Olivia
One Direction Lyrics

Four to three (and then)
This line refers to the time signature in music, where the band counts 'four' beats on one measure and 'three' beats on the next. 'And then' marks the transition from one measure to another.

And then you gotta play, lost your part
Here, the song talks about a musician who has lost their way while playing a piece, but is trying to get back on track by playing the next notes.

Which means you rest for four bars
To help regain focus and continue playing correctly, the musician takes a break of four beats, or a full measure, to compose themselves.

Right, three, stop, then three
This line leads into the chorus, where the singer reminds himself of the rhythm and tempo of the song, starting with three beats, taking a pause, and then continuing with another set of three beats.

Remember the day we were giving up
This line refers back to a time in the past where the artist and Olivia were struggling in their relationship.

When you told me I didn't give you enough
During this difficult time, Olivia had told the singer that they were not meeting her needs in the relationship.

And all of your friends were saying I'd be leaving you
Others around Olivia were warning her that the singer was likely to leave her.

She's lying in bed with my t-shirt on
The artist imagines Olivia wearing his t-shirt while she is sleeping, which is a comforting thought.

Just thinking how I went about it wrong
The artist is reflecting on past mistakes and regrets in the relationship, and trying to understand what they could have done differently.

This isn't the stain of a red wine, I'm bleeding love
The artist is making a metaphorical comparison, explaining that the dark color stain on their clothing is not caused by spilled red wine, but rather by the pain and love in their heart.

Please believe me, don't you see
The singer is pleading with Olivia to understand their sincerity and love for her.

The things you mean to me?
The artist is trying to express to Olivia how important she is to him and how much he values their relationship.

Oh I love you, I love you
The singer is repeatedly expressing their love to Olivia.

I love, I love, I love Olivia
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the singer's love for Olivia.

When you go and I'm alone
The singer is referring to a time when Olivia is not physically present, and how they miss her at that moment.

You live in my imagination
The artist is expressing how they think of Olivia often, and how she is a presence in their thoughts and imagination.

The summertime and butterflies
The artist is using summertime and butterflies as a metaphor for the happy feelings and experiences that Olivia has brought into their life.

All belong to your creation
The singer is crediting Olivia for the positive changes she has brought into their life.

I've been idolizing the light in your eyes, Olivia
The singer is admiring Olivia and the way her eyes 'shine', which is symbolic of her personality and who she is.

Don't let me go
The artist is afraid of losing Olivia, and they are pleading with her not to end their relationship. This line is repeated throughout the song.

Say what you're feeling and say it now
The artist is urging Olivia to speak her mind and openly communicate with him about her feelings, rather than leaving him in doubt or confusion about their relationship.

'Cause I got the feeling you're walking out
The artist is expressing his concern that Olivia may be losing interest or pulling away from their relationship.

And time is irrelevant when I've not been seeing you
The singer is confessing that when Olivia is absent from his life, time seems to lose meaning for him. He is conveying how much he misses her and how much she means to him.

The consequences of falling out
Here, the artist is explaining the negative implications and effects of ending their relationship.

There's something I'm having nightmares about
The singer is having bad dreams about losing Olivia, which shows how much he fears ending their relationship.

And these are the reasons I'm crying out to be with you
The singer is explaining that he is expressing his love and his need to be close to Olivia because he cannot imagine living without her.

I love you, it's all I do
The singer is restating their love for Olivia in another way, emphasizing how central and important their feelings for her are in their life.