Nightmare

### Composer(s)

Ashley Frangipane, Benjamin Levin, Elena Kiper, Magnus Høiberg, Ivan Shapovalov, Martin Kierszenbaum, Nathan Perez, Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Valerij Polienko

### Album

*If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (Extended)*

## Music Video

"**Nightmare**" is a song performed by Halsey. It was released as a non-album single on May 17, 2019, through Capitol Records. It was originally intended to be the lead single of their third studio album *Manic*, but was ultimately cut. It debuted & peaked at #15 on the *Billboard Top 100* Chart.

A version of the song titled "**Nightmare (Reprise)**" is featured as a bonus track on the Walmart exclusive edition for Halsey's fourth studio album *If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power*. The reprise is produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

"Nightmare" and "Nightmare (Reprise)" were both included on the digital extended version of *If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power* which was released on January 3, 2022.

## Background

In an interview with 97.1 AMP Radio, she stated:

"*I think for me it was about taking my live fan base - cause I've built the majority of my career 'pre-radio-Halsey' off of touring - and you know when it comes to a song like Nightmare, I get to go onstage every night, and I see these girls in my pit, and they're sweaty and they're angry, and they're pushing and they're punchy and they have lightning in their eyes and they're looking up at me like they could just rip someone's head off. And I see that and I'm like 'powerful', and they're obviously not moshing to 'Closer'. So, you know, there's something else in here, there's something else in the music that I just really wanted to put on the forefront and kind of say to everyone "I do this too, this is part of me too.". From day one I've always had a little bit of bite, there's been a little bit of teeth in everything that I do.*"
—Halsey

On January 21, 2022, Halsey leaked a snippet of the original version of "Nightmare" which included a sample of Tatu's "All the Things She Said".

## Official versions

* Single version - 3:52
* Reprise version - 4:06
* Original version - 3:36

## Chart performance

The song debuted & peaked at #15 on the *Billboard Top 100* Chart.

## Music video

The music video for the song was released on May 17, 2019, alongside the song. It was directed by Hannah Lux Davis. The video also features English models Cara Delevingne and Suki Waterhouse and also features Debbie Harry, the lead singer of 70’s rock band Blondie.

## Cross-references

* The lyric "I've tasted blood and it is sweet" is similar to "Hands so bloody, tastes like honey" from "The Prologue". It's also referenced in "Experiment On Me": "Try my blood, it's just a starter. No one tastes like me, yeah".

## 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

## *If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power* Chronology

"Nightmare (Reprise)" is featured as a bonus track on the Walmart exclusive edition for *If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power*. It is produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and was released on August 27, 2021. It was released worldwide on January 3, 2022 as part of the extended digital album.

### Lyrics

[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

## Trivia

* On March 8, 2020 Halsey posted to her Instagram story that she "would love to do a whole album in the vein of 'Nightmare' and 'Experiment On Me'." The album would later become *If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power*.
* The song was certified gold by the RIAA on July 15, 2019
	+ It was then certified platinum on March 12, 2020

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Billboard* - "Nightmare" by Halsey
2. ↑ *YouTube* - Halsey Talks About Nightmare
3. ↑ *TikTok* - @halsey - "should I leak this version? 👀"
4. ↑ *Instagram* via *ISDB* - @iamhalsey - "I would love to do a whole album in the vein of nightmare and EOM. Should I start a side project or just say fuck it?"

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