In the hazy aftermath of a breakup that leaves you hollowed out, sometimes the only cure is a night blurred by neon lights and bad decisions—drowning sorrow in shots and strangers. That’s the raw pulse of “Escapism.,” where RAYE teams up with 070 Shake to turn heartbreak into a defiant anthem of reckless abandon. It’s the track that captures that desperate pivot from devastation to distraction, all wrapped in a sultry groove that had everyone from club floors to TikTok feeds moving through the pain. For fans chasing that cathartic release, it’s a reminder that feeling too much can push you straight into the void, one bass drop at a time.
| Lead Vocals | RAYE & 070 Shake |
| Songwriter | RAYE, Mike Sabath & 070 Shake |
| Music Producer | Mike Sabath |
| Video Director | Otis Dominique, RAYE & Mikey Robbins |
| Label | Human Re-Sources |
| Release Date | October 12, 2022 |
| Song Language | English |
| Copyright © | Human Re-Sources, The Orchard & RAYE |
| Distributor | The Orchard |
| Publisher | Sony Music Entertainment, Warner/Chappell & Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. |
Lyrics of Escapism. by RAYE & 070 Shake
[Intro: Raye]
Sleazin’ And Teasin’, I’m Sittin’ On Him
All Of My Diamonds Are Drippin’ On Him
I Met Him At The Bar, It Was Twelve Or Something
I Ordered Two More Wines ’cause Tonight, I Want Him
[Verse 1: Raye]
A Little Context If You Care To Listen
I Find Myself In A Shit Position
The Man That I Love Sat Me Down Last Night
And He Told Me That It’s Over, Dumb Decision
And I Don’t Wanna Feel How My Heart Is Rippin’
In Fact, I Don’t Wanna Feel, So I Stick To Sippin’
And I’m Out On The Town With A Simple Mission
In My Little Black Dress And This Shit Is Sittin’
[Pre-Chorus: Raye]
Just A Heart Broke B**ch, High Heels Six Inch
In The Back Of The Nightclub, Sippin’ Champagne
I Don’t Trust Any Of These B**ches I’m With
In The Back Of The Taxi Sniffin’ Cocaine
Drunk Calls, Drunk Texts, Drunk Tears, Drunk Sex
I Was Lookin’ For A Man Who Was On The Same Page
Now It’s Back To The Intro, Back To The Bar
To The Bentley, To The Hotel, To My Old Ways
[Chorus: Raye]
‘Cause I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
Doctor, Doctor, Anything, Please
Doctor, Doctor, Have Mercy On Me
Take This Pain Away
You’re Askin’ Me My Symptoms, Doctor, I Don’t Wanna Feel
[Verse 2: Raye & 070 Shake]
Toke This Joint How I’m Blowin’ This Steam
Back To My Ways Like 2019
Not Twenty-four Hours Since My Ex Did Dead It
I Got A New Man On Me, It’s About To Get Sweaty
Last Night Really Was The Cherry On The Cake
Been Some Dark Days Lately And I’m Findin’ It Cripplin’
Excuse My State, I’m As High As Your Hopes
That You’ll Make It To My Bed, Get Me Hot And Sizzlin’
If I Take A Step Back To See The Glass Half-full
At Least It’s The Prada Two-piece That I’m Trippin’ In
And I’m Already Actin’ Like A D**k, Know What I Mean?
So You Might As Well Stick It In (What?)
[Pre-Chorus: Raye]
Just A Heart Broke B**ch, High Heels Six Inch
In The Back Of The Nightclub, Sippin’ Champagne
I Don’t Trust Any Of These B**ches I’m With
In The Back Of The Taxi Sniffin’ Cocaine
Drunk Calls, Drunk Texts, Drunk Tears, Drunk Sex
I Was Lookin’ For A Man Who Was On The Same Page
Now It’s Back To The Intro, Back To The Bar
To The Bentley, To The Hotel, To My Old Ways
[Chorus: Raye & 070 Shake]
‘Cause I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
Doctor, Doctor, Anything, Please
Doctor, Doctor, Have Mercy On Me
Take This Pain Away
You’re Askin’ Me My Symptoms, Doctor, I Don’t Wanna Feel, Mm (What?)
[Verse 3: 070 Shake & Raye]
‘Cause I Don’t Wanna Feel Like I Felt Last Night
I Don’t Wanna Feel Like I Felt Last Night
Be At Peace With The Things You Can’t Change (Last Night)
I’ll Be Naked When I Leave And I Was Naked When I Came, Yeah
Out Of Reach, Out Of Touch
Too Numb, I Don’t Feel No Way
Toast Up, So What?
Street Small, But It Go Both Ways
So, You’ll Run, Yeah
But You’ll Never Escape
Sunset In The Maze
(You’re Askin’ Me My Symptoms, Doctor, I Don’t Wanna Feel)
[Chorus: Raye]
I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night, Oh
Doctor, Doctor, Anything, Please
Doctor, Doctor, Have Mercy On Me
You’re Askin’ Me My Symptoms, Doctor, I Don’t Wanna Feel
[Bridge: Raye & 070 Shake]
I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
I Don’t Wanna Feel How I Did Last Night
How I Did, How I Did, How I Did Last Night
[Outro: Raye]
Mm, Lipstick Smudged Like Modern Art
I Don’t Know Where The F**k I Am Or Who’s Drivin’ The F**kin’ Car
Speedin’ Down The Highway, Sippin’
Mixin’ Pills With The Liquor Cah F**k These Feelings
I Left Everyone I Love On Read (Uh-huh)
Spilling Secrets To The Stranger In My Bed (Uh-huh)
I Remember Nothing So There’s Nothing To Regret (Uh-uh)
Other Than This 4/4 Kick Drum Poundin’ In My Head (Mm)
About “Escapism. by RAYE”
RAYE and 070 Shake craft a sonic escape hatch in “Escapism.,” where velvet vocals tangle with throbbing house beats—heartache served chilled, with a side of unapologetic fire.
Peel back the layers, and “Escapism.” is a masterstroke in emotional alchemy, fusing R&B’s intimate confessions with house music’s euphoric pulse. Themes of numbing grief through hedonism—wine, coke, one-night stands—hit like a fever dream, the mood swinging from vulnerable ache to empowered haze. Mike Sabath’s production shines here, layering shimmering synths and a relentless four-on-the-floor kick that mirrors the song’s spiral: intimate verses building to a chorus that begs for mercy from the hurt. It’s not just a party track; it’s therapy disguised as temptation, with 070 Shake’s ethereal verse adding a cosmic edge, like floating above the wreckage.
This gem anchors My 21st Century Blues, RAYE’s triumphant 2023 sophomore album—a 15-track excavation of modern womanhood’s underbelly, from body dysmorphia to toxic love. The project’s vision is unflinchingly personal, born from RAYE’s battles with her former label over creative control, transforming industry scars into sonic gold. Songs like “Love Me” and “Flip A Switch” orbit similar orbits of self-sabotage and resilience, but “Escapism.” stands as the breakout beacon, its narrative arc echoing the album’s core: blues not as defeat, but as fuel for fierce rebirth.
Dropped as a single in October 2022 via Human Re Sources, it exploded pre-album, thanks to a sultry video directed by Otis Dominique, RAYE, and Mikey Robbins—think dimly lit bars dissolving into feverish hotel rooms. By album release in February 2023, it had already cracked the UK Top 40, with Spotify streams surpassing a billion, fueled by viral challenges that turned lyrics into global mantras.
For RAYE, now 28 and freshly independent after ditching Polydor, “Escapism.” marks a seismic shift from ghostwriting for the stars to owning her spotlight. It’s her boldest experiment yet—blending pop polish with genre-bending grit, a far cry from her Eulogy mixtape days. In a discography that’s always whispered truths others wouldn’t touch, this collaboration with 070 Shake (fresh off You Can’t Kill Me) amplifies her growth: more vulnerable, more visceral, proving why she’s the voice for a generation’s quiet crises. It matters because it reframes escapism not as weakness, but as survival—RAYE’s way of saying, “I’ll break, but I’ll dance through the pieces.”
What lingers is how the track universalizes the mess: that lipstick-smeared morning after, when regret tastes like last night’s champagne. In 2026’s streaming wars, where authenticity cuts through the gloss, “Escapism.” endures as a cultural reset button, inspiring covers from indie acts to festival sets. Its bridge—echoing pleas for numbness—feels timeless, a bridge between RAYE’s UK roots and global reach.
RAYE’s post-album trajectory? Stadium tours, Grammy nods, and collabs that keep pushing boundaries, but My 21st Century Blues remains her rawest hour. “Escapism.” isn’t just a hit; it’s the heartbeat of healing messy.
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