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.

WTF Love Is
Tove Lo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got fire eyes, glitter in my tear lines
And I'm coming down, ready for some new sounds
And I'm holding up all that I can think of
But, where are you?
Where are you?

(Oh)
Lonely babe, stranded on the dance floor

Look for me, I know that I'm a handful
But you get me, know what you signed up for
Live up to the best and the worst of your dreams

(Oh) All the cards with all the love cliches
I wouldn't have it any other way
Shake your head, you don't believe this
Then what the fuck do you think love is? (Oh)
All the cards with all the love cliches
I wouldn't have it any other way
Shake your head, you don't believe this
Then what the fuck do you think love is?

I can feel the lights tingling from the sunrise
And I see the signs clinging to our last nights
Thinking you and I, we are all the same kind
So where are you
Where are you?

(Oh)
Lonely babe, stranded on the dance floor
Look for me, I know that I'm a handful
But you get me, know what you signed up for
Live up to the best and the worst of your dreams

(Oh) All the cards with all the love cliches
I wouldn't have it any other way
Shake your head, you don't believe this
Then what the fuck do you think love is? (Oh)
All the cards with all the love cliches
I wouldn't have it any other way
Shake your head, you don't believe this
Then what the fuck do you think love is?

With a hand like this I'm folding (oh)
All you need, yeah, I'll be holding
(What the fuck do you think love is?) (Oh)
With a hand like this I'm folding (oh)
All you need, yeah, I'll be holding
(What the fuck do you think love is?)

Where are you? (Oh)
Lonely babe
(Can't focus)
Look for me
(I lost you)
You get me
(What you wanted)
Live up to the best
Live up to the best and the worst of your dreams

(Ah! Oh) All the cards with all the love cliches
I wouldn't have it any other way
Shake your head, you don't believe this
Then what the fuck do you think love is? (Oh)
All the cards with all the love cliches
I wouldn't have it any other way
Shake your head, you don't believe this
Then what the fuck do you think love is?

Cling my hand like this and fold it, oh oh
All you need, yeah, I'll be holding
(What the fuck do you think love is?)
Cling my hand like this and fold it, oh
All you need, yeah, I'll be holding
(What the fuck do you think love is?)

Ugh, fuck!
Ah, I need another

Overall Meaning

"Tove Lo's song WTF Love Is" is a complex song about love and relationships. The song is about a woman who is searching for love but cannot find it, and is therefore frustrated and confused. She describes herself as having "fire eyes" and "glitter in [her] tear lines" and is looking for something different and new. The song starts with her searching for someone to share her life with and wondering where they are. She feels lonely and isolated on the dance floor and asks her potential partner to look for her. Although she knows she is a "handful," she wants her partner to understand her and live up to the best and worst parts of their dreams.

The chorus of the song asks the listener what they think love is. Tove Lo refers to "all the cards with all the love clichés," indicating that she is looking for something real and meaningful. She wants someone who can understand her and is not afraid to be vulnerable with her. In the second verse, she talks about feeling the signs clinging to their last nights and realizing that she and her partner are all the same kind. However, she is still searching and wondering where her partner is.

Line by Line Meaning

I got fire eyes, glitter in my tear lines
I am feeling emotional and ready for new experiences

And I'm coming down, ready for some new sounds
I am looking for excitement and novelty

And I'm holding up all that I can think of
I am doing my best with what I have

But, where are you?
I am looking for companionship and support

Lonely babe, stranded on the dance floor
I feel isolated in my search for connection

Look for me, I know that I'm a handful
I am complex and may present challenges, but I am worth it

But you get me, know what you signed up for
You understand me and accept me for who I am

Live up to the best and the worst of your dreams
Be prepared for the highs and lows of our relationship

All the cards with all the love cliches
We may fall into common patterns of love, but that's okay

I wouldn't have it any other way
This is exactly what I want

Shake your head, you don't believe this
If you don't think this is real love, then what is?

Then what the fuck do you think love is?
I truly believe this is love, and I won't settle for less

I can feel the lights tingling from the sunrise
I am optimistic about the future and open to new possibilities

And I see the signs clinging to our last nights
I am nostalgic for what we have shared in the past

Thinking you and I, we are all the same kind
I feel a deep connection to you and see us as similar

Lonely babe, stranded on the dance floor
I am still searching for someone to dance with

With a hand like this I'm folding (oh)
I am vulnerable and willing to give up control

All you need, yeah, I'll be holding
I will support you and be there for you when you need me

Where are you? (Oh)
I am still searching for you

Can't focus
I am distracted and unfocused without you

I lost you
I am feeling the pain of losing someone I care about

What you wanted
I am ready to give you what you desire

Cling my hand like this and fold it, oh oh
I am physically and emotionally reaching out to you

All you need, yeah, I'll be holding
I am committed to being there for you

Ugh, fuck!
Expressing frustration or annoyance

Ah, I need another
I am seeking something more or different

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAKOB BO JERLSTROEM, LUDVIG KARL DAGSSON SOEDERBERG, LO TOVE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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