“She” by Harry Styles
“She” is a bit more-complicated than the usual Harry Styles’ fare. For instance, he relays most of the lyrics from a third-person perspective. And the subject is not the singer per se but rather a certain man who constantly “daydreams” of the titular “she”. Now it would be quick to presume that said lady is some sort of romantic interest of this man. However, in the bridge it is revealed that she doesn’t actually exist outside of his own imaginings.
Moreover the idea is introduced that this man is living a double life. That is he has a family, stable job and a regular crew of homeys. However, he fantasizes about forsaking it all, or as Harry Styles puts it he “imagines just sailing away”. So it has been reasonably postulated that “she” is actually the repressed, feminine side of the subject’s persona. Put differently, he has issues with his sexuality. More to the point is the implication that he built up his entire life based on coming off as a standard, heterosexual male, when perhaps such is not his internal reality. Indeed such a dilemma appears to be something which he will have to deal with into the foreseeable future.
However, a counter-theory to the meaning of this song could also be that its male subject desires to run away with a particular lady even though said lady, as alluded to earlier, is at this point only a fantasy. But in keeping the entire context of the song in mind, it is more likely that the lyrics cleverly point to the idea of repressed sexuality.
Release Date of “She”
Colombia Records released this song, as part of Harry Styles’ second album (“Fine Line”), on 13 December 2019.
Writing and Production Credits
Jeff Bhasker along with Kid Harpoon are the producers of this track. And they both also contributed to the songwriting process along with Harry and another songwriter named Mitch Rowland.
Did “She” come out as a single?
No. The only official singles to come out of “She” are as follows:
- “Adore You”
- “Watermelon Sugar”
- “Lights Up“
I thought the main character was someone battling gender dysphoria. The struggle he depicts in the song, to me, seems to be about the main character’s gender identity , and not sexuality.
I think it could be interpreted as either, even as just femininity in general. depends on how you see and/or relate to it
Hear me out, it’s a closeted transgender woman, who keeps seeing a woman when she looks in the mirror and is struggling to figure out what she is looking at. Every “SHE” is her crying out in her head when someone calls her “he.”
Here is a ‘Heather’ by Conan Gray and ‘She’ by Harry Styles Mashup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aAUlC7BzLs&list=TLPQMTQxMDIwMjCfG720BFIPsQ&index=7
When the line “I wish I were Heather” plays in this mashup I think that the subject persona is literally wishing she was Heather. She wishes her crush would see her like he sees every other ‘Heather.’
Agree completely if you go down the rabbit hole harry could be transgender therefore this song makes comete sense
We won’t know what is factual, and what isn’t unless Harry clarifies, but in my perspective, I think it’s just a man fantasizing or daydreaming about the perfect woman, but he doesn’t know who this perfect woman is. He’s not in love with the mother of his children anymore, but that’s the life he made, and it’s not easy to get out of.
this is what i think as well
I agree with this more than the other theories. I wish he’d confirm it though.
This makes more simple sense
i think not, mostly because in the bridge it says he plays pretend, and also that “she” sleeps in the same bed, but she doesnt even exist.
But she does “she” is in his head thus they are the same person there for sleeping in the same bed as him.
I feel like this is the case as well. If you have ever had a dream and seen someone random and woke up to them not really existing, you can relate to this song. I feel like we all have fantasies or that “one” perfect person we want to be with, but we just can’t. Maybe this man has seen a woman he is attracted to but can never get because of the life he has now with his kids and family and work; so she just lives in his dreams.
This actually resonates with me as I was looking for this interpretation. It’s not that he’s imagining life with another woman it’s that life has happened and there’s this song feeling that his true soul mate, “she” is somewhere out there because his life is longing for more. I haven’t Pessoa experienced this but that’s what I felt was right to pull from this song. However i do honestly feel like it’s a good chance “she” is Harry’s repressed, or accepted but buried, transgender self trying to emerge and is the perfect life that can never be.
It seems to refer to gender identity… his feminine side wanting to come out and express herself, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty about her, she’s not yet ready to reveal herself fully. Love the melody, complexity and hidden, double meanings… cant stop listening to it..
makes me think of the movie ” american beauty” with Kevin spacey
Sexuality and gender are two different things, Jessica. You probably wrote this nonsense based on what some of Harry’s tinhat fans write but that belongs to ao3!
So angry.
I think it’s maybe about a soulmate he has yet to meet. He can see her in his head but hasn’t met her so doesn’t know who she is or where she is but he can see the life they’ll have together and the desperation for that is what makes him want to just let everything go and sail away, maybe to find her or to find himself. I think we all fantasize about leaving our lives and finding the one we’ve felt was always out there and just being able to live freely. It makes sense since he mentioned this was written on mushrooms and that’s a hallucinogen that can open you up to other perspectives. I think it draws you closer to spirit.
I 100% agree,
I agree
I 100% agree
I’ve been telepathically connected to him since the first time I heard this song..
I would marry that guy!!!!
Thank you for the different sides of it. But yes, gender and sexuality are two different things. I know what you were trying to display. But next time I would try to put a little more thought and consideration into your writings. Thanks.
For what its worth, I think “she” is his wife, and their relationship has faded though they are still together, and he fondly remembers back to when times were better and they were more of a “couple”.
That’s quite a poignant interpretation, it hadn’t occured to me before, so thanks for the mind stretch!
I mean just listen to the lyrics
“And she sleeps in his bed (his bed)
While he plays pretend (pretend)
So pretend (pretend)”
its about Louis and Eleanor probably
I agree
thats what I thought
i think this song means is that harry is talking about a girl who is with another man.. and harry is seeing it and the man with this girl does not like her because he may like someone else… like a boy or girl thats not her. #larry
I think the best lyrics, as with this song, are when so many people can relate the meaning to their own lives.
That’s what I was thinking!!!!
What do y’all think the Tone of this song is
Is it 1:32 or 1:30-2?
Pls,, v important.
Keeps me up at night. Currently 1:35am.
I think it’s just about a dude’s internet porn obsession.
And yes having an afternoon wank
I personally think it’s about him having an afternoon wank and fantasising about a “she”…
No one is going to like this comment. I don’t like it already. I am a 1 D basic fan. I like being a cheerleader for the underdog artist (s). However, Hollywood and the Music Industry is a deep, dark, Satanic dungeon. The world of the Illuminati is Freemason / Deep State / Globalism / Communism. The God of the Music Industry and Hollywood is Lucifer. No one gets very famous, nor gets very connected in this world of Satan Worshippers without being in the same club. Look up the traits of generational Satanists / Illuminati. A simple search on Duck Duck Go will give a person a bunch of info on the matter. The worship of Satan has rituals, practices. One practice in this cult is to raise your child or children to be the opposite sex from their birth sex. The Satanists have become very good at this during this age of increased technology and pharmaceuticals. Harry, and anyone making their way up in the Music Industry for that matter, would sure begin to notice all of the females that are actually men and visa versa. The Kardashians are a clan of Satanists / Luciferian. In order to gain favor with the religion, it is probable that at least one of the Kardashian / Jenner Sister was born male, raised female. Many think that Kendall Jenner was born male, raised female. Many think the same of Satanist singer songwriter Taylor Swift. Harry was involved with both of these individuals. If Harry came from an Illuminati bloodline clan of Satanists, Harry could have been born female, raised as a male. Harry used to wear the red thread bracelet, which is a bracelet worn by celebrities who have allegiance with The Cabal. Personally, I love all of the members of One Direction. But, all of the boys have been photographed sporting known customary Illuminati hand gestures. If Harry was actually born female and put on a transition path since birth, we will never find this out as members of the public. Just know, however, that this practice is common in Hollywood and beyond. The Elite, the Satanists, have participated in this practice for decades and decades… Sophia Loren, born male. The famous and beautiful Victoria Secret runway models, most are dudes. Do your own research. Thanks.
gurl stfu
I think ‘she’ is death. Or at least it kind of fits the song; some regular, office job, family having, secretly very depressed man day dreaming of dying, or “sailing away” from the life he’s trapped in. The thought of death follows him everywhere which is why ‘she’ sleeps in his bed and he “plays pretend,” imagining he were dead. The sexuality theory sounds a lot more likely though lol.
I too though it was about death. I didn’t feel it was about sexuality at all.
Does nobody else think this is totally about a drug? 🤔