Demi Lovato’s alcohol addiction and relapse laid bare in Sober lyrics [Details]

Demi Lovato started her acting career in 2002 at the age of ten. Before moving into the music industry she worked with the Disney Channel on Camp Rock.

In the past, she’s candidly spoken about her struggles with alcohol, substances and self-harm.

Her latest single, Sober, shows her open up about the darker times in her life.

But what was Demi Lovato’s battle with alcohol addiction and how do Sober’s lyrics tell of a relapse?

Sober song lyrics and Demi’s relapse

Sober is Demi’s latest single, thought to come from her seventh album, which hasn’t been released yet.

Demi promised that new music was on the way earlier this year.

The track repeats the line: “I’m so sorry I’m not sober anymore”.

It’s already racked up millions of views on YouTube.

Demi has said little about the song on social media, but she has described it as her “truth”.

It’s thought that more explanation will follow.

Some of the lyrics that have worried fans are significantly more personal than any of her previous songs.

The lyrics suggest that Demi has broken her sobriety. The star celebrated six years of being sober earlier this year.

In the song, which is already climbing the charts, Demi apologises to her parents:

“Mommy, I’m so sorry I’m not sober anymore.

“Daddy please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor.”

She also speaks of her aspirations:

“I wanna be a role model, but I’m only human”

The song ends with another apology and a pledge to fans:

“I’m sorry that I’m here again, I promise I’ll get help”

Demi’s battle with alcohol

In 2017, the star opened up about her struggles with alcohol, but told fans that she had been sober for five years.

She said, “I couldn’t have done it without my higher power (God)”

The singer also thanked her family, friends and everyone else by her side.

Demi has visited rehab for addiction troubles in the past. She admitted in 2013 that she could no longer enjoy alcohol in a “responsible” way.

Speaking in 2013 , Demi said: “Some people can smoke and drink recreationally.

“I’m not one of those people.

“If I do that, it will spiral out of control very quickly. I’ve lost the privilege of being able to drink responsibly”

Demi has also spoken about other struggles around self esteem and mental health, but she has suggested that she’s struggled more with alcohol and drugs than her eating disorder.

Demi’s family and early childhood

The American singer has suggested that her father’s death in 2013 made things much more difficult to deal with.

Speaking with American TV host Dr Phil earlier this year, Demi said that a lot of her struggles with addiction had to do with “unresolved issues” with her “birth father”, who she apologises to in the song Sober. Her mother later remarried.

Her father, Patrick Lovato, also suffered from mental health problems.

She dedicated a song to her dad on her fifth album, Confident, where she described him as a “troubled man”.

In the interview, Demi got emotional when talking about her eating disorder, which she described as “everlasting” and something she “still works on”.

She also spoke about suicidal thoughts she experienced at a young age saying “the very first time I was suicidal was when I was seven.”

This was before describing her “fascination with death” early in her life.

Demi spent time at Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment centre in Illinois, USA.

After her stint in rehab, she admitted she still struggled with alcohol and cocaine, even smuggling the substance onto aeroplanes.

At one point she couldn’t go longer than “30 minutes to an hour” without the Class A drug.

Demi has also spoken of struggles with self harm – issues which started at a young age for the star.

In a very honest chat with Dr Phil in March this year, she admitted during difficult times in the past she “turned to cutting”.

Fan reaction

Demi calls her loyal supporters ‘Lovatics’.

As always, they’ve stood by her side since the song’s release.

One reached out to the star, telling her she is “proud” of her.

Another told Demi that her fans would always be there for her.

Sober lyrics

I got no excuses

For all of these goodbyes

Call me when it’s over

‘Cause I’m dying inside

Wake me when the shakes are gone

And the cold sweats disappear

Call me when it’s over

And myself has reappeared

I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know why

I do it every, every, every time

It’s only when I’m lonely

Sometimes I just wanna cave

And I don’t wanna fight

I try and I try and I try and I try and I try

Just hold me, I’m lonely

Momma, I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore

And daddy, please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor

To the ones who never left me

We’ve been down this road before

I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore

I’m sorry to my future love

For the man that left my bed

For making love the way I saved for you inside my head

And I’m sorry for the fans I lost

Who watched me fall again

I wanna be a role model

But I’m only human

I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know why

I do it every, every, every time

It’s only when I’m lonely

Sometimes I just wanna cave

And I don’t wanna fight

I try and I try and I try and I try and I try

Just hold me, I’m lonely

Momma, I’m so sorry I’m not sober anymore

And daddy, please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor

To the ones who never left me

We’ve been down this road before

I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore

I’m not sober anymore

I’m sorry that I’m here again

I promise I’ll get help

It wasn’t my intention

I’m sorry to myself