Throughout the track, Orla sings of the awkwardness that occurs when an ex makes contact after the break-up, inspired by her own experiences with an ex-boyfriend. In celebration of “Figure It Out” released in the United Kingdom, Orla went live on Instagram, commenting:
“It feels like it has a real bite to it, it feels like the feeling that I felt when I wrote it.“
“I wrote “Figure It Out” about desperately needing space–about asking for it, about being ignored and hoping the other person would eventually read between the lines. The verses detail the frustration of us politely circling around one another in the aftermath of the breakup, seeing each other at a New Year’s party, making conversation here and there… and then the tension builds towards the chorus and I just lose it. I felt angry one second and calm the next. I wanted the contrast in emotion between these two parts of the song to feel like night and day.“
– Orla Gartland’s press release for “Figure It Out”, via Her Campus
Figure It Out
Orla Gartland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I never said it
But I thought that you'd figure it out
I see your name light up on my phone
I feel a little differently about you than I did not long ago
You drank too much beer and you got afraid
You don't remember typing in my number
I say it's okay
Next new year's eve I'll see you there
We'll rotate around the room on different planets
I say I don't care
But I care
And I never say it but I fucking hate it
You ask if I mind
Then you're right there and it's not fair
Hey
I know I never said it
But I thought that you'd figure it out
Hey
Don't have the heart to break it
So I'm hoping you'll figure it
Out with my friends I'm speaking in codes
You know everything there is to know about me
It's hard to let go when you don't let go
And I heard that you've been doing fine
And renting my old room and I
Hope you don't resent me for the way that I've been dealing with it
I'm not dealing with it well
And I can't explain it
I'm more than just jaded
You ask if I mind
Then you're right there and it's not fair
Hey
I know I never said it
But I thought that you'd figure it out
Hey
Don't have the heart to break it
So I'm hoping you'll figure it out
I know I never said it
But I thought that you'd figure it out
Don't have the heart to break it
So I'm hoping you'll figure it out
It's not hard to read my mind
When I'm making it so obvious
So I'm hoping you'll figure it out
It's not hard to read my mind
When I'm making it so obvious
So I'm hoping you'll figure it out
It's not hard to read my mind
When I'm making it so obvious
I'm making it so obvious
It's not hard to read my mind
When I'm making it so obvious
So I'm hoping you'll figure it out
Orla Gartland's "Figure it Out" is a song about unspoken feelings and the difficulty of letting go of a past relationship. The song's first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with Orla admitting that even though she never explicitly expressed her feelings to her ex-partner, she thought that they would be able to figure out that she has been holding feelings for them. The song's chorus expresses Orla's hope that her ex-partner will be able to read her mind and realize her true feelings for them. However, despite these hopes, Orla admits that she cannot bring herself to openly confess her feelings, because she doesn't have the heart to break it off with them.
In the second verse of the song, Orla discusses how she is struggling to move on from the relationship. Even though she is speaking in codes to her friends to avoid the discussion of her ex-partner, she knows that her ex-partner still knows her better than anyone else. With this in mind, Orla still struggles with the urge to hold onto her ex-partner and the hope that they will one day get back together. The song's final chorus is particularly poignant, with Orla admitting that she is making her true feelings for her ex-partner "so obvious", and yet she is still struggling to confess them.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I never said it
The singer is aware that she has not expressed her true feelings and thoughts to the person she's addressing.
But I thought that you'd figure it out
The singer expected the person she's addressing to be able to understand or deduce her true thoughts and feelings without it being explicitly said.
I see your name light up on my phone
The singer is receiving a call or text message from the person she's addressing.
I feel a little differently about you than I did not long ago
The artist's feelings or attitude towards the person she's addressing have changed somewhat since they last interacted.
You drank too much beer and you got afraid
The person she's addressing consumed a lot of beer and became frightened or anxious.
You don't remember typing in my number
The person she's addressing has forgotten the act of saving her contact information on their phone.
I say it's okay
The singer is telling the person she's addressing that it's fine or not a big deal.
It's not okay
The artist is admitting that the situation or perhaps the person she's addressing is not okay with her.
Next new year's eve I'll see you there
The artist expects to encounter the person she's addressing on the next New Year's Eve celebration.
We'll rotate around the room on different planets
The artist imagines that she and the person she's addressing will move around the same room but feel or act like they're on different planets, indicating a sense of emotional distance or disconnect.
I say I don't care
The singer claims that she doesn't care, possibly to hide or downplay her true feelings.
But I care
The artist really does care, despite what she previously claimed.
And I never say it but I fucking hate it
The singer has negative feelings about the situation or the person she's addressing, but she has never explicitly expressed them.
You ask if I mind
The person she's addressing is inquiring as to whether the singer has an issue with something.
Then you're right there and it's not fair
The singer is unhappy about the fact that the person she's addressing is present or close to her when she's feeling uncomfortable or upset.
Don't have the heart to break it
The artist is implying that she cannot bring herself to tell the person she's addressing the truth, as it might be too hurtful or difficult.
So I'm hoping you'll figure it out
Instead of outright telling the person she's addressing, the artist is hoping they will understand or come to the realization on their own.
Out with my friends I'm speaking in codes
The singer is making cryptic or coded remarks in front of her friends, possibly to hide her true intentions or feelings.
You know everything there is to know about me
The person she's addressing is very familiar with her, possibly due to a previous relationship or acquaintance.
It's hard to let go when you don't let go
The artist finds it difficult to move on or distance herself from the situation or the person she's addressing, as they still maintain some sort of attachment or influence on her.
And I heard that you've been doing fine
The artist has heard through other sources or mutual acquaintances that the person she's addressing is doing well.
And renting my old room and I
The person she's addressing is renting a place that used to belong to the artist.
Hope you don't resent me for the way that I've been dealing with it
The singer hopes that the person she's addressing does not hold any ill will towards her for how she's handled the situation or their relationship.
I'm not dealing with it well
The artist admits that she's not handling the situation in a healthy or productive way.
And I can't explain it
The singer cannot find a way to describe or clarify her emotions or behavior surrounding the situation or the person she's addressing.
I'm more than just jaded
The singer is more than just tired or cynical, indicating perhaps a deep sense of sadness or disappointment.
It's not hard to read my mind
The singer feels that her thoughts and feelings are easy to deduce or interpret.
When I'm making it so obvious
The artist is being very clear or blatant about her thoughts and feelings.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Orla Gartland, Thomas Stafford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giorgossakkatos6101
"If I can't have your pain
Then I can't have nothing
No one knows me like you do
If I can't have your pain
Then I can't have nothing
And I don't wanna cry
And suddenly I'm on the other side"
Loved this as well! I hope we write a song together one day 😊🤘🏻
@abbyrwhite
"I don't have the heart to break it" thank you for being such a lyrical genius
@kimphi5372
De
@maxwellgrimsley
This is my favorite song you've ever made. Everything about it is gorgeous to me. I have chronic pain and a chronic illness I've been dealing with as well as ptsd, and your music, especially this song, has helped take me away from my pain a good bit. Thank you. I can't wait to see what you did with this music video, and if it's anything like what I've pictured in my mind.
@SimonMenard
stay strong bud, you have fire music taste
@maxwellgrimsley
@Simon Ménard Thank you so much. I Will! :)
@lifegeek5742
+
@jessicafarris-hunter7175
💕
@she3043
❤️❤️❤️❤️
@doddleoddle
SIIIIICK
@WouterWeggelaar
Very much so! You got a great guitar player and backing vocalist there, dodie