Released: 2017
Delving into “Bad At Love” by Halsey, the overarching sentiment is derived from a candid confessional about her romantic relationships going awry. Halsey uses the track to assess her romantic past, laying bare her struggles with commitment and the incompatible expectations in relationships.
The song starts with Halsey’s reminiscing about two past relationships. The boy from Michigan tasted like Jack Daniels whiskey, suggesting their bond was laced with alcohol-infused moments. Eventually, they break up over petty issues, specifically a distaste for each other’s friend circles. She then mentions a guy from “the garden state” (New Jersey), who was optimistic about their future together. However, Halsey chooses her music career over domesticity, leading to another failed relationship. The repeated line, “I believe, I believe, I believe”, displays the optimism she starts with, but “jealousy, jealousy, jealousy” undermines these relationships, hinting at her insecurities.
“I’m bad at love, but you can’t blame me for trying. You know I’d be lying, saying you were the one that could finally fix me” — these lines showcase a recurring theme in Halsey’s music of yearning for a love that can ‘fix her.’ Even though she confesses to being ‘bad at love,’ she can’t stop herself from trying in her pursuit of the healing power of love.
She narrates tales about a girl with ‘California eyes,’ her dalliances with love and substance abuse, and the abrupt end to that relationship. Then there’s the London girl, emphasizing their secret, probably casual relationship. As she does a mental re-run of these relationships while ‘ridin through,’ she again repeats phrases about being ‘in too deep’ and jealousy. This brings us back to the complexity of her relationships. She’s her own saboteur, and she acknowledges it.
The song concludes with the singer confessing her fear of walking away from a relationship each time the feeling, presumably of love or initial attraction, fades. This highlights her struggle with commitment and the transient nature of her feelings.
In summary, ‘Bad At Love’ exposes Halsey’s deep-seated issues surrounding love. It’s a pop anthem that brilliantly deconstructs the messiness and complexities of modern love with brutal honesty and emotional authenticity.
