I Hate You
Carla Geneve Lyrics


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I′m taking the long drive back to my home town
It takes about 5 hours to get down south
Maybe 4 if you don't mind
Putting your foot to the floor
But that has never really been for me

I stop in little towns and buy myself coffee
Think about my passenger seat
And how it looks so empty
Except for the clothes and books
And other things
That I′m taking home with me
I think about how if you were sitting there
I wouldn't mind turning the stereo down
So I could hear you speak

And I get to this stretch of road
It is dusk and the air is kinda smokey
I think to myself
That it's the most beautiful place
That I′ve ever been
Maybe cos it means that I′m closer to home
Maybe cos I know that the next time I see it
There's a possibility
That you might be sitting here with me

I put Neil Young on the stereo
I chain-smoke to pass the time
It gets dark and my eyes get tired
So I pull over fora little while
And think about how much I hate you




For making me not want to leave
Not want to leave the city

Overall Meaning

In the song "I Hate You", Carla Geneve describes her long drive back to her hometown after leaving someone who she has strong conflicting feelings for. The journey is expected to take her five hours, but she acknowledges that it can take four if she "puts her foot to the floor". Despite thinking about it, she admits that driving at high speed is not really for her. Along the way, she stops in small towns and buys coffee but is constantly reminded of the emptiness in the passenger seat. She reflects on how the seat would be different if the person she has strong conflicting feelings for was sitting there. She would be willing to mute the stereo and listen attentively to what he has to say.


Carla Geneve further describes a time when she reaches a certain stretch of road, during dusk when the air is smoky, and considers the beauty that surrounds her. This beauty can be attributed to the possibility that the person she has strong conflicting feelings for might be with her. She puts on a Neil Young song on the stereo and chain-smokes to pass the time. However, she realizes how mad she is at this person for keeping her wanting to stay in the city despite her desire to go back home.


Line by Line Meaning

I’m taking the long drive back to my hometown
I am embarking on a long journey back to where I grew up


It takes about 5 hours to get down south
It will take me approximately five hours to reach my destination down in the southern part of the region


Maybe 4 if you don’t mind putting your foot to the floor
It might take only four hours if you accelerate aggressively and drive recklessly


But that has never really been for me
However, that is not my style, and I prefer to drive at a more moderate speed


I stop in little towns and buy myself coffee
Along the way, I frequently stop at small towns and purchase coffee for myself


Think about my passenger seat
During the trip, I reflect on the empty seat next to me


And how it looks so empty except for the clothes and books and other things that I’m taking home with me
The only items in that seat are belongings that I am bringing back with me, such as clothing and literature


I think about how if you were sitting there I wouldn’t mind turning the stereo down so I could hear you speak
I consider how if you were there, I would be inclined to lower the volume on the music so I could engage in a conversation with you


And I get to this stretch of road
Eventually, I arrive at a particular section of the highway


It is dusk and the air is kinda smokey
The time of day is dusk, and the atmosphere is somewhat hazy


I think to myself that it’s the most beautiful place that I’ve ever been
I contemplate that this location is the most stunning I have ever encountered


Maybe cause it means that I’m closer to home
Perhaps the reason it seems so appealing is that it signifies that I am getting closer to my destination


Maybe cause I know that the next time I see it there’s a possibility that you might be sitting here with me
Or maybe it's because I know there is a chance that you will be alongside me the next time I observe this view


I put Neil Young on the stereo
I play the music of Neil Young on the vehicle's sound system


I chain-smoke to pass the time
I smoke several cigarettes to help the hours go by while I drive


It gets dark and my eyes get tired
As the night sets in, I become increasingly fatigued


So I pull over for a little while
Therefore, I decide to briefly stop driving and rest


And think about how much I hate you
During this break, I contemplate my strong animosity towards you


For making me not want to leave, not want to leave the city
I ponder how your actions and behavior have caused me to be unhappy and reluctant to depart from the city




Writer(s): Carla Geneve

Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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