Hateful
Clash Lyrics


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Well, I got a friend who's a man
What man?
The man who keeps me from the lonely, the only
He gives me what I need
What you need? What you got?
I need it all so badly

Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere

This year I've lost some friends
Some friends? What friends?
I dunno, I ain't even noticed

You see, I gotta go out again
Again? My friend
I gotta see the main man

Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere

Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere

I killed all my nerves
My nerves? What swerves?
And I can't drive so steady, and already

I've lost my memory
My mind? Behind!
I can't see so clearly

Oh, anything I want he gives it to me




Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
Anything I want, anything I want, anything I want, anything I want, anything I want

Overall Meaning

"Hateful" is a song by The Clash, sung by Joe Strummer. It tells the story of a person who has a friend who provides him with everything he needs, but not for free, and how he's grateful to be "nowhere" and lost some friends. The first stanza shows the person's dependence on his friend who keeps him from being lonely and provides everything he needs. However, the last line of the stanza seems to suggest that the person is addicted to something, and his friend provides it to him.


The next stanza shows that the person has lost some friends but doesn't seem to care. He still continues to go out and see his "main man" who gives him everything. The repetition of the line "anything I want he gives it to me" suggests that the person is obsessed with material possessions.


The third stanza is more disturbing as the person reveals that he has killed all his nerves, lost his memory, and can't see clearly. This suggests that he is not in control of his life and is suffering the consequences of his addiction. However, he still continues to depend on his friend for everything.


Overall, the song is a critique of materialism and addiction, showing how it can lead to the destruction of oneself and one's relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I got a friend who's a man
I have a male friend who keeps me company and prevents me from feeling lonely


What man?
Who is this man that you're talking about?


The man who keeps me from the lonely, the only
He is the only man who keeps me from feeling lonely


He gives me what I need
He provides me with whatever I need


What you need? What you got?
What is it that you need? What do you have?


I need it all so badly
I desperately need everything


Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
He fulfills all of my wishes without hesitation


Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
He does fulfill my wishes, but there's a price for it


It's hateful
The situation is unpleasant and negative


And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere
I pay the price for the fulfillment of my wishes, and paradoxically, I'm so thankful for it that it feels like a blessing to be nowhere and into this situation.


This year I've lost some friends
In this year, I lost a few of my friends


Some friends? What friends?
Who are these friends that you lost?


I dunno, I ain't even noticed
I don't know who I lost, and I didn't even notice it.


You see, I gotta go out again
I have to go out again


Again? My friend
Again? Why do you have to go out again, my friend?


I gotta see the main man
I have to see the person in charge


I killed all my nerves
I've completely numbed myself


My nerves? What swerves?
What do you mean by that?


And I can't drive so steady, and already
I can't handle things calmly and I'm overwhelmed already


I've lost my memory
I've forgotten things


My mind? Behind!
My mind is not functioning properly!


I can't see so clearly
I'm not able to see things clearly




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@stephencoomer5692

[Verse 1]
Well, I got a friend who's a man (who's a man)
What man?
The man who keeps me from the lonely, the only
He gives me what I need (what you need?)
What you got?
I need it all so badly

[Chorus]
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for
And I'm so grateful to be nowhere

[Verse 2]
This year I've lost some friends (some friends)
What friends?
I dunno, I didn't even notice
You see, I gotta go out again (again)
My friend
I gotta see that main man

[Chorus]
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for
And I'm so grateful to be nowhere

[Verse 3]
I killed all my nerves (my nerves)
What swerves?
I can't drive so steady
And already
I've lost my memory (my mind)
Behind
I can't see so clearly

[Chorus]
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it but not for free
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me (Anything I want he gives it to me)
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free (Anything I want he gives it to me)
Anything I want, anything I want



@rasjoe420

Well, I got a friend who's a man
What man?
The man who keeps me from the lonely, the only
He gives me what I need
What you need? What you got?
I need it all so badly
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere
This year I've lost some friends
Some friends? What friends?
I dunno, I ain't even noticed
You see, I gotta go out again
Again? My friend
I gotta see the main man
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
It's hateful
And it's paid for and I'm so grateful to be nowhere
I killed all my nerves
My nerves? What swerves?
And I can't drive so steady, and already
I've lost my memory
My mind? Behind!
I can't see so clearly
Oh, anything I want he gives it to me
Anything I want he gives it, but not for free
Anything I want, anything I want, anything I want, anything I want, anything I want



All comments from YouTube:

@kerrylewis2581

Love every song on this album. Forty years later and it still makes me want to bounce off walls like I'm twenty again.

@nickrigdon8883

Possibly the best off the album. Just incredible.

@lucianofigueiredo4877

Verdade

@danozomatli1774

Yup. All downhill from there brother..

@tom-ht3ju

@@danozomatli1774 nah

@noahusa3309

@@danozomatli1774 not at all pal😂 whole album is a masterpiece.

@Marleystrummer

Like Sandanista! it's too hard to choose a best track although this is one of my favorites, Wrong Em boyo or Guns of Brixton ❤💛💚

8 More Replies...

@2nd_snideelf144

One of the TOP TEN Rock albums ever made. Get a copy of this album, play it loud and you will not be able to sit still.

@pseudoshaman

I love how this song is almost written like a love song, but instead of being about a girl it's about a guy who sells you drugs. Just like how a girl could make you feel good, a drug dealer gives you guaranteed good feelings and "anything you want" for the right price. It's a hateful, toxic relationship that might ruin your friendships but the drugs make you not care, and that's what this song is talking about. Absolutely genius songwriting.

@kenthorste7384

I realized,just enjoying this kind of music,"this year I lost some friends",about 1980,I did notice.A sad parting.They went right in their Izods and topsiders and I went left in my biker jacket and Levi's.

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