Although not released as a single, "Asking for It" is one of the band's most notable songs as it charted a brief, four-week appearance on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks in the United States in February 1995, peaking at number 36. It is also known as one of the three released Hole recordings to feature Love's husband Kurt Cobain.
"Asking for It" was one of the many songs written by Love and Erlandson following the release of Hole's debut studio album "Pretty on the Inside", and the subsequent departures of drummer Caroline Rue and bassist Jill Emery. Although thought to be written in 1992, the term "asking for it" was coined by Love as early as 1990 and appears in the lyrics to the band's 1991 single "Dicknail". The opening lines of the song were used by Love in a 1991 interview with British journalist Everett True, in response to one of his questions.
The first and only known studio version of the song was recorded in October 1993 as part of the "Live Through This" sessions at Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. On October 18, halfway through the sessions, Love's husband, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, joined the band in-studio and provided backing vocals for a number of songs, including "Asking for It". Kristen Pfaff, who was Hole's main backing vocalist and bassist at that time, can also be heard on the record. Cobain, however, was unfamiliar with the material, and was encouraged to "just sing off the top of [his] head". His vocals during the bridge are audible on the album version, albeit low in the mix. An alternate mix of the song, sourced from a radio broadcast of Hot Modern Rock Tracks in 1995, circulated amongst the general public in 1998 and features Cobain's prominent backing vocals, as well as an extended bridge and additional verses. Due to this recording, the song is known for being a source for those who believe Cobain contributed largely to the album.
Asking For It
Hole Lyrics
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I feel a little bit cheaper than I need to
I will tear the petals off of you
Rose red, I will make you tell the truth
Was she asking for it?
Was she asking nice?
If she was asking for it
Every time that I stare into the sun
Angel dust and my dress just comes undone
Every time that I stare into the sun
Be a model or just look like one
Wild eye rot gut do me in
Do you think you can make me do it again?
Was she asking for it?
Was she asking nice?
If she was asking for it
Did she ask you twice?
If you live through this with me
I swear that I would die for you
And if you live through this with me
I swear that I would die for you
Was she asking for it?
Was she asking nice?
If she was asking for it
Did she ask you twice?
Was she asking for it?
Was she asking nice?
If she was asking for it
Did she ask you twice?
Ah ah ah ah
The lyrics of Hole's song "Asking For It" expose the issue of victim blaming and rape culture. The first verse begins with the vocalist, Courtney Love, describing how every time she sells herself to someone, she feels cheaper than she should. She then uses the metaphor of a rose to describe how she will rip off someone's petals to make them reveal the truth about something. The chorus questions whether a woman who may have been sexually assaulted was "asking for it" and if she did, does that justify the act.
The second verse continues with Love portraying a destructive lifestyle of sex, drugs, and glamour. She mentions how staring into the sun makes her feel as though she is on angel dust and that her dress comes undone. Love then refers to the pressure of the modeling industry and questions if someone could make her go through the destructive cycle again. The chorus repeats the same questions about whether a woman was "asking for it" or if she was asking for it multiple times.
The final lines of the song switch from the third person to first person, with Love pledging to die for someone who lives through the experience with her. The song ends with the chorus repeating the same questions and the vocals trailing off with an "Ah ah ah ah."
Overall, "Asking For It" brings attention to the harmful mentality that some people have towards victims of sexual assault, blaming them for their own mistreatment. The use of metaphors and imagery in the lyrics also adds to the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time that I sell myself to you
Whenever I allow myself to be used by you
I feel a little bit cheaper than I need to
I feel like I'm worth less than I should be
I will tear the petals off of you
I will expose your innermost secrets and make you vulnerable
Rose red, I will make you tell the truth
I will force you to confess the truth about yourself
Was she asking for it?
Was she really interested in what happened?
Was she asking nice?
Did she express what she wanted in a polite way?
If she was asking for it
If she was really asking for it
Did she ask you twice?
Did she make sure you understood what she wanted?
Every time that I stare into the sun
Whenever I do something that could be harmful to myself
Angel dust and my dress just comes undone
I become vulnerable and exposed to the world
Be a model or just look like one
I'm expected to maintain a certain appearance or be judged and criticized
Wild eye rot gut do me in
I'm slowly destroying myself with reckless behavior
Do you think you can make me do it again?
Do you think you can convince me to keep hurting myself?
If you live through this with me
If you can handle being with me during these dark times
I swear that I would die for you
I'm willing to do anything for you
Ah ah ah ah
Vocalization without specific meaning
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric T Erlandson, Courtney M. Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Pumkinghead
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