Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson, known professionally as Tove Lo, is a Swedish singe… Read Full Bio ↴Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson, known professionally as Tove Lo, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She is known for her raw, grunge-influenced take on pop music. Her honest, complex and autobiographical lyrical content has led to her being dubbed "the saddest girl in Sweden".

Raised in the Djursholm district of Danderyd, Lo is an alumna of the music school Rytmus Musikergymnasiet. She formed the rock band Tremblebee in 2006. After it disbanded, Lo pursued a career in songwriting and earned a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music in 2011. Working with producers Alexander Kronlund, Max Martin and Xenomania, she became a successful songwriter, while also recording and releasing her own compositions independently.

In 2013, Lo was signed to Universal Music, Island and Polydor. The following year, Lo rose to prominence with her debut album, Queen of the Clouds. It spawned the sleeper hit single "Habits (Stay High)", which peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as "Talking Body". Her second album, Lady Wood, was released in October 2016 and debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, "Cool Girl", became an international hit. Her follow-up records, Blue Lips (2017) and Sunshine Kitty (2019), also performed well, the latter spawning the song "Glad He's Gone", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

In addition to her solo work, Lo has co-written songs for other artists, including: Lorde's "Homemade Dynamite" (2017) and Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do" (2015), a song that garnered her Grammy Award and Golden Globe nominations. She has collaborated with many artists, such as Charli XCX, Flume, SG Lewis, Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue and Coldplay, among others.

Evil Spawn
Tove Lo Lyrics

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It's not the first time I screw you over
Why are you back here?
I guess that you see something to discover
But there's nothing there
You know what I am, and I will let you down.
Still you crave me
I'm evil spawn then, why do you hang around?
Yeah what's the point of giving it all?

I've finally broke you down
You still got me on your mind, got me on your mind
I've finally took you down
You still want me all the time, want me all the time
You put your hand over your chest
Try escape party and the rest,
The only thing you've ever made, for me
We've both got bleedin broken hearts
So now you're almost torn apart
The only thing you've ever made for me

I see it's begging, I'm good at lying
But you know that
And still you're open, and still you're trying
Try'n to get us back
Back to our first days, yeah I was good to you
Oh I was good to you
But then I turned back, I'm bored to death by you
It's true, what's the point of giving it all?

I've finally broke you down
You still got me on your mind, got me on your mind
I've finally took you down
You still want me all the time, want me all the time
You put your hand over your chest
Try escape party and the rest,
The only thing you've ever made, for me
We've both got bleedin broken hearts
So now you're almost torn apart
The only thing you've ever made for me

Still got your heart in my hand, I never get enough
Still got your heart in my hand, I never get enough

I've finally broke you down
You still got me on your mind, got me on your mind
I've finally took you down
You still want me all the time, want me all the time
You put your hand over your chest
Try escape party and the rest,
The only thing you've ever made, for me
We've both got bleedin broken hearts

So now you're almost torn apart
The only thing you've ever made for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tove Lo's "Evil Spawn" explore the cycle of a toxic relationship where one person repeatedly hurts the other but the other keeps coming back for more. The singer acknowledges that they have repeatedly let the other person down, yet the other person continues to crave their presence. The metaphor of "evil spawn" highlights the negative and destructive nature of the relationship.

The chorus reveals the power imbalance at play, where the singer has "finally broke[n] you down" yet the other person still wants them all the time. The lines "You put your hand over your chest / Try escape party and the rest" suggest that the other person is trying to protect themselves but still keeps getting drawn back into the relationship. The final lines highlight the tragic nature of the relationship, where both parties have "bleedin broken hearts" but the only thing they have made for each other is more pain.

Overall, "Evil Spawn" is a haunting exploration of the dynamics of a toxic relationship, highlighting the ways in which people can get trapped in patterns of behavior that ultimately cause more harm than good.

Line by Line Meaning

It's not the first time I screw you over
I have betrayed you before, why have you returned?

Why are you back here?
What is the reason for your return?

I guess that you see something to discover
Perhaps you believe there is still something to find in me

But there's nothing there
But there is nothing left to discover

You know what I am, and I will let you down.
You are aware of what I am, and I will inevitably disappoint you

Still you crave me
Despite this knowledge, you still yearn for me

I'm evil spawn then, why do you hang around?
So if I am this corrupt being, why do you still stick around?

Yeah what's the point of giving it all?
What is the purpose of putting forth effort?

I've finally broke you down
I have finally worn you down

You still got me on your mind, got me on your mind
You still think of me constantly

I've finally took you down
I have finally taken you down