You Should Be Sad

Prior to the debut of her third album Manic, Halsey released “You should be sad,” a country-inspired single which was accompanied by a seductive music video. However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a powerful message about the healing process following a break-up.

It is suspected that “You should be sad” is the follow-up to Halsey’s hit single “Without Me,” as both songs are directed at ex-boyfriend and rapper G-Eazy. Whereas “Without Me” portrayed the initial anger and rage following the break-up, “You should be sad” represents a state of clarity and remorse as shown in Verse 1: “Got no anger, got no malice / Just a little bit of regret (Regret).” The lyrics imply that Halsey is ready to move on, regardless of the frustrating relationship that she endured.

Another quality shown in this song is honesty. Instead of sugar-coating the relationship, Halsey is straightforward and blunt, which is demonstrated in the Pre-Chorus: “No, you’re not half the man you think that you are / And you can’t fill the hole inside of you with money, drugs, and cars / I’m so glad I never ever had a baby with you / ‘Cause you can’t love nothing unless there’s in it for you.” This series of blows about her ex’s character reveals that Halsey is not scared of speaking her mind and doing so loudly. But amongst the insults, there are hints of gratefulness that the relationship is in the past. The lines “I’m so glad I never ever had a baby with you,” and “I’m just glad I made it out without breaking down” portray Halsey’s gratitude.

Lastly, Halsey reiterates that she did everything she could for her ex, and she isn’t the one to blame. She explains in the Chorus and Verse 2 that “I tried to help you, it just made you mad,” and “I really meant well from the start / Take a broken man right in my hands / And then put back all his parts.” Not do these lines show Halsey’s compassion for the ones she loves, but it serves as an important reminder that you are not responsible to “fix” a broken person.

“You should be sad” is a testament to the power of moving on after a break-up. By holding nothing back and taking a stand, Halsey sends the clear message that she isn’t one to be taken advantage of.