“I Am not a Woman, I’m a God” by Halsey

There’s a whole lot going on in Halsey’s “I am not a Woman, I’m a god”. And if one focuses too much on the powerfulness of the title, a listener may lose sight of the overall point. For what Halsey most comprehensively appears to be speaking to is the notion of being an emotionless, or let’s say, all lyrics considered, grimy person. 

However, the implication is that she was made this way due to less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding her life, i.e. a lack of genuine love and direction.

Now based on Halsey’s explanation of If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, the concept album from which this song is derived, the “woman”/“god” line may be meant to serve as some sort of symbolic dichotomy. 

And if understood in such a context, then what the songstress is doing is contrasting the actual versus the ideological (state of being). And in that regard this piece can perhaps be interpreted, as illustrated by certain lyrics, as being based on a desire on the part of the vocalist to “be a different human in a new place”. But for the time being, she has apparently made peace with the fact that she’s less than perfect, to say the least.

That being said, there is another way all of this can be interpreted. And it is as Halsey’s vulnerable side being symbolized by the limited “woman” classification, with the confidence that allows her to be fearlessly destructive representing her “god” mode, or something like that.

Release of “I’m not a Woman, I’m a god”

This track came out on 27 August 2021, via Capitol Records, as part of Halsey’s album entitled “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power”, also being recognized as the lead single from the project. 

Thus far her three previous studio albums – 2015’s Badlands, 2017’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom and 2020’s Manic – all have either reached first or second place on the Billboard 200.

Did Halsey compose this song?

This song was written by Halsey along with John Cunningham, Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. Some readers will recognize the latter two artists, who also produced the track, as the core members of the Nine Inch Nails.