The Hell Song


"The Hell Song" is a song by Canadian rock band Sum 41. The song was released on February 10, 2003, as the second single of the band's album Does This Look Infected?. "The Hell Song" became a top-40 hit in Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. On May 29, 2015, it was certified gold by the Recording [Industry Association of America].

Background

, the lead vocalist of Sum 41, wrote "The Hell Song" after learning that one of his friends had contracted HIV. He said, "That song just came out in, like, half an hour when I just found out," Whibley said. "I wasn't even meaning to write about it, but for some reason that just came out right away". According to former drummer Steve Jocz, as of 2024, the subject of the song was still in good health.

Music video

The music video was of a concert with dolls and action figures, with Sum 41's faces on those "performing" in front of a Lite-Brite screen with the band's name on it. They were joined with other action figures such as those of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne with his family, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Metallica, Eddie the Head, Gene Simmons, Spice Girls, Angus Young, Jesus Christ, Alice Cooper, Destiny's Child, George W. Bush and Ludacris. The video ends when police dolls arrive to break up the concert, and the band avoids arrest by taking off in a helicopter. The dolls' obscene finger gestures and nudity are comically censored, which parodies real life. The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld.
The music video was nominated for MTV [Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video|Best Breakthrough Video] & MTV Video [Music Award for Best Direction|Best Direction] at the 2003 MTV [Video Music Awards], losing both awards to Coldplay's "The Scientist".

Track listings

UK CD1
  1. "The Hell Song"
  2. "Over My Head (Better Off Dead)"
  3. "My Direction"
  4. "The Hell Song"
UK CD2
  1. "The Hell Song"
  2. "Still Waiting"
  3. "Rhythms"
  4. "The Hell Song"
UK 7-inch single
European CD single
  1. "The Hell Song"
  2. "Over My Head"
Australian CD single
  1. "The Hell Song"
  2. "Over My Head"
  3. "My Direction"
  4. "WW7 Pts 1 & 2"