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"Liability" is the second song dropped from Lorde's sophomore album Melodrama. It was released on March 10th 2017.[1]
Background
Writing and Composition
"Liability" was written and produced by Lorde and Jack Antonoff in Antanoff's apartment with the rest of the album over an 18-month period. The song has been described as a piano ballad. Lorde said
"I was in this cab alone listening to “Higher” by Rihanna because Anti had just come out, and I had a little cry and I was just like 'it’s always going to be this way, at some point with everyone it’s going to be this way.' But the song kind of ended up turning into a bit of a protective talismans for me. I was like, you know what, I'm always gonna have myself so I have to really nurture this relationship and feel good about hanging out with myself and loving myself.[1]
She later said on an exclusive Spinoff podcast that
“I’m so aware of the thoughts that are so potent in a moment and then, in the light of day, you’re like, ‘Alright, I was being a bit of a drama queen there, but it’s all good, I’m over it.’ But I went and immortalised it and now everyone who talks to be about that song gives me this look like I’m dying of a terminal disease … but I think that is the nature of writing a record called Melodrama.”
About writing the song, she revealed:
“I started crying … and I was crying because I was feeling this very specific feeling of being too much for somebody, It felt like no one could ever love me for all that I am because I’m a lot; I feel everything so deeply. Ever since I wrote the song, I’ve felt such a suit of armor — there’s a force field between me and that feeling. It’s like writing that song helped me celebrate being too much. If you listen to my music, there’s probably moments where you feel like you’re a little much. Maybe you’re an intense person. Maybe you walk into a room and you bring a lot with you swirling around. But I want you to know you are not too much. You are perfect.”
She also announced the album release date, June 16th, on Twitter while releasing Liability.[1]
Reception
Critical Reception
The song has been critically praised. Graeme Tuckett, writing for Stuff New Zealand, said that "Liability is a break-up confessional, a diary entry of a song. It reads raw, stripped back, nicely under-produced – just a ballad-ish piano to accompany Lorde's voice this time – and particularly well sung."
Chart Performance
The song debuted at number 78 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Usage in Media
The song is heard in the television series Quantico.
Lyrics
[Intro]
One, two
[Verse 1]
Baby really hurt me
Crying in the taxi
He don't wanna know me
Says he made the big mistake of dancing in my storm
Says it was poison
So I guess I'll go home
Into the arms of the girl that I love
The only love I haven't screwed up
She's so hard to please
But she's a forest fire
I do my best to meet her demands
Play at romance, we slow dance
In the living room, but all that a stranger would see
Is one girl swaying alone
Stroking her cheek
[Chorus]
They say, "You're a little much for me
You're a liability
You're a little much for me"
So they pull back, make other plans
I understand, I'm a liability
Get you wild, make you leave
I'm a little much for
E-a-na-na-na, everyone
[Verse 2]
The truth is I am a toy
That people enjoy
'Til all of the tricks don't work anymore
And then they are bored of me
I know that it's exciting
Running through the night, but
Every perfect summer's
Eating me alive until you're gone
Better on my own
[Chorus]
They say, "You're a little much for me
You're a liability
You're a little much for me"
So they pull back, make other plans
I understand, I'm a liability
Get you wild, make you leave
I'm a little much for
E-a-na-na-na, everyone
[Outro]
They're gonna watch me disappear into the sun
You're all gonna watch me disappear into the sun
References
| {{|M|mini=1}} Melodrama Era | |
|---|---|
| Songs | Green Light • Sober • Homemade Dynamite • The Louvre • Liability • Hard Feelings/Loveless • Sober II (Melodrama) • Writer in the Dark • Supercut • Liability (Reprise) • Perfect Places • Liability • Green Light (Chromeo Remix) |
| Producers | Jack Antonoff • Lorde • Kuk Harrell • Frank Dukes • Andrew Wyatt • Flume • Malay • S1 • Jean-Benoît Dunckel |
| Writers | Jack Antonoff • Lorde • Joel Little • Tove Lo • Ludvig Söderberg |
| Concerts | SNL • Festival Tour • Later... with Jools Holland • Melodrama World Tour |
| Other | Photoshoots • Interviews |