"Ribs" is a song about the bittersweet process of growing up and realizing … Read Full Bio ↴"Ribs" is a song about the bittersweet process of growing up and realizing that repetitive memories of past moments and childhood account for so much of life. The lyrics, centered around the idea that 'this dream isn't feeling sweet', depict the feeling of growing up and being overwhelmed by both how much life has changed and how quickly that change happened. It is an ode to the nostalgia that comes with feeling lost and the innocence of childhood and emphasizes the need for belonging and feeling comfort in a chaotic world. In the chorus, Lorde sings about how laughter until their ribs get tough would never be enough, signifying that no style of comfort nor nostalgia could truly encapsulate the emotion she is feeling and going through. The song captures the feeling of wanting a time before and the desire to reach for the comfort of those memories, no matter how impossible it may be.

Ribs
Lorde Lyrics

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The drink you spilt all over me
'Lover's Spit' left on repeat
My mom and dad let me stay home
It drives you crazy, getting old

We can talk it so good
We can make it so divine
We can talk it good

How you wish it would be all the time

The drink you spilt all over me
'Lover's Spit' left on repeat
My mom and dad let me stay home
It drives you crazy, getting old

The drink you spilt all over me
'Lover's Spit' left on repeat
My mom and dad let me stay home
It drives you crazy, getting old

This dream isn't feeling sweet
We're reeling through the midnight streets
And I've never felt more alone
It feels so scary, getting old

We can talk it so good
We can make it so divine
We can talk it good
How you wish it would be all the time

This dream isn't feeling sweet
We're reeling through the midnight streets
And I've never felt more alone
It feels so scary, getting old

This dream isn't feeling sweet
We're reeling through the midnight streets
And I've never felt more alone
It feels so scary, getting old

I want 'em back (I want 'em back)
The minds we had (the minds we had)
How all the thoughts (how all the thoughts)
Moved 'round our heads (moved 'round our heads)
I want 'em back (I want 'em back)
The minds we had (the minds we had)
It's not enough to feel the lack
I want 'em back, I want 'em back, I want 'em

You're the only friend I need
Sharing beds like little kids
Laughing 'til our ribs get tough
But that will never be enough

You're the only friend I need
Sharing beds like little kids

Laughing 'til our ribs get tough
But that will never be enough

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ribs by Lorde are a contemplative ode to the anxiety of growing up and the changing circumstances that come with it. The first verse sets the scene of a carefree night tainted by the reminder that time is moving too fast. The chorus follows with a desire to hold onto the feeling of that night forever. The second verse dives even deeper into the fear of growing up and becoming alone. The repeating line, "It feels so scary, getting old," emphasizes the overwhelming dread of the unknown.

The bridge of the song is a mournful remembrance of how the mind used to effortlessly process the world around it. The final verse then mirrors the first, highlighting the intimacy shared with a friend that will never be the same again. The line "Laughing 'til our ribs get tough" strikes a somber tone as it reveals that even joy can't be preserved in time. The overall theme of the song can be summed up as a longing for what was or could have been, a notion that everyone can relate to.

Line by Line Meaning

The drink you spilt all over me
You spilled your drink on me

'Lover's Spit' left on repeat
We listened to 'Lover's Spit' over and over again

My mom and dad let me stay home
My parents let me stay home

It drives you crazy, getting old
Getting old is driving you crazy

We can talk it so good
We can speak so well about it

We can make it so divine
We can make it so perfect

How you wish it would be all the time
How you wish things could always be like this

This dream isn't feeling sweet
This dream isn't feeling good

We're reeling through the midnight streets
We're stumbling through the streets at night

And I've never felt more alone
I've never felt more lonely

It feels so scary, getting old
Getting old feels so scary

I want 'em back (I want 'em back)
I want them back

The minds we had (the minds we had)
Our previous thoughts and ideas

How all the thoughts (how all the thoughts)
All of our thoughts

Moved 'round our heads (moved 'round our heads)
Swirled around our minds

It's not enough to feel the lack
Feeling the absence isn't enough

I want 'em back, I want 'em back, I want 'em
I want them back

You're the only friend I need
You are my only friend

Sharing beds like little kids
We share beds like children

Laughing 'til our ribs get tough
We laugh until it hurts

But that will never be enough
But it's never enough

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ella Marija La Yelich O'connor, Joel Little

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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