Meaning of “ballad of a homeschooled girl” by Olivia Rodrigo
The lyrics of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl” express her deep discomfort and anxiety in social situations. The song portrays a series of awkward encounters and mistakes during social gatherings, like breaking a glass, tripping, and revealing secrets she shouldn’t have. Olivia refers to these events as “social suicide”.
The repeated phrase “social suicide” and expressions like “wanna curl up and die” underscore the depth of her embarrassment and anxiety.
She uses humor and exaggeration to illustrate her experiences, such as talking to a guy who turned out to be not interested in women or calling someone by the wrong name twice.
The term “homeschooled girl” in the title potentially hints at a perceived lack of socialization or feeling out of place in social settings. Throughout the song, there is a recurring feeling of not fitting in, feeling out of place, and a desire to escape these uncomfortable situations. It paints a vivid picture of the anxiety and panic that can come with navigating social situations where one feels constantly out of step or inappropriate.
“I broke a glass, I tripped and fell
I told secrets I shouldn’t tell”
Olivia continues:
“I stumbled over all my words
I made it weird, I made it worse
Each time I step outside
It’s social suicide
It’s social suicide
Wanna curl up and die
It’s social suicide”
What’s a “social suicide”?
“Social suicide” is a dramatic way to describe really awkward or embarrassing actions in social situations. It’s like when you say or do something so cringeworthy that it feels like you’ve totally killed your social vibe or reputation. This isn’t literally “suicidal,” it’s more about feeling super embarrassed. It’s used to express that feeling of just wanting to disappear in a moment of social embarrassment.
I was homeschooled because of my career
It should be noted that Olivia Rodrigo was homeschooled. She actually began in a regular school but due to her career, she had no other option than to be homeschooled. In an interview published in Glamour UK, Olivia said she never had the opportunity to experience being in a “normal high school”.
When was “ballad of a homeschooled girl” released?
This came out as part of Olivia’s second studio album titled “Guts”. The album and song came out on 8th September, 2023.
To note, “ballad of a homeschooled girl” is one of the outstanding tracks on this album. Others include:
- “all-american bitch”
- “bad idea right”
- “vampire”
- “lacy“
Did Olivia Rodrigo write ”ballad of a homeschooled girl”?
Yes, she did. She co-wrote it with Dan Nigro. It should be noted that Nigro is also credited as the track’s official producer).
