Dear Josh, I see it all now that you’re gone… 👀
ACT I: Lonely, Empty, Sad
Scene 1: traitor
Setting: In fair California, we lay our scene.
From fresh promise break to new mutiny,
Where lover’s blood, makes lover’s hands unclean.
OLIVIA
[And I know if you were true
There’s no damn way that you
Could fall in love with somebody that quickly
—
Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still a traitor
—
God, I wish that you had thought this through
Before I went and fell in love with you]
Scene 2: driver’s license
Setting: Driving alone past your street, duh! When your whole world comes crashing down at the same time that you are flying through milestones, gaining new independence that makes you feel like a pioneer at the same time that it makes you feel like an alien, what else is there to do but drive around alone, wallowing in your sadness, listening to depressing music and longing for what could have been?
OLIVIA
[I got my driver’s license last week
Just like we always talked about
‘Cause you were so excited for me
To finally drive up to your house
But today I drove through the suburbs
Crying ’cause you weren’t around]
Scene 3: happier
Setting: In the midst of deep self-reflection, OLIVIA, battles her instinct to hold on to what she had and to resent the new person in her ex’s life. Jealousy, selfishness and contempt overcome her and she wants to want them to be happy at the same time that she wonders if their happiness diminishes what she thought she had.
OLIVIA
[And now I’m pickin’ her apart
Like cuttin’ her down will make you miss my wretched heart
But she’s beautiful, she looks kind
She probably gives you butterflies
—
I hope you’re happy
But not like how you were with me
I’m selfish, I know, I can’t let you go]
Act II: Unbridled Ragey Angst
Setting: INTENSE AND OVERWHELMING EMOTION, SELF DOUBT AND GENERAL TEENAGE ANGST –God, it’s brutal out here!
Scene 1: brutal
OLIVIA
[‘Cause who am I if not exploited?
And I’m so sick of seventeen
Where’s my fuckin’ teenage dream?
If someone tells me one more time
“Enjoy your youth,” I’m gonna cry]
Scene 2: deja vu
Setting: We see OLIVIA reeling from a recent breakup, writing from a place of fresh pain. Unfiltered and raw, our beloved main character is harbouring feelings of injustice and resentment.
OLIVIA
[So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too?
She thinks it’s special, but it’s all reused
That was our place, I found it first
I made the jokes you tell to her when she’s with you
Do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?]
Scene 3: good 4 u
Setting: RAGE PURE RAGE. We see OLIVIA read some boy to FILTH, as she should, and the audience is left pondering why anyone would ever actively seek out a relationship if this is how they can make you feel. (ahem, it’s me, I am “the audience”)
OLIVIA
[It’s like we never even happened
Baby, what the fuck is up with that?
And good for you, it’s like you never even met me
Remember when you swore to God
I was the only person who ever got you?
Well, screw that and screw you
You will never have to hurt the way you know that I do
Act III: Ouch. Pain. I AM IN PAIN.
Scene 1: jealousy, jealousy
Setting: We find OLIVIA deep in the (100?) stages of a breakup, firmly planted in the stage that makes it SO obvious how inadequate you are compared to not only your ex’s new lover but ALSO every single person…ever.
OLIVIA
[Com-comparison is killin’ me slowly
I think I think too much
‘Bout kids who don’t know me
I’m so sick of myself, I’d rather be, rather be
Anyone, anyone else]
Scene 2: 1 step forward, 3 steps back
Setting: To interpolate or to not interpolate? Most definitely to interpolate. Our main character gives the audience (read: me) a million more reasons to never enter into a romantic relationship. The ease with which you can lose yourself, the uncertainty!!! The willingness to put up with SO MUCH SHIT. It’s baffling and quite frankly, disturbing, to the “audience.” How do you find your way back to yourself??? Asking for a friend.
OLIVIA
[I’m the love of your life until I make you mad
It’s always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don’t understand
No, I don’t understand
—
And maybe in some masochistic way
I kind of find it all exciting
Like which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin’?]
Scene 3: enough for you
Setting: It’s dark and destitute. Our main character has been ravaged by love and left for dead. The audience is reminded of this universal feeling that we are never enough, that everything we do will somehow never measure up and….Ouch. Ouch. Oh, this hurts. This HURTS SO BAD.
OLIVIA
[I wore makeup when we dated
‘Cause I thought you’d like me more
If I looked like the other prom queens
I know that you loved before
Tried so hard to be everything that you like
Just for you to say you’re not the compliment-type
And I knew how you took your coffee
And your favorite songs by heart
I read all of your self-help books
So you’d think that I was smart
Stupid, emotional, obsessive little me
I knew from the start this is exactly how you’d leave
—
And you left me there cryin’, wonderin’ what I did wrong
And you always say I’m never satisfied
But I don’t think that’s true
‘Cause all I ever wanted was to be enough for you
All I ever wanted was to be enough for you]
💔 FIN 💔
When you look up “staying power” in the dictionary, you will find that the definition is simply a picture of Olivia Rodrigo. At 17 (now 18), Olivia is crashing into the scene unapologetically and I couldn’t be more excited. SOUR is full of passion and an unencumbered relationship to feelings. Olivia’s songwriting deals with mature ideas and handles them with the impassioned sensitivity that you can’t avoid when you’re a teenager and she refuses to hold back. She is able to speak directly to that universal longing to feel freely and express ourselves without fear of judgement or being told we’re too dramatic. Quite frankly, I say fuck that and feel your feelings, fool! (an album by The Regrettes)
Let teenagers be vulnerable and dramatic, let them feel EVERYTHING and let them be serious about it. Empowered youth breed empowered adults who can make real change. 💖💖💖💖
