Deryck Whibley, the lead vocalist of Sum 41, wrote "The Hell Song" after learning that one of his friends had contracted HIV. He said, "That song just came out in, like, half an hour when I just found out," Whibley said. "I wasn't even meaning to write about it, but for some reason that just came out right away".
The music video was of a concert with dolls and action figures, with Sum 41's faces on those "performing" in front of a Lite-Brite screen. They were joined with other action figures such as those of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne with his family, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Metallica, Eddie the Head, Gene Simmons, Spice Girls, Angus Young, Jesus Christ, Alice Cooper, Destiny's Child, George W. Bush and Ludacris. The dolls' obscene finger gestures and nudity are comically censored, which parodies real life. The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld.
The music video was nominated for Best Breakthrough Video & Best Direction at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, losing both awards to Coldplay's "The Scientist".
"The Hell Song" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 29, 2015.
The Hell Song
Sum 41 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody says the same things to you
It's just a matter how you solve them
And knowing how to change the things you've been through
I feel I've come to realize
How fast life can be compromised
Step back to see what's going on
This happened to you
It's just a problem that I'm faced with am I
Not the only one who hates to stand by
Complications that are first in this line
With all these pictures running through my mind
Knowing endless consequences
I feel so useless in this
Get back, step back, and as for me
I can't believe
Part of me won't agree
'Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Part of me won't agree
'Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Anymore
Everybody's got their problems
Everybody says the same things to you
It's just a matter how you solve them
But what else are we supposed to do
Part of me won't agree
'Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Part of me won't agree
'Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Anymore
Why do things that matter the most
Never end up being what we chose
Now that I find knowing so bad
I don't think I knew what I had
Why do things that matter the most
Never end up being what we chose
Now that I find knowing so bad
I don't think I knew what I had
In Sum 41's song The Hell Song, the lyrics touch on the everyday struggles of life and how everyone experiences problems. The first stanza indicates that everyone faces problems, but the solution lies in how we resolve them and how we overcome the difficulties we have been subjected to. The second stanza reveals the realization that life can quickly change in just an instant and that it takes stepping back and assessing the situation to realize this. The singer cannot believe that this sudden change has happened to the person being discussed in the song.
The chorus sees the singer questioning everything and feeling lost and insecure about the situation. They wonder whether they have a solution or if they are the only person who feels this way. However, by the end of the song, they have come to terms with the uncertainty and decided that everyone faces insecurity and the only control we have is in how we handle our situations. The final verse questions the idea that we can always get what we want and how, when we finally gain a further understanding or "knowing", it can make us realize that we didn't appreciate what we had at the beginning.
The song talks about living with insecurities, facing complications, and realizing that life is fleeting. Sum 41 does so without using a lot of words, but with efficient lyrics that provide an idea of how to handle life's setbacks. It teaches us to step back, take a deep breath and assess the situation, and always try to find the positive in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's got their problems
Everyone faces their own issues in life
Everybody says the same things to you
People often offer clichéd advice when you're going through a tough time
It's just a matter how you solve them
What's important is how you choose to deal with your problems
And knowing how to change the things you've been through
It's essential to learn from past situations and use that knowledge to move forward
I feel I've come to realize
I've had an epiphany
How fast life can be compromised
Life can change quickly and unexpectedly
Step back to see what's going on
It's important to take a break and evaluate the situation before making a decision
I can't believe this happened to you
I'm shocked by what you're going through
It's just a problem that I'm faced with am I
I'm dealing with my own issues right now
Not the only one who hates to stand by
I'm not the only one who feels helpless when watching someone else struggle
Complications that are first in this line
These problems are complex and difficult to manage
With all these pictures running through my mind
I can't stop thinking about the situation and all the potential outcomes
Knowing endless consequences
I understand that there are long-term effects to every decision
I feel so useless in this
I feel powerless to change the situation
Get back, step back, and as for me
I need to take a break and regroup
Part of me won't agree
I have conflicting emotions about the situation
'Cause I don't know if it's for sure
I'm uncertain about the situation and what's going to happen
Suddenly, suddenly
All of a sudden
I don't feel so insecure
I'm starting to feel more confident about the situation
Anymore
I'm no longer as hesitant or doubtful
But what else are we supposed to do
Sometimes there's no perfect solution to a problem, and we can only do our best
Why do things that matter the most
Why do important things often not go as planned?
Never end up being what we chose
Our desired outcome doesn't always come to fruition
Now that I find knowing so bad
Having knowledge of a situation can be distressing
I don't think I knew what I had
I didn't fully appreciate what was important until it was taken away
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Deryck Jason Whibley, Greig Andrew Nori
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@imthemobby
Everybody's got their problems
Everybody says the same things to you
It's just a matter how you solve them
And knowing how to change the things you've been through
I feel I've come to realize
How fast life can be compromised
Step back to see what's going on
I can't believe this happened to you
This happened to you
It's just a problem that I'm faced with am I
Not the only one who hates to stand by?
Complications that are first in this line
With all these pictures running through my mind
Knowing endless consequences
I feel so useless in this
Get back, step back, and as for me
I can't believe
Part of me, won't agree
Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Part of me, won't agree
Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Anymore! So
Everybody's got their problems
Everybody says the same thing to you
It's just a matter how you solve them
But what else are we supposed to do?
Part of me, won't agree
Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Part of me, won't agree
Cause I don't know if it's for sure
Suddenly, suddenly
I don't feel so insecure
Anymore!
Why do things that matter the most
Never end up being what we chose?
Now that I find no way so bad
I don't think I knew what I had
Why do things that matter the most
Never end up being what we chose?
Now that I find no way so bad
I don't think I knew what I had
@addi9890
I was a teenager listening to this, and nothing today touches this. I am 32 and I still love this just as much as I did then
@dariusreed563
Dude you and everyone else who was a teen or grew up with this is lucky I was born in 2007 and missed out on all this amazing shit and now that I'm a teen instead of cool stuff like this it's dumb shit like fortnite
@addi9890
@@dariusreed563 dope to hear gen z like some millennial shit! Keep it up and rock on bro!
@GK-fu4tv
Samzies, I’m 33 now and this just took me on a nostalgia trip, what a time it was to be alive!
@TheLegoman432
@@dariusreed563 i was born 1999 i wish i was born in 90
@dariusreed563
@@TheLegoman432 at least you grew up in the early 2000s that was a good time to be alive too pretty sure that's like when halo first came out damn I would've liked to have been there to experience it myself
@TheIcanntspel
Record label: We want you to make a video for The Hell Song
Sum 41: Ok, what's our budget?
Record label: $6.47
@glidershower
I think that'll be close to a few grand, considering the toys and the age of the video.
I'd def love to have a box full of all the props and dolls used in this vid!
@kubasimon1531
And also we have dog😂😂😂
@DorkHolliday
Let me see you try to buy a lightbright for 6 $ 😂😂😂💁