Harry Styles is a British singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction. He has since embarked on a successful solo career, releasing hit songs such as "Watermelon Sugar," "Adore You," and "Sign of the Times."
“Matilda” is the seventh track off Harry’s House, the third studio album by Harry Styles.
Harry Styles' song "Matilda" is often regarded as one of his most emotionally resonant and personal tracks. The song is a poignant and bittersweet reflection on unrequited love, and it stands out as a heartbreak masterpiece for several reasons.
First and foremost, the lyrics of "Matilda" are incredibly raw and honest. The song captures the pain and frustration of loving someone who doesn't love you back, with lines like "I've been loving you for quite some time / You think that it's funny when I'm mad." The lyrics are simple and direct, but they are also incredibly effective at conveying the depth of the protagonist's emotions.
Another reason why "Matilda" is such a heartbreak masterpiece is the understated beauty of the music itself. The song is a gentle, acoustic ballad that showcases Harry Styles' talent as a singer and songwriter. The instrumentation is minimal, with just a guitar and a simple drumbeat, which allows the focus to remain on the lyrics and the emotion behind them.
Finally, "Matilda" is a heartbreak masterpiece because it speaks to a universal experience. Nearly everyone has experienced the pain of unrequited love at some point in their lives, and the song captures that experience with an honesty and vulnerability that is rare in popular music.
Overall, "Matilda" is a testament to Harry Styles' talent as a songwriter and his ability to connect with his audience on a deeply emotional level. The song stands out as a heartbreak masterpiece that will continue to resonate with listeners for years to come.
In the song, Harry somberly sings to somebody whose family did not treat her well. He takes inspiration from the Roald Dahl book Matilda and/or its movie adaptation of the same name, about a girl with telekinesis who was mistreated by her principal and parents. Though Roald Dahl’s character Matilda is gendered as female, Styles purposefully does not assign a label to the person he sings to. The song asserts a common theme in the album that home is not a place, but a state of mind. Styles does this by showing how Matilda’s house was not a home to her.
One of Harry Styles' earlier songs, "Matilda," was released as a bonus track on his self-titled debut album in 2017. The song is a gentle, acoustic ballad that tells the story of a young man's unrequited love for a girl named Matilda.
In the lyrics of the song, Harry sings about his desire to be with Matilda and his frustration at not being able to make her feel the same way. He sings, "I've been loving you for quite some time, time, time / You think that it's funny when I'm mad, mad, mad."
Despite his feelings for Matilda, the protagonist acknowledges that he may never be able to win her over, singing, "Well, I've just been trying to find / What you've been trying to hide in me / 'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun / Yes, I saw you were blinded, and I knew I had won."
Overall, "Matilda" is a sweet and heartfelt song that showcases Harry Styles' songwriting abilities and emotional depth.