Olivia Rodrigo's "Logical" Lyrics Reflect On Red Flags From a Past Relationship
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As summer fades away, autumn inches its way toward us and things start to slow down. With fewer happy hours on the calendar and cooler temps on the way, it's a good time to relax and reflect on our emotions. Thankfully, Olivia Rodrigo has provided us with the soundtrack of the season with her sophomore album GUTS. We're listening closely, analyzing her vulnerable lyrics, and applying them to events in our own lives and relationships... because why wouldn't we?
While GUTS is stacked with angsty honest accounts of past relationships (see: "Bad Idea Right?," "Get Him Back!," and "Love Is Embarrassing), Liv also puts her pen to work on achingly beautiful ballads like "Logical." The seventh track on the album dives into the irrational nature of love and how intense emotions can warp our minds when it comes to making major decisions.
So get in, grab some wine, and your favorite sour candy as we break down the lyrics of Olivia Rodrigo's "Logical" below.
Lyrics provided by Genius
[Verse 1]
Master manipulator
God, you’re so good at what you do
Come for me like a savior
And I’d put myself through hell for you
Hear all the rumors lately
That you always denied
And I fell for you like water
Falls from the February sky
But now the current’s stronger
No, I couldn’t get out if I tried
But you convinced me, baby
It was all in my mind
The first verse starts strong as Olivia details an ex who seemingly gaslit her into staying with them. Like in "Vampire" and "Favorite Crime," she admits she neglected her own needs for this person, and no matter how poorly she was treated by them, she's still in the thick of the relationship.
"I fell for you like water" reveals it was easy for her to catch feelings for the subject and as they get stronger like a current, it's harder for her to see herself out.
[Chorus]
Thinkin’ two plus two equals five, and
I’m the love of your life
‘Cause if rain don’t pour and sun don’t shine
Then changing you is possible (Ah, ah)
No, love is never logical
Now I'm no mathematician, but we all know two plus two does not equal five, and that's the whole point. Through the opening line of the chorus, Olivia reveals she was manipulated so much in the relationship that she could believe the most ridiculous and untrue things, like this math problem and the concept of changing or fixing someone. And let's be real, the power of a rose-colored lens is stronger than we'd all like to admit.
[Verse 2]
You built a giant castle
With walls so high I couldn’t see
The way it all unraveled
And all the things you did to me
You lied, you lied, you lied, oh
The second verse calls back to "Vampire" with lyrics about castle walls, so there's a possibility that "Logical" may be about the same subject.
When the lead single was released in June 2023, fans theorized Olivia's alleged relationship with Zack Bia inspired its lyrics. Liv has stayed tight-lipped and hasn't confirmed nor denied who the song is actually about, so it's safe to assume she'll leave "Logical" up for interpretation as well.
[Chorus]
And now you got me thinkin’
Two plus two equals five
And I’m the love of your life
‘Cause if rain don’t pour and sun don’t shine
Then changing you is possible
I guess love is never logical
The sky is green, the grass is red
And you mean all those words you said
I’m sure that girl is really your friend
Our problems are all solvable
‘Cause loving you is loving every
The second chorus expands, further showing how rational thinking barely exists when you're sporting rose-colored lenses with lyrics like, "The sky is green, the grass is red / And you mean all those words you said."
[Bridge]
Argument you held over my head
Brought up the girls you could have instead
Said I was too young, I was too soft
Can’t take a joke, can’t get you off
Oh, why do I do this?
I look so stupid
The bridge is like Dylan O'Brien and Sadie Sink's argument in Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" short film, except... so much worse. The subject of Olivia's song hits where it hurts, using factors like her age and naïvety against her.
[Chorus]
[Outro]
Logical, logical
Love is never logical
I know I’m half responsible
And that makes me feel horrible
Oh, logical, logical
Love is never logical
I know I could’ve stopped it all
God, why didn’t I stop it all?
Oh, logical, logical
Love is never logical
I know I’m half responsible
And that makes me feel horrible
Oh, logical, logical, love is never logical
I know I could’ve stopped it all
God, why didn’t I stop it all?
During the outro, Olivia admits defeat and responsibility, and she's seemingly riddled with guilt for not spying the red flags of the relationship earlier. She says she "could've stopped it all," but honestly? Some things are out of our control, and we shouldn't kick ourselves for not knowing any better in vulnerable moments.
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