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.

Keep It Simple
Tove Lo Lyrics

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I've been deep down in the dirt for some time
Not a clear sound from my heart or my mind
'Cause these words are clinging on for dear life
But I'm breathing, I'm breathing, I'm breathing

You got body and my knees, they go weak
Lie awake and read your sext, I can't sleep
I wish I wanted what you want, not yet free

But I'm breathing, I'm breathing, I'm breathing

Let me keep it simple
So I don't have to face ya
Let it be just my call
'Cause I ain't ready for ya
Let me keep it simple
So I don't have to face ya
Let it be just my call
'Cause I ain't ready for ya

I ain't ready, I ain't ready
I ain't ready, I ain't ready
I ain't ready, I ain't ready
I ain't ready, I ain't ready

I go to bed with you, but dream about him
You think I want to? No, I hate that he wins
How to forget how fucking broken I've been
But I'm healing, I'm healing, I'm healing

Let me keep it simple
So I don't have to face ya
Let it be just my call
'Cause I ain't ready for ya
(I ain't ready, I ain't ready)
Let me keep it simple
So I don't have to face ya
Let it be just my call
'Cause I ain't ready for ya
(I ain't ready, I ain't ready)

Physical to trick your heart
You are moving on
Physical to feel okay
That's what people say
Physical I better try
So this ain't goodbye, ay, ay, oh!

Physical to trick your heart
You are moving on (I ain't ready)
Physical to feel okay
That's what people say (I ain't ready)
Physical I better try
So this ain't goodbye, ay (No, no! Let me keep it simple)

Physical to trick your heart
You are moving on
Physical to feel okay
That's what people say
Physical I better try
So this ain't goodbye, ay (I ain't ready for ya)

Let me keep it simple
So I don't have to face ya

Let it be just my call
'Cause I ain't ready for ya

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tove Lo's "Keep It Simple" reflects the struggles of someone who is not yet ready to move on from a past relationship. The line, "I go to bed with you, but dream about him," suggests that even though the singer is physically intimate with someone new, their thoughts and emotions are still tied to their ex. The singer admits that they are still broken and healing but at the same time, they are struggling with their own desires and needs. The lyrics "You got body and my knees, they go weak" express a physical attraction to the new partner, while the lyrics "I wish I wanted what you want" suggests that the singer is not yet emotionally invested.

The chorus of the song, "Let me keep it simple, so I don't have to face ya, let it be just my call 'cause I ain't ready for ya," is a plea to keep the relationship casual and free of any emotional attachment. The repeated phrase "I ain't ready" reinforces the singer's reluctance to commit to anything serious with the new partner.

Overall, the song speaks to the complexities of moving on from a past relationship and finding the courage to open oneself up to new love. The lyrics capture the mixed emotions and conflicting desires that come with navigating a new relationship while still healing from heartbreak.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been deep down in the dirt for some time
I've been struggling and feeling lost for a while now

Not a clear sound from my heart or my mind
I am feeling confused and unable to make sense of my emotions

'Cause these words are clinging on for dear life
I am holding onto my feelings tightly and it's difficult to express them

But I'm breathing, I'm breathing, I'm breathing
Despite my struggles, I am still alive and moving forward

You got body and my knees, they go weak
You have a physical effect on me and make me feel vulnerable

Lie awake and read your sext, I can't sleep
I am thinking about your sexual messages at night and it's keeping me awake

I wish I wanted what you want, not yet free
I am not ready to fully commit to your desires and am grappling with my own issues

Let me keep it simple So I don't have to face ya Let it be just my call 'Cause I ain't ready for ya
I am trying to simplify things so I can avoid confronting my feelings for you, as I am not yet ready for a committed relationship

I go to bed with you, but dream about him
I am physically intimate with you, but emotionally attached to someone else

You think I want to? No, I hate that he wins
I don't actually want to be with you, but am using you as a distraction from my feelings for another person

How to forget how fucking broken I've been
I am struggling to move on from past hurt and trauma

But I'm healing, I'm healing, I'm healing
Despite my struggles, I am actively working on getting better

Physical to trick your heart You are moving on Physical to feel okay That's what people say
Having physical intimacy with someone can make it seem like you're moving on from emotional pain, but it's not necessarily true

Physical I better try So this ain't goodbye, ay, ay, oh!
I might give physical intimacy a try in order to avoid saying goodbye to you completely

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALI PAYAMI, LO TOVE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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