You should be sad

"You should be sad" is a deeply personal and emotionally charged song about the aftermath of a toxic relationship. Halsey has described it as a song that explores her frustrations with a past lover. The lyrics convey a sense of both sadness and empowerment. On one hand, Halsey expresses regret and sorrow over the failed relationship, but on the other, she finds strength in leaving her unfaithful and narcissistic ex-lover. The song is a declaration of independence and self-worth, as she tells her ex that he should be the one who is sad, not her. She points out his flaws, his materialism, and his inability to love unconditionally. The line, "I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you / 'Cause you can't love nothing unless there's something in it for you," is a particularly powerful and vindictive statement that highlights the depth of her disillusionment. Ultimately, the song is about recognizing your own value and having the courage to walk away from someone who doesn't deserve you.

The song begins with a declaration of intent, a need to get something off her chest. The narrator clarifies that she holds no anger or malice, just a touch of regret. She feels compelled to speak the truth because no one else will. She plans to write it all down, let it out, and then move on.

The core of her message is a scathing assessment of her former partner. She bluntly states he is not the man he perceives himself to be and that he tries to fill an internal void with superficial things like money, women, and cars. A particularly cutting line reveals her relief at never having had a child with him, reasoning that he is incapable of loving anything unless there's a personal gain involved. She expresses a mix of pity and sadness for him, acknowledging that she tried to help him, but her efforts only resulted in his anger. She admits she had no warning about his true nature.

The narrator is profoundly glad to have escaped the relationship without completely breaking down. She emphasizes the distance she has put between them, both emotionally and physically, ensuring he can never hurt her again. This escape is a source of immense relief. The central theme of his self-centeredness and inability to love selflessly is reiterated, solidifying the reasons for her departure and her ultimate feeling of being better off alone.

The song captures the complex emotional journey of a painful breakup. It moves from a place of needing to express pent-up feelings to a powerful realization of self-worth and the relief of leaving a damaging situation behind. It’s a final, unflinching look at a past relationship, delivered with a mix of sorrow for what could have been and empowerment in the act of walking away.

Halsey revealed that she wrote "You should be sad" on the floor of her living room with her guitar, and also spent time writing it in Nashville. She has stated that "the most petty and heartbreaking songs all come from country." The song was co-written and produced by Greg Kurstin. It was released on January 10, 2020, as the third single from her third studio album, Manic. The song was recorded for the album, which was released on January 17, 2020. Halsey has said that the writing process for her songs is visceral and that the topics are relevant to the time they were written, helping her to move on from the experience.

"You should be sad" follows a relatively straightforward rhythmic structure in 4/4 common time, with a moderate tempo of 120 beats per minute, which gives the song a steady, driving feel. The song's structure is built around a simple chord progression of Bm-G-D-F#m/D-G-D-A. The combination of acoustic guitar and syncopated beats creates a country-pop rhythm. The lyrical rhythm often follows a conversational and direct pattern, which enhances the feeling of a personal address to her ex-lover. The rhyme scheme is not strictly consistent, leaning more towards a free verse style in the verses to maintain a narrative flow. However, the pre-chorus and chorus employ more structured rhymes to create a memorable and anthemic quality. For instance, in the pre-chorus, "are" rhymes with "cars," and in the chorus, there is a recurring rhyming pattern that adds to its catchiness. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm creates a dynamic tension that reflects the song's emotional complexity.

"You should be sad" is a blend of country, pop, and alt-pop with a guitar-rock edge. The song's instrumentation features a prominent acoustic guitar riff, giving it a country feel, which is later joined by a gain-infused electric guitar, adding a rock element. The song is composed in 4/4 common time in the key of B minor with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. Halsey's vocal performance is a key stylistic element, ranging from a sweet, tight-throated delivery to a more powerful and emotive belt, conveying the song's emotional arc. Her vocal range in the song spans from A3 to E5. The lyrics are direct and confrontational, a characteristic of Halsey's songwriting style. The narrative voice is personal and unflinching, telling a story of heartbreak and empowerment.

"You should be sad" was met with critical acclaim upon its release, with many critics praising its raw and honest lyrics. The song peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the second highest-charting single from the album Manic in the US. It also achieved international success, reaching the top 10 in Australia and Ireland, and the top 20 in several other countries. The song's music video, directed by Colin Tilley, garnered significant attention for its homages to female pop icons like Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, and Christina Aguilera. This positioned Halsey within a lineage of strong female artists and sparked conversations about female empowerment in music. "You should be sad" has been noted for its successful blending of country and pop genres, contributing to the ongoing trend of genre-bending in mainstream music. The song and its unapologetic lyrics have resonated with listeners, solidifying its place as a popular breakup anthem on many playlists.

The music video for "You should be sad" is rich with symbolism and references. Halsey pays homage to several of her female musical idols, including Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, and Christina Aguilera. For instance, she dons a leopard-print outfit reminiscent of Shania Twain's in the "That Don't Impress Me Much" video and wears a long white wig while riding a horse, echoing a Lady Gaga entrance at the American Music Awards. These references serve to align Halsey with a lineage of strong, empowered female artists. The video's setting in an "underground country western nightclub" with line-dancing and sexually charged imagery can be interpreted as a commentary on the themes of liberation and reclaiming one's narrative after a painful breakup. One Reddit user suggested the 'orgy' scene symbolizes that while everyone wants a piece of her, her ex-lover's attention was elsewhere, leading to her departure and replacement. The use of "alligator tears" instead of the more common "crocodile tears" in the lyrics has sparked discussion, with some interpreting it as a nuanced take on the ex-lover's insincere emotions.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "You should be sad" is the title line itself, which serves as the song's central thesis and is repeated in the chorus. The line "I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you / 'Cause you can't love nothing unless there's something in it for you" is another powerful and repeated statement that encapsulates the narrator's ultimate realization about her ex-partner's character. The opening phrase "I wanna start this out by saying / I've gotta get it off my chest" is repeated in the first and second verses, emphasizing the cathartic nature of the song. The motif of the ex-lover being unable to fill a "hole inside of you with money, girls, and cars" is also a significant recurring theme that highlights his superficiality. Musically, the song is built around a recurring acoustic guitar riff that establishes its country-pop feel.