Harr-uary, day four: One Direction’s Most ✨Cringe ✨Lyrics
We’ve talked about Styles’ best solo lyrics, but today we’re going back in time to 2011 to review some of One Direction’s ✨worst ✨ lyrics. Now I realize that the band members themselves didn’t have much say in their earlier albums (and those are by far the worst, lyrically), but some of these lyrics are just so insane to me that they’re actually quite funny.
Now since I didn’t really listen to their first three albums upon their immediate release, today we’re examining 1D’s lyrics through the eyes of a near 28 year old, single, cynical woman. Yay!
*in chronological order.
*TW: vomit, sex, abusive relationship, domestic violence, Rick from Degrassi, Degrassi spoilers, school shooter, pregnancy, the “friend-zone”, and body image issues.
(Harry Styles stops car to throw up on LA freeway)
Up All Night; released November 18th, 2011
Gotta Be You
“What a mess I made upon your innocence.”
We are starting off STRONG! The obsession that men have with innocence is disgusting, and quite frankly, embarrassing here in 2022. It’s concerning that we as a society have not evolved past this obsession.
More Than This
When he lays you down/ I might just die inside/ it just don’t feel right/ cause I can’t love you more than this/ yeah
This song feels like a guy, who’s a friend, who has been pining for you, but you’re in a happy and healthy committed relationship, but he just can’t get over it. He’s the kind of guy who complains that “nice guys always finish last”.
It’s giving… Rick and Terri. For those of you who didn’t watch Degrassi: The Next Generation (you are seriously missing out) Rick and Terri were friends, and after Rick revealed himself to be her secret admirer the two began dating.
Rick, ever the nice guy, became desperately controlling, which escalated into multiple physical altercations. One of which landed Terri in the hospital with a coma. He left the school for a bit after this, but upon his return, he was relentlessly bullied. Rick’s story line ended with Degrassi’s infamous school shooting episode.
Over Again
I can make your tears fall down/ like the showers that are British
The metaphor game here is so weak, especially since this song was written by three grown men, including Grammy winner, Ed Sheeran!
Take Me Home; released November 9th, 2012
C’mon C’mon
The one that I came with, she had to go/ but you look amazing/ standing alone/ the one that I came with/ didn’t know how to move/ the way that you let your hair down/ I can tell that you do
How are you going to ditch your date and then essentially stalk another woman? I know your mothers raised you better than that.
(How excited are you for Rihanna & A$AP Rocky’s baby?!?!?!?)
Heart Attack
Baby, you’ve got me sick/ I don’t know what I did/ need to take a break and figure it out/ yeah/ got your voice in my head/ sayin’, “Let’s just be friends”/ can’t believe the words came out of your mouth
Again, with this creepy notion of overriding a woman’s feelings and autonomy over her own body. Again, why do guys always complain about being put in the friendzone, what about women who thought they had a friend, but then he turns into a total jackass once he finds out she’s not gonna have sex with him???
Kiss You
Oh, I just wanna show you off to all of my friends/ making them drool down their chinny-chin-chins.
I’m honestly speechless. What year is this?!
Little Things
You never want to know how much you weight/ you still have to squeeze into your jeans/ but you’re perfect to me
Admittedly, this is one of my favorite 1D songs, but I can’t help but feel this is just a bit backhanded.
Midnight Memories; released July 22nd, 2013
Story of My Life
The story of my life/ I give her hope/ I spend her love until she’s broke inside/ the story of my life
One their most well known songs, yet the most confusing. Why is she broken inside? Why is that the story of your life? I think all five of them need to go to therapy.
Four; released November 17th, 2014
No Control
Waking up/ beside you, I’m my loaded gun/ I can’t contain this anymore/ I’m all yours, I’ve got no control/ no control
No Control
Sleep, where you lay/ still a trace of innocence on the pillow case
Again, with the innocence and the message that boys will be boys.
No thank you ❤️
Made In the AM; released November 13, 2015
End of the Day
Twenty minutes later wound up in the hospital/ the priest thinks it’s the devil/ my mum thinks it’s the flu/ but girl it’s only you
Never Enough
I don’t need my love, you can take it/ you can take it and take it/ I don’t need my heart/ you can break it
I think RuPaul said it best “if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you love somebody else?!”
Absolute favorite cringe lyrics from “Don’t Forget Where You Belong” from Midnight Memories:
“If you ever feel alone — don’t.”
I’ve been mentally ill since 2007, but thanks so much for the feedback!
all the love,
Claire
(I love the 1D Fandom)
