10 Love Lessons In Dua Lipa’s Lyrics
She knows how to teach us DUA-lity when it comes in the heart matters
We often get used to those catchy tunes that keep playing everywhere we go. They’re so familiar that we might not pay much attention to the actual lyrics. While many songs are all about getting you moving on the dance floor and don’t really have a deep meaning, there are some that pack in real-life lessons. These lessons could give us fresh insights or even help us deal with tough times by making us feel like we’re not alone in our experiences.
Dua Lipa’s music is notably known for exploring the theme of love. But what’s cool is that her songs offer different takes on this topic. From the enchanting beginnings that mimic fairy tales, to the raw journey of letting go of someone who’s not good for you, and even the eventual rediscovery of love.
Be The One
“Thinking, oh that, baby, I was wrong
I was wrong, I was wrong
Come back to me, baby, we can work this out
Oh baby, come on, let me get to know you
Just another chance so that I can show
That I won’t let you down and run
No, I won’t let you down and run
‘Cause I could be the one”
In this song, it might remind us of the excitement of those initial stages in a relationship when you’re dying to say, ‘I could be the one.’
It might also explore a scenario where, probably due to fear of commitment, one person pulls away from a relationship. But as time goes on and they recognize their true feelings, they apologize and promise not to run away this time.
Scared to Be Lonely
“It was great at the very start
Hands on each other
Couldn’t stand to be far apart
Closer the better
Now we’re picking fights and slamming doors
Magnifyin’ all our flaws
And I wonder why, wonder what for
Why we keep coming back for more
Is it just our bodies?
Are we both losing our minds?
Is the only reason you’re holding me tonight
‘Cause we’re scared to be lonely?”
It’s a somber truth, but it’s a reality: there are times when company isn’t synonymous with love. The guise of love can sometimes be worn by a fear of solitude, yet it isn’t genuine.
Creating a co-dependent relationship often inflicts more harm than healing. Sometimes we must enjoy the good times but be brave enough to break a bond that could lead us back down a toxic path. Occasionally, despite the pain, we must release our grip to cease causing ourselves further harm.
New Rules
“My love, he makes me feel like nobody else
But my love, he doesn’t love me, so I tell myself, I tell myself
One: Don’t pick up the phone
You know he’s only callin’ ‘cause he’s drunk and alone
Two: Don’t let him in, you’ll have to kick him out again
Three: Don’t be his friend
You know you’re gonna wake up in his bed in the mornin’
And if you’re under him, you ain’t gettin’ over him
I got new rules, I count ‘em
I gotta tell them to myself
I keep pushin’ forwards, but he keeps pullin’ me backwards
(Nowhere to turn) no way
(Nowhere to turn) no
Now I’m standin’ back from it, I finally see the pattern”
The song that propelled her straight into fame is also one that teaches us how to let go of someone who doesn’t love us back. It will always be hard to detach and accept that someone we deeply care about doesn’t reciprocate the affection, only benefiting from the comfort we provide.
Dua offers us three simple (yet simultaneously challenging) rules to distance ourselves from someone who isn’t right for us, finally allowing us to forget about them.
Un Día (One Day Ft. Bad Bunny, J Balvin, & Tainy)
“One day you’ll beg me to tryOne day you’ll realize I’m more than your loverI’m more than your lover, I’m your friend”
Sometimes it happens; someone has to lose us to truly appreciate us. Moreover, it is essential to understand that in a romantic relationship, friendship is a vital element, and sometimes it’s taken for granted.
IDGAF
“I don’t need your love
‘Cause I already cried enough
I’ve been done
I’ve been moving on, since we said goodbye
I don’t need your love, so you can try all you want
Your time is up, I’ll tell you why
You say you’re sorry
But it’s too late now
So save it, get gone, shut up
‘Cause if you think I care about you now
Well, boy, I don’t give a f**k”
Sometimes it takes time, but once we become aware of the damage a person has done to us, there are only a few words left to say…
Room For 2
“You should’ve never done something like that to someoneYou can’t undo”
A concise yet crucial lesson for any kind of relationship: we’ve got to watch our words carefully. Sometimes, what we say can hurt more than a physical blow, and once those words are out there, there’s no taking them back.
It’s crucial to avoid saying hurtful things in the heat of the moment, especially to the people we care about deeply. Just because someone loves us doesn’t mean they should have to tolerate everything we say or do.
Don’t Start Now
“Did a full 180, crazy
Thinking ‘bout the way I was
Did the heartbreak change me? Maybe
But look at where I ended up
I’m all good already
So moved on, it’s scary
I’m not where you left me at all…”
Indeed, breakups are painful. There’s no denying that. However, it’s important to remember that the pain isn’t forever.
By prioritizing our own well-being and acknowledging the hurt we’re experiencing, yet channeling it into something constructive for our personal growth, we can actually surpass our own expectations.
Love Again
“I never thought that I would find a way out
I never thought I’d hear my heartbeat so loud
I can’t believe there’s something left in my chest anymore
But goddamn, you got me in love again
I used to think that I was made out of stone
I used to spend so many nights on my own
I never knew I had it in me to dance anymore
But goddamn, you got me in love again”
As we mentioned earlier, a breakup will always hurt, but at some point we will heal and find ourselves in love again.
Break My Heart
“Oh no, I was doin’ better aloneBut when you said, ‘Hello’I know that was the end of it allI should’ve stayed at home‘Cause now there ain’t no letting you goAm I falling in loveWith the one that could break my heart?”
Often, we hesitate to embrace love due to the fear of getting hurt, yet it’s an inherent aspect of life and connecting with others. Therefore, we shouldn’t allow our fears to hinder us from living our lives fully.
Boys Will Be Boys
“It’s second nature to walk home before the sun goes down
And put your keys between your knuckles when there’s boys around
Isn’t it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear?
When there’s nothing funny here
Sick intuition that they taught us so we won’t freak out
We hide our figures doing anything to shut them out
We smile, a way to ease the tension so it don’t go south
But there’s nothing funny now
When will we stop saying things
‘Cause they’re all listening?
No, the kids ain’t alright
Oh, and they do what they see
‘Cause it’s all on TV
Oh, the kids ain’t alright
Boys will be, boys will be
Boys will be, boys will be boys
But girls will be women”
This kind of love goes beyond a relationship. Dua prompts us to deeply reflect on a challenging and unpleasant reality that women, especially, have to navigate in their day-to-day lives.