Sorry

"Sorry" is a deeply introspective and melancholic ballad that explores themes of self-sabotage, insecurity, and the inability to accept love. Halsey has explained that the song is an apology to all the potential lovers she has pushed away due to her own feelings of inadequacy. She grapples with the paradox of caring for someone on a personal level—remembering their birthday and their mother's favorite song—while simultaneously treating them with a casual cruelty, like "jewelry" to be tried on and discarded. The central message is an apology not just for her actions, but for the internal state that drives them: a profound disbelief that anyone could genuinely fall in love with her. The song is a raw confession of her insecurities and the resulting self-destructive pattern of running away from good things. Ultimately, it's a song about recognizing one's flaws and the pain they cause others, even if it feels impossible to change them, culminating in the heartbreaking admission that while her former lover deserves love, she is incapable of being the one to provide it.

The song begins with an admission of neglect and unintentional cruelty. The narrator reflects on having ignored a lover's calls for what feels like months, acknowledging a capacity for meanness. A striking metaphor is used to describe this behavior: treating people she loves like jewelry, something to be tried on and then casually set aside. This is further explained by her own fickleness, her mind changing each day. Despite this disposable treatment, a deeper connection is hinted at as she admits to still remembering personal details about the person, such as their birthday and their mother's favorite song, which adds a layer of poignant contradiction to her actions.

The chorus is a direct and repeated apology to an "unknown lover." This phrasing suggests a pattern of behavior, a series of potential relationships that have been cut short by her own insecurities. The core of the apology lies in her inability to believe that anyone could genuinely fall in love with her. This self-doubt is the root of her self-sabotaging behavior. She apologizes for her blindness to their affection and for leaving behind not just the person, but also the shared history and potential future they had together.

In the second verse, the narrator delves deeper into her pattern of pushing people away. She confesses to running away when things are going well, a classic sign of avoidant attachment. There's a sense of confusion as she admits to never truly understanding the unique and special way her lover looked at her. It was a gaze no one else had ever offered, yet she was unable to accept it. This leads to the painful realization that her own ignorance and self-protective blindness have caused her to break their heart, tearing them apart emotionally until the very end of their time together.

The bridge of the song offers a somber and definitive conclusion. While she acknowledges that the person she has hurt will eventually find love, she is resolute that she cannot be the one to give it. The repetition of "Someone will love you" serves as a painful blessing, a way of letting them go while simultaneously cementing her own isolation. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces her core struggle: the deeply ingrained belief that she is unworthy of love, which ultimately leads her to apologize for a connection she felt compelled to destroy.

"Sorry" was written by Halsey (under her real name, Ashley Frangipane) and the acclaimed producer and songwriter Greg Kurstin. Kurstin also handled the production for the track. The song was recorded at Echo Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was released on June 2, 2017, as part of Halsey's second studio album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. Halsey has stated that the song was inspired by her reflections on past relationships and the realization that she had pushed people away due to her own insecurities. She mentioned thinking about people she could have had meaningful relationships with but didn't pursue because she couldn't believe their feelings for her were real. Despite not being an official single, the song gained significant popularity among fans. To acknowledge this, a music video was released on February 2, 2018. The video was co-directed by Halsey and Sing J Lee and serves as a continuation of the narrative from the music video for "Now or Never", depicting Halsey in the aftermath of a car crash.

The rhyme scheme in "Sorry" is relatively straightforward, which aligns with its direct and confessional tone. The verses largely follow an AABB rhyme scheme (e.g., "seems"/"be", though this is more of a slant rhyme, followed by the perfect rhyme of "people"/"jewelry" being misquoted in lyrics sites, the actual lyric is '...treat the people / That I love like jewelry'). The chorus uses an ABCB scheme (e.g., "lover"/"believe"/"really"/"me"). The use of simple, often perfect rhymes makes the lyrics feel sincere and unpretentious. The rhythm of the song is dictated by the slow, steady tempo of the piano. The lyrical phrasing often follows the piano's chords, creating a cohesive and somber movement. There's a gentle, lilting quality to the verses, while the chorus feels more emphatic and declarative in its apology. The rhythmic structure is simple and consistent, which keeps the focus on the emotional weight of the lyrics and Halsey's vocal performance rather than on complex musical patterns.

"Sorry" is defined by its musical and lyrical simplicity, which enhances its emotional directness. Musically, it is a stark piano ballad. The instrumentation is minimal, primarily featuring a somber piano melody, with subtle additions of guitar and Mellotron to create a textured, melancholic atmosphere. The tempo is slow, at approximately 74 beats per minute, which contributes to the song's contemplative and sorrowful mood. Halsey's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; she sings with a breathy, emotive tone that conveys vulnerability and regret. Her vocal range in the song spans from F3 to Bb4, allowing for a dynamic expression of sadness and resignation. The narrative voice is that of a first-person confessional, making the apology feel intimate and sincere. Lyrically, the song uses direct address ("sorry to my unknown lover") and rhetorical self-questioning to explore the singer's psyche. The plain, unadorned language makes the difficult admissions all the more impactful.

While not released as an official single with a full promotional push, "Sorry" became a standout track from the album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom and resonated deeply with listeners. It has amassed over 300 million streams on Spotify, making it one of the most-played songs from the album. On February 2, 2018, Halsey released a one-shot music video for the song, co-directed by herself and Sing J Lee, as a gift to her fans. The video continues the storyline from the "Now or Never" video and has garnered significant views, further boosting the song's popularity. "Sorry" is often cited by fans and critics as a raw and emotional highlight of Halsey's discography, showcasing her vulnerability as a songwriter. Its themes of insecurity and self-sabotage have made it a relatable anthem for many. The song has been covered by several artists, including Ben Woodward and Madilyn Paige. Although it didn't have a major chart impact in the way official singles did, its enduring popularity and emotional connection with Halsey's fanbase demonstrate its significant cultural influence within her body of work. The song peaked at number 73 on the UK's Official Video Streaming Chart.

The lyrics of "Sorry" employ a few powerful and direct metaphors to convey its emotional weight.

• Treating People Like Jewelry: The most prominent metaphor is in the line, "'Cause I can sometimes treat the people that I love like jewelry." This suggests a superficiality and disposability in her approach to relationships. Jewelry is an accessory used to enhance one's appearance; it is tried on, worn, and can be changed or discarded based on a whim ("'Cause I can change my mind each day"). It powerfully illustrates her emotional fickleness and the unintentional cruelty of using people for her own momentary satisfaction without considering their value.
• Unknown Lover: The repeated phrase "sorry to my unknown lover" functions as a symbolic representation of all the potential partners she has pushed away. It's not about one specific person but rather a recurring pattern of behavior. The term "unknown" implies that she never allowed herself to fully know them or let them get close enough to truly be known, their potential as a lover remaining unfulfilled due to her own barriers.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Sorry" is the chorus itself: "So I'm sorry to my unknown lover / Sorry that I can't believe / That anybody ever really / Starts to fall in love with me." This repetition functions as the song's central thesis, hammering home the core reason for her self-sabotaging behavior – a deep-seated insecurity and inability to accept love. Its recurrence emphasizes the cyclical nature of her actions and apologies. Another key recurring motif is the line, "Someone will love you," which appears in the song's bridge. This phrase is repeated several times, creating a mantra-like effect. It's a painful acknowledgment and a form of release, both for herself and the person she's hurt. The final iteration, "but someone isn't me," provides a devastating and final twist to the recurring thought, cementing her perceived inability to be the one to offer that love. The idea of treating people like "jewelry" is also a powerful, albeit less frequent, recurring motif that appears in her later work, such as the song "3am."