Emotionally Hungover

Album: And I'd Do It Again (2025)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Emotionally Hungover" explores the mental and emotional exhaustion that comes from suppressing intense feelings, the state of being so emotionally drained that you feel hollowed out and unable to function. The song draws a vivid metaphor between the physical aftermath of drinking too much and the lingering weight of unprocessed emotion; feeling "sober" in the sense of being stripped bare, with nothing left to give.

    "It's about those days that your emotions weigh you down to the point that you feel exhausted and worn out," frontman Tommy Longhurst explained. "Those anxieties that sit with you and don't leave and have you in a hold that you have to fight against to feel sane again."
  • Longhurst came up with the title during his morning commute to the studio while going through a difficult period in his personal life. "I remember just writing down loads of feelings on my phone, that's what I do, the best songs come that way because it feels most real," he recalled. "And I remember just having 'Emotionally Hungover,' just that title. It made perfect sense to me, and I've never heard a song with a title like that."
  • Only The Poets released the song on June 27, 2025, as the third single from their debut album, And I'd Do It Again. Asked by The Sun why they chose it as a single, Longhurst said it felt important from the moment it was written. "The title says everything before you've heard a second of the music," he explained, adding, "I've spent my whole life struggling with my mental health, insecurities and the constant battle I'm in with them, so lyrically it comes from a really honest place."
  • The album explores love, vulnerability, loss, resilience, and mental health through the band's own experiences. Tommy Longhurst told Official Charts the record was shaped in part by his first major breakup. "For the first time ever, I broke up with somebody during the writing of the album," he said. "It was like grief for me."
  • Tommy Longhurst wrote the song with:

    Australian-born and London-based songwriter Janeva. His other credits include Bellah Mae's "Rinse and Repeat" and Au/Ra's "Swamp."

    American record producer and songwriter Matt Rad, who has worked with One Direction ("18") Martin Garrix ("In The Name Of Love"), Niall Horan ("Seeing Blind"), James Arthur ("Medicine"), Caity Baser ("Pretty Boys") and many others.

    Matt Rad also produced the track with Only The Poets drummer Marcus Yates, Only The Poets guitarist Clem Cherry and recording engineer DanDlio.
  • Only the Poets began performing "Emotionally Hungover" during their Experience The Future shows with the first performance taking place at Scala, London on February 17, 2025; several months before the official single release.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.