H.A.T.E.U. Lyrics

[Intro]
Oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh
Ooh, ooh
La la la
Oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh

[Verse 1]
Once upon a time, we swore not to say goodbye
Something got a hold of us and we changed
Then you sat alone in pride
And I sat at home and cried
How'd our fairytale just end up this way?

[Pre-Chorus]
We went 'round for 'round 'til we knocked love out
We were laying in the ring, not making a sound
And if that's a metaphor of you and I
Why is it so hard to say goodbye?

[Chorus]
I can't wait to hate you, make you pain like I do
Still can't shake you off (Still can't shake you off)
I can't wait to break through these emotional changes
Seems like such a lost cause
I can't wait to face you, break you down so low
There's no place left to go
I can't wait to hate you (Oh)
[Verse 2]
Ooh, this was a love phenomenon no one could explain
And I wish I could press reset and feel that feeling again
I sit and press rewind and watch us every night
Wanna pause it, but I can't make you stay (Just gotta let it play)


[Pre-Chorus]
We went 'round for 'round 'til we knocked love out
We were laying in the ring, not making a sound
And if that's a metaphor of you and I
Why is it so hard to say goodbye? (Why?)

[Chorus]
I can't wait to hate you, make you pain like I do
Still can't shake you off (Still can't shake you off)
I can't wait to break through these emotional changes
Seems like such a lost cause
I can't wait to face you, break you down so low
There's no place left to go
I can't wait to hate you (Oh)

[Bridge]
No need to call my phone 'cause I changed my number today
And matter fact - I think I'm moving away (Away)
Sorry, the frustration's got me feeling that way
And I just keep having one last thing to say
And I just wanna hold you, touch you, feel you, be near you
I miss you, baby, baby, baby (Baby, baby, baby)
I'm tired of tryna fake through
But there's nothing I can do
Boy, I can't wait to hate you
[Chorus]
I can't wait to hate you, make you pain like I do
Still can't shake you off (Still can't shake you off)
I can't wait to break through these emotional changes
Seems like such a lost cause
I can't wait to face you, break you down so low
There's no place left to go
I can't wait to hate you, baby

[Outro]
I can't wait to H-A-T-E you
'Cause right now I need you
I can't wait to let you go
I can't wait to H-A-T-E you
'Cause right now I need you
I can't wait to let you go

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About

Genius Annotation

“H.A.T.E.U.” (acronym for “Having A Typical Emotional Upset) was released as Carey’s third single from her album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Mariah Carey say about "H.A.T.E.U."?
Genius Answer

In an interview for YouTube posted on December 24, 2009, Carey elaborated on the lyrical meaning, saying that it “really hits people in their hearts because it’s like … everybody has experienced when you love somebody, and they let you go, but you can’t let them go. So ‘I can’t wait to hate you’ is a strong statement”

Does Mariah use her upper register in the song?
Genius Answer

Carey uses her upper register during the song’s chorus:

I sing a recurring melody in the upper register of my voice; it’s not an ad-lib, but an integral part of the song’s hook. That`s not something I’ve done before, and when listening back to it, it reminded me of how Minnie Riperton used her upper register on her hit song ‘Lovin’ You’. I thought how ironic that her song was called ‘Lovin’ You’ and my song is called, ‘H.A.T.E.U.’ – and both use that upper ‘whistle register’ as a major part of the melody. So it’s sort of an homage to Minnie Riperton, a tribute to her since she has been so influential in my singing style."

Mariah Carey via TheSop

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