Doechii’s ‘Denial Is a River’ Is Her Mind’s ‘Inner-Monologue’—Read the Lyrics Here
Doechii is getting real on her hit song “Denial Is a River.” The rapper is nominated for Best New Artist, experiencing the biggest breakthrough year, and this song exemplifies her brilliant mind.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, she talked about how the song helped her be raw and vulnerable in her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. “This song is really just like people hearing how I am, the inner dialogue that I’m having with myself. Like, OK, maybe you should really unpack that,” she told the pbulication. “This is an inner dialogue that I’m having with the voices in my head. It just seems like I’m less crazy because I do it with a funny voice.”
After being codependent on her label, she decided she needed to break away from everything. “That was my version of like, all right, I’m gonna let everything go. I’m getting sober. I’m not talking to nobody. I’m not talking to my label. I’m finna be in my house. I’ma paint and I’ma write, and I’m not talking to anybody,” Doechii says. “That’s me exploding, when I exclude myself and I shut down and I get in my hermit.”
Doechii’s “Denial Is a River” Lyrics
[Intro]
Hey, I thought it was all over
What’s up, Doechii?
Hey, girl
You know it’s been a lil’ minute since you and I have had a chat
Has it really?
Probably since, like, your last EP, ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go’
Oh wow, it’s been a minute, yeah (Yeah)
I’ve been gettin’ some calls
Oh?
People are a little bit worried about you
Not worried, okay
And I know that I was kinda that outlet for you, so
You were
Why don’t you just tell me what’s been goin’ on?
Okay
[Verse 1]
Remember old dude from 2019?
Nice, clean, n—a did me dirtier than laundry (Than laundry)
Took a scroll through his IG
Just to get a DM from his wifey (What the fuck?)
I was so confused, what should Doechii do?
She didn’t know about me and I didn’t know ’bout Sue
I open up the messages and had to hit the zoom
Turns out the girl was really a dude? (Goddamn)
N—a think he slicked back ’til I slipped back
Got my lick back, turned a n—a to a knick-knack (To a knick-knack)
I moved on, dropped a couple of songs
And then I went and got signed, now it’s 2021
[Interlude]
Okay, I just feel like
This is the perfect opportunity for us to just take a second and kind of unpack what’s happened to you
You know, this guy cheated on you, and—
Mm, nah (Ow), fuck it
[Verse 2]
“Platinum record” this, “viral record” that (That)
I’m makin’ so much money, I’m all over the net
I’m movin’ so fast, no time to process
And no, I’m not in a gang, but I’m always on set (Yeah)
Wrist watch, drip drop, label want the TikToks
Now I’m makin’ TikTok music, what thee fuck?
I need a cleanse, need a detox
But we ain’t got time to stop, the charts need us (And they do)
Fast forward, me, 2023
I’m stackin’ lots of cheese and makin’ money
My grass is really green, and
[Interlude]
Honestly, I can’t even fucking cap no more, this is a really dark time for me
I’m going through a lot
By “a lot,” you mean drugs?
Um, I wouldn’t—
Drugs?
No, it’s a—
No?
It’s a natural plant
No, I’m not judging
I’m not an addict
I’m just saying
I don’t think—
You wanna talk about it?
Uh
[Verse 3]
I mean, fuck, I like pills, I like drugs
I like gettin’ money, I like strippers, I like to fuck
I like day-drinkin’ and day parties and Hollywood
I like doin’ Hollywood shit, snort it? Probably would
What can I say? The shit works, it feels good
And my self-worth’s at an all-time low
And just when it couldn’t get worse
My ex crashed my place and destroyed all I owned
Whoopsie, made a oopsie
One-hundred thousand dollar “oops” made me loopy
I ain’t a killer, but don’t push me
Don’t wanna have to turn a n—a guts into soup beans
[Outro]
Woah! Woah, woah, woah, woah! (Rurr)
Okay, Doechii
We don’t wanna revert back into our old ways (Sorry, okay)
So, we’re gonna try a breathing exercise, okay? (A’ight, word)
When I breathe, you breathe (Okay, okay)
Alright? Let’s go
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-ah
Uh, uh, uh, ah
Uh, uh, uh, uh, ah
