Ella Yelich-O'Connor, better known by her stage name Lorde, is one of my favorite artists of all time. She’s an incredible musician, an independent spirit, and a truly exceptional writer.
Her music has left me breathless time and time again and her lyrics are emblematic and relatable. She tells the story of adolescence-- sprawling summer days, house parties, spurned lovers, and more. Her two albums, Pure Heroine and Melodrama, are lyrically astounding. Here are nine of my absolute favorite lyrics from Lorde.
1. “This dream isn’t feeling sweet / We’re reeling through the midnight streets / And I’ve never felt more alone / It feels so scary, getting old.” -Ribs
This song always brings waves of nostalgia as I remember running around outside with my siblings and eating ice cream on summer nights as a kid. This line resonates with me now as a semi-adult, growing up and realizing I’ll never feel that free and young ever again. Because when we’re young we idolize growing up and being independent. But we don’t take into account all the responsibility and difficulties that come with being on our own.
2. “But we’re the greatest / They’ll hang us in the Louvre / Down the back, but who cares? / Still the Louvre.” -The Louvre
The Louvre is a sweet, upbeat song that reminds me of a sunny summer afternoon. Ella's relationship is still in the honeymoon phase where her partner can do no wrong. She's idealizes her relationship and wants to hang it up like a piece of art. It's a tongue-in-cheek line that portrays the obsession new love often holds.
3. “God I wish I believed you / When you told me this was my home.” -Hard Feelings
Hard Feelings is probably my favorite Lorde song of all time. It’s definitely a breakup song where the pain is still fresh and the process of healing is just beginning. This lyric in particular is raw and vulnerable as Ella laments what is now broken. She knows that her relationship is over and the metaphorical home she found in her partner is gone. There's a sense of finality and regret surrounding the whole thing.
4. “When you’ve outgrown a lover / The whole world knows but you / It’s time to let go of this endless summer afternoon.” -Hard Feelings
An endless summer afternoon is full of warmth and freedom and bliss. Ella idealized her relationship and found it hard to come to terms with reality. Relationships take work. Just ask anyone in the world.
5. “I light all the candles / Cut flowers for all my rooms / I care for myself the way I used to care about you” -Hard Feelings
After putting all the energy, time, and effort into a failed relationship, it’s hard to look up and realize you’re alone. Here, Ella recognizes she has to gather all the love and care she used to give her partner and project it onto herself.
6. “I ride the subway, read the signs / I let the seasons change my mind / I love it here, since I stopped needing you.” -Writer In the Dark
There’s always moments after a major breakup when you look up and realize you’re actually doing alright. Here, I imagine Ella riding the subway through the city, alone but free.
7.“All the double-edged people and schemes / They make a mess, then go home and get clean / You’re my best friend and we’re dancing in a world alone.”-A World Alone
Growing up, you realize that some people don’t always have the purest intentions. People cheat, lie, and scheme all the time. A symptom of growing up is becoming more closed off and trusting less people in your life.
8. "(And I like you) / I love these roads where the houses don't change / (And I like you) / Where we can talk like there's something to say/ (And I like you) / I'm glad that we stopped kissing the tar on the highway." -400 Lux
This song always reminds me of high school and driving aimlessly around with my friends. We would always complain about how bored we were as we drove through the town we grew up in. As teenagers, being able to drive is the ultimate form of freedom. Ella falls in love while driving around her hometown, looking at all the neighborhoods she knew by heart.
9. “Well those great whites, they had big teeth / Hope they bite you / Thought you said that you would always be in love / But you’re not in love no more.” -Green Light
This is the ultimate breakup song that you scream-sing along to when you’re still pissed at your ex and hurting underneath the anger. Ella invokes the image of great white sharks swarming at her spurned lovers feet, eating up his lies. It's a crushing feeling to watch someone fall out of love with you.
