I'm Not There For You

Album: Sex Hysteria (2025)
Charted: 66
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "I'm Not There For You" is Jessie Murph's full-blown breakup kiss-off. She wrote the song when she was just 17, back when the heartbreak was still fresh enough to sting.
  • Murph has never named the ex, but it's clear his emotional turmoil tarnished the relationship, and writing the song was a way for her to reclaim her confidence and independence. She details a union where she hoped she would experience a true love but was left with a feeling she wouldn't wish on anyone.

    Murph's 2022 single "Pray" was also inspired in part by a romance that turned toxic. She hasn't publicly confirmed that "Pray" and "I'm Not There For You" were written about the same person, but the emotional throughline of a tumultuous partnership feels unmistakable.
  • Murph first teased "I'm Not There For You" online in 2022, long before it saw an official release. The demo went viral, over 100,000 TikTok videos used the snippet, and fans begged for a finished version. After a few years (and a lot of growing up), Murph finally returned to it, teaming up with Omer Fedi, Cirkut (Henry Walter), and Laura Veltz to give it a full sonic facelift.
  • Omer Fedi and Cirkut brought their pop alchemy to the track (their other credits together include Sam Smith's "Unholy" and Rosé and Bruno Mars' "APT.").

    Songwriter Laura Veltz and Murph have a long history together: Veltz co-wrote eight tracks on Murph's 2025 album Sex Hysteria, including the singles "Blue Strips" and "Touch Me Like A Gangster."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.