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.

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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