Hate Me Harder

"Hate Me Harder" is a song by Kesha. The song leaked on April 13, 2022. It was confirmed to be on Kesha’s fifth studio album, Gag Order, when the track listing was revealed on her merch store on May 2, 2023. It serves as the twelfth track of the album.

Background and composition[]

A demo version of the track leaked online in April 2022, and was said to be an outtake from High Road. The demo version features a different arrangement and is more upbeat than the final version, as well as having auto-tuned vocals. On May 3, 2023, a fan who entered the sweepstakes contest after pre-saving the album received an envelope with the lyrics for this song. The full lyrics was shared on a “Lyrics” tab on Kesha’s website after the tracklist was officially announced by her on May 4, 2023.^[1] An official visualizer was released on the album's release date.

“

That was the pivoting moment of the album in finding my strength. That was one of the first songs I wrote at this little mini writing camp with Justin Tranter at his mountain home. There were eight writers sitting around in his basement. We're all sitting on the ground, and I just remember telling them, "I really want this strong anthem, about how I have endured so much hate in my career at this point. I'm so happy to be at a point where it almost fuels me."

Sitting in a room full of eight people screaming "Hate me harder," I was envisioning doing that [with] an arena of my fans. It feels so powerful and so strong.^[2]

”

Official versions[]

Leaked version - 3:14
Album version - 2:48

Lyrics[]

Congratulations
You caught me doing some dumb shit again
That's what I do
Yeah that's what I do
I've graduated
From caring about your opinions
Tell you the truth babe
I'll never know that you existed

You saying that I'm over,
You say I'm a has been
You say I look older
Nobody was asking
Luckily the jokes on you
I got nothing left to prove

So if hating me helps you love yourself
Do your worst baby gimme hell
Hate me harder
Hate me harder
There's nothing left that I haven't heard
And I can take it so make it hurt
Hate me harder
Hate me harder

Isn't it funny
You're spending all that time and energy
Wasted on me
It's so flattering
You say I look like I
Just crawled out of a trash can
You say I'm obnoxious
Nobody was asking
Luckily the jokes on you
I got nothing left to prove

So if hating me helps you love yourself
Do your worst baby gimme hell
Hate me harder
Hate me harder
There's nothing left that I haven't heard
And I can take it so make it hurt
Hate me harder
Hate me harder

Again and again and again
I'll keep saying over again
I been there, I've done it, I've lived it,
I've fucked it, I'd do it all over again
I'll take it I'll take it I'll take it I'll take it
I already know that I can
Already know I can

Hate me
Hate me or you love me
It's really all about you
It's really not about me

Hate me
Hate me or you love me
You just keep on talking
Talking all about me

Mmm
Congratulations
You caught me doin' some dumb shit again
That's what I do, that's what I do
I've graduated
From caring about your opinions
To tell you the truth
I'll never know that you existed

Again and again and again and again, you keep saying it over again
I been there I done it I lived it I fucked it, I'd do it all over again
I take it I'll take it I'll take it I'll take it, I already know that I can
I already know I can

So if hating me helps you love yourself
Do your worst, baby, give me hell
Hate me harder, hate me harder
There's nothing left that I haven't heard
So I'll do mine, baby, you do yours
Hate me harder, hate me harder

Isn't it funny? You're spending all that time and energy
Wasted on me
It's so flattering
They say that I'm over
They say I'm a has been
They say I look older
Nobody was asking

Luckily, the joke's on you
I've got nothing left to prove

So if hating me helps you love yourself
Then do your worst, baby give me hell
Hate me harder, hate me harder
There's nothing left that I haven't heard
So I'll do mine, baby you do yours
Hate me harder, hate me harder

Hate me harder
Hate me harder, oh
Hate me harder
Oh, hate me harder
Hate me harder

Hate me, baby..
Tell me all about me
Hate me, baby..
Either way it's about me
Tell me all about me

If hating me helps you love yourself
Then do your worst, baby, give me hell
Hate me harder, hate me harder, oh
There's nothing left that I haven't heard
So I'll do mine, baby, you do yours
Hate me harder, hate me harder