1 step forward 3 steps back
Olivia Rodrigo Lyrics


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Called you on the phone today
Just to ask you how you were
All I did was speak normally
Somehow I still struck a nerve

You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Never doubted myself so much
Like, am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I hate that I give you power over that kind of stuff

'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
No, I don't understand

And maybe in some masochistic way
I kinda find it all exciting
Like, which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin'?

It's one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand

No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?
It's back and forth, goin' over everything I said
It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?
It's back and forth, maybe this is all your fault

Instead it's one step forward and three steps back
And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster is all I've ever had
Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back



Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy
I don't understand
No, I don't understand

Overall Meaning

Olivia Rodrigo's "1 step forward, 3 steps back" is a ballad about a tumultuous and emotionally unstable relationship. The song describes the singer's struggle to comprehend their partner's erratic behavior, which constantly leaves them feeling uncertain about their relationship's future. She calls him to ask how he's doing, but despite speaking normally, it often leads to a fight, making her question how he feels about her. The chorus follows the pattern of one step forward, three steps back, suggesting that actions that move the relationship forward are always met with a setback.


The second verse shifts the lyrics to the singer's perspective, and she explains how she craves the allure of the instability in the relationship, which is frustrating and incomprehensible. She even finds the repetition of the drama exciting, wondering what kind of lover she'll get that day, someone who will walk her to the door or someone who will make her cry on the way home. She's back and forth, and it's unclear if she or her partner is to blame for the constant turmoil.


Despite the relationship's downsides, the chorus concludes that the singer feels trapped, and she cannot imagine leaving the roller coaster of the relationship, which is all she's ever had. The song's final lines echo the confusion of the choruses: "Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand. No, I don't understand."


Line by Line Meaning

Called you on the phone today
I contacted you through a phone call


Just to ask you how you were
I inquired about your wellbeing


All I did was speak normally
I didn't use any unusual tone or language


Somehow I still struck a nerve
My ordinary conversation still managed to upset you


You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Your behavior and actions are affecting my mental state negatively


Never doubted myself so much
I have never been so unsure of my own worth


Like, am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I am questioning my attractiveness and whether I am enjoyable to be around


I hate that I give you power over that kind of stuff
I despise that you have control over my self-esteem and self-worth


'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
The progress in our relationship is always short-lived


I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
You only care for me until I upset you, then everything changes


Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
I am confused about your true feelings towards me


And maybe in some masochistic way
Perhaps in a twisted manner


I kinda find it all exciting
I sort of find this instability thrilling


Like, which lover will I get today?
I wonder which version of you I will interact with today


Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin'?
Will you treat me kindly or hurt me before I leave?


No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?
It's a constant cycle of uncertainty and doubt about my actions and words


It's back and forth, goin' over everything I said
I keep obsessing over every little thing I said and wondering if it triggered your anger


It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?
I keep questioning if my actions were inappropriate


It's back and forth, maybe this is all your fault
I start blaming you for the instability in our relationship


Instead it's one step forward and three steps back
Our romantic progress is always followed by regression


And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster is all I've ever had
I would break up with you, but this unpredictability is all I have ever experienced in love


Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy
I am unsure of your emotions towards me


I don't understand
I cannot comprehend the constant instability in our relationship




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jack Antonoff, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Dini-oq2se

"1 step forward, 3 steps back"

Called you on the phone today
Just to ask you how you were
All I did was speak normally
Somehow I still struck a nerve

You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Never doubted myself so much
Like am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I hate that I gave you power over that kind of stuff

'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy? I don't understand
No, I don't understand

And maybe in some masochistic way
I kind of find it all exciting
Like which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin'?

It's one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy? I don't understand

No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?
It's back and forth, going over everything I said
It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?
It's back and forth, maybe, this is all your fault instead

It's one step forward and three steps back
And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster's all I've ever had
Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy?
I don't understand
No, I don't understand



@alonsorojasvalenzuela9667

Olivia Rodrigo - 1 step forward, 3 steps back (Lyric)

I called you on the phone today
Just to ask you how you were
All I did was speak normally
Somehow I still struck a nerve

You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Never doubted myself so much
Like, am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I hate that I give you power over that kinda stuff

'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
No, I don't understand

And maybe in some masochistic way
I kind of find it all exciting
Like, which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home crying?

It's one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand

No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?
It's back and forth, going over everything I said
It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?
It's back and forth, maybe this is all your fault

Instead it's one step forward and three steps back
And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster's all I ever had
Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy
I don't understand
No, I don't understand



@orian5445

1 step forward 3 steps back lyrics:

[verse 1]

Called you on the phone today,
Just to ask you how you were

All I did was speak normally,
Somehow I still struke a nerve

You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Never doubted myself so much
Like, am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I hate that I give you power, over that kind of stuff.

[chorus 1]

'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back,
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
No, I don't understand.

[verse 2]

And maybe in some masochistic way
I kinda find it all exciting
Like which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin'?

[chorus 2]

It's one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand.

[bridge]

No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?

It's back and forth, goin' over everything I said
It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?
It's back and forth, maybe this is all your fault
Instead.

[chorus 3]

it's one step forward and three steps back
And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster is all I've ever had
Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy
I don't understand
No, I don't understand



All comments from YouTube:

@MTV

HOW ARE YOU WRITING THE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD ON EACH SONG???

@dayaoof8907

Hi

@emiliahelena8059

Ah mtv you're finally here

@anushkaroy3795

Exactly😭

@gabriellahernandez3759

AHHHHH

@r.l.t4455

MTV what's up???? how was your week so far?

150 More Replies...

@spicylime415

I’m so lucky to live in the time that Olivia started her music career.

@mitchelkirtchloves34

I just tried making my own song inspired by her its called CUT ME DOWN
please and tell me if its good /bad
its in this Channels Playlist...
I would love to hear back from you.💜💜.

@bubbli_xx1704

@@mitchelkirtchloves34 I love it ❤️

@victoryacox9651

I KNOW

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