Meaning of "Keep It Simple" by Tove Lo

"Keep It Simple" delves into the complex emotions and inner turmoil that come with moving on from a past relationship. Tove Lo's lyrics depict a struggle between her physical desires and her emotional healing process. She is caught between two worlds - the person she is with physically, who brings her temporary distractions and pleasures, and the person she truly wants emotionally but cannot have.

The lyrics express Tove Lo's hesitance to fully invest herself in a new relationship due to her ongoing healing process. She acknowledges that the other person may want more from her, but she is not ready to face their expectations and the potential emotional entanglement that may arise. She desires simplicity, wanting to keep things on her own terms.

Through the repeated refrain, "I ain't ready," Tove Lo emphasizes her emotional unavailability and her need to maintain distance. She admits that while she engages in physical intimacy with her new partner, her heart still yearns for someone else. This highlights the internal conflict she experiences, leading to feelings of guilt and self-doubt. The lyrics also touch on the issue of using physical intimacy as a means of distraction or self-medicating to avoid the pain of heartbreak and heal her brokenness. Tove Lo recognizes that this may be a temporary fix, as indicated by the line, "Physical to trick your heart, you are moving on."

Overall, "Keep It Simple" is a song about the complexities of moving on and the struggle to navigate new relationships while still healing from past hurt. Tove Lo's lyrics capture the conflicting emotions, desires, and internal battles one faces during the healing process, ultimately expressing a need for simplicity and self-preservation.