1 step forward, 3 steps back (Olivia Rodrigo)

“1 step forward, 3 steps back” by Olivia Rodrigo is a song about the emotional turmoil and frustration of a relationship that feels like it’s constantly moving backward despite efforts to move forward.

Did you know?

The song’s title, “1 step forward, 3 steps back,” immediately sets the tone for a narrative of struggle and disappointment.

The lyrics, such as “You’re still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can’t replace” and “I know that I gave you my heart, but you stomped it to the ground,” vividly depict the pain and lingering effects of a failed relationship.

Rodrigo’s use of metaphors like “wine-stained dress” and “stomped it to the ground” emphasizes the irreversibility and intensity of the emotional damage.

The repetition of the phrase “1 step forward, 3 steps back” throughout the song underscores the cyclical nature of the emotional journey, where progress is constantly undermined by setbacks.

This interpretation is consistent with Rodrigo’s known style of introspective and emotionally raw songwriting, making it a plausible and widely accepted reading of the song’s meaning.