Why Do You Love Me

Album: Bleed Like Me (2005)
Charted: 7 94
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Garbage singer Shirley Manson wrote this song about feeling unlovable. Because of her insecurities, she questions her romantic partner's loyalty towards her:

    I think you're sleeping with a friend of mine
    I have no proof but I think that I'm right


    She queries his motivations and wonders why she appeals to him:

    Why do you love me?
    It's driving me crazy
  • Manson has struggled at various times with body dysmorphia, depression, and self-harm. "Why Do You Love Me" tackles those feelings.

    "I think it's important, as someone who's viewed as a well-known musician, to tell the truth about who I am," she told the BBC, "because it's so easy to look at so-called celebrities and only see the glamor."

    "When we're in public, we get our hair and our make-up done and we get given incredible clothes by ridiculously talented designers," Manson added, "Then we wake up the next day and we're just normal people. The whole celebrity thing is an illusion. And it's an illusion that's fostered by a really greedy industry in order to make money."

    "So I felt a responsibility as a musician to say, 'Hey, look, this is the truth of it,'" she concluded.
  • Garbage wrote and recorded "Why Do You Love Me" at their Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. They released it as the lead single from Bleed Like Me on February 22, 2005. It was the band's first Hot 100 appearance since "Special" reached #52 in May 1999, and their highest charting single in the UK since "Stupid Girl" peaked at #4 in 1996.
  • Garbage started working on Bleed Like Me in March 2003, but the sessions proved unproductive. After struggling for six months, the band disbanded before reforming to make a fresh start on the album in early 2004. The Sophie Muller-directed video references the turmoil in the band during the making of the record.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.