Lily Allen Says Writing “West End Girl” About Her Divorce from David Harbour Was an “Act of Desperation”

Lily Allen told CBS Mornings (airing November 20, 2025) that creating music after the collapse of her marriage wasn’t optional — it was essential. Her new release, West End Girl, is a candid 14-track record that chronicles the end of that relationship and the emotional fallout that followed. The album was released October 24, 2025.

Allen said much of the record was written during an intense, concentrated 10-day period in December. She described the process as less about commerce and more about survival — admitting, in short, “It was an act of desperation.”

For Allen, the record functioned as therapy. She explained that releasing the songs allowed her to move forward: once the album was public, she felt liberated and finally able to continue with her life in a clearer place.

Representatives for David Harbour were contacted for comment regarding Allen’s CBS Mornings interview.

Allen has also been open about a difficult 2024, when she sought in‑patient treatment for her mental health. On her Miss Me? podcast she described coping with severe panic attacks and disordered eating during that period.

Musically and lyrically, West End Girl blends autobiographical detail with elements of fiction; several songs depict the marriage in an unflattering light, centering on broken promises and boundaries. Reflecting on the record in an October interview, Allen said she’s no longer consumed by anger and emphasized, “I don’t need revenge.”

Now in a stronger place, Allen is planning a U.K. tour in 2026 and has said she hopes to bring her two daughters — whom she shares with ex-husband Sam Cooper — along for the experience, with North American dates to follow.

Watch Allen’s full CBS Mornings interview below.

Lily Allen wrote most of her new record, “West End Girl,” in 10 days at the end of last year.

The album, @lilyallen‘s first in seven years, was written during the breakup of her marriage. In her only TV interview about her new music, Allen told @anthonymasoncbs why releasing the…

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 20, 2025

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