Released: 2018
“Lucid Dreams” by Juice WRLD hits you with the feels straight out the gate, and it’s not just your average heartbreak track—it’s a deep dive into the psyche of a dude wrestling with the ghosts of a past love. Juice spills his heart over the track, grappling with the anguish of a love lost and the struggle to move on, all while battling his inner demons. It’s a melancholy vibe that taps into that raw nerve of post-breakup despair, mixing regret with a twist of bitterness. The joint is heavy with emotion, and Juice lets it all hang out, no filter.
The track kicks off with Juice WRLD haunted by memories, picturing his ex’s “shadows” in his room, meaning he’s stuck with the visual and emotional reminders of her. When he says he can’t take back the love he gave, it’s a declaration that the time and feelings he invested are gone for good, and he’s tangled up in the pain of it. He swings between loving her and hating her, illustrating that push and pull anyone who’s been through a real-deal breakup knows all too well. Dude thought she was ‘the one’, but now, with clarity, he sees he should’ve been vibing with his head, not just his heart. She’s moved on, but Juice can’t help but throw a little shade, saying he’s the better option even though she won’t see it—and he’s determined not to fade into the background of her mind.
As the narrative unfolds, we get a glimpse into Juice WRLD’s coping mechanisms, none too healthy either—taking prescriptions to numb the pain, a clear nod to the self-medicating that often comes with heartache. His lucid dreams, vivid dreams where you’re aware and in control, have turned into a sort of prison where he’s powerless, trapped with thoughts of her even in his sleep. Brooding on these images, Juice recounts his roller coaster of emotions, from wedding bells to wishing he was dead—yeah, it’s that intense.
He admits to repeating his mistakes, potentially ignoring his homies’ advice who had probably peeped game on the situation before it went south. “You were made outta plastic, fake,” is a raw line, accusing his ex of being insincere and manufactured, just leading him on. Juice WRLD explores the theme of deceptive appearances—how the person who seems angelic can have the darkest soul, a sort of cautionary tale about love’s illusions. He entrusted her with his heart, and all he got in return was heartbreak—this line hits hard with anyone who’s felt betrayed by someone they opened their heart to.
Throughout “Lucid Dreams,” Juice WRLD reiterates the struggle to let go, despite recognizing the toxicity of holding on. He wants to clear his mind of her memory, but there’s this push and pull within him, a desire to cling to what was. But reality checks him; he knows she’s not going to change, so he must. He’s caught between the harsh truth and the softer memories, ending with the ominous repeat of the line, “I won’t let you forget me”—solidifying not just the song as a stubborn anthem of refusing to be erased, but also marking Juice WRLD’s own place in the pantheon of artists who perfectly articulate the raw human emotions of loss and longing.
