High by 5SOS Meaning Explained: Song Lyrics Breakdown

Decoding “High”: The Meaning Behind 5 Seconds of Summer’s Vulnerable Track

When Australian pop-rock powerhouse 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) released their fourth studio album, CALM, fans were taken on an emotional rollercoaster. The album traverses themes of self-destruction, growth, and turbulent relationships. But it is the album’s closing track, “High,” that leaves one of the most haunting and lingering impressions.

Disarming, Beatles-esque, and deceptively sweet, “High” is far from your average, cookie-cutter breakup anthem. Instead, it dives deep into human ego, regret, and the desperate yearning to remain relevant in the mind of someone who has walked away.

The Core Lyric: A Play on Words

At the heart of the song is its clever, defining hook:

“I hope you think of me high / I hope you think of me highly.”

Frontman Luke Hemmings has openly discussed the inspiration behind these lines, noting that the song carries an intentionally “narcissistic” note. In interviews, Hemmings described songwriting as an inherently self-absorbed act, and “High” leans entirely into that self-involvement.

The lyric plays on a dual meaning:

1. “Think of me high”: A bittersweet nod to altered states, lighthearted euphoria, or simply remembering the times when you were carefree, intoxicated, or purely blissful together.
2. “Think of me highly”: A plea for a positive reputation—a desire for an ex-partner to hold a favorable, respected view of you, even if things ended messy.

It is an undeniably self-involved wish. The narrator isn’t necessarily noble; they want to occupy space in their ex’s head, hoping they haven’t been completely erased or villainized.

Owning Up to Faults and False Expectations

What makes “High” resonate so deeply with listeners is its raw admission of inadequacy. In relationships, it is easy to shift blame, but 5SOS flips the lens inward.

Lines like, *”I know I’ll never meet your expectations,