Brief: 'Supercut' is from Lorde's second album 'Melodrama'. 'Melodrama' was a highly anticipated album due to her first album, 'Pure Heroine's' success. Additionally, it was also highly anticipated due to Lorde's lengthy breaks between the release of her first and second album. 'Melodrama' is, as it's name says, melodramatic, with Lorde's personal experiences and stories tied into it. The album is also highly emotional, further playing into the melodramatic aspect of it. It is worth nothing that some of her songs she has stated that lyrics are intentionally dramatic and a little bit exaggerated.

 

Background: 'Supercut' is about Lorde viewing her previous relationship from the 'supercut' point of view. She is only seeing the good things in the relationship and struggles to come to terms with the negative aspects of it. Throughout the song she is constantly fighting with herself and having second thoughts which is shown through the lyrics in the refrain.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Verse 1]

In my head, I play a supercut of us

All the magic we gave off

All the love we had and lost

And in my head

The visions never stop

These ribbons wrap me up

But when I reach for you

There's just a supercut

 

"In my head, I play a supercut of us, All the magic we gave off, All the love we had and lost" Lorde is looking back on her relationship in awe, and this is evident through the line "all the magic we gave off"

 

"These ribbons wrap me up" A ribbon is used as a way to present something in a nice way, which is a metaphor for the relationship. The ribbons "wrap her up" as she can only see the relationship with a ribbon on it, she can't see the bad parts of the relationship.

 

"But when I reach for you, There's just a supercut" Once again, she can't view the relationship in a negative light, only seeing the highlight reel.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Pre-Chorus]

In your car, the radio up

In your car, the radio up

We keep trying to talk about us

I'm someone you maybe might love

I'll be your quiet afternoon crush

Be your violent overnight rush

Make you crazy over my touch

 

"We keep trying to talk about us" Shows that they are struggling to talk about where they are in the relationship, but neither of them can successfully talk about it.

 

"I'm someone you maybe might love" Plays on the previous line, they aren't sure if they want to go further in the relationship or if it's still a "maybe might love"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Chorus]

But it's just a supercut of us

Supercut of us

Oh it's just a supercut of us

Supercut of us

 

"It's just a supercut of us" She is telling herself that the memories that she is looking back on aren't realistic, they are just a small part of the relationship. While the memories that she likes to look back on are fond, the ones that aren't included in the 'supercut' are deliberately left out by her, making the audience only assume that they are bad memories.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Verse 2]

So I fall

Into continents and cars

All the stages and the stars

I turn all of it

To just a supercut

 

"Into continents and cars, All the stages and the stars" This is when Lorde was on her tour, she is travelling all around the world. This was also the first time she was away from her ex-boyfriend which many believe is what led them to break up.

 

"It turn all of it, To just a supercut" Obviously this was putting a strain on the relationship, but once again she is reminiscing on the good parts, not the bad parts.

 

[Refrain]

'Cause in my head (in my head, I do everything right)

When you call (when you call, I'll forgive and not fight)

Because ours (are the moments I play in the dark)

We were wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart, uh

 

"'Cause in my head (in my head, I do everything right), When you call (when you call, I'll forgive and not fight)" This is the first example of Lorde starting to have second thoughts. In her supercut she see's herself doing "everything right" and subsequently, she forgives him and never fights. Due to this being a supercut, this isn't true but in her head, it is.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Pre-Chorus]

In your car, the radio up

In your car, the radio up

We keep trying to talk about us

Slow motion, I'm watching our love

I'll be your quiet afternoon crush

Be your violent overnight rush

Make you crazy over my touch

 

"We keep trying to talk about us" Shows that they are struggling to talk about where they are in the relationship, but neither of them can successfully talk about it.

 

"I'm someone you maybe might love" Plays on the previous line, they aren't sure if they want to go further in the relationship or if it's still a "maybe might love"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Chorus]

But it's just a supercut of us

Supercut of us

Oh it's just a supercut of us

Supercut of us

But it's just a supercut of us

Supercut of us

Oh it's just a supercut of us

Supercut of us

 

"It's just a supercut of us" She is telling herself that the memories that she is looking back on aren't realistic, they are just a small part of the relationship. While the memories that she likes to look back on are fond, the ones that aren't included in the 'supercut' are deliberately left out by her, making the audience only assume that they are bad memories.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Refrain]

Cause in my head, in my head, I do everything right

When you call I'll forgive and not fight

All the moments I play in the dark

Wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart

'Cause in my head (in my head, I do everything right)

When you call (when you call, I'll forgive and not fight)

Because ours (are the moments I play in the dark)

We were wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart

Cause in my head (in my head, I do everything right)

When you call (when you call, I'll forgive and not fight)

Because ours (are the moments I play in the dark)

We were wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart

In my head, I do everything right

In my head, I do everything right

 

"'Cause in my head (in my head, I do everything right), When you call (when you call, I'll forgive and not fight)" This is the first example of Lorde starting to have second thoughts. In her supercut she see's herself doing "everything right" and subsequently, she forgives him and never fights. Due to this being a supercut, this isn't true but in her head, it is.