It starts with that synth. That lonely, echoing, slightly detuned keyboard riff that feels like waking up in a room you don't recognize.
If you're looking for the do you feel it lyrics, you probably didn't find them on a Top 40 radio station. You likely found them while watching a depressed, alcoholic scientist sit in his garage, staring at a small orange creature he just brought back to life, only to watch it disintegrate.
The song is "Do You Feel It?" by Chaos Chaos.
For many, this track is the definitive "Rick and Morty" song. It’s the sonic backdrop for Rick Sanchez’s lowest point in the episode "Auto Erotic Assimilation." But the song existed long before it became a meme for existential dread. It has a history, a meaning rooted in sisterhood, and a lyrical depth that most people miss because they're too busy crying over a cartoon.
The Story Behind the Sisters
Chaos Chaos isn't some faceless indie project. It’s Asy and Chloe Saavedra. You might remember them as Smoosh, the pre-teen indie-pop sensations who were opening for Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie before they were old enough to drive.
They rebranded. They grew up. They got darker.
When they released the Committed to the Crime EP in 2014, "Do You Feel It?" was the standout. It wasn't written for a TV show. It was written about the raw, sometimes ugly experience of being human and trying to connect.
The lyrics aren't just about sadness. They’re about the frustration of numbness.
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Breaking Down the Do You Feel It Lyrics
The song opens with a question that feels more like an accusation: Some people say they want to live forever / That's not me. That’s a heavy way to start a pop song.
Asy’s vocals are airy but grounded. She’s singing about the desire to actually feel something, even if that something is painful. The refrain—the part everyone hums while staring at the ceiling at 3 AM—is a repetitive plea.
Do you feel it? / Do you feel it?
It’s not just asking if you’re sad. It’s asking if you’re even present. In the context of the show, it’s Rick asking himself if he’s still capable of love or if he’s just a machine made of ego and booze. But in real life? It’s about that moment in a relationship where you realize the other person is miles away, even if they’re sitting right next to you on the couch.
There’s this line later in the song: I'm not a kid, I'm not a kid. It’s a reminder of the band's transition from the "child stars" of Smoosh to the adult reality of Chaos Chaos. It’s a rejection of innocence.
Why the Internet Won't Let This Song Go
Music is weird. A song can exist in a vacuum for years, then one specific placement in a TV show turns it into a cultural touchstone.
When Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland picked this track, they changed its DNA. Now, you can't hear those lyrics without thinking about the "Rick Potion No. 9" aftermath or the Unity breakup. It became the anthem for "The Sad Rick Fan."
But honestly? The song earns it.
The production by Chaos Chaos is sparse. It’s mostly that driving beat and the synth. It creates a vacuum. When the lyrics hit—Keep your head up, Rick / Keep your head up (wait, those aren't the real lyrics, though fans often mishear them that way)—it feels personal.
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The actual line is Keep your head up, kid / Keep your head up. It’s a command. A struggle.
The Misconceptions About the Meaning
A lot of people think "Do You Feel It?" is a breakup song.
Kinda.
It’s more of a "breakdown" song. It’s about the walls we build. When Chloe and Asy wrote it, they were tapping into a specific brand of Brooklyn synth-pop that was popular in the mid-2010s, but they added a layer of sincerity that was missing from a lot of their peers.
The lyrics discuss being "committed to the crime." What’s the crime? Usually, in their songwriting, the "crime" is the act of being yourself in a world that wants you to be a product. For Rick Sanchez, the crime is existence. For us, it’s usually just trying to get through a Tuesday.
How to Actually Listen to These Lyrics
If you want to appreciate the do you feel it lyrics properly, you have to look past the "Rick and Morty" memes.
- Listen for the bridge. The bridge is where the song loses its mind a little bit. The repetition of Do you feel it? gets more urgent.
- Check the bassline. Chloe Saavedra is a monster on the drums and rhythm. The way the beat stays steady while the vocals spiral is what gives the song its "anxious" feeling.
- Read the full lyrics. Don't just wait for the chorus. The verses are where the storytelling happens.
The song deals with the "fumes" of a relationship. I'm living on the fumes of it. That's a brutal metaphor. It means the fire is out. There’s no heat left. You’re just breathing in the toxic leftovers because you don't know how to leave the room.
The Legacy of Chaos Chaos
The band didn't stop there. They’ve released plenty of music since, including tracks like "Terryfold" (which is... very different) and "Armed and Dangerous." But "Do You Feel It?" remains their "Creep." Their "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
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It’s a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, millions of people know their music. On the other, those people often associate their art with a fictional character’s suicide attempt. That’s a lot for a songwriter to carry.
But if you talk to fans of the band, they’ll tell you the song saved them. There’s something cathartic about hearing someone ask Do you feel it? when you’ve spent weeks feeling absolutely nothing at all.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Songwriters
If you’re obsessed with this track, there are a few things you should actually do.
First, go listen to the rest of the Committed to the Crime EP. Songs like "Breaker" offer a similar vibe but with different emotional textures.
Second, if you’re a songwriter, study the "Question and Answer" structure of this song. The way Asy poses a question in the lyrics and lets the instruments answer is a masterclass in tension.
Lastly, acknowledge the darkness. Most pop songs try to resolve the tension. They give you a happy ending or a big, triumphant chorus. "Do You Feel It?" doesn't do that. It ends in the same place it started: asking the question.
Sometimes, the question is enough.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Connection to the Music:
- Support the artist directly: Buy the vinyl or merch from Chaos Chaos's official site. Sync placements like "Rick and Morty" pay well once, but long-term support keeps indie artists alive.
- Analyze the synth patches: If you're a producer, try to recreate that lead synth in Massive or Serum; it’s a lesson in using "detune" to create emotional instability.
- Watch the music video: The official video for "Do You Feel It?" provides a visual context that is completely separate from the Adult Swim universe, offering a glimpse into the sisters' original vision.
The reality of these lyrics is that they are a mirror. If you feel sad when you hear them, it's because you're bringing your own "fumes" to the table. If you feel hyped, it's because you recognize the power in the rhythm. Either way, you're feeling something, and that's exactly what the song was asking for.