The single was released in the United States on Tim/Kerr records, an independent label in Portland, Oregon, on a 7" Pink vinyl, as well as a limited edition picture disc pressing paired with the band's cover of "Over the Edge" by the Wipers. City Slang released CD and vinyl versions of the single in Europe, both with "Rock Star" (Alternate Mix) as a B-side. A music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller in March 1994 and released in promotion with the single.
Erlandson and Love wrote "Miss World" in summer 1992 after the departure of former band members Jill Emery and Caroline Rue. An early version of the song, recorded with drummer Patty Schemel and Love's husband and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, was recorded in BMG Ariola Ltda in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 21, 1993. Featuring Love on lead guitar and vocals, recently recruited drummer Patty Schemel and Cobain on bass, the trio recorded the song, alongside others such as "She Walks On Me", "Softer, Softest" and "Closing Time", during breaks in Nirvana's session. Sound engineer Craig Montgomery stated that though some songs were "half-baked ideas", "'Miss World' was a fairly complete song at that point" and "'the most fleshed out song' of the session."
The band played the song live on July 15 and 16, 1993 during their performances at the Clapham Grand in London and at the Phoenix Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, respectively. The official album version of the song was recorded as part of the Live Through This sessions at Triclops Studios in Atlanta, Georgia in October of that year.
"Miss World" is known to deal with themes of self-image and substance abuse. Speaking of the song, reviewer Tim Grierson stated that "'Miss World' ties a deceptively candy-coated melody to a sad tale of drug abuse and distorted body image as Love hits upon a familiar theme of the album: the dichotomy of how ugly you feel on the inside while trying to appear beautiful to others." Select's Clark Collis observed: "'Miss World' treads similar ground to Juliana Hatfield's 'Supermodel' – only, naturally, about 10,000 times more virulently."
The lyrics expand on the main theme of self-image with the opening lines containing "I am the girl you know, so sick I cannot try" and later lyrics relating to suffering. The use of the term "kill me pills" is inspired by, and also a reference to, Anne Sexton, who, after overdosing on pentobarbital, and other barbiturates, called the drugs "kill me pills." Bassist Kristen Pfaff had a minor input in the lyrical composition contributing the chorus lines "I made my bed, I'll lie in it / I made my bed, I'll die in it" from a song, "Limited Edition," she had written earlier in her career with Janitor Joe.
On both Live Through This and the individual single, the song is credited on record as written by Hole as a band, however according to BMI's website, the official authors are Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson.
Prior to the single's release, a promotional music video for "Miss World" was recorded in Los Angeles, California in March 1994. It is the only music video by Hole that features bassist Kristen Pfaff. Directed by Sophie Muller, best known later for No Doubt's "Don't Speak" video, the video features the band performing the song at a beauty pageant, in which Love is seen as the title character, Miss World; pampering herself, receiving flowers, being crowned, adored by fans and eventually crying onstage. The video is heavily influenced by the style and decorations of the 1976 film "Carrie". During much of the latter image bears striking resemblance to the cover of "Live Through This".
Miss World
Hole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the girl you know, so sick I cannot try
I am the one you want, can't look you in the eye
I am the girl, you know I lie, I lie and lie
I'm miss world, somebody kill me
Kill me pills
No one cares, my friends
I'm miss world, watch me break and watch me burn
No one is listening, my friend
Now I've made my bed, I'll lie in it
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
I've made my bed, I'll lie in it
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
Cute girls watch when I eat ether
Suck me under
Maybe forever, my friends
Yeah
Now I've made my bed, I'll lie in it
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
I've made my bed, I'll cry in it
I've made my bed, I'll lie in it
I've made my bed, I'll cry in it
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
I've made my bed, I'll lie in it, my friend
I am the girl you know, can't look you in the eye
The lyrics of Hole's song "Miss World" seem to address the pressures of society's expectations on women and the feeling of being trapped in a world that doesn't value them beyond their appearance. The first verse describes a person who is physically present but emotionally absent, unable to make eye contact and "so sick" that they cannot even try. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm miss world," which can be interpreted as a reference to the beauty pageant of the same name, but also as a commentary on the idea that women are expected to be perfect and fulfill certain beauty standards, even if it means sacrificing their mental and emotional well-being. The juxtaposition of the request to be killed with the use of pills shows the desperation and isolation of the singer, who feels like no one cares about them or their struggles. The second verse reinforces the idea that the singer is speaking to a friend or several friends who are unable to listen or understand, highlighting the feeling of loneliness and frustration of not being heard or seen. The line "Cute girls watch when I eat ether / Suck me under / Maybe forever, my friends" creates a sense of vulnerability and danger, as if the singer is at the mercy of others but with a sense of resignation, as if they have given up the fight and accepted their fate.
Overall, "Miss World" is a powerful anthem that speaks to the struggles of being a woman in a society that judges one's worth based on their physical appearance, but also explores the deeper emotions of depression, loneliness, and despair. It also touches on the theme of addiction, using lyrics that suggest substance abuse as a way of coping or escaping. The repeated refrain of "I've made my bed, I'll lie in it" further emphasizes the sense of hopelessness and inevitability in the situation, as if the singer is trapped in their own self-destructive patterns and unable to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the girl you know, can't look you in the eye
I am so broken and ashamed that I cannot bear to face anyone, not even you.
I am the girl you know, so sick I cannot try
I am so ill and overwhelmed that I cannot even attempt to make things better.
I am the one you want, can't look you in the eye
Despite knowing what you need, I am unable to fulfill it, because I am crippled by my own fears and insecurities.
I am the girl, you know I lie, I lie and lie
I am so damaged that lying has become a way of life for me, and it’s hard for me to tell when I'm lying or not.
I'm miss world, somebody kill me
The pressures to be perfect and pleasing to everyone is so suffocating that I wish for death to get rid of it all.
Kill me pills
Drugs seem like an escape, anything to make the pain go away.
No one cares, my friends
Despite having friends, no one really cares about my wellbeing or can understand the depth of my pain.
I'm miss world, watch me break and watch me burn
The public and media scrutiny has pushed me to the brink, until I’m nothing more than an object to be destroyed.
No one is listening, my friend
Even when I try to speak up and share my pain, no one is willing to listen or offer real help.
Now I've made my bed, I'll lie in it
I am resigned to a life of misery, believing that there's no way out or any point in trying anymore.
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
I feel trapped and helpless, and I can’t imagine a future where I am free from this suffocating existence.
Cute girls watch when I eat ether
Even when I turn to drugs to cope, there is always an audience of onlookers who derive pleasure from my self-destruction.
Suck me under
The addiction to drugs and self-harm is all-encompassing, and I am being swallowed whole by my own demons.
Maybe forever, my friends
The cycle of addiction and pain may never end, and my friends are helpless to stop me or offer real support.
I've made my bed, I'll cry in it
I am so consumed by my own pain that all I can do is cry and suffer, with no hope for respite or healing.
I've made my bed, I'll die in it
Death seems like the only way out of this never-ending cycle of pain and despair.
I've made my bed, I'll lie in it, my friend
I am done struggling and fighting, and I know that I must accept the consequences of my actions and suffer the consequences alone.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric T Erlandson, Courtney M. Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paoloernesto2591
Miss World
I am the girl, you know
Can't look you in the eye
I am the girl, you know
So sick I can not try
I am the one you want can't look you in the eye
I am the girl, you know
I lie and lie and lie
I'm miss world
Somebody kill me
Kill me pills
No one cares my friends
My friends
I'm miss world
Watch me break and watch me burn
No one is listening, my friends
I make my bed I lie in it
I make my bed I die in it
I make my bed I lie in it
I make my bed I die in it
Kill girls watch
When I eat ether suck me under
Maybe forever, my friends
I make my bed I lie in it
I make my bed I die in it
I make my bed I lie in it
I make my bed I cry in it
I make my bed I lie in it
I make my bed, I cry in it
I make my bed, I die in it
I make my bed I lie in it
My friend
I am the girl, you know
Can't look you in the eye
(m letras mus br)
@KodakKid
I think that people are finally accepting that Live Through This is an absolute classic.
@HeatherM0891
Were you even alive in 1994? It was a classic as soon as it was released.
@jimtim8805
I think people should give more credit to Kristen Pfaff (their bassist) here for this album than Kurt. She changed their song arrangement and made something incredible before tragically passing away (at age 27 in 1994) just like her friend Kurt Cobain.
@sweetiepie4328
Finally? Its been
@Natalie-ox7xm
@Poison Ivy I love that. You remind me of my older sister, just in that brief description.
@opses546
@@HeatherM0891 preach
@annamaloney823
Courtney love’s songs look at mental illness and self destruction so unapologetically, and they truly don’t romanticize it. They make it look as painful as it truly is. I’m so thankful for this song, Courtney Love, and Hole for actually making songs that are relatable for those who aren’t neurotypical while not romanticizing it for those who are neurotypical.
@ariesfairie11
Hear, hear. Extremely well said.
@girthbrooks1708
Theyre literally romanticizing it by contextualizing it in a catchy, angsty song....you want retribution for mental illness? Go after the pharmaceurical companies that robbed you all of your mental wellbeing. Its not a mystery why you all want to kill yourselves lol
@happygucci5094
This☝🏽💯