"ANYTHING BUT LOVE" is an unapologetic anthem of rejection. Tate McRae moves away from the sadness of heartbreak to pure, unadulterated annoyance. The track details a relationship where the partner was clearly disliked by everyone in her inner circle, including her family and even her dog. It paints a picture of an ex who is obsessed with "views" and status ("upper echelon"), while failing to actually "make the cut" in the real world.
The repetition of "My dad hates you, my dog hates you..." serves as validation. It’s not just Tate who sees through him; the people (and animals) with the best intuition about character despise him too.
Tate highlights the disparity in their lives. While he is "mad as fuck" sitting at home, she is on billboards and monster trucks. Her success is the ultimate payback for his attempts to use her for clout.
The pre-chorus exposes his insecurity. He wants to belong to the elite ("upper echelon"), but Tate brutally reminds him that "we know you don't make that cut," stripping away his pretenses of coolness.