Ex’s & Oh’s (Elle King)

“Ex’s & Oh’s” by Elle King is a song about a woman who has a pattern of breaking up and making up with her partners, reflecting on her tumultuous relationships.

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The song’s title, “Ex’s & Oh’s,” immediately sets the tone for a narrative about past relationships and the cycle of breaking up and getting back together.

The lyrics “Well, I had me a boy, turned him into a man / I showed him all the things that he didn’t understand” suggest a woman who has experienced and influenced the growth of her partners, but also hints at a pattern of dissatisfaction.

The repetition of “And I know you still think about the times we had” and “I had a summer lover down in New Orleans” further emphasizes her history of relationships and the lingering effects they have on her and her exes.

The chorus, “They always wanna come, but they never wanna leave,” encapsulates the theme of her ex-partners’ inability to fully let go, indicative of a cycle of attraction and repulsion.

Overall, the song paints a picture of a woman who is both empowered and burdened by her past relationships, navigating the complexities of love and heartbreak.