Who Is "Matilda" About? Harry Styles' Emotional Track Has Deeply Moved Fans

Publish date: 2024-05-21

Who is "Matilda" about? Harry Styles dropped his new album known as "Harry's House" on March 20, 2022, and fans wish to know extra about its which means.

Source: Getty Images

On May 20, 2022, Harry Styles dropped his highly-anticipated 3rd album titled "Harry's House." Fans of the former One Direction bandmate right away started taking a look into the meanings at the back of some of the songs — including one known as "Matilda." Specifically, they questioned: Who is "Matilda" about?

Keep reading to learn about what Harry has mentioned about the track, in addition to fan theories, and what the lyrics mean.

Who is "Matilda" about in Harry Styles' new album "Harry's House"?

OK, so Harry hasn't pop out and said who, in particular, "Matilda" is about. But that hasn't stopped fans from coming up with their very own theories. Some other people think "Matilda" could be about Harry's ex-girlfriend, Camille Rowe. The couple dated for about a 12 months before breaking apart in 2018.

In 2019, Camille portrayed a personality named Matilda in the movie Now Is Everything. So the name of his new track would make sense if it was once about her.

Source: Getty Images

But what has Harry himself mentioned about "Matilda" up to now? During an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, he shared that the track is in reality about another person's enjoy and no longer one he is personally long past via.

He summed up its that means with: "I wanna support you in some way. But it's not necessarily my place to make it about me; cause it's not my experience. Sometimes it's just about listening. I hope that's what it did,I hope it just says 'I was listening to you.'"

Harry went on to make the relationship from his music "Matilda" to the nature Matilda from the well-known Roald Dahl novel, which used to be made into a movie back in 1996. “Imagine Matilda grown up," he told Zane.

When he was asked if the person the song is about would know it's about them, Harry responded with, "No. I believe they’ll know.” (So possibly that Camille Rowe theory still holds!)

What's the which means of the lyrics in "Matilda" through Harry Styles?

"Matilda" has elicited emotional responses from quite a few Harry Styles fans. Many have also pointed out how jarring it was for Harry to position two back-to-back songs ("Little Freak" and "Matilda") that tugged at listeners' heartstrings — simplest to apply them up with a track ("Cinema") that made them need to get up and dance.

So what's the which means of the lyrics in "Matilda" anyway? One particular person declared via Twitter, "Harry Styles wrote 'Matilda' for first born daughters. This seems like a fair assessment in some cases. But there's more to it.

no because harry styles really has us crying during little freak and matilda then immediately start shaking ass to cinema… he is SICK #HarrysHouse

— angie TODAY (@satelIiterryy) May 20, 2022

The first verse of "Matilda" goes:

"You have been riding your motorbike to the sound of 'It's No Big Deal'

And you might be seeking to raise off the bottom on the ones previous two wheels

Nothing 'bout the best way that you just have been treated ever seemed particularly alarming till now

So you tie up your hair and also you smile adore it's no large deal"

This is followed by the chorus:

"You can let it go

You can throw a birthday celebration full of everyone you already know

And not invite your family 'reason they never showed you like

You do not need to be sorry for leaving and growing up, mhm"

#HarrysHouse #HarryStyles
me after listening to matilda on repeat: pic.twitter.com/V5iQoHAVsg

— Bertie 🍇 (@goldenrrry) May 20, 2022

Essentially, the lyrics are giving Matilda permission to not have a relationship with her toxic family because they never treated her right. And even if she never truly realized the trauma until she was an adult, she is not obligated to continue including them in her life.

In the second verse, Harry acknowledges that it's not his decision to make, but that Matilda truly doesn't deserve the pain she's feeling. It goes:

"Matilda, you communicate of the pain like it's all alright

But I know that you're feeling like a piece of you's lifeless insidе

You confirmed me an influence that is robust еnough to convey sun to the darkest days

It's none of my trade, however it is just been on my thoughts"

Back to chorus, this time expanded to encourage Matilda to rid herself of any lingering guilt:

"You can let it go

You can throw a birthday celebration stuffed with everyone you know

And not invite your circle of relatives 'cause they by no means confirmed you love

You don't have to be sorry for leaving and rising up

You can see the world, following the seasons

Anywhere you pass, you do not want a explanation why

'Cause they by no means showed you're keen on

You would not have to be sorry for doing it on your own"

Here's the emotional bridge:

"You're simply in time, make your tea and your toast

Framed all of your posters and dyed your clothes, ooh

You don't have to go

You would not have to head home

Oh, there is a long option to move

I don't believe that point will alternate your thoughts

In other words I do know they will not hurt you anymore so long as you'll be able to allow them to move"

“You can start a family who will always show you love” - Matilda by Harry Styles#HarrysHouse #harrystylesTODAY pic.twitter.com/44mUARsBZJ

— 🐞 (@a_belindaaa) May 20, 2022

Finally, the song ends with another iteration of the chorus:

"You can let it move

You can throw a birthday party full of everybody you already know

You can get started a family who will always show you love

You don't have to be sorry for doing it by yourself

You can let it move

You can throw a birthday celebration stuffed with everybody you already know

You can start a family who will always display you love

You would not have to be sorry, no"

Early reviews of "Harry's House" have been incredibly positive.

“Throughout the album, Styles’ singing is as conversational as his lyrics, making romance feel like a hopeful, at times fragile, dialogue between equals,” Rolling Stone‘s Jon Dolan wrote. “It makes sense that 'Harry’s House' is coming out just as summer bar-patio season is kicking into full swing. This is a Santa Ana summer breeze of a record.”

“are you ok?” no i relate to matilda by harry styles thanks tho

— benjamin david (@benjamin_david3) May 20, 2022

Of "Matilda," Billboard's Jason Lipshutz describes it as "an affecting ode to a pal who has faced overlook (and probably worse) from their family and is looking to inch against adult stability." He continues: "Within the acoustic ballad, Styles listens to the tale with out placing himself into it, and encourages as absolute best as he can; that type of restraint works in the tune’s choose, and 'Matilda' creates emotional power with its mild contact."

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