Lyrics: Obsessed

An in-depth look at the lyrics to Mariah Carey’s classic hit ‘Obsessed’: Meaning, inspiration, and the impact it had on pop culture.

Obsessed

I was like, “Why are you so obsessed with me?”
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Ay, ay, ay)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Ay, ay, ay, ay)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Will the real MC, please)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Step to the mic?)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (MC, MC)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (You need a MC)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Place to be)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (MC, the MC)

[Verse 1]
All up in the blogs saying we met at the bar
When I don’t even know who you are
Saying we up in your house, saying I’m up in your car
But you in LA, and I’m out at Jermaine’s
I’m up in the A, you so, so lame
And no one here even mentions your name
It must be the weed, it must be the E
‘Cause you be popping, heard you get it popping

[Chorus]
Ooh whoa oh, oh
Why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I wanna know
Lying that you’re sexing me, when everybody knows
It’s clear that you’re upset with me, oh oh oh
Finally found a girl that you couldn’t impress
Last man on the earth, still couldn’t get this
You’re delusional, you’re delusional
Boy, you’re losing your mind
It’s confusing, yo, you’re confused, you know
Why you wasting your time?
Got you all fired up with your Napoleon complex
Seeing right through you like you’re bathing in Windex

[Post-Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh
Boy, why you so obsessed with me?
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Oh, oh, oh)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (And all my ladies sing)
So oh, oh, oh, oh
So oh, oh, oh, oh (And all the girls say)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)

[Verse 2]
You on your job, you hating hard
Ain’t gon’ feed you, I’ma let you starve
Gasping for air, I’m ventilation
You out of breath, hope you ain’t waiting
Telling the world how much you miss me
But we never were, so why you tripping?
You a mom and pop, I’m a corporation
I’m the press conference, you a conversation

[Chorus]
Ooh whoa oh, whoa whoa
Why you so obsessed with me? And boy, I wanna know
Lying that you’re sexing me, when everybody knows
It’s clear that you’re upset with me, oh oh oh
Finally found a girl that you couldn’t impress
Last man on the earth still couldn’t get this
You’re delusional, you’re delusional
Boy, you’re losing your mind (Mind)
It’s confusing, yo, you’re confused, you know?
Why you wasting your time? (Time)
Got you all fired up with your Napoleon complex
Seeing right through you like you’re bathing in Windex

[Post-Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh
Boy, why you so obsessed with me?
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Oh, oh, oh)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (And all my ladies sing)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (Ooh ooh ooh)
So oh, oh, oh, oh (And all the girls say)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o (Obsessed)

[Chorus]
Ooh whoa oh, whoa whoa
(Hey, he’s all up in my George Foreman)
Why you so obsessed with me? Boy, I wanna know
Lying that you’re sexing me, when everybody knows
(Lying that you’re sexing Mimi)
It’s clear that you’re upset with me, oh oh oh (Eh)
Finally found a girl that you couldn’t impress
Last man on the earth, still couldn’t get this (No)
You’re delusional, you’re delusional
(He’s all up in my George Foreman)
Boy, you’re losing your mind
It’s confusing, yo, you’re confused, you know?
(But I can’t do nothing for him)
Why you wasting your time?
Got you all fired up with your Napoleon complex
Seeing right through you like you’re bathing in Windex
(You love me, you love me, you really, really love me)

Curiosities…

• The song has been reported to refer to a supposed involvement between Mariah and Eminem although Mariah claims this involvement never happened. While she never confirmed or denied it, Eminem did reply in his song “The Warning”.
• “Why are you so obsessed with me?” is a famous quote by Regina George (Rachel McAdams) in the movie Mean Girls – notoriously one of Mariah’s favorite films.
• “Jermaine” is referring to Jermaine Dupri – Mariah’s long-term friend and producer, featured in many songs from Mariah’s catalog.
• “It must be the weed, it must be the E” – the E is generally known by ecstasy, which Mariah suggests the subject of the song takes whose name just might coincidentally start with an E…
• The Napoleon complex, also known as small man syndrome, is a term used to describe a syndrome associated with individuals of short stature. It involves overly aggressive or domineering behavior, which is believed to compensate for perceived physical or social shortcomings. The term is often considered derogatory and falls under the category of a social stereotype in psychology – Eminem is 1.72m by the way…
• Windex is a sanitizer cleaner for multi surfaces – including “see-through” windows.
• George Foreman was a professional boxer who now makes a living selling grills on infomercial TV. The expression used in the song is, therefore, a comedic way of saying “You’re all up in my grill”.

Performed by: Mariah Carey

Written by: Christopher Stewart, Mariah Carey, Terius Nash

Source: Def Jam Recordings, peermusic, Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music