In this song, Lily sarcastically makes fun of the false image people present on social media. She references quick and easy methods of becoming famous through objectification as opposed to talent.
In an interview for the Telegraph in 2018 Lily revisited her reasons for writing ‘The Fear’.
It’s fun...
[Verse 1]
I wanna be rich and I want lots of money
I don't care about clever, I don't care about funny
I want loads of clothes and fuckloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they're trying to find them
And I'll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
'Cause everyone knows that's how you get famous
[Pre-Chorus]
I'll look at The Sun and I'll look in The Mirror
I'm on the right track, yeah, I'm on to a winner
[Chorus]
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore
And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore
And when do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear
[Verse 2]
Life's about film stars and less about mothers
It's all about fast cars and cussing each other
But it doesn't matter 'cause I'm packing plastic
And that's what makes my life so fucking fantastic
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And it's not my fault, it's how I'm programmed to function
[Pre-Chorus]
I'll look at The Sun and I'll look in The Mirror
I'm on the right track, yeah, we're on to a winner
[Chorus]
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore
And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore
And when do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear
[Bridge]
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
'Cause I'm killing them all on my own little mission
Now I'm not a saint, but I'm not a sinner
And everything's cool as long as I'm getting thinner
[Chorus]
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore
And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore
And when do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear
The Fear was written by Greg Kurstin & Lily Allen.
The Fear was produced by Greg Kurstin.
Lily Allen released The Fear on Tue Dec 09 2008.
Allen told the Observer Music Monthly back in December of 2008 that this sarcastic indictment of celebrity culture was inspired by “one of those days when you just shout at the telly, ‘This is wrong!’”
She added that her fear is “of the world becoming this horrible sterile place. Being scared that...