Olivia Rodrigo's Song "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" is Filled with Taylor Swift References
When Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, Sour, dropped in New Zealand yesterday, hours before its release in the US, all anyone could talk about was the fourth track on the album, "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back." The song seemed familiar and it quickly became clear why. Olivia's mentor, Taylor Swift allowed her to interpolate "New Years Day" for the track. That means, Taylor and Jack Antonoff both have writing credits for the song. But that's not where the Taylor influence ends. In fact, the whole song seems to be inspired by Olivia's love for Taylor, just take a look at the lyrics below, provided by Genius.
[Verse 1]
I called you on the phone today
Just to ask you how you were
All I did was speak normally
Somehow I still struck a nerve
You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Never doubted myself so much
Like am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I hate that I gave you power over that kind of stuff
The theme of not feeling good enough is consistent throughout the album. In the first song, "Brutal," Olivia sings, "And I hate every song I write/And I'm not cool, and I'm not smart/And I can't even parallel park."
[Chorus]
'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
No, I don't understand
The title of the song includes a classic Taylor Swift easter egg. When you put together the numbers of "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" you get Taylor's lucky number 13.
[Verse 2]
And maybe in some masochistic way
I kind of find it all exciting
Like which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin'?
Fans of Taylor might see this as a reference to her song "Dear John" where she sings, "And I lived in your chess game/But you changed the rules every day/Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone."
[Chorus]
It's one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
[Bridge]
No, it's back and forth, did I say somethin' wrong?
It's back and forth, goin' over everything I said
It's back and forth, did I do somethin' wrong?
It's back and forth, maybe, this is all your fault
[Chorus]
Instead it's one step forward and three steps back
And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster's all I've ever had
Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don't understand
No, I don't understand
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