What's the first word of the song "Malibu" by Hole?

The first word of Hole’s song “Malibu” is “Crash.” The opening lyric begins with “Crash and burn,” immediately introducing the song’s recurring imagery of danger, fire, escape, and emotional collapse.

“Malibu” was released in 1998 as the second single from Hole’s album Celebrity Skin. Courtney Love wrote the lyrics, while the song’s music and arrangements were developed with guitarist Eric Erlandson and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

The track’s bright, radio-friendly sound contrasts with its darker lyrics. The verses describe desperation and self-destruction, while the repeated references to Malibu, the ocean, angels, and driving away create an uneasy tension between rescue and disappearance.

Listeners sometimes remember the opening as “Crash and burn” rather than identifying the first word alone. That makes “Crash” the precise answer to the question, while “Crash and burn” is the opening phrase.