Harry Styles' third album, Harry's House, has finally landed on streaming services. Packed with '80s-inspired synth beats, poetic lyrics and Harry hitting mellifluous high notes, Harry's House is making quite the impact. But there's one particular song that's stirring conversation. Enter, "Little Freak."
With the album totaling thirteen tracks, "Little Freak" sits at number six, nestled between "Daylight" and "Matilda." Based on the song's title, one may expect deliciously filthy lyrics and sexual innuendos reminiscent of "Watermelon Sugar." Instead, "Little Freak" is a surprisingly emotional cry-bop. Over airy layered vocals, Styles informs his presumably lost lover to know that he's thinking about her. "I was thinking about who you are/Your delicate point of view/I was thinking about you/I'm not worried about where you are/Or who you will go home to/ I'm just thinking about you."
The song is a nostalgic reflection of a relationship where several things were involved: a golf swing, a trampoline, a crystal ball, red wine and ginger ale. "Little Freak" does an excellent job at creating vivid images and expressing pain and regret, but not in an obvious way. It does so in a way that almost says: "It hurts to miss you, but it was beautiful and I'm glad it happened."
Perhaps the biggest punch in the gut is in the third verse where Harry sings: "I disrespected you/Jumped in feet first, then I landed too hard/A broken ankle, karma rules/You never saw my birthmark." Through this we get the biggest instance of Harry's regret present in the song towards his partner by the implication that he feels the breakdown of the relationship was his fault that ultimately ended up hurting him. But also, the last line expresses regret in things perhaps ending too soon – before his lover was able to get close enough to see his birthmark. This line could also mean the relationship ended before Harry was able to show his lover the truest parts of himself, and he regrets it.
As for who this song is about, there's not a definite answer. Harry has had a number of public relationships and he has not shied away from incorporating his experiences into his music. His previous album, Fine Line, famously touched on his relationship and breakup with model Camille Rowe. Her voice is even featured on "Cherry, "a song from Fine Line. His most recent relationship is with Olivia Wilde, his co-star and the director of his upcoming film, Don't Worry Darling. As much as Styles gushes about love on Harry's House, it's unlikely that "Little Freak" is about his relationship with Wilde. We may never know who this song is about, if anyone at that, but what we do know is that the Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson-produced track puts us in our feels. Take a listen, read the lyrics below and join us in this cry-fest.
Lyrics:
Little freak, Jezebel
You sit high atop the kitchen counter
Stay green a little while
You bring blue lights to dreams
Starry haze, crystal ball
Somehow you've become some paranoia
A wet dream just dangling
But your gift is wasted on me
I was thinking about who you are
Your delicate point of view
I was thinking about you
I'm not worried about where you are
Who you will go home to
I'm just thinking about you
Just thinking about you
Did you dress up for Halloween?
I spilled beer on your friend, I'm not sorry
A golf swing and a trampoline
Maybe we'll do this again
Track suit and a ponytail
You hide the body, all that yoga gave you
Red wine and a ginger ale
But you would make fun of me for sure
I was thinking about who you are
Your delicate point of view
I was thinking about you
I'm not worried about where you are
Or who you will go home to
I'm just thinking about you
I disrespected you
Jumped in feet first, then I landed too hard
A broken ankle, karma rules
You never saw my birthmark
I was thinking about who you are
Your delicate point of view
I was thinking about you
I'm not worried about where you are
Or who you will go home to
I'm just thinking about you
Just thinking about you
Just thinking about you
