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

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.