Aplin developed a fanbase by posting performance videos to YouTube in 2008. Her most popular videos include her original composition "Home", and covers of "The Liar and the Lighter" by You Me At Six, "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry and "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green. She has described her music as "very family orientated, very personal". In July 2010, Aplin performed on her local radio station BBC Wiltshire. Her first release was the 5-track Acoustic EP which was released on the iTunes Store on 13 September 2010. It reached the top 25 in the UK iTunes album chart, and features the song "Reverse" which was used on E4 TV show Made in Chelsea.
Her debut album English Rain was released in May 2013, to positive reviews it debuted and peaked at number 2 in the UK album charts, along with new single "Panic Cord", which peaked at number 19 in the UK.
Keep Pushing Me
Gabrielle Aplin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm lost for words I don't know what to say
You're smiling at me like a wolf
I close my eyes as my skin crawls away
You can keep on making lists
I'll be happy making my mistakes
You'll be ticking off your boxes
I won't stay but I can't leave
Some twisted sense of loyalty
You make me love the things I hate
Keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
Please keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
Pulling wings off butterflies
Just to hide the pain you feel inside
Keep telling yourself you're in charge
Telling yourself it'll be alright
And you'll stay happy in the dark
I'll be drifting out towards the light
When you start to speak your mind
I'll just turn around and roll my eyes
I won't stay but I can't leave
Some twisted sense of loyalty
You make me love the things I hate
Keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
Please keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
Stop breathing down my neck
Do you understand me, yet?
Sometimes you have to lose
I'm living life for me not for you
I won't stay but I can't leave
Some twisted sense of loyalty
You make me love the things I hate
Keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
I won't stay but I can't leave
Some twisted sense of loyalty
You make me love the things I hate
Keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
In "Keep Pushing Me," Gabrielle Aplin sings about the struggles of a toxic relationship. At the beginning of the song, she describes how she feels when she sees her partner's face, expressing that she's lost words and feels uncomfortable around them. She also mentions that her partner is smiling at her like a wolf, which makes her skin crawl. Despite her discomfort, she acknowledges that there is a twisted sense of loyalty that keeps her from leaving the relationship entirely.
Gabrielle also talks about how her partner focuses on making lists and ticking off boxes, while she's happy with making mistakes and planning her own path. She reveals that her partner pulls the wings off butterflies, which is a metaphor for causing pain to others to alleviate their own inner turmoil. Gabrielle accepts that her partner is content with living in the dark, but she has found her own source of light and is starting to drift towards it.
In the latter half of the song, Gabrielle asserts her independence and tells her partner to stop breathing down her neck. She knows that she needs to live her own life, rather than living it for someone else. However, despite all of this, Gabrielle still feels pulled towards her partner due to their deep-rooted history and loyalty.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I see your face
Whenever I lay eyes on you
I'm lost for words I don't know what to say
I'm at a loss for words, unsure of how to react
You're smiling at me like a wolf
Your grin is like that of a predator
I close my eyes as my skin crawls away
I'm disgusted and uncomfortable, physically and emotionally
You can keep on making lists
You can continue to organize and plan
I'll be happy making my mistakes
I'm content with missteps and learning as I go
You'll be ticking off your boxes
You'll be checking off tasks from a list
I'll be busy planning my escape
I'll be focused on finding a way out
Pulling wings off butterflies
Causing pain to innocent creatures
Just to hide the pain you feel inside
In order to mask your own hurt and suffering
Keep telling yourself you're in charge
Convincing yourself you have control
Telling yourself it'll be alright
Reassuring yourself of a positive outcome
And you'll stay happy in the dark
You'll remain content in your ignorance
I'll be drifting out towards the light
I'll be moving towards enlightenment and understanding
When you start to speak your mind
When you begin to share your thoughts and feelings
I'll just turn around and roll my eyes
I'll dismiss what you have to say
Stop breathing down my neck
Stop invading my personal space and being overbearing
Do you understand me, yet?
Have you comprehended my message and behavior?
Sometimes you have to lose
Occasionally you must experience defeat
I'm living life for me not for you
I'm prioritizing myself and my well-being over your desires
I won't stay but I can't leave
I can't continue to exist in this state but I can't exit completely
Some twisted sense of loyalty
I feel compelled to remain due to a distorted notion of devotion
You make me love the things I hate
You cause me to have positive feelings towards things I despise
Keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
Continue to distance me from you, don't stop pushing me out
Please keep pushing me, pushing me, keep pushing me away
Kindly maintain the action of pushing me away
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.