Released: 2017
“Awful Things” by Lil Peep, featuring Lil Tracy, dives into the tumultuous world of complicated relationships, highlighting themes of emotional pain, love, and a longing for connection. Through its repetitive chorus and emotive verses, the song explores how sometimes negative interactions and harsh truths can become addictive, serving as a temporary fix or escape from the deeper void left by love lost.
The song begins with the hook, delivered by Lil Peep, “Bother me, tell me awful things, you know I love it when you do that.” These lines reflect a paradoxical attraction to toxicity in relationships. Peep suggests that the unpleasant exchanges somehow offer comfort and familiarity. This isn’t an uncommon sentiment in unhealthy relationships, where drama or tension may mask the emptiness one feels without their partner.
The repeated chorus, “Helps me get through this without you,” is Peep’s admission that these ‘awful things’ somehow ease the absence of the partner, acting almost like a painkiller. It’s a confession that reveals his vulnerability and how deep his dependence runs. Even the negativity is preferable to the void of solitude.
Moving to the first verse, Peep sings, “You like attention, I find it obvious. She makes it obvious for me.” This is a straightforward callout, pointing to a partner who seeks attention and perhaps plays mind games. The words ‘she makes it obvious’ indicate that Peep is fully aware of this dynamic and, though possibly exasperated, accepts it.
Peep continues with “Burn me down ’til I’m nothing but memories.” It’s a poignant way to express that the emotional burn from the relationship is leading to a sense of erasure. It suggests that through the cycle of negativity, he might end up losing his essence or being reduced to just a memory.
The phrase “I get it, girl,” repeats, hinting at an acceptance of fate or perhaps a resignation to the way things are. It’s as if Peep acknowledges that this pattern is part of their relationship dance, despite its destructive nature.
In the next part, Lil Tracy jumps in with “Don’t you turn your back on me, let your teardrops fall on me.” His entrance amplifies the emotion with an imagery of abandonment and seeking comfort through tears. There’s a desire not to be left alone and an urge for shared sorrow as a bonding experience.
“Speeding away, the city in the rearview, heart racing whenever I’m near you,” adds a vivid image of urgency and the heart-pounding excitement mixed with anxiety that comes with being around someone who evokes strong emotions. It’s as if being with this person feels both liberating and perilous.
Lil Tracy’s continuation, “GothBoi jumpin’ off stage, carry me away,” references their identity within the emo rap community. This nod to subculture implies seeking an escape from reality and suggests that being enveloped by this community offers some solace.
Finally, the conclusion with “Diamonds, rubies, and gems, you can have all of them” suggests a willing surrender of materialistic symbols, perhaps to highlight that in the end, emotional connections hold more weight than physical possessions. The longing for an intimate connection overshadows any material offering.
Lil Peep’s “Awful Things” isn’t just a song but a cathartic outpouring that highlights the complex, and sometimes contradictory, nature of love. It illustrates how even pain and negativity can become a refuge for those deeply entwined in love’s turbulent embrace. The collaboration with Lil Tracy adds layers of shared understanding, drawing from their personal experiences, and roots within the emo and hip-hop communities.
