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  1. Tracks
  2. Eminem
  3. The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Expanded Edition)
  4. Desperation

TRACK

Eminem

Desperation

Release date: 5th November 2013

From The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Expanded Edition)
Spotify
More on Eminem

About This Track

A toxic-relationship sketch built around the gap between infatuation and actual connection, Eminem adopting the voice of someone who mistakes obsession for romance. The narrator catalogues his own boundary-crossing behaviour, calling her workplace, showering her with gifts, whilst acknowledging the dynamic is fundamentally hollow. Jamie N Commons anchors the chorus around the word 'desperation', the song framing codependency as mutual trap rather than partnership. The verses toggle between self-awareness and compulsion, Eminem writing lines that diagnose the problem even as the character refuses to step back. He paraphrases the dilemma as wanting neither to be with nor without her, the relationship sustained by fear of solitude rather than affection. The production stays spare, leaving the lyrical detail exposed, the track leaning into discomfort rather than resolution.

"Desperation" is a track by Eminem, from the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Expanded Edition), released 5th November 2013. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Eminem.

About the Artist

Eminem

Eminem

Lyrics

Desperation

[Verse 1: Eminem]

Girl, you give me writer's block, I'm at a loss for words

Uhh, my mind's as lost as yours

I rack my brain but still no thoughts emerge

Never seen no ass as large as yours

How much that cost? That's what I call a Roethlissplurge

You drive me bonkers, I’m about to get my swerve on for sure

Thought I was pimpin' 'til I felt like Nas, the first

Date 'cause I think I gave you power

When I gave you flowers in a vase

A box of chocolates, throat lozengers, cough drops and Certs

Probably shoulda never let me call that job of yours

To talk to your boss and ask him if you can take off from work

Shoulda been one of the first signs to cause alert

Man, we jumped in too fast

'Cause since then I just can't be apart from her

'Cause nobody's body's awesomer

I lust her and she loves me, 'cause I'm popular

But you know this ain't love

[Chorus: Jamie N Commons & Eminem]

You know this ain't love, oh no (Oh this ain't love)

You know this ain't love (Oh this ain't love), oh no

What is it then?

It's desperation (She's looking for Mr. Right) (Hey)

(Wants me to be that guy to her)

It's desperation (I can't even put up a fight) (Hey)

('Cause I give in at the sight of her)

And here I go again

[Verse 2: Eminem]

You were obviously oblivious to me

I swore I was just invisible to you

'Til I went to the lengths I did to meet you

'Cause you played so hard to get with me from

The beginning, now I'm in disbelief, I

Never knew that this could be such misery, ah

'Cause now you see nothing but me

And I don't see nothing but you

And I'm about to flip, 'cause we are super glued in

We stuck to each other's hips and we can't

Do anything individually, which is to cling on

Scared to be alone, can't specifically describe it

I just can't seem to give a reason

That's definitive, just need ya

Talkin' 'bout I live and breathe ya

And you pretend to be as mentally and physically

Addicted to me as Wiz Khalifa is to reefer

Don't wanna be without you

Don't wanna be with you neither

Bitch, put me in a situation in which it's both I wish to seek

'Cause this ain't love

[Chorus: Jamie N Commons & Eminem]

You know this ain't love, oh no (Oh this ain't love)

You know this ain't love (Oh this ain't love), oh no

What is it then?

It's desperation (She's looking for Mr. Right) (Hey)

(Wants me to be that guy to her)

It's desperation (I can't even put up a fight) (Hey)

('Cause I give in at the sight of her)

And here I go again

[Verse 3: Eminem]

I just want you to myself

Don't wanna share you with no one else, ah

"What the fuck you whisperin' for?

You get on my nerves, you make me sick

I think our relationship, it seems to be on the fritz

I mean it's time that we just split and leave the

Games behind, your frame of mind ain't the same as mine

I think you need to finish developing a

Little more mentally to get the picture"

That's a negative, Alicia, I will never give the keys up

To the crib ever again, no VISA

Not even a gift certificate from Tiffany's

You better have an epiphany, slut

Guess what? (What?) The lease up

I'm just mad the time it took to discover

You were usin' me for loot like I used you for looks

Oh, thought you was too good for me, huh?

Yeah, toots, used to be my Carrie Underwood

I was your lumberjack

But I can't stomach this, I'm leavin' you, I'm not comin' back

She said, "The fuck with that

Where's my Louisville Slugger at?"

She grabbed that fuckin' bat

And swung it at my head, I barely ducked and that's

Right when she came up with a kick to the nuts twice

Steel toe, girl probably coulda put a hundred-yard field goal

Through the uprights

[Chorus: Jamie N Commons & Eminem]

You know this ain't love, oh no (Oh this ain't love)

You know this ain't love (Oh this ain't love), oh no

What is it then?

It's desperation (She's looking for Mr. Right) (Hey)

(Wants me to be that guy to her)

Lord, it's desperation (I can't even put up a fight) (Hey)

('Cause I give in at the sight of her)

Desperation (And here I go again)

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Expanded Edition)

2013
Listen
Album
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Expanded Edition)
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Expanded Edition)
Eminem
Release year
2013
  1. —Headlights (Instrumental)
  2. —The Monster (Instrumental)
  3. —Beautiful Pain
  4. —Berzerk (Instrumental)
  5. —Desperation
  6. —Rap God (Instrumental)
  7. —Survival (Instrumental)
  8. —Baby
  9. —Groundhog Day
  10. —Wicked Ways

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2024
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2020
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Explore

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  5. Got My Gat Back
  6. In A Perfect World
  7. Keys To The City [Unreleased & Not Leaked, KM Track 12)
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  9. King Mathers (Unreleased, KM Track 14)
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Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Alex da Kid, Eminem, Jamie N Commons
Producer
Alex da Kid
Guitar
Jamie N Commons
Additional Bass
James Dee, Jamie N Commons
Additional Drums
George Cook
Additional Guitar
J Browz
Additional Keyboards
Luis Resto
Additional Percussion
Benjamin Markham, George Cook, Gus Collins
Additional Piano
Gus Collins
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Chris Galland, Delbert Bowers
Background Vocals
Benjamin Markham, Gus Collins, James Dee
Mastering Engineer
Brian Gardner
Mixing Engineer
Manny Marroquin
Recording Engineer
Joe Strange, Mike Strange, Tony Campana
Tambourine
Jamie N Commons
READ MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEM
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