☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a man who is despised by many people, but still fascinates them.
- He is in a relationship where he doesn't receive enough love.
- The man has a strong aversion towards his parents and their pious way of life.
- The city where the man lives is described as an animal-like being that attracts and repels him at the same time.
- The man struggles with true love and relationships, and often feels alienated from other people.
Interpretation
"The Man They Love to Hate" by
The Stranglers is a song about a man who many people despise but are still fascinated by. The lyrics describe how this man wakes up in an unusual wedding night and finds himself in a relationship where he doesn't receive enough love.
The song lyrics also mention the man's parents, who worked hard and always went to bed early. Although they were pious people, it seems the man has a strong aversion towards them. He never wanted to be in this situation and seems to hate the fact that all the girls fall in love with him, even though they also hate him.
The text also describes the city where the man lives as an animal creature that snores and roars during the day. Although the man hates the city's flaws, he can't live without it.
There is also mention of the man's relationship with a woman who leaves him because she loves him too much. However, the man doesn't seem to truly mourn her.
Overall, this song lyrics is about a man who is hated by many people but still has a fascinating allure to women. He seems to struggle with true love and relationships, and often feels alienated from other people.
The song lyrics also include lines like "All the girls have fallen for the man they love to hate" and "He never wanted to suffer this fate", which reinforce the song's message and point to the man's internal conflicts.