Thrush Hermit was a Halifax, Nova Scotia based alternative rock band formed… Read Full Bio ↴Thrush Hermit was a Halifax, Nova Scotia based alternative rock band formed in 1992 by Joel Plaskett (vocals, guitar), Rob Benvie (vocals, guitar), Ian McGettigan (vocals, bass), and Michael Catano (drums). Catano was replaced by Cliff Gibb in 1994; Gibb in turn left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Benn Ross.

They signed with Murderecords, the label of fellow Haligonians Sloan, in 1994 in time to release their Smart Bomb EP, which featured songs such as Benvie's "French Inhale" and Plaskett's "Hated It". The former would get some rotation on MuchMusic, which then held a reputation for more "alternative" programming, while the latter would end up in the Kevin Smith film Mallrats.

Following the release of the band's second EP, The Great Pacific Ocean, in 1996 the group signed with Elektra Entertainment which released their first full-length album in 1997, Sweet Homewrecker. The Memphis recorded album features many great tracks showcasing the maturing songwriting talents of Plaskett, Benvie and McGettigan. The album proved a disappointment from Elektra's standpoint however, and Thrush Hermit were bought out of their contract.

After their foray into the United States market, Thrush Hermit returned north to release their final album Clayton Park on Sonic Unyon Records in 1999. While indisputably the band's best record, Thrush Hermit amicably disbanded in 1999. Plaskett is now a solo artist. Benvie released a solo record under the moniker "Tigre Benvie", and McGettigan began producing records by such acts as his old band mate Plaskett, and other Canadian rock acts such as The Flashing Lights. Benvie and McGettigan are now the main members of Camouflage Nights, which features a revolving door cast of musicians.

Hated It
Thrush Hermit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Asking you for a favor
You won't want to do it
But you made me a promise
I'm holding you to it

You get too close
You're gonna get burned
If you get to close

You'll see the tables have turned

Don't come looking for me
I'll come looking for you

I had a dream about you just the other night
Your hair was braided I know you really hated it
Walking down the sidewalk
You better take cover
Don't step on a crack if you love your mother

You phone me from the highway
You said you'd be here Friday
I was waiting in the driveway
All my friends have left me
To go to other cities
I'm looking for some pity

Walking down
I had a dream

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Hated It" by Thrush Hermit tell a story of a broken promise, mixed emotions, and an overall sense of disappointment. The singer is asking for a favor from someone who has made them a promise, but they know that the person won't want to fulfill it. Despite this, the singer is still holding them accountable and demanding that they follow through. The lyrics suggest that there is some tension between these two individuals, as getting too close would result in getting burned, and the tables have turned.

The singer then warns the other person not to come looking for them, as they will be the ones to initiate any future interactions. This can be interpreted as a way of expressing frustration with the other person's lack of effort in maintaining their relationship. The dream sequence that follows reveals the singer's conflicted feelings towards this person, as they dream of them despite knowing that they "really hated" something as simple as having their hair braided. The use of a dream is often symbolic of the subconscious mind and can signify hidden desires or unresolved issues.

The final stanza describes the singer waiting for this person to arrive on Friday, only to be left alone while their friends have all left to go to other cities. The singer is left feeling neglected and looking for "some pity." The lyrics express a sense of disappointment and a longing for something that is not being fulfilled.

Line by Line Meaning

Asking you for a favor
Come on, don't be a spoilsport. I'm asking you for something.

You won't want to do it
Though you may not like it, it's something that's important to me.

But you made me a promise
Remember when you promised me? It's time to fulfill it.

I'm holding you to it
I'm not letting you off the hook this time. It's time to honor your word.

You get too close
Watch out, getting too close can be dangerous.

You're gonna get burned
You're going to regret it if you don't pay attention to the warning.

If you get too close
Seriously, getting too close is not a good idea.

You'll see the tables have turned
Things have changed, and you need to realize it.

Don't come looking for me
Stay away from me, I'll come to you when the time is right.

I'll come looking for you
I'll be the one to initiate contact when the timing is right.

I had a dream about you just the other night
Something's been on my mind, and I can't get it out of my head.

Your hair was braided I know you really hated it
Even though I know this isn't your favorite hairstyle, I still thought of you.

Walking down the sidewalk
Just going about my day, trying to keep things normal.

You better take cover
Look out, things are about to get real.

Don't step on a crack if you love your mother
Superstition or not, it's best to avoid tempting fate.

You phone me from the highway
Hey, I got a call from you while you were on the road.

You said you'd be here Friday
You promised to show up on Friday, but did you keep your promise?

I was waiting in the driveway
I was eagerly anticipating your arrival, but did you show up?

All my friends have left me
I'm feeling pretty alone right now.

To go to other cities
My friends have gone off to explore new places, and I'm stuck here.

I'm looking for some pity
I'm feeling pretty low right now and could use some empathy.

Walking down
Just moving forward, one step at a time.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFF GIBB, IAN MCGETTIGAN, JOEL PLASKETT, ROBERT EDWARD BENVIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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