I Hate It Here

I Hate It Here

Taylor Swift

The song captures the complexities of yearning for something more, whether it’s a different time, place, or state of mind. It speaks to the human experience of seeking refuge and understanding within oneself when the external world feels overwhelming or unsatisfying.

Sonically and lyrically, this song could also be seen as a follow-up to Taylor’s song “the lakes” from the extended version of her 2020 album, folklore. In the chorus of “the lakes”, Swift states: “Take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die, I don’t belong, and my beloved, neither do you. Those Windermere peaks look like a perfect place to cry, I’m setting off, but not without my muse”. Whereas, in the chorus of “I Hate It Here” she passionately states: “I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind. People need a key to get to, the only one is mine. I read about it in a book when I was a precocious child. No mid-sized city hopes and small-town fears, I’m there most of the year ‘cause I hate it here. I hate it here”

This song was added to Taylor’s “I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life (Denial)” playlist.