“How Low Can You Go” by LP
According to LP’s explanation of the lyrics, the addressee may be a romantic interest but not an actual lover. Rather, it is another woman she formed a rapport with, but the two of them never took it there on the amorous tip.
And based on the featured narrative, we can ascertain that the highlight of their relationship was an evening some years ago where the two of them got thoroughly high “at the Chateau Marmont”, which is a famous hotel in Los Angeles. So it’s like back in those days, they were both wild, “evil” and free.
However in the here and now, unlike LP, the addressee has settled down and started a family. And upon receiving this news, the vocalist found herself both “happy and sad” for no explicable reason. That’s another way of implying, once again, that LP was in fact romantically interested in this person, even if she never made any moves on her. And those feelings are sourced in said individual proving to be one of the more excitable associates in the vocalist’s personal history (on top of the fact that LP is a lesbian).
The Title (“How Low Can You Go”)
Then concerning the title, obviously it is a question the LP is directing towards the addressee. However, what it is meant to imply within the context of this narrative is not abundantly clear.
Usually when you ask someone ‘how low can they go’, it can be taken as an insult or as an open-ended way of ascertaining how committed they are to achieving, let’s say an underground goal. And in this case we will presume the latter, since it doesn’t seem that LP has any type of an issue with the addressee.
Moreover, we can take it that the vocalist is alluding to just how wild and freaky the addressee is willing to get. And it can also be taken that the first and second choruses respectively represent two different time periods, one the past and the other the present.
So as far as the first chorus is concerned, that question is being posed within the context of the memorable, drug-filled night the two of them had together, as in how far the addressee was really ready to take things.
And in the present it would also have the same connotation. However, this time around presumably in regards to a willingness on the part of the addressee to forsake her mainstream family life, so to speak.
Narrator wants to rekindle Relationship with Addressee?
It is also theoretically possible, all things considered, that in both cases above, said query alludes to addressee’s inclination to become romantically involved with LP.
But based on the way LP has actually described this song, as referenced earlier, it wouldn’t really be like she’s trying to take the addressee away from her new family.
Or let’s close by saying the title/chorus can be interpreted in a number of different ways. For instance, when you also take the bridge into consideration, the titular question could reflect the vocalist’s curiosity as to what has been most depressing in the addressee’s life since the last time they met. But that said, the one sentiment that is abundantly clear is that LP misses her old friend.
Writing Credits for “How Low Can You Go”
LP composed “How Low Can You Go” with the following writers:
- Nate Campany
- Mike Del Rio
FYI, Mike also played the role of the song’s sole producer.
When was “How Low Can You Go” released?
On the 19th of November, 2020, this song was released. It served as single number 2 from LP’s “Churches” album. This album, which is her sixth studio project, also produced the following singles:
