Having only been premiered two weeks ago, Illenium’s new song “Take You Down” is now officially out.
It was only earlier this week that Illenium shared the unexpected inspiration behind the song, revealing that six years ago he overdosed on heroin. As he shared when the song was debuted at Global Dance Festival, the song is obviously deeply personal to him, as can be gleaned from the lyrics and emotionality conveyed within the song itself.
Perhaps most surprising about the production of the song is that the vocals aren’t from a woman, but rather from Illenium’s friend Tim James! As Illenium revealed on reddit, the vocals are just pitched up, but they still sound so perfect!
Listen below!
Illenium – Take You Down [Lyrics]
[Verse 1]
I didn’t mean to hurt you when I hurt myself
It’s just an empty voice screaming out for help
No, I didn’t mean to scare you
But I couldn’t see
That when I went to hell I was taking you with me
[Chorus 1]
When I close my eyes
I’m climbing in the dark
Trying not to fall apart
Sometimes I get so high
Falling is the only out I see
And I don’t wanna take you down with me
[Pre-Drop 1]
Yeah I’m loving my out
And you’re loving my out
Take you down
Take you down with me
(Down with me, down)
(Down with me, down)
(Take you) down with me
[Drop 1]
Down, you’re down with me
Down, you’re down with me
(Yeah I’m loving my out)
(And you’re loving my out)
(Take you down)
[Verse 2]
This life is like a razor
When it cuts I bleed
But it’s in my hand
And I’m doing it to me
Sometimes it’s like an ocean
And it gets too deep
And there’s no way that now you could rescue me
[Chorus 2]
When I close my eyes
I’m fighting in the dark
Trying not to break your heart
Sometimes I get so high
Falling is the only out I see
And I don’t wanna take you down with me
[Bridge]
You need to let it go now
Before you drown
I know that you won’t understand
But you need to let go of these hands
‘Cause I’m going down
And I don’t wanna take you down with me
[Drop 2]
And I don’t wanna take you down with me
Take you down, down with me
for someone who OD’d, these are the most generic and cliche lyrics ever, and i’m not even sure if it’s cause he thinks he has to stay conformant to the genre. for how much you hyped this up, i was expecting something a little bit deeper. call it a hate comment, but it ain’t
Where’s your song? Lol. Everyone’s experience is different, not saying you’re wrong, but just ODing doesn’t make you right. I don’t even really love his music but at least he put it out there, awareness bro. #ODedToo lol
if it hadn’t been for this post i wouldn’t have known at all that it was about an overdose or even had a personal connection to the artist(s)