Released: 2024
Kelsea Ballerini’s ‘Two Things’ is a heartfelt exploration of the complexities of love and relationships. The song delves into the contradictions that often exist within our feelings towards someone we deeply care about, even when the relationship is rocky.
The song starts with Kelsea in New York City, reflecting on a recent breakup. The ‘Carlyle’ is a famous luxury hotel, and ‘701’ is likely a room number. The ‘sunflowers at the door’ are a peace offering from her ex, which she’s not ready to accept. The ‘Hemingway poems’ reference suggests a shared love for literature between the two.
The chorus, ‘Two things can be true, I’ll love and hate you’, encapsulates the song’s main theme. It’s about the duality of emotions in a relationship. The phrases ‘cut and ghost’ and ‘get too close’ suggest a pattern of pushing away and pulling closer, a common dynamic in tumultuous relationships.
In the second verse, Kelsea is back in Carolina, unable to resist the pull of the relationship. The ‘chartered a plane to your doorstep’ line suggests a grand gesture to reconcile. The repeated chorus underscores the recurring theme of love and hate, blessing and curse.
The bridge, ‘My eyes are green, Yeah, your jeans are blue, I wish it was that easy, When it comes to me and you’, introduces a new metaphor. It contrasts the simplicity of physical differences with the complexity of emotional ones.
The song ends with a plea, ‘But, baby, don’t let me go’. Despite the ups and downs, Kelsea doesn’t want to lose this person. The final repetition of ‘Two things can be true’ drives home the point that love is often a mix of conflicting emotions.
