Honestly, if you’re a fan, you know the drill. A random file pops up on a Telegram channel or a shady Twitter thread, and suddenly the entire fandom is in a tailspin. That’s exactly what happened with the track known as "Him."
It’s not on Harry Styles, Fine Line, or Harry’s House. It isn't on his brand new 2026 record Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. either. Yet, him harry styles lyrics have become a sort of urban legend among Harries.
It’s a song that was never meant for our ears. Scrapped. Left on the cutting room floor during the sessions for his debut self-titled album back in 2017. But once it leaked? Total chaos. People weren't just listening; they were investigating.
What’s the big deal with the lyrics?
The song is raw. It’s got that acoustic, slightly unpolished vibe that reminds you of "From the Dining Table." It feels private.
The opening line hits like a ton of bricks: "So you were right, there's always two / The one who stays and the one who's leaving you." Ouch. Harry’s voice sounds younger here, a bit more vulnerable than the confident rockstar we see on stage today.
But the real reason this song stayed in the cultural zeitgeist is the bridge and the chorus. He sings:
"’Cause I don’t wanna hear about him / How he is holding you better at night / And I don’t wanna hear about him / In these songs you continue to write."
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That last part? "In these songs you continue to write." That is the "Aha!" moment for every fan who spent 2014-2016 refreshing Tumblr. It implies the person he’s singing to is a songwriter. A famous one.
The Taylor Swift of it all
You can’t talk about this song without mentioning the 1989-shaped elephant in the room. Most fans are convinced—and honestly, the evidence is pretty loud—that "Him" is a direct response to Taylor Swift.
Think about it.
The lyrics mention a "nice dress in my wildest dreams" and "lipstick stains you left still on my sheets." If that isn't a direct nod to Taylor’s "Wildest Dreams" and her "red lip classic" aesthetic, then it’s the world's biggest coincidence.
He also mentions hearing "amazing eyes" in a song. For those who don't spend their weekends memorizing liner notes, Taylor has a song called "The Outside" from her debut album where she mentions her "blue eyes." Or perhaps it's a nod to "State of Grace." Either way, the "songwriter" connection is too specific to ignore.
Why was it scrapped?
People always ask why a song this good didn't make the cut. Generally, it comes down to narrative.
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When Harry launched his solo career, he was trying to distance himself from the "boy band" drama. He wanted to be seen as a serious musician, influenced by 70s rock and Laurel Canyon.
Releasing a song that basically says, "Hey Taylor, stop writing about me," would have been a tabloid explosion. It would have overshadowed the artistry of "Sign of the Times."
Sometimes the best songs are the ones that are too honest for the public image. It feels like "Him" was just a bit too "on the nose" for a guy who prefers to keep his private life behind a veil of sequins and cryptic Instagram captions.
Is it about someone else?
Some fans, especially those in the "Larry" corners of the internet, have different ideas. They argue the song is about gender fluidity or a different relationship entirely.
They point to the line "I was with you when you wrote that line / It was me that you had on your mind." They suggest it could be about a collaborator or even a "mirror" song to "She" from Fine Line. It's a bit of a reach for some, but that’s the beauty of Harry's writing. It’s vague enough that you can project your own heartbreak onto it.
The technical side of the leak
If you listen closely to the leaked versions floating around, you can tell it’s a demo. The acoustics change. Some parts sound like they were recorded in a high-end studio, while others have a slight hiss, like a voice memo.
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There are even theories that the leak was intentional. A "gift" to the fans who wanted more context for that era of his life.
What you can do now
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of unreleased Harry, here is how to handle it:
- Listen for the parallels: Play "Him" and then play Taylor Swift’s "Style" or "Out of the Woods." The "he" in her songs and the "him" in his song start to feel like two sides of a very complicated coin.
- Check the 2017 interviews: Go back and watch Harry’s 2017 interview with Rolling Stone. He mentions that his first album was largely about one person. He doesn't name names, but "Him" fills in the blanks that the interview left out.
- Support the official releases: While leaks are fun, remember that artists often scrap songs for a reason. With his new album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. out now, there is plenty of official, high-quality music to obsess over that Harry actually wants us to hear.
Ultimately, "Him" is a time capsule. It’s a glimpse into a version of Harry Styles that was still figuring out how to deal with being the subject of someone else’s art. It’s messy, it’s petty, and it’s deeply human. That’s probably why we’re still talking about it years later.
To get the full experience, look for the "acoustic demo" versions on fan-run archives. They usually have the best audio quality. Pay attention to the way his voice cracks on the high notes in the bridge—it tells you everything you need to know about where his head was at during that first solo run.
Actionable Insight: If you're analyzing the lyrics for a fan project or just for your own curiosity, compare the "New York" references in "Him" to those in "Ever Since New York." You'll notice a consistent theme of isolation in big cities that Harry returns to throughout his early solo work.