Disappointed

"Disappointed" is a 1989 song by post-punk group Public Image Ltd. It was the first single from 9, their seventh studio album. Lyrically, the song was inspired by John Lydon's experiences with friends within the band throughout its history, who he commented often let him down. Musically, guitarist John McGeoch used an alternate tuning courtesy of Who guitarist Pete Townshend to begin composing the song. "Disappointed" was a commercial hit for the band, becoming its most successful UK single in three years and becoming an alternative rock radio hit in the US. It has since seen positive critical reception and Lydon has named the song as one of his personal favorites. Background "Disappointed" was written by the then-current members of Public Image Ltd (John Lydon, John McGeoch, Allan Dias, Bruce Smith), former member Lu Edmonds, and producer Stephen Hague. Lyrically the song was inspired by Lydon's experience with band turmoil caused by his friends: Disappointed' is what it says, it's just about the many and varied ways people let you down." He specifically cited former bandmates Keith Levene and Jah Wobble, of whom he said, "All they've done is turn around and criticize and moan like selfish, whiny spoiled brats and that's an awful thing to see friends behave that way." He later reflected, In another interview, Lydon explained, "Friends will let you down, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have friends. You should enjoy it for the very fact that they are human beings and fallible, that that very fallibility is what you should enjoy about human contact. Otherwise, really what you're asking for is sycophantic robots that merely compliment your ego. And there's no enjoyment in that." Lydon has since called "Disappointed" one of his favorite songs that he has written, commenting, "If I could ever call a song a friend, 'Disappointed' is one of them."