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.
Not Made for This World
Tove Lo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ready for the war
And you hang with the stones round the world on tour
And you bought me a million diamonds
But lost them by the shore
Is it bad to believe you I look in the water
And the water loving monster who feeds my every lie
And I know my head is twisted but it keeps me sanitized
That I know I can keep you in my mind
Dream till I'm dead, then set me on fire
Flames and the smoke keep taking me higher
Love and pretend, we'll soon be expired
We would be not made for this world
Not made for this world
So I tell you a little secret
Who knew that I could fly?
I'm the queen of the world in the trees up high
And if you wanna come with me
You just say the word
I'll be waving my wand and we both turn into birds
And the water loving monster who feeds my every lie
Cause I need to pretend it's you and I
Dream till I'm dead, then set me on fire
Flames and the smoke keep taking me higher
Love and pretend, we'll soon be expired
We would be not made for this world
Not made for this world
We got a happy place
Where nobody else can go
You and I
Dream till I'm dead then set me on fire
Flames and the smoke keep taking me higher
Love and pretend, we'll soon be expired
(And we were not made for this)
We would be not made for this world
Dream till I'm dead then set me on fire
Flames and the smoke keep taking me higher
Love and pretend, we'll soon be expired
(And we were not made for this)
We would be not made for this world
Not made for this world
Not made for this world
Not made for this world
We would be not made for this world
The lyrics of Tove Lo's "Not Made for This World" speaks about the struggle of trying to fit in with the world, but feeling out of place. The first verse describes someone who is strong and powerful, ready for any challenge. But although they may have all the wealth and fame in the world, they have lost something valuable to them (possibly love). The line "Is it bad to believe you I look in the water" suggests that the singer is trying to find answers in their reflection, trying to make sense of their current predicament. In the chorus, the singer repeats "Dream till I'm dead, then set me on fire," which may signify that although they have been struggling, they want to live life to the fullest while they can, but they are also aware that this lifestyle is destructive and unsustainable.
The second verse then jumps to a fantastical setting, where the singer is flying high with the ability to turn into birds. This may symbolize a desire to escape reality and live in a world where they feel more comfortable. The water monster that the singer speaks of may represent the fear that haunts them, feeding them lies that causes them to question their own sanity. The repetition of the phrase "Dream till I'm dead, then set me on fire" may signify that no matter where they go or what they do, they are in a constant state of unsatisfaction, and it's taking a toll on their mental health.
The bridge speaks about a "happy place" where nobody else can go, suggesting that the singer has found solace in a place where they can be themselves and escape from the pressures of reality. The song ends with the repetition of "Not made for this world," implying that sometimes we may never fully fit into the world we live in, and that's okay.
Line by Line Meaning
So you fought off a thousand gangsters
You have faced many challenges and come out victorious
Ready for the war
You are always prepared for any obstacle that comes your way
And you hang with the stones round the world on tour
You travel the world with famous people and have a glamorous lifestyle
And you bought me a million diamonds
You have given me extravagant gifts
But lost them by the shore
Unfortunately, you have lost these gifts
Is it bad to believe you I look in the water
I question my trust in you, and wonder if I can see the true reflection of us in the water
And the water loving monster who feeds my every lie
I have inner demons that make me lie to myself and others
Cause I need to pretend it's you and I
I am creating a façade of us in my mind
And I know my head is twisted but it keeps me sanitized
I understand my thoughts are unhealthy, but it keeps me feeling clean and pure
That I know I can keep you in my mind
I choose to hold onto my fantasy of you, instead of facing reality
Dream till I'm dead, then set me on fire
I want to continue living in my dream world until I die, when I finally wake up and accept reality
Flames and the smoke keep taking me higher
Burning my illusions makes me feel like I'm transcending to a new level of existence
Love and pretend, we'll soon be expired
My love for you is only imaginary, and will soon come to an end
We would be not made for this world
Our love and our illusions are not meant for this world and this reality
So I tell you a little secret
I have something to reveal to you
Who knew that I could fly?
I have discovered a new power within myself
I'm the queen of the world in the trees up high
I feel powerful and in control when I'm alone in nature
And if you wanna come with me
If you want to join me in my fantasy
You just say the word
All you have to do is ask
I'll be waving my wand and we both turn into birds
I will make us transform into something that can fly away from reality
We got a happy place
We have a place where we can escape and be happy
Where nobody else can go
This place is only for us and no one else
Dream till I'm dead then set me on fire
I will continue to dream until I die and then face reality head on
Flames and the smoke keep taking me higher
I will continue to burn away my illusions and gradually rise up
Love and pretend, we'll soon be expired
Our love and our fantasies will soon be gone
We would be not made for this world
Our love and our fantasies don't belong in this world
Not made for this world
We are not meant to live in this world with our illusions
Writer(s): Michel Flygare, Tove Lo, Tobias Jimson
Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Angel Swain
amazing. this song deserves more credit.
Pandele Manevra
Underrated song af
AyeRae
I really love this song!
Alexander Robertson
I had to see what all the talk was about with this song. Now I understand. I love it so much!
sarah bouthillier
this is her best song by far
Kai Grant
I love this song so much. I want to but it on iTunes
Ohhh Please
I love this song so much 😫😲
Josh Peck
Oh yeah this one is awesome!! Goes super hard
Johnathan Leavell
This song is jamming. My baby Tove has such a sexy voice. Forever loving me some Tove Lo.
Aurvandruil
love this song from india