Olivia Rodrigo has released a new banger, but the actual meaning behind her 'expectations' lyrics might surprise you. Over her career, she has dropped complex songs about love and her love/hate relationship with it. 'drop dead' is a beautiful ode to early infatuation, 'the cure' explores love's limits, and 'love is embarrassing' is exactly what the title says. Now, 'expectations' delves deeper into her relationships and dating life—but who is the song about?
What Are Olivia Rodrigo's 'Expectations' Lyrics About?
On first glance, 'expectations' appears to call out an ex. She begins: “I met him at a party, I think he was on drugs / He wasn't smart or funny, I convinced myself he was / He had a great apartment, and a car his parents bought / I thought that he was perfect, and now his number's blocked.” The chorus reinforces this: “I won't settle for a guy with a fake job / He seems so desperate for lovin', but, baby, I'm not / Gave my heart with zero stipulations / Now, I take careful consideration. These days, I've got expectations.”
Who Are Olivia Rodrigo's 'Expectations' Lyrics About?
While some exes and past dates catch strays, the lyrics actually seem to be Olivia poking fun at her own behaviour. In the first pre-chorus, she sings tongue-in-cheek: “Took a couple months / But now I am secure / I am so evolved / Now I ask for more, and more, and more, and more, and more.” Then in the second verse, she switches to show she is just as “desperate for lovin'” as the ex: “But in a couple months / A man will be the cure / He will be evolved / And I will be adored, adored, adored, adored, adored.” In other words, Olivia mocks herself for claiming high expectations while dating men who fall short. Pretty legendary, if you ask us.
Olivia Rodrigo - 'Expectations' Lyrics
VERSE 1
I met him at a party, I think he was on drugs
He wasn't smart or funny, I convinced myself he was
He had a great apartment, and a car his parents bought
I thought that he was perfect, and now his number's blocked
PRE-CHORUS
Took a couple months (Took a couple months)
But now I am secure (Now I am secure)
I am so evolved (I am so evolved)
Now I ask for more, and more, and more, and more, and more
CHORUS
I won't settle for a guy with a fake job
He seems so desperate for lovin', but, baby, I'm not
Gave my heart with zero stipulations
Now, I take careful consideration
I'm not kissin' any boy that is passive
Your indecision is painfully unattractive
Past mistakes are just new information
These days, I've got expectations
VERSE 2
So I hit the new year like a single girl at a Vegas bar
Rockin' my mini dress with a vodka cran' and an open heart
Yeah, I've got hope, yeah, I've got drive, I will not lose my faith
Don't think my future husband's at this bar in Silver Lake
PRE-CHORUS
But in a couple months (In a couple months)
A man will be the cure (This man will be the cure)
He will be evolved (He will be evolved)
And I will be adored, adored, adored, adored, adored
CHORUS
I won't settle for a guy with a fake job
He seems so desperate for lovin', but, baby, I'm not
Gave my heart with zero stipulations
Now, I take careful consideration
I'm not kissin' any boy that is passive
Your indecision is painfully unattractive
Past mistakes are just new information
These days, I've got expectations
BRIDGE
I've got big expectations
I've got real big expectations
I've got big expectations
I've got real big expectations
She's got big expectations
She's got real big expectations
She's got big expectations
She's got real big expectations
CHORUS
I won't settle for a guy with a fake job
He seems so desperate for lovin', but, baby, I'm not
Gave my heart with zero stipulations (Baby, ah)
Now, I take careful consideration (I take, I take)
I'm not kissing any boy that is passive
Your indecision is painfully unattractive
Past mistakes are just new information
These days, I've got expectations
