Johnny Cash’s masterpiece “Hurt” is actually a cover written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and is probably the most depressing song ever about what seems to be Borderline Personality Disorder (probably with sociopathic tendencies). The lyrics and Cash’s delivery capture the emptiness and deep despair that every Borderline feels deep inside. When he recorded “Hurt,” he had already been given only 18 months left to live by his doctors (he suffered from a rare degenerative disease and diabetes).
This is another one of those songs that’s good for cathartic crying. I posted the lyric video so you can read all the words (even though Johnny’s enunciation is perfectly understandable).
I was going to make this song this week’s Monday Melody, but I couldn’t wait to put it up now.
My song lists about NPD and BPD are among my most popular posts (and are so much fun to put together), so I think it’s time to post another set. There are so many great songs about Cluster B disorders!
Since it’s sometimes so hard to distinguish lyrics about people with BPD from people with NPD, I’m going to just combine 10 songs I haven’t reviewed before in one new post, and specify which disorder I think is being described in the narrative, and where I’m not sure, I’ll say so.
Wherever possible, I tried to post the lyric videos.
1. The Cars: Dangerous Type
Thanks to Mary Pranzatelli for suggesting this one! This is a great, catchy song, the Cars were one of my favorite bands back in the day. I think this describes a girl with BPD.
2. Three Days’ Grace: Animal I Have Become
Three Days’ Grace (along with Alanis Morrisette) seems to have a lot of songs about personality disordered individuals. This rocker from the early 2000s seems to be sung by a guy with severe or malignant BPD (edging toward sociopathy) who is all too aware of how sick he’s become.
3. Smashing Pumpkins: To Forgive
A dark and poignant lament from a man with either BPD or NPD about the child he was whose soul was destroyed.
4. Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks
Duet where the female singer appears to be suffering from BPD and is having a dialogue about it with her worried lover.
5. The Beatles: Run for Your Life
There are few songs from the 60s about BPD or NPD and The Beatles weren’t a band you expected to write about such dark material anyway, but this lesser known of their songs seems to be about a really jealous guy with malignant NPD or psychopathy.
6. John Lennon: Jealous Guy
Well, related to the above, maybe John Lennon had issues, because he wrote this very pretty ballad about a guy lamenting the way he hurt his lover and he seems to have BPD.
7. Halsey: Gasoline
This woman describes what could be a bad case of self destructive BPD, even though Halsey’s Wikipedia entry says she actually suffers from Bipolar Disorder.
8. Shawn Colvin: Sunny Came Home
A pretty murder ballad about a woman who suffered a BPD psychotic break and snapped. She may have been a psychopath too since the murder was premeditated.
9. Limp Bizkit: Behind Blue Eyes
The singer is clearly a self-aware narcissist. Thanks to Akram for this suggestion!
10. Sia: Breathe Me
Poignant ballad about a young woman suffering with BPD.(Like Halsey above, Sia Furler’s Wikipedia entry states she actually suffers from Bipolar Disorder)
11. Kelly Clarkson: Because of You
Emotional ballad that portrays Clarkson as a young woman who suffers from emotional problems, possibly BPD. I’ve included the regular video because of the story it tells. She meets her child (true) self, who helps her to remember her narcissistic parents who caused her to develop severe self esteem problems. The video is also interesting in that Clarkson is shown periodically in what appears to be a house of mirrors. Clarkson appears to be in tears at the end.
If you enjoyed this post, please check out my other BPD/NPD song lists:
Everyone who reads this blog knows I’m a huge music fan, so I thought I’d start a series of songs about the experience of being Borderline (or being in relationships with Borderlines), as I already have with songs about Narcissism.
Here are 11 songs to get started. I’ll do another one of these later.
I tried to include the lyric videos whenever possible.
1. Green Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams
A huge 2005 comeback hit by the alternative rock band. I think this song really captures the horror and loneliness of what it’s like to have BPD.
I’m walking down the line that divides me somewhere in my mind
One the borderline of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines what’s fucked up and everything’s alright
Check my vital signs to know that I’m still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there would find me
Til then I walk alone
These lines pretty much say it all. It’s a great song.
2. Three Days Grace: I Hate Everything About You
The early 2000’s seemed to have a surplus of songs that described Borderline-like mental conditions. Three Days Grace seemed to specialize in these sort of songs. Here is a song that describes the “splitting” (black and white thinking) Borderlines tend to do in relationships, as well as idealization/devaluation of a lover.
3. Katy Perry: Hot and Cold
A poppier, less serious song about the crazymaking rapid mood swings and tendency toward splitting Borderlines tend to do and the instability of their relationships. Here, Perry is singing to her BPD lover. (Although the word “Bipolar” is mentioned in the song, the lover’s moods swing too rapidly for it to be Bipolar I Disorder, which is characterized by long-term severe mood changes.
4. David Nail: Whatever She’s Got
The bro-country singer seems to be singing about his girlfriend who displays the unpredictable rapid mood swings of someone with BPD.
5. The Offspring: Self Esteem
Classic early ’90s rocker about a guy who may be a Borderline who appears to be involved with a girl with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Or she could be an abusive Borderline. It’s hard to tell. Anyway, they’re both pretty messed up in the head. I’d say their relationship is doomed. Enjoy the tune.
6. Meat Loaf: Paradise By The Dashboard Light
1978 classic rock song about a guy who appears to be dating a girl who has BPD (or is just extremely demanding and high maintenance, which probably indicates BPD or Histrionic personality disorder anyway).
The girlfriend’s lyric: Stop right there!
I gotta know right now, do you love me?
Will you love me forever? Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now before we go any further
Do you love me? And will you love me forever?
What’s it gonna be, boy? Come on
I can wait all night
What’s it gonna be, boy? Yes or no
What’s it gonna be, boy? Yes or no
7. Hurt: Johnny Cash
Some of the most eloquent (and depressing) descriptive lyrics ever. Warning: this song may be extremely triggering.
8. Meredith Brooks: Bitch
The lyrics tell it all. No further editorializing necessary.
9. Radiohead: Creep
The “creep” in this song has either BPD or possibly covert (“vulnerable”) Narcissism. He seems to be severely conflicted between dismally low self esteem and pathological envy. He idealizes his lover and hates her for being “more” than he is. Whatever disorder he has, the self hatred and excruciating pain of his disordered mind is evident.
10. Hole: Doll Parts
The lyrics to “Doll Parts” mirror “Creep” in many ways, especially the idealization/pathological envy of qualities she idealizes, and her desire to “even the score.” Once again, the subject of the song could be either Borderline or NPD. (Courtney Love actually has a BPD diagnosis).
11. Jason Mraz: Beautiful Mess
A tender ballad sung to his obviously Borderline lover.
Lucky Otters Haven 