“Chemical”, a swaying, floating synth ballad, sees Beck singing about the intoxicating qualities of love, comparing it to a chemical compound in a hallucinogenic drug. It gets him high, but he wonders if it is good for him and if he is losing himself to it.
[Verse 1]
You say that love is a chemical
Anodyne to the soul
Whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa
What I really, really want to know
Is if a mind's in control
Whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa
[Chorus]
I'm so high
Love is a chemical
I'm so high
Love is a chemical
Start it, start it again
[Verse 2]
A random thought, a memory
A tidal wave of energy, I'm on my knees
A sudden change in everything
Don't know when I was leaving feeling well and free
You find love just a fantasy
Beautiful and lovely as a life can be
And I don't lose any sleep honestly, whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa
[Chorus]
I'm so high
Love is a chemical
I'm so high
Love is a chemical
Start it, start it again
[Bridge]
Whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa
I can feel it minute by minute by day
I don't want it running all night this way
Why you got to get it on my mind this way?
Whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa
[Verse 3]
Saying what I feel
What can I tell you? Don't know
Why you have to be like that?
Alligator teardrops fall
Love is a, love is a chemical
Burning wears off like a miracle
I don't need anyone to turn me on
I don't need anyone, no
[Verse 4]
And when the feeling is over
There's no explanation
Shock to the system
Infatuation
Shake like a flower
Strange revelation
Crown of a nation
Start it, start it again
[Outro]
(I'm) Saying what I feel
(So high) What can I tell you? Don't know
(Love) Why you have to be like that?
(Is a chemical) Alligator teardrops fall (Whoa-whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa)
(I'm) Love is a, love is a chemical
(So high) Burning wears off like a miracle
(Love) I don't need anyone to turn me on
(Is a chemical) I don't need anyone, no
Start it again
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Chemical was written by Beck & Pharrell Williams.
Chemical was produced by Pharrell Williams & Beck.