This is the last time you say
After the last line you break
It's not even a holiday
Nothing to celebrate

You give a hundred reasons why
And you say you're really gonna try
If I had a nickel for every time
I'd own the bank

Thought that I was the exception
I could rewrite your addiction
You could've been the greatest
But you'd rather get wasted

You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain

You say you have to write your rhymes
Whatever helps you sleep at night
You've become what you despise
A stereotype

You think you're so rock and roll
But you're really just a joke
Had the world in the palm of your hands
But you fucking choked

Should've been my team mate
Could've changed your fate
You say that you love me
You won't remember in the morning

You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain

You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down
Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother
Can't be your savior; I don't have the power
I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain

Watch you circle the drain
Watch you circle the drain

You fall asleep during foreplay
'Cause the pills you take are more your forte
I'm not sticking around to watch you go down


Lyrics submitted by thrwmyhrtawy.

Circle the Drain Lyrics as written by Christopher Stewart Katy Perry

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Circle the Drain song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Pretty good lyrics, and that's not usually katy perry's skill. It's about being in love with a drug addict and trying to stop them from using the drugs. It might even be about the guy from Gym Class Heroes that she dated, but i'm not sure if he was a druggy or not. Either way perry has done well.

    corerulezon August 10, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is about Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes! They were together for 2 years and engaged, and he was a big addict to pharmaceuticals and opiates. I can understand why she wrote it, being so in love with someone but they're messed up and you want them to change for you. I think 'The One That Got Away' is also about him, but doesn't attack him as much as she does in this.

    lovemestillon August 19, 2010   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    It's about (in my opinion) about a girl saying she's upset that her partner is "popping pills." She's getting upset because he's pushing it to the point where he's dieing and won't stop.

    kittycallion September 14, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I, for one, greatly prefer the music to the lyrics. Few too many cliches in here.

    Anyways, it's obviously about her throwing out some person she deems to be fake and pretty much trash, who wont try to change for the better.

    Yumion September 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ohgod, no.

    thrwmyhrtawy.on August 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    a few corrections

    "and say you're really gonna try" "i'd own the bank" "i could rewrite your addiction"

    "you say it helps you write your rhymes"

    small but i'm picky.

    i love this song. she's in love with an addict, obviously. my favorite line is "you fall asleep during foreplay cause the pills you take are more your forte." such an amazing line, its all about the lack of intimacy and connection from him and the magnitude of her realization of how little he cares for the relationship than she does

    ecksohhhhon August 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm so disappointed in the music; the lyrics are awesome, if only the music had the power to back up the words

    JustineByrrdon September 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is about being in love with someone with a substance abuse problem. Really, there's just no way you can make it work with someone like that. You'll only end up watching them destory themselves, and this is when she's at the point where's realizing that fact.

    PurplePantheron December 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about a man who is addicted to drugs. His girlfriend wants to have a relationship with him, but she realizes she likes the drugs more than her, so she leaves him. It sort of reminds me of my parents. Not with drugs or anything, more like alcohol.

    bsfan18on June 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Pretty obvious what it's about. I love the track. Katy is a guilty pleasure for me. I don't listen to much music like this at all, like at all. LOL But I like Katy and I think she stands out from the other pop stars, IMO. Anyway, I love this track because it shows a darker, more serious side to her song-writing and shows she's not just some bubblegum pop star. She has a great voice and the music is perfect for the lyrics. Still poppy enough to sing along to, but has enough of an edge to make it stand out. Good stuff!

    fozziebearon July 19, 2018   Link

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