You used to say that I'd never be
Nothing without you and I believe
I'm shot in the lungs, I gasp, I can't breathe
Just lay here with me, baby, hold me please
And I'd beg and I'd plead, drop to knees
And I'd cry and I'd scream, "Baby, please don't leave"
Snatch the keys from your hand
I would squeeze and you'd laugh
And you'd tease, you're just fucking with me
And you must hate me
Why do you date me if you say I make you sick?
And you've had enough of me
I smother you, I'm 'bout to jump off the edge

But you won't break me
You'll just make me stronger than I was
Before I met you, I bet you I'll be just fine without you
And if I stumble, I won't crumble
I'll get back up and uhhh
I'ma still be humble when I scream, "Fuck you"
'Cause I'm stronger than I was

A beautiful face is all that you had
'Cause on the inside you're ugly and mad
But you're all that I love
I grasp, you can't leave
Please stay here with me, baby, hold me please
And I'd beg and I'd plead, drop to knees
And I'd cry and I'd scream, "Baby, please don't leave"
But you left and you took everything I had left
And left nothing, nothing for me
So please don't wake me from this dream, baby
We're still together in my head
And you're still in love with me
'Til I woke up to discover that that dream was dead

But you won't break me
You'll just make me stronger than I was
Before I met you, I bet you I'll be just fine without you
And if I stumble, I won't crumble
I'll get back up and uhhh
I'ma still be humble when I scream, "Fuck you"
'Cause I'm stronger than I was

You walked out, I almost died
It was almost a homicide that you caused 'cause I was so traumatized
Felt like I was in for a long bus ride
I'd rather die than you not be by my side
Can't count how many times I vomited, cried
Go to my room, turn the radio on and hide
Thought we were Bonnie and Clyde, nah
On the inside you were Jekyll and Hyde, I
Felt like my whole relationship with you was a lie
It was you and I, why did I think it was ride or die?
'Cause if you could've took my life you would've
It's like you put a knife to my chest and pushed it right through to the
Other side of my back and stuck a spike, too, should've
Put up more of a fight but I couldn't at the time
No one could hurt me like you could've
Take you back now, what's the likelihood of that?
Bite me, bitch, chew on a nineteen footer
'Cause this morning I finally stood up
Held my chin up, finally showed a sign of life in me for the
First time since you left and left me with nothing but shattered dreams
And a life we could've had and we could've been
But I'm breaking out of this slump I'm in
Pulling myself out of the dumps once again
I'm getting up once and for all, fuck this shit
I'ma be late for the pity party
But you're never gonna beat me to the fucking punch again
Took it on the chin like a champ so don't lump me in with them chump-ions
I'm done being your punching bag
It was the November 31st today, would've been our anniversary
Two years, but you left on the first of May
I wrote it on the calendar
Was gonna call, but couldn't think of the words to say
But it came to me just now, so I put 'em in a verse to lay

And I thank you (uh) 'cause you made me (uh)
A better person than I was
But I hate you (uh) 'cause you drained me (uh)
I gave you all, you gave me none
But if you blame me (uh), you're crazy (uh)
And after all that's said and done
I'm still angry, yeah, I may be
I may never trust someone

But you won't break me
You'll just make me stronger than I was
Before I met you, I bet you I'll be just fine without you
And if I stumble, I won't crumble
I'll get back up and uhhh
I'ma still be humble when I scream, "Fuck you"
'Cause I'm stronger than I was


Lyrics submitted by brian, edited by nasses321

Stronger Than I Was Lyrics as written by Marshall B. Mathers Luis Edgardo Resto

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Stronger Than I Was song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    The lyrics is all wrong, I submitted the right one a few days ago and it changes the meaning of this song. As an example the first werses are : You used to say that I'd never be nothing without you, and I believed. I'm shot in the lungs, I gasp I can't breathe, just lay here with me! Baby hold me please. Also he's ALWAYS singing with I'd in this song, he don't use I since this is all a thought he's having.

    Maybe I'm stretching it here but the whole album could be starting with the past and him being dumb/an asshole and wanting to kills his girlfriend and closer to the end of the album he's changing his view on it all and even says sorry to his mom in the song Headlights and want to meet her no mather what. (Which I've also submitted correct lyrics to but they haven't been fullt integrated.)

    nasses321on April 10, 2015   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    The song is obviously about some sort of toxic relationship.

    But everyone is failing to acknowledge a key line that continues to puzzle me. "It was November 31st today. Would've been our anniversary; two years, but you left on the first of May."

    There is no 31st of November. So why would he reference this date? And continually talk about a dream? Did this girl never exist? Is it simply Kim? Maybe it's deeper? Who knows.

    SethFangon November 17, 2015   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Well it's definitely about a relationship. Most likely a poor one. Seems to me like he is talking about a verbally abusive relationship. He is talking about how he just puts up with it because he wants things to work out but the relationship is very up and down. When things first started he was weak and would take anything but as things have gone on he's gaining courage and is going to stand up and get out of it.

    law187on November 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's most likely about Kim. Many think it is supposed to be from her perspective, though it is hard to tell.

    iamtherainkingon November 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    has anyone thought about the idea of him talking about his relationship with rap and his personal life with drugs and what not. it's making him a stronger person that before he had it. because with it it's helped him become sober and raise his daughter and move on from life. but I also think it's about Kim or someone.

    CSwabbieon December 25, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I personally think Mr.Mather's is referring to his 1st stages when he entered rehab. It sounds like he is describing his relationship AMD the struggles with being separated from his drug of choice.

    There are too many examples to list without writing every word in the song.Just re-read/listen to the lyrics and its quite fitting to what a person struggles with when giving up an addiction. There is an attachment to the drug and its common to compare it to a very one-sided, love/hate dysfunctional relationship. Addiction drains a person and by the time they enter rehab, they feel as if they have given all of themselves to the substance because they've put more important things in their life to the side as a side effect of being high &, dependent. He mentions how he much he vomited. He made reference how at one point he was to weak to pass up on the temptation when he says he should have been stronger to fight back, he mentions how it could have killed him etc.

    I could provide examples for the entire song but this is my interpretation to this song. Just my thoughts......

    treesabon February 16, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I forgot to mention in my 1st post, in the song when he mentions dreaming of "them" being together, I think he is referring to the cravings he had/has for the drug. He dreams of the good times he remembered. He makes reference to the two sides of life that the drug gave him. He was delusioned into thinking the drug was good for him (during those euphoric highs) but in reality, it was really messing up his life in every way.

    I meant to include this in my 1st post. Sorry for the 2nd post!

    treesabon February 16, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is talking about his relationship with his ex wife Kim. If you are a true Stan you'll remember his old songs about his ex Kim, and in every album he has a couple songs about his relationship with her. But, this song is more depressing then all of the other, although it is showing how Marshall is getting over her.

    james39124on June 25, 2015   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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.