A Songwriting Journey on Division, Social Media, and the Normalization of Hate
This case study documents the creative process behind “A Love for Hate,” a song that explores how division, social media, and fear have fueled a growing culture of meanness and extremism.
The Process
- The inspiration – just observing my fellow human behavior within social media
- Identifying the core theme – how hate is disguised as passion, and fear fuels division.
- Refining the language to ensure the song felt universal rather than accusatory.
Step 1: Defining the Message
The song needed to express:
- The rise of division and cruelty in society.
- The role of social media in amplifying anger and fear.
- The realization that hate and love cannot coexist.
Key Lyric Themes:
- Fire vs. Ice: The heat of tempers vs. the cold detachment of screens.
- A love for hate: The irony that some have become addicted to outrage and division.
- Fear as the root cause: People lash out because they are afraid.
- The path forward: Love is the only antidote to hate.
Step 2: Writing the First Verse
The first verse needed to set the scene—highlighting how online rage spreads while empathy disappears.
First Draft:
Turn on the screen, the lines are drawn,
Shouting so loud, but nothing’s won.
Every side is sure they’re right,
But no one’s looking for the light.
Issues Identified:
- “Shouting so loud” felt too vague.
- The difference between real-world shouting and online shouting needed more clarity.
Refined First Verse (Final Version):
On cold blue screens, lines are drawn,
Tempers hot, empathy gone.
Fingers ignite where no voices rise,
Trading truth for battle cries.
Why This Works:
- “On cold blue screens” → The internet as a battlefield.
- “Tempers hot, empathy gone” → Rage grows, compassion disappears.
- “Fingers ignite where no voices rise” → People “yell” through text, not speech.
- “Trading truth for battle cries” → People care more about winning than truth.
Step 3: The Chorus – Locking in the Emotional Core
The hook, “A Love for Hate,” needed to feel both ironic and tragic—highlighting how division has become addictive.
First Chorus Draft:
They’ve got a love for hate, it’s a dangerous game,
Feeding the fire, pointing the blame.
Words like weapons, hearts turned cold,
A love for hate is taking hold.
Refinement Needed:
- Avoiding “they/them” language → Division is the problem; we don’t want to add to it.
Final Chorus Version:
There’s a love for hate, it’s a dangerous game,
Feeding the fire, pointing the blame.
Words like weapons, hearts grown cold,
A love for hate is taking hold.
Why This Works:
- Removed “they” to keep it universal.
- “Hearts grown cold” → Emphasizes the change over time.
- “A love for hate is taking hold” → Feels both personal and societal.
Step 4: Expanding the Narrative in Verse 2
Verse 2 needed to address social media’s role—how people hide behind screens and dehumanize strangers.
Final Verse 2:
Strangers raging, words on threads,
No pause for thought, all eyes see red.
Echoes rage in a virtual war,
Just what are we fighting for?
Why This Works:
- “Words on threads” → Refers to both text threads and fabricating lies.
- “All eyes see red” → Suggests anger is immediate, thought is absent.
- “Just what are we fighting for?” → Ends with a reflective question.
Step 5: The Bridge – The Moment of Reflection
The bridge needed to ask the key question—how far will this go before we realize the damage?
Final Bridge:
How far will we go before we see,
We’re building walls where bridges should be?
Shouting loud but losing sight,
Will we choose the dark or chase the light?
Why This Works:
- “Building walls where bridges should be” → Division is actively preventing connection.
- “Shouting loud but losing sight” → The chaos is blinding us.
- “Will we choose the dark or chase the light?” → Ends with a choice.
Step 6: The Final Verse – Offering a Path Forward
To counter the negativity, the final verse needed to offer the solution: Love is the antidote.
Final Verse:
Love and hate can’t share one space,
The end of hate is love’s embrace.
A love for hate is no love at all,
Love still stands when hatred falls.
Why This Works:
- “Love and hate can’t share one space” → They are opposites.
- “A love for hate is no love at all” → Calls out the contradiction.
- “Love still stands when hatred falls” → Hopeful resolution.
Final Song Structure:
- ✅ Verse 1 – The Online Battlefield
- ✅ Verse 2 – The Spread of Division
- 🎵 Chorus (Hits early for emotional impact)
- 🔄 Bridge (The realization & key question)
- ✅ Final Verse – The Path Forward
- 🎵 Final Chorus (Ending with the emotional weight of the message)
Conclusion
This songwriting process ensured that:
✅ The song was emotionally powerful yet non-accusatory.
✅ The imagery remained strong and poetic while staying relatable.
✅ The message evolved naturally from problem → reflection → solution.