I Hate Myself

Album: Alone (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This girl group ode to self-loathing finds Chrissie Hynde listing reasons why she hates herself:

    I hate myself, I hate myself, I hate myself
    For being jealous
    I hate myself, I hate myself, I hate myself
    For thing that you can't see
    I hate myself, I hate myself, I hate myself
    For using other fellows
    To blindside you to get inside of me
    For which I seek an explanation
  • Hynde told The Sun the track may be full of self-loathing, but it should not be seen as self-pitying. "The song says 'I hate myself for backing the wrong horse, I hate myself for being jealous, I hate myself for my reckless phony self-destruction"

    "Then also it talks about being judged and sent to hell," she continued. "So there's a healthy theme of death that rides through the whole album."

    "I mean if I wrote a song and it said, 'This is a great time and everyone loves each other and I'm having a great day,' people would be like, 'F--- off! Why are you telling me that?," Hynde added. "No one ever wrote a great song about sitting on the sofa and watching television with their loved ones."

Comments: 1

  • Tim from Michigan CityChrissie, I get your point totally. But, I thought I'd mention the irony in the fact that your ex, Ray Davies, wrote JUST SUCH a song - or, sort of. He called it, "Sitting on My Sofa" - but, maybe you already knew this. Here are a few of the lyrics:

    All alone, sitting on my sofa,
    Oh, oh, oh, sitting on my sofa,
    Sipping at my soda,
    Sitting on my sofa.

    You got all your friends,
    I got a TV set.
    You got your cars,
    And this boy's never had anything.

    Needless to say, it isn't a "happy family" song, but he is very alone. Just thought your comment was very interesting!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.