“Sick Boy,” the 2018 lead single from The Chainsmokers’ album of the same name, is a sharp, cynical, and deeply personal anthem. At its core, the song is a direct confrontation of two battles: an external one against a polarized and narcissistic American culture, and an internal one against the anxiety, depression, and self-doubt that come from living in that “crazy world.”
Released in January 2018, the track marked a dramatic pivot for The Chainsmokers (Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall), moving away from their signature romantic, nostalgic EDM-pop. “Sick Boy” is a dark, aggressive, and “purposeful pop” song. It’s a raw confession about identity, the suffocating pressure of social media, and the struggle to stay sane in a world that feels broken.
Part 1: The Internal Battle: “I Live in a Prison That I Built Myself”
The most personal layer of “Sick Boy” comes directly from the artists. The song was born from what the duo called a “dark period.” In a candid Reddit comment, they confirmed that vocalist Andrew Taggart “was depressed at the time and this song really helped him deal with his depression and ultimately break free of it.”
This context is the key to unlocking the song’s refrain.
The Self-Built Prison and Religion
When Taggart sings, “Make no mistake, I live in a prison / That I built myself, it is my religion,” he is giving a perfect description of depression and anxiety. This “prison” isn’t a physical place but a mental one. It’s a state of mind built from one’s own fears, self-criticism, and anxieties.
The line “it is my religion” is a powerful, dark metaphor. It suggests this prison of self-doubt is not just a passing phase but a devout, daily practice. It’s the “religion” of obsessive negative thoughts, of checking social media for validation, and of isolating oneself. This is the “sickness” the “Sick Boy” is battling.
Who is the “Sick Boy”?
The “Sick Boy” is a label Taggart is both internalizing and fighting. He sings, “And they say that I am the sick boy,” acknowledging the external judgment from critics or a public that sees him as flawed.
But he immediately follows it with a biting retort: “Easy to say when you don’t take the risk, boy.” This is a defense of his vulnerability. He is the one putting his “life’s work” on the line, opening himself up to public scrutiny. The critics, in his eyes, are cowards. They pass judgment from a safe distance, never taking the “risk” of being so exposed.
In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Taggart confirmed this. He called the song an “empowering” discussion with his “inner-self.” It’s not about retreating from the world; it’s about “dealing with it” and declaring, “This is me. I’m going to do my thing. Say whatever you want about me.”
Part 2: The External Battle: A Divided America
“Sick Boy” is also a biting piece of social commentary, written and recorded during a time of intense political and cultural division in the United States (late 2017-early 2018). The song’s verses are a cynical tour of a nation the band sees as deeply flawed.
East Side vs. West Side: The Two Faces of a Sick America
The song famously creates a dichotomy between the “East Side” and “West Side” of America. This isn’t just about geography; it’s a critique of two different, but equally toxic, value systems.
- “I’m from the east side of America / Where we choose pride over character” This line is a direct shot at the “old money,” establishment values of places like New York and Washington D.C. “Pride” here means status, legacy, and tribalism (political, financial, or social). “Character” represents actual integrity and morality. Taggart is saying that on the East Side, looking good is more important than being good. This reflects the intense political polarization of the time, where loyalty to a “side” (e.g., “we can pick sides”) mattered more than truth.
- “I live on the west side of America / Where they spin lies into fairy dust” This is a clear attack on the culture of Hollywood, celebrity, and, most importantly, social media. The “West Side” (specifically Los Angeles) is the global capital of image and illusion. “Spinning lies into fairy dust” is what social media influencers and media outlets do—they present a fake, perfect, “fairy dust” reality that is, at its core, a lie.
The genius of the lyric is in the final line for both: “And we can pick sides, but this is us, this is us, this is.” Taggart is pointing out that this division is itself an illusion. Whether you’re a “proud” politician or a “lying” influencer, it’s all part of the same, broken American system.
“Desensitize by Hysteria”
In the second verse, Taggart adds another layer to his “East Side” critique. He says this is where “we desensitize by hysteria.” This is a direct reference to the 24/7 news cycle of the time, which was dominated by constant “breaking news,” political scandal, and outrage.
He is arguing that when everything is presented as a five-alarm fire, people become “desensitized” to actual crises. The “hysteria” of the media and political commentators just becomes background noise, making the population numb and indifferent.
Part 3: The Sickness of Narcissism & Social Media
The song’s refrain and bridge tie the internal (depression) and external (cultural) battles together. The one thing that fuels both, in the song’s view, is narcissism.
“Welcome to the Narcissism”
The song’s world is a “narcissism / When everyone projects and expects you to listen to ’em.” This is a world where everyone has a platform (social media) and is “projecting” their own image, their own opinions, and their own judgments onto everyone else, demanding to be heard.
In this world, “we’re united under our indifference.” This is the song’s most cynical and powerful line. It suggests that the one thing this polarized, narcissistic society can agree on is to not really care about anyone else. It’s a “unity” of selfishness.
The Final Confession: “How Many Likes Is My Life Worth?”
The bridge is the song’s climax and its most explicit message. Taggart, a global superstar, screams the question that defines the “Sick Boy” prison:
Feed yourself with my life’s work How many likes is my life worth?
This is the ultimate cry of the modern artist and the modern person. He puts his “life’s work”—his music, his emotions, his depression—out for public consumption. And in return, the world “feeds” on it and reduces its value to a simple, meaningless metric: a “like.”
This line was the song’s central marketing theme, even appearing on a massive Spotify billboard in Times Square. It confirms that the “sickness” is the obsession with social media validation, a system that traps Taggart in a “prison” where his self-worth is tied to public opinion.
Part 4: The Music Video’s Meaning: Exposed on Stage
The music video for “Sick Boy” is a stark, powerful metaphor for all the song’s themes. It’s not a narrative; it’s a performance of the “Sick Boy” persona.
The video, directed by Brewer, shows Taggart, Pall, and their drummer Matt McGuire performing on an empty, dark, and elevated soundstage. This stage represents the “fishbowl” of celebrity. They are isolated, on display, and completely alone, even while being the center of attention.
Throughout the video, stage lights “expose” their “internals,” making their skeletons and organs visible through their skin. This is a literal, visual representation of the song’s vulnerability. They are being “exposed” by the “stage lights” of fame and social media, which are picking them apart. The world is “feeding” on them, seeing right through their “pride” and “lies” to the “sick” and anxious person underneath.
Ultimately, “Sick Boy” is The Chainsmokers’ declaration of a painful truth. In a world obsessed with image, they feel sick. And in a world that demands perfection, they choose to be honest about their “prison,” their “anxiety,” and their “sickness”—and in doing so, they take back the power from the critics who would use those words against them.