929

## *Manic* Chronology

"**929**" is a song performed by Halsey. It is featured as the sixteenth and final track on her third album, *Manic*. It was released on January 17, 2020 through Capitol Records.

## Background

The song was announced on December 3, 2019 through social media. In an Instagram livestream on December 3, 2019 Halsey named this song as one of her favorite songs of the album along with "I Hate Everybody", "Killing Boys" and "Dominic's Interlude". On January 13, 2020 *Rolling Stone* published an early review of the album and revealed lyrics to the song.

The track was first teased via Instagram on August 11, 2019 when Halsey showed off a tattoo of hers that reads "929" and captioned it with "track 16". The caption was later changed to "track 16 / TRACK 2" to signify "Clementine's" release on her birthday, September 29, 2019.

Halsey talked more about the song through Spotify's storyline feature:

"*A stream of consciousness ranting confessional. This one was almost like a freestyle in the booth. I barely wrote anything down. I just started spilling all of my thoughts about myself and my fans and my family, and I admit so many faults and flaws all in one go. It’s forgiving, however, it ends with the acknowledgement that I am learning and growing, minute by minute.*"
—Halsey via Spotify

On Twitter she also revealed that the song had only been recorded once and that this version made it onto the album, similar to "Sorry". She also stated that she was "so out of breath and agigated by the end [of the recording process but] in a good way."

The song also deals with Halsey quitting her nicotine addiction.

## Lyrics

[Intro]

I really was born at 9:29 AM on 9/29

You think I'm lying, but I'm, I'm being dead serious (I gotta see this birth certificate)

Okay, I'll prove it

[Verse]

Well, who am I? I'm almost 25

Can't remember half the time that I've been alive

'Cause half was in a cheap apartment

And half was on the Eastside (Eastside)

They said don't meet your heroes, they're all fuckin' weirdos

And God knows that they were right

Because nobody loves you, they just try to fuck you

Then put you on a feature on the B-Side

And who do you call when it's late at night?

When the headlines just don't paint the picture right

When you look at yourself on a screen and say

"Oh my God, there's no way that's me"

And I, I quit smoking, well recently, I tried

And I bought another house, and I never go outside

And I remember this girl with pink hair in Detroit

Well, she told me

She said, "Ashley, you gotta promise us that you won't die

'Cause we need you," and honestly, I think that she lied

And I remember the names of every single kid I've met

But I forget half the people who I've gotten in bed

And I've stared at the sky in Milwaukee

And hoped that my father would finally call me

And it's just these things that I'm thinkin' for hours

And I'm pickin' my hair out in clumps in the shower

Lost the love of my life to an ivory powder

But then I realize that I'm no higher power

That I wasn't in love then, and I'm still not now

And I'm so happy I figured that out

I've got a long way to go until self-preservation

Think my moral compass is on a vacation

And I can't believe I still feed my fucking temptation

I'm still looking for my salvation

[Chorus]

Soft and slow, watch the minutes go

Count out loud, so we know you don't keep 'em for yourself

Watch the minutes go

Count out loud, so we know you don't keep 'em for yourself

[Interlude]

I think I have a confession to make, I feel like (So we know you don't)

I need to say that I was really born at 9:26

It's on my birth certificate, I'm a liar

Man, I'm a fucking liar

[Outro]

Soft and slow, watch the minutes go

Count out loud, so we know you don't keep 'em for yourself

## Trivia

* While performing this song on her Manic World Tour Halsey would change the lyric "I wasn't in love then, and I'm still not now" to "I wasn't in love then but I might be now".

## References

1. ↑ *Twitter* - "January 17, 2020"
2. ↑ *IG Lives* - "Halsey | Instagram Live Stream | 3 December 2019"
3. ↑ *Twitter* - @halsey - "“Halsey’s excellent new album Manic” - wow wow wow. Early review of the album is in and @robsheff can hear me loud and clear. Thank you @RollingStone! As for you guys, it’s in your hands in 4 days...
4. ↑ *Instagram* - @iamhalsey - "🎂track16 / TRACK2"
5. ↑ *Spotify* - "929" by Halsey
6. ↑ *Twitter* - "yes the one and only! I was so out of breath and agitated by the end. in a good way."
7. ↑ *Twitter* - @halsey - "I successfully quit nicotine a few weeks ago after smoking for TEN years. I gained a lot of weight and probably lost some friends forever bc I was being a NUT (lol) but I’m so happy I did it and I feel v goooood. just wanted to share.

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