DENIAL IS A RIVER – English Lyrics

• By: Doechii

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language is about understanding culture, and Doechii's "DENIAL IS A RIVER" offers a raw, witty, and deeply personal look into the life of a rising artist. Through her conversational and story-driven lyrics, you can learn modern slang and narrative techniques in English. The song is special because it transforms personal struggle into a compelling and humorous story, making it a unique and engaging way to experience the power of language.

[English]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

HEY, I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER

♪♪♪ [CROWD CHEERING]

WHAT’S UP DOECHII!

HEY GIRL!

YOU KNOW IT’S BEEN A LIL MINUTE SINCE YOU AND I HAVE HAD A CHAT

HAS IT REALLY?

PROBABLY SINCE LIKE, YOUR LAST EP, OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

OH WOW, IT’S BEEN A MINUTE, YEAH

I’VE BEEN GETTING SOME CALLS...

OH? - PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT YOU...

NOT WORRIED!

AND I KNOW THAT I WAS KINDA THAT OUTLET FOR YOU, SO -

YOU WERE

[CROWD LAUGHING] WHY DON’T YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON?

OKAY

♪ REMEMBER OLD DUDE FROM 2019, NICE CLEAN NIGGA, DID ME DIRTIER THAN LAUNDRY ♪

♪ TOOK A SCROLL THROUGH HIS IG, JUST TO GET A DM FROM HIS WIFEY ♪

♪ I WAS SO CONFUSED, WHAT SHOULD DOECHII DO? ♪

♪ SHE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ME AND I DIDN’T KNOW ‘BOUT SUE ♪

♪ I OPEN UP THE MESSAGES THEN HAD TO HIT THE ZOOM ♪

♪ TURNS OUT THE GIRL WAS REALLY A DUDE? ♪

♪ NIGGA THINK HE SLICKED BACK TIL I SLIPPED BACK ♪

♪ GOT MY LICK BACK, TURNED A NIGGA TO A KNICK-KNACK ♪

♪ I MOVED ON, DROPPED A COUPLE OF SONGS ♪

♪ AND THEN I WENT AND GOT SIGNED, NOW IT’S 2021 ♪

OKAY, I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY

FOR US TO JUST TAKE A SECOND AND KIND OF UNPACK

WHAT’S HAPPENED TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THIS GUY CHEATED ON YOU AND –

MM, NAH, FUCK IT

♪ PLATINUM RECORD THIS, VIRAL RECORD THAT ♪

♪ I’M MAKIN' SO MUCH MONEY I’M ALL OVER THE NET ♪

♪ I’M MOVING SO FAST, NO TIME TO PROCESS ♪

♪ AND NO I’M NOT IN A GANG BUT I’M ALWAYS ON SET ♪

♪ WRIST WATCH, DRIP DROP, LABELS WANT THE TIKTOKS ♪

♪ NOW I’M MAKIN’ TIKTOK MUSIC, WHAT THEE FUCK ♪

♪ I NEED A CLEANSE, NEED A DETOX, BUT WE AIN'T GOT TIME TO STOP ♪

♪ THE CHARTS NEED US (AND THEY DO) ♪

♪ FAST FORWARD, ME 2023 ♪

♪ I’M STACKIN' LOTS OF CHEESE AND MAKIN' MONEY ♪

♪ MY GRASS IS REALLY GREEN AND, HONESTLY I CAN’T EVEN FUCKIN' CAP NO MORE ♪

THIS IS A REALLY DARK TIME FOR ME

I’M GOING THROUGH A LOT

BY A LOT YOU MEAN DRUGS?

UHMMM, I WOULDN’T –

DRUGS?

NO, IT’S A -

NO?

IT’S A NATURAL PLANT

NO I’M NOT JUDGING

I’M NOT AN ADDICT - I’M JUST SAYING [CROWD LAUGHING]

I DON’T THINK – - YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT? - UH...

♪ I MEAN FUCK, I LIKE PILLS, I LIKE DRUGS ♪

♪ I LIKE GETTING MONEY,

♪ I LIKE DAY DRINKIN' AND DAY PARTIES AND HOLLYWOOD ♪

♪ I LIKE DOIN' HOLLYWOOD SHIT, SNORT IT, PROBABLY WOULD ♪

♪ WHAT CAN I SAY? THE SHIT WORKS, IT FEELS GOOD ♪

♪ AND MY SELF-WORTH’S AT AN ALL TIME LOW ♪

♪ AND JUST WHEN IT COULDN’T GET WORSE, MY EX CRASHED MY PLACE ♪

♪ AND DESTROYED ALL I OWNED ♪

♪ WOOPSIE! MADE A OOPSIE! ♪

♪ 100,000 DOLLAR “OOPS” MADE ME LOOPY ♪

♪ I AIN'T A KILLER BUT DON’T PUSH ME ♪

♪ DON’T WANNA HAVE TO TURN A NIGGA GUTS INTO SOUP BEANS ♪

WOAH, WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH

OKAY DOECHII WE DON’T WANNA REVERT BACK TO OUR OLD WAYS

SO WE’RE GONNA TRY A BREATHING EXERCISE, OKAY?” - ALRIGHT WORD

WHEN I BREATHE, YOU BREATHE, ALRIGHT? LET’S GO

♪ [INHALING AND EXHALING] ♪

WOOSAH

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
denial /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/ B2	noun - refusal to accept or acknowledge something
river /ˈrɪv.ər/ A2	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea or lake
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the existence of living beings
woman /ˈwʊm.ən/ A2	noun - an adult human female
call /kɔːl/ A2	verb - to contact someone by phone
worry /ˈwʌr.i/ B1	verb - to feel anxious or concerned noun - the state of being anxious
outlet /ˈaʊt.leɪt/ B2	noun - a means of expression or release
call /kɔːl/ A2	noun - a visit or short stay
message /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ B1	noun - information sent from one person or device to another
confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ B2	adjective - lacking clarity or understanding
sick /sɪk/ A2	adjective - ill or unwell
flower /ˈflaʊ.ər/ A2	noun - a plant cultivated for its blossom
music /ˈmjuː.zɪk/ A2	noun - art of arranging sounds in time
money /ˈmʌn.i/ A2	noun - currencies used to buy goods and services

Key Grammar Structures

• I’M MAKIN' SO MUCH MONEY I’M ALL OVER THE NET

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I’M MAKIN'" indicates an action that is currently happening.

• I NEED A CLEANSE, NEED A DETOX

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase "I NEED" is used to express a strong desire or necessity.

• I LIKE DOIN' HOLLYWOOD SHIT

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I LIKE" indicates a habitual action or preference.

• I AIN'T A KILLER BUT DON’T PUSH ME

  ➔ Negative form

  ➔ The phrase "I AIN'T" is a colloquial way to express negation.

• WHAT CAN I SAY? THE SHIT WORKS

  ➔ Rhetorical question

  ➔ The phrase "WHAT CAN I SAY?" is used to express resignation or acceptance.

• I’M STACKIN' LOTS OF CHEESE AND MAKIN' MONEY

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I’M STACKIN'" indicates an ongoing action of accumulating wealth.

• I DON’T THINK – YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT?

  ➔ Indirect question

  ➔ The phrase "YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT?" is an indirect way of asking someone if they want to discuss something.