Paula Cole

August 11, 2005 9:26 AM

I'm looking for songs similar to Paula Cole's "Me." The best lines in that song are "me who is my enemy, me who beats me up." In other words, anything with introspective lyrics.
posted by madmath to Media & Arts (20 answers total)

Not really my cup of tea, but I seem to recall a Lit song that was popular a few years back called "My Own Worst Enemy."
posted by ktrey at 9:32 AM on August 11, 2005

"I've got you under my skin", and imagine "you" is heroin.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:32 AM on August 11, 2005

Joan Armatrading: Me, Myself, I.
posted by wsg at 9:53 AM on August 11, 2005

Lyrics to The Eels songs have very introspective lyrics, samples and links below :

Selective Memory
I wish i could remember
but my selective memory
won't let me

Electro-Shock Blues
feeling scared today
write down "i am ok"
a hundred times the doctors say
i am ok
i am ok
i'm not ok

Things The Grandchildren Should Know
I get up early in the morning
No matter how disappointed i was
With the day before
posted by kenaman at 10:06 AM on August 11, 2005

Anything with introspective lyrics? Anything? Go to a record store and buy a record.
posted by kenko at 10:07 AM on August 11, 2005

World Leader Prented
by R.E.M.
posted by Constant Reader at 10:11 AM on August 11, 2005

Dar Williams. Her stuff is beautiful and wonderfully introspective. I don't know which album to recommend most, but "What Do You Hear in these Sounds" (off of The End of the Summer) is the Best Therapy Song Evar, and in general, The Green World and Mortal City are my favorites to listen to all the way through.
posted by weston at 10:42 AM on August 11, 2005

(Tori Amos might be in the vein you're looking for too -- I was thinking of "Crucify" off Little Earthquakes when I saw the lyrics you posted. But she's got a darker feel than Dar does, so while I find her cathartic, I don't always feel *better* after listening to her.)
posted by weston at 10:45 AM on August 11, 2005

Chris Cornell writes some of the most personal, introspective, poetic and astute lyrics of anyone I can think of. Most of the music he sings over is a lot heavier than your example, but if you're looking for poetic, lyrical, personal songwriting, amost anything of his (especially his solo work) might fit the bill.
posted by biscotti at 11:28 AM on August 11, 2005

Ben Folds writes a lot of introspective songs. Some of my favorites:

Best Imitation of Myself
Sentimental Guy
Mess
Regrets
posted by geeky at 11:29 AM on August 11, 2005

Prentend, I meant pretend. Gosh.
posted by Constant Reader at 11:44 AM on August 11, 2005

The Smiths: "How Soon is Now?" and "Accept Yourself"
posted by Sara Anne at 12:05 PM on August 11, 2005

Creep, by Radiohead
posted by Kickstart70 at 1:16 PM on August 11, 2005

Fiona Apple is ridiculously introspective.
posted by wackybrit at 1:35 PM on August 11, 2005

kristin hersh. writes the best songs about mental breakdown i've encountered. there's a box inside my chest/an animal/stuffed with my frustration/can you hear me? don't forget that i'm alone when you're away. you make me act like other people do/forgive me/comfort me, comfort me/you make me die/i'm going to cry.
posted by ifjuly at 2:01 PM on August 11, 2005

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Black
posted by jur777 at 4:21 PM on August 11, 2005

Trent Reznor writes some amazingly cutting self-critical lyrics, such as "Getting Smaller" off of With Teeth:

i think i'm losing my grip
but i can still make a fist
you know i still got my one good arm
that i can beat, mm, i can beat myself up with

Or even more appropriate, "Only":

Yes I'm alone, then again I always was
As far back as I can tell
I think maybe it's because
you were never really real to begin with
I just made you up to hurt myself

There is no you! There is only me
There is no fucking you! There is only me

It has a great video that makes the mirror-song points explicit.

A bit harsher than you were looking for? Try Bob Dylan, perhaps -- some of his angriest songs are (probably) self-directed.
posted by dhartung at 2:04 AM on August 12, 2005

Tegan and Sarah "So Jealous"
posted by RoseovSharon at 1:39 AM on August 13, 2005

"me who is my enemy, me who beats me up" made me think of Radiohead's "Just" from their album "The Bends". Here's the refrain:

You do it to yourself, you do
And that's what really hurts
Is that you do it to yourself
Just you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself
posted by Termite at 11:28 AM on August 13, 2005

Evanescance has several songs about introspection or being lost in one's self. In particular:
Imaginary:
Don't say i'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos - your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare i built my own world to escape

Whisper:
Speaking to the atmosphere
No one's here and i fall into myself
This truth drives me into madness
I know i can stop the pain if i will it all away
posted by CrunchyFrog at 5:50 PM on August 13, 2005