The Grudge

Album: Guts (2023)
Charted: 45 16
Play Video
  • I have nightmares each week about that Friday in May
    One phone call from you and my entire world was changed
    Trust that you betrayed, confusion that still lingers
    Took everything I loved and crushed it in between your fingers
    And I doubt you ever think about the damage that you did
    But I hold onto every detail like my life depends on it
    My undying love, now I hold it like a grudge
    And I hear your voice every time that I think I'm not enough

    And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
    How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
    And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
    But you know I can't let it go
    I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
    It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong

    The arguments that I have won against you in my head
    In the shower, in the car and in the mirror before bed
    Yeah, I'm so tough when I'm alone and I make you feel so guilty
    And I fantasize about a time you're just a little sorry
    And I try to understand why you would do this all to me
    You must be insecure, you must be so unhappy
    And I know in my heart, hurt people hurt people
    And we both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal

    And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
    How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
    And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
    But you know I can't let it go
    I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
    It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong

    Ooh, do you think I deserved it all?
    Ooh, your flowers filled with vitriol
    You built me up to watch me fall
    You have everything and you still want more

    I try to be tough, I try to be mean
    But even after all this, you're still everything to me
    And I know you don't care, I guess that that's fine
    But you know I can't let it go
    I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
    It takes strength to forgive, but I'm not quite sure I'm there yet
    It takes strength to forgive, but Writer/s: Daniel Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Belmont from SchoolWe all interpret songs differently and this song might be about a grudge but when you're a gay 14-year-old freshman and in love with your ex and you have tried so many times to get over him and you just can't this song really hits hard when you put it in that context especially when she says "But you know I can't let it go, I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long" and in the first verse she says "I hold my undying love like a grudge" so yeah that's how I interpret this masterpiece.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.