Nightmare
Halsey
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Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord, my soul to keep If I shall die before I 'wake I pray the Lord, my soul to take I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind They talk shit, but I love it every time And I realize I've tasted blood and it is sweet I've had the rug pulled beneath my feet I've trusted lies and trusted men Broke down and put myself back together again Stared in the mirror and punched it to shatters Collected the pieces and picked out a dagger I've pinched my skin in between my two fingers And wished I could cut some parts off with some scissors "Come on, little lady, give us a smile" No, I ain't got nothin' to smile about I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for A moment to say I don't owe you a goddamn thing I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind They talk shit, but I love it every time And I realize I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night That I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night No, I won't smile, but I'll show you my teeth And I'ma let you speak if you just let me breathe I've been polite, but won't be caught dead Lettin' a man tell me what I should do in my bed Keep my exes in check in my basement 'Cause kindness is weakness, or worse, you're complacent I could play nice or I could be a bully I'm tired and angry, but somebody should be "Come on, little lady, give us a smile" No, I ain't got nothin' to smile about I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for A moment to say I don't owe you a goddamn thing I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind They talk shit, but I love it every time And I realize I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind They talk shit, but I love it every time And I realize Someone like me can be a real nightmare, completely aware But I'd rather be a real nightmare, than die unaware, yeah Someone like me can be a real nightmare, completely aware But I'm glad to be a real nightmare, so save me your prayers I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind They talk shit, but I love it every time And I realize I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind They talk shit, but I love it every time And I realize I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night That I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night
Struggling with Nightmare? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!
Written by: Ashley Frangipane, Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, Elena Kiper, Happy Perez, Ivan Shapovalov, Martin Kierszenbaum, Sergey Sasunikovich Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Valery Polienko
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Song Analysis"Nightmare" is a song that is dramatically different from Halsey's usual style, leaning more towards punk rock and less towards the electropop sound of her earlier work.
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Chart PerformanceUpon its release in May 2019, the song peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Video SuccessThe music video for "Nightmare", directed by Hannah Lux Davis, accumulated 218 million views within a year of its upload on YouTube.
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Stanza DetailThe song contains lyrics such as "No, I won't smile, but I'll show up your funeral", hinting at Halsey's frustration and dissatisfaction, a possible reference to her past relationship experiences.
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Empowering ThemeNightmares’ lyrics can be interpreted as an anthem of female empowerment, with Halsey expressing herself as a strong, independent woman who won't be shaken by men's opinions.
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Release DetailThis song was initially believed to be the leading single from Halsey's third studio album, "Manic", though it ultimately did not feature on the album's final track list.
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Live PerformanceHalsey first performed this song live at a show in Minneapolis, on a tour titled "HFK" just a day after the song was released.
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Song DurationDespite being a high-energy punk track, the song has a relatively long duration for this genre, running at three minutes and fifty-two seconds.
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Audience ReceptionMany fans have praised "Nightmare" for challenging gender norms and addressing the realities of women's experiences.
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Celebrity CollaborationsIn the accompanying music video for "Nightmare", notable cameos include Blondie’s Debbie Harry, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and model and activist Cara Delevingne.
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Artist InspirationIn the song, Halsey pays homage to her own punk rock influences, alluding to artists like Joan Jett and Alanis Morissette.
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Songwriting CreditsHalsey co-wrote this song with a number of prominent songwriters, including Benny Blanco and Louis Bell who have worked with artists like Billie Eilish and Post Malone.
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Activist MessageHalsey uses "Nightmare" to convey a broader message about societal issues and gender inequality, giving the song a sense of activism.
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Citation
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"Nightmare Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/36219813/Halsey/Nightmare>.
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