Met a girl called Lola and I took her back to my place
Feelin' guilty, feelin' scared, hidden cameras everywhere
Stop! Hold on, stay in control

Girl, I want, you here with me
But I'm really not as cool as I'd like to be
'Cause there's a red, under my bed
And there's a little yellow man in my head
And there's a true, blue, inside of me
That keeps stoppin' me, touchin' ya, watchin' ya, lovin' ya

Paranoia, need destroyer, paranoia, they destroy ya'

Well I fell asleep, then I woke feelin' kinda' queer
Lola looked at me and said ooh you look so weird
She said man, there's really something wrong with you
One day you're gonna' self-destruct
You're up, get down, I'll come work you out
You get a good thing goin' then you blow yourself out

Silly boy ya self-destroyer, silly boy ya self-destroyer

Silly boy you got so much to live for
So much to aim for, so much to try for
You blow it all with, paranoia
You're so insecure you, self-destroyer

(And it goes like this, here it goes) paranoia, they destroy ya
(Here it goes again) paranoia, they destroy ya

Doctor, Doctor, help her please I know you'll understand
There's a time device inside of me I'm a self-destructin' man
There's a red, under my bed
And there's a little green man in my head
And said you're not goin' crazy, you're just a bit sad
'Cause there's a man in ya, knawin' ya, tearin' ya, in to to

Silly boy ya self-destroyer, paranoia, they destroy ya

Self-destroyer, wreck your health
Destroy friends, destroy yourself
The time device of, self-destruction
Lies, confusion, start eruption

(Yeah, it goes like this, here it goes) paranoia, they destroy ya
(Here's to paranoia) paranoia, they destroy ya
(Hey hey, here it goes) paranoia, they destroy ya
(And it goes like this)

Paranoia, they destroy ya (and it goes like this)


Lyrics submitted by wcr94

Destroyer Lyrics as written by Ray Davies

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Destroyer song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

15 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +6
    My Interpretation

    The Kinks really were giving the people what they want here. I think the references to Lola and the reuse of "All Day and All of the Night" riff ("girl, i want, you here with me" just sounds like hes about to sing adaaotn) could be seen as a bite back at those fans who only wanted that one style of song and not apreciating all of Davies' creative genious. Perhaps the anger it brings with it or even the pressure to keep making records, its making him self destruct.

    pumpkinsheepon October 17, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think this song follows on from "Lola" i.e. the Kinks song about meeting a transvestite at a Soho club. The self-destroying aspect may be due to the singer feeling ashamed etc. at having a gay sexual experience i.e. "i woke feelin kinda queer", & the paranoia that people might find out.

    jonwood1on November 05, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Does nobody else see the massive similarity in the music to 'All Day and All of the Night'?

    Wedenon November 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Yeah, I agree, this is definitely about paranoia with possibly some psychosis thrown in for good measure. We did a video on this song back in the early 80's I think...Video was great and funny as heck cause no one could act..lol

    f8fbearcaton February 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's obvious this song is about paranoia and how it can really ruin your life...

    wcr94on June 28, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah this is a really good song. gee, i wonder how you got the concept that this song is about paranoia? hmmm. could it be the word paranoia appearing in the song thirteen times?

    fnghon August 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is about paranoia, but it is alaso the revisit to lola, to end the tale and explain what happened after

    middo88on July 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think even though the song is about Paranoia, it also has a lot to do with depression and how depression can hold you back from doing things you want to do.

    Drdestructoon August 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well personally i think it may be about worrying to much about stuff and basically "paranoid" for me i can really relate to this song because in my life i tend to worry to much about things and because of that i end pushing the people i want to be with and who i want to be close with away and if it keeps going like that your basically going to end up destroying yourself because its only a matter of time before u just snap and go crazy and well "self-destruct" and "erupt"

    brklynsniperon October 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always thought there was a bit of political commentary in this song with "there's a red under my bed and a little yellow man in my head"

    One of my favorite songs..

    Phadedjadedon August 04, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.