☝️ Key Points
- The singer struggles with alcohol and drug abuse to cope with emotional problems
- There is an element of betrayal in the singer's relationship
- He is obsessed with his former partner, although he acknowledges the instability of the relationship
- The singer feels misunderstood and faces hostile judgments from others
- The song is about self-destruction and dealing with betrayal and loss
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Speak' by
Internet Money depict self-destruction, loss, betrayal, and frustration. The singer talks about his struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse, saying, 'Okay, I'm drunk and it's late, I've lost all of my patience'. He is frustrated and angry, using drugs as an escape from his emotional state. There is also an element of betrayal as he realizes that the woman he was with is now with someone else ('Oh that's your bitch? Then why she with the gang all up on her knees?'). Here, he sees the woman as 'for the streets' and not as a potential long-term partner. However, he remains obsessed with her ('I get on her mind, now she can't speak'), showing his own inability to let go of the past. He has accepted that the relationship will not last ('I just accepted that this shit will never, ever last'). The song also conveys the feeling of being misunderstood and wrongly judged, as people 'a lot to say about me but won't say shit to me'. Overall, the song is a dark portrayal of self-destruction and the struggle to deal with betrayal and loss.