My bros are blacksmiths like Jaden and Willow
Man, there’s weapons over here, we’re reppin’ over here
We’re from the Southside but it’s Streatham over here
No telling if you’re selling, hold the wettin’ over here
Get him over here, who the fuck is checkin’ over here?
Most my niggas are the ones applying pressure over here
Fuck assault, I can get a nigga peppered over here, whoa
We wanted more, then some food on the strip or moving a brick
My niggas went to school with the rich and we were broke
Hiding crow in a Rubicon drink
Which is funny ’cause that’s how we put food in the fridge
So, who am I?
Someone tryna live his best life
I just wanna take a pretty woman for a test drive
If I bring her to my room and I press, I
Guarantee she gonna see the force like an ex-wife
People tell me I’m a little bit barmy
For my army, I need a bottle of Bacardi
If it’s me and a pouch with my dargy
Shawty, you’re seeing two stars in the party
Fuck what you heard
I’m a pop boy and I ain’t giving man a turn
I don’t wanna know a pretty woman wanna flirt
Learned you can judge a nigga by the women that he curves
I love this game, I ain’t lost focus
I’m a hitmaker, if you ever noticed
I could be the rapper with the message like you’re hoping
But what’s the point in me being the best if no one knows it?
Brother I’m a careful, humble, reckless, arrogant, extravagant
Nigga probably battlin’ with manic depression
Man, I think I’m going mad again
It’s like I’m happy for a second then I’m sad again
And to my fans, the reason I could get to this
You’re my drug, the instrumental my therapist
Man, I need some therapy
My girl saying that she’ll never leave
I’m scared she gonna find a better me
Deeper insecurities, like
What if I don’t leave a legacy?
Money, why they check for me?
Mummy lost respect for me
I wish that we could be together but that ain’t how life works
I used to cry about my dad until my fucking eyes burnt
Nose running, you don’t know nothing
Before I put a penny on the table, I provided for my family
Held my mother’s hand through the agony, hey
You ever fall ‘sleep ‘case you don’t wanna be awake?
In a way, you’re tired of the reality you face?
If you’re thinking ’bout doing it
Suicide doesn’t stop the pain, you’re only moving it
Lives that you’re ruining
Thoughts of a world without you in it, hiding
I ain’t psycho but my life is
Dave’s ‘Psycho’, a track that is as complex as it is raw, sends listeners on a ride through the psyche of an individual wrestling with inner demons, societal expectations, and the pressures of fame. Through his introspective lyrics, Dave creates a landscape of emotional turmoil and the struggle for self-identity in a world that is often unkind and uncompromising.
The layers in ‘Psycho’ pull back the veneer of toughness often associated with hip-hop, allowing vulnerability to bleed through the bars. The track serves as a confessional outpour, a therapeutic release, and a testament to the human condition, where Dave’s inner thoughts clash with his outer reality.
The Inner Voices of Insecurity and Ambition
Through the first verses of ‘Psycho’, we are introduced to a character battling the voices of ambiguity. Dave’s lyrics peel away at the façade, highlighting the constant push and pull of wanting fame and recognition (‘I used to dream of this shit when I was hopping on train…’) against the awareness of the superficiality such desires bring (‘Talent’s in my blood and I don’t wanna be vain’).
It’s a stark glimpse into the intricate dance between ambition and self-awareness. Dave juxtaposes his raw hunger for success with an astute understanding of the fleeting nature of fame and the potential emptiness it can entail, illustrating the psychological impacts of such a conflict on a budding artist.
A Mirror to Social Inequities
Dave’s sharp lyricism dives into the social and environmental factors that shape him (‘Blame my environment, it made me a sicko’). Each line serves as an indictment of the socio-economic disparities that create a different set of expectations and experiences for those from less privileged backgrounds.
The track emphasizes the dichotomy faced by those who grew up in disadvantaged areas yet find themselves mingling with the affluent (‘My niggas went to school with the rich and we were broke…’). This elucidates the psychological impact of such disparities and the internal struggle to reconcile these worlds.
Vulnerability Against a Harsh Reality
‘Psycho’ pulls no punches in conveying the emotional vulnerability of its narrator. The track portrays the deep-seated pain and trauma underlying the aggressive bravado often associated with hip-hop culture (‘You ever fall ‘sleep ’cause you don’t wanna be awake?’).
Dave’s confessional about his family struggles and insecurities about legacy and worth starkly remind listeners of the humanity behind the artist persona. It is a move that bridges the gap between the listener and the creator, making ‘Psycho’ a shared human experience.
The Hidden Meaning: A Societal Commentary
Beyond personal struggles, ‘Psycho’ serves as a commentary on society’s infatuation with the ‘crazy’ artist archetype. The discourse around mental health collides with the glorification of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Dave dares to question, ‘if I’m a psycho, then I don’t wanna be sane,’ challenging the societal paradox of craving genius but fearing the mind that creates it.
The song confronts how society often shuns those who live with mental illness, while ironically expecting artists to bare their souls and sanity for entertainment. It’s a profound look at the expectations we have for artists to be both vulnerable and invincible.
Memorable Lines That Resonate
Phrases such as ‘Suicide doesn’t stop the pain, you’re only moving it. Lives that you’re ruining,’ hit hard, as they address the ripple effect that mental health issues and subsequent actions have on loved ones and communities.
Moreover, the lyric ‘People tell me I’m a little bit barmy’ acknowledges external perceptions while ‘My girl saying that she’ll never leave, I’m scared she gonna find a better me’ exposes inner fears, creating an intimate portrait of an artist as a multifaceted individual.
