Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Bad Idea, Right?’ Lyrics Are All About Hooking Up With an Ex-Boyfriend

Olivia Rodrigo dropped the second single from her album Guts, “Bad Idea, Right?,” and its lyrics don’t play subtle: The song is about Rodrigo justifying hooking up with an ex-boyfriend.

Which ex, however, is less clear. While Rodrigo has been romantically linked to Joshua Bassett, Zack Bia (the likely subject of her first Guts single “Vampire”), and Adam Faze, there’s a good chance the song isn’t about her going back to any one of them. Rodrigo said in a statement that the song was meant to be a “joke,” rather than grounded in reality.

She explained that “‘Bad Idea, Right?’ started with us making a joke song about me hooking up with an ex-boyfriend, but then we realized we were actually onto something. We were throwing the weirdest things at the wall—in one of the choruses there’s a part that sounds like an instrument in the background, but it’s me gradually screaming louder and louder.”

The music video, directed by Petra Collins, is an especially fun time to accompany the cheeky song, with fans picking out references to Glee and Euphoria in the visuals. Here, watch and listen to the song, then read Rodrigo’s lyrics, via Genius.

This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Intro
Hey

Verse 1

Haven’t heard from you in a couple of months
But I’m out right now and I’m all fucked up
And you’re callin’ my phone and you’re all alone
And I’m sensing some undertone
And I’m right here with all my friends
But you’re sending me your new address
And I know we’re done, I know we’re through
But, God, when I look at you

Refrain
My brain goes, “Ah”
Can’t hear my thoughts (I cannot hear my thoughts)
Like blah-blah-blah (Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah)
Should probably not
I should probably, probably not
I should probably, probably not

Pre-Chorus
Seeing you tonight
It’s a bad idea, right?
Seeing you tonight
It’s a bad idea, right?
Seeing you tonight
It’s a bad idea, right?
Seeing you tonight
Fuck it, it’s fine

Chorus
Yes, I know that he’s my ex
But can’t two people reconnect?
I only see him as a friend
The biggest lie I ever said
Oh, yes, I know that he’s my ex
But can’t two people reconnect?
I only see him as a friend
I just tripped and fell into his bed

Verse 2

Now I’m gettin’ in the car, wreckin’ all my plans
I know I should stop, but I can’t
And I told my friends I was asleep
But I never said where or in whose sheets
And I pull up to your place on the second floor
And you’re standing, smiling at the door
And I’m sure I’ve seen much hotter men
But I really can’t remember when

Refrain
My brain goes, “Ah”
Can’t hear my thoughts (I cannot hear my thoughts)
Like blah-blah-blah (Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah)
Should probably not
I should probably, probably not
I should probably, probably not

Pre-Chorus
Seeing you tonight
It’s a bad idea, right?
Seeing you tonight
It’s a bad idea, right?
Seeing you tonight
It’s a bad idea, right?
Seeing you tonight
Fuck it, it’s fine

Chorus
Yes, I know that he’s my ex
But can’t two people reconnect?
I only see him as a friend
The biggest lie I ever said
Oh, yes, I know that he’s my ex
But can’t two people reconnect?
I only see him as a friend
I just tripped and fell into his bed

Bridge

Oh, yes, I know that he’s my ex
Can’t two people reconnect?
The biggest lie I ever said
I just tripped and fell into his bed
My brain goes, “Ah”
Can’t hear my thoughts
The biggest lie I ever said
My brain goes, “Ah”
Can’t hear my thoughts
I just tripped and fell into his bed

Outro
Thoughts
Blah
Thoughts
Blah

Senior News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.