To tease the track’s title and place on Good Riddance, on February 2, 2023, Gracie tweeted “I should hate you”.
The song is about the difficulties of judging someone who hurt you because somehow it feels like you still love them.
I should hate you
Gracie Abrams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making pretend that the furniture listened
Wasn't the best of my mental conditions, but I tried
Thinkin' of you without any forgiveness
Because I was the one who would stay up and call you
And I'd drive to your house for the shit that you went through
And I wasted my breath when I tried to console you, didn't I?
'Cause we didn't happen the way we were supposed to
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Pulled the knife off my bag, it was right where you left it
But your aim's kinda perfect, I'll give you the credit
I just drank something strong to try to forget, but it wasn't right
No, you're not even here, but you're doin' my head in
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Ooh, ooh
I should hate you, I feel stupid
Like I almost crashed my car
Drivin' home to talk about you
At my table in the dark
All I ever think about is
Where the hell you even are
And I swear to God I'd kill you
If I loved you less hard
After all of this time, I still get disappointed
Bet you're doing alright and you don't even know it
How it's all 'cause of you that my standards are broken in my mind
I would bend back to you if you left the door open
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Ooh, ooh
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Ooh, ooh
The lyrics of Gracie Abrams's song "I Should Hate You" convey the conflicting emotions and struggle to move on from a past relationship. The singer finds herself spiraling alone in the kitchen, a symbol of her isolation and emotional turmoil. She tries to distract herself by imagining that the furniture is listening, but deep down, she knows it's not the best mental state to be in.
The singer reflects on her role in the relationship, acknowledging that she was the one who would stay up and call the other person, even driving to their house during difficult times. She realizes that she wasted her breath trying to console them, suggesting that her efforts went unappreciated or unreciprocated. The line "we didn't happen the way we were supposed to" speaks to the disappointment of an outcome that didn't align with their expectations.
Despite all the hurt and disappointment, the singer admits that she knows she should hate the person. There is a sense of resentment and anger that should logically come with the end of a relationship. However, she also acknowledges the lingering feelings of love and attachment. The image of pulling a knife off her bag symbolizes a readiness to cut ties, but she acknowledges the other person's "perfect aim" and credits them in a sardonic manner.
There is a constant struggle throughout the song between wanting to forget and move on, and the inability to do so. The singer drinks something strong to try and escape her thoughts, but it doesn't have the desired effect. The mention of driving home to talk about the person at a table in the dark encapsulates the intense preoccupation with thoughts of the past relationship.
As the song progresses, the singer admits that even after all this time, she still gets disappointed. She assumes that the other person is doing alright without them, and this realization has shattered her standards and expectations. Despite acknowledging the pain caused by the other person, the singer confesses that she would still bend back to them if given the opportunity.
Overall, "I Should Hate You" portrays the complicated mix of emotions that come with the end of a relationship. It showcases the struggle to let go and move on, even when logic dictates that hatred should be the appropriate response.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night, I spiralled alone in the kitchen
Yesterday evening, I experienced a downward emotional spiral while being by myself in the kitchen
Making pretend that the furniture listened
Engaging in a make-believe scenario where I imagined the furniture as attentive listeners
Wasn't the best of my mental conditions, but I tried
My mental state wasn't optimal, but I made an effort to cope with it
Thinkin' of you without any forgiveness
Contemplating your actions without granting forgiveness
Because I was the one who would stay up and call you
I was the person who would stay awake to call you
And I'd drive to your house for the shit that you went through
I would drive to your house to provide support during difficult times
And I wasted my breath when I tried to console you, didn't I?
My attempts to comfort you were futile, weren't they?
'Cause we didn't happen the way we were supposed to
Our relationship didn't unfold as it was expected to
Pulled the knife off my bag, it was right where you left it
I retrieved the knife from my bag, it was precisely where you left it
But your aim's kinda perfect, I'll give you the credit
However, your aim is remarkably accurate, and I acknowledge that skill
I just drank something strong to try to forget, but it wasn't right
I consumed a potent drink in an attempt to erase my memories, but it didn't feel satisfactory
No, you're not even here, but you're doin' my head in
No, you're not physically present, yet you're deeply troubling my thoughts
I should hate you, I feel stupid
I should despise you, but instead, I feel foolish
Like I almost crashed my car
Similar to the sensation that I nearly had a car accident
Drivin' home to talk about you
Driving back home with the intention of discussing you
At my table in the dark
At my table, surrounded by darkness
All I ever think about is
My thoughts are solely consumed by
Where the hell you even are
Where on earth you might be located
And I swear to God I'd kill you
I emphatically promise that I would harm you
If I loved you less hard
In the hypothetical scenario that I loved you to a lesser extent
After all of this time, I still get disappointed
Even after the passage of considerable time, I continue to experience feelings of disappointment
Bet you're doing alright and you don't even know it
I wager that you're managing well, unaware of your own contentment
How it's all 'cause of you that my standards are broken in my mind
You are the reason why my expectations have been shattered in my perception
I would bend back to you if you left the door open
I would willingly return to you if you provided an opportunity for reconciliation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Dessner, Gracie Madigan Abrams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cathy_Quin
Lyrics
Last night, I spiralled alone in the kitchen
Making pretend that the furniture listened
Wasn't the best of momentum conditions, but I tried
Thinkin' of you without any forgiveness
Because I was the one who would stay up and call you
And I'd drive to your house for the shit that you went through
And I wasted my breath when I tried to console you, didn't I?
'Cause we didn't happen the way we were supposed to
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Pulled the knife off my bag, it was right where you left it
But it's laying kinda perfect, I'll give you the credit
And just drink something strong to try to forget, but it wasn't right
No, you're not even here, but you're doin' my head in
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Ooh, ooh
I should hate you, I feel stupid
Like I almost crashed my car
Drivin' home to talk about you
At my table in the dark
All I ever think about is
Where the hell you even are
And I swear to God I'd kill you
If I loved you less hard
After all of this time, I still get disappointed
Bet you're doing alright and you don't even know it
I would stall 'cause of you that my standards are broken in my mind
I would bend back to you if you left the door open
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Ooh, ooh
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
I know that I should hate you
Ooh, ooh
a9s2w5
I loved a girl once
the one before, maybe once
I was just doing what everybody wants
find someone and become a grown up
closed my eyes, now we're grownups
We were supposed to find someone
and they say if you're lucky you'll find the one
while most were out having fun
I stayed in, thought it'd prove my love
to everyone. Thought I'd found the one.
All these years later, I know I'm no one
to you. To you. To you.
Ten years and out of everyone
I never loved one
only one
You. You. You.
Closed my eyes again in an empty bed
there's been no one
and it feels as If I'd just laid down with
You. You. You.
But time passed
and I know I'm no one
to you, to you, to you.
Ten years have gone by in a blink of an eye
I look around and
the people and places look like strangers
I look in the mirror and see an unfamiliar figure
my body and those around me keep changing
I'd hardly noticed it myself, let alone in anyone else
how much we're aging
spent the years alone in every room
thinking about
You. You. You.
But I know I'm no one
to you. To you. To you.
Just someone you knew, knew, knew.
It's been 10 years, since we ran through
I shoulda knew, knew, knew
I was just doing what everybody wants
didn't know I'd find the kind of love you only find once
Hopefully, you. You. You.
Were lucky and found the one
I'd hate to think you knew
what it felt like to be no one
to someone you thought, loved
You. You. You.
They say if you're lucky you'll find the one.
Maybe once, maybe twice.
I'm hoping maybe twice.
And that I don't die
At night when I close my eyes,
that another ten years don't go by
It happened once
So maybe twice.
Layla
This album feels like when you finally decide to reflect on a relationship that you gave up too much for
Zachary Lovas
Gracie posted a Tiktok video awhile back (now deleted) and said how she basically broke up with Blake for no reason. And it felt good at first but then reality hit her and she became depressed. I can relate to that. Still can't think of the exact reason I left my ex. I'm def missing something in my brain 😵💫
Nur Ashyiqin
or a relationship that u never had that u gave up too much.
Trxpical Dreams
LITERALLY
carrie healy
Fr 💔
Adilene Maciel
Fr
이요
It’s so hard to choose a favorite from this album. Every track is painfully beautiful in its own way, but this song stood out to me the most. Gracie, thank you so much for giving us “Good Riddance”. We love you!
Alysa Abeyta
Ya çz
Liahna Forbes
These lyrics are so well written. "I spiraled alone in the kitchen" is the story of my life.
S T
Sounds like you’re the problem