Nightmare
Halsey * Track #7 On Love and Power EP: Power
Download "Nightmare"
Nightmare by Halsey
Release Date
Performed by
HalseyProduced by
Happy Perez & Cashmere Cat & benny blancoWrited by
Trevor Horn & Sergio Galoyan & Martin Kierszenbaum & Елена Кипер (Elena Kiper) & benny blanco & Cashmere Cat & Happy Perez & HalseyAbout
“Nightmare,” a song dedicated to young women, is Halsey’s first solo release from 2019, following hit single “Without Me”. Despite “Without Me” featuring on Halsey’s third LP, “Nightmare” is a stand-alone record. Lyrically, the track acts as a follow-up to “Devil In Me,” a track from 2017 album ho...
Nightmare Lyrics
[Intro]
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep
If I shall die before I wake
I pray the Lord, my soul to take
[Chorus]
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize
[Verse 1]
I've tasted blood and it is sweet
I've had the rug pulled beneath my feet
I've trusted lies and trusted men
Broke down and put myself back together again
Stared in the mirror and punched it to shatters
Collected the pieces and picked out a dagger
I've pinched my skin in between my two fingers
And wished I could cut some parts off with some scissors
[Pre-Chorus]
"Come on, little lady, give us a smile"
No, I ain't got nothin' to smile about
I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for
A moment to say I don't owe you a goddamn thing
[Chorus]
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize
[Post-Chorus]
I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night
That I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night
[Verse 2]
No, I won't smile, but I'll show you my teeth
And I'ma let you speak if you just let me breathe
I've been polite, but won't be caught dead
Lettin' a man tell me what I should do with my bed
Keep my exes in check in my basement
'Cause kindness is weakness, or worse, you're complacent
I could play nice or I could be a bully
I'm tired and angry, but somebody should be
[Pre-Chorus]
"Come on, little lady, give us a smile"
No, I ain't got nothin' to smile about
I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for
A moment to say I don't owe you a goddamn thing
[Chorus]
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize
[Bridge]
Someone like me can be a real nightmare, completely aware
But I'd rather be a real nightmare, than die unaware, yeah
Someone like me can be a real nightmare, completely aware
But I'm glad to be a real nightmare, so save me your prayers
[Chorus]
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize
I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize
[Post-Chorus]
I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night
That I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night
Nightmare Q&A
Who wrote Nightmare's ?
Nightmare was written by Trevor Horn & Sergio Galoyan & Martin Kierszenbaum & Елена Кипер (Elena Kiper) & benny blanco & Cashmere Cat & Happy Perez & Halsey.
Who produced Nightmare's ?
Nightmare was produced by Happy Perez & Cashmere Cat & benny blanco.
How was the track teased?
On 9 May 2019, Halsey teased the track at her show in New York City. Hours later she posted a video of the big reveal on her Twitter:
How were the lyrics teased?
On May 10th, Halsey posted a tweet announcing that posters were placed in five cities, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Chicago, and the Bay Area which featured lyrics from the single. There were as follows, in order of discovery:
New York: “Save me in your prayers”
Los Angeles: “I’ve tasted blood an...
Who are the famous people in the music video?
English Models Cara Delevingne and Suki Waterhouse both feature in the visual for “Nightmare,” along with Debbie Harry, the lead singer of 70’s rock band Blondie.
What have the artists said about the song?
On the inspiration for the song:
I was thinking about the way my experiences relate to my fans. One of the things that a lot of myself, and a lot of my young female fans of mine have, is the experience of when someone is telling you to smile. At some point, some man will look at you say, ‘Ay, why d...
How did this song perform on the Billboard charts?
During the week ending June 1, 2019, “Nightmare” debuted and peaked at #15 on the Hot 100.
What's with the t.A.T.u interpolation?
Initially, “Nightmare” was meant to feature more of t.A.T.u’s lesbian anthem “All The Things She Said”. Whilst the idea was scrapped, “Nightmare” still incorporates elements from the track, crediting Elena Kiper, Martin Kierszenbaum, and Sergio galoyan who are writers on “All The Things She Said,” a...