“Love Yourself (Better Now)” demonstrates the emotive landscapes of heartache, growth, and self-empowerment manifested during the aftermath of a relationship that turned unsuccessful. The narrative revolves around an individual reflecting on their past relationship that has ended due to varied complexities and addressing the ex-partner’s actions that led to the sourness in their relationship.
A prominent theme in the song is self-respect and self-love. The persona expresses the importance of valuing oneself, symbolically suggesting their ex-partner to embrace self-love and stop interfering with their life. The narrative envelops a confident voice, asserting that they no longer harbor any emotional baggage related to their past relationship.
The song portrays a dysfunctional relationship where the protagonist felt undermined. The lyrics touch upon the everyday battles within the relationship, including the partner’s selfish actions, constant criticism towards the protagonist, attempts to isolate them from their friends, and not valuing their opinions.
The cogent message of rising above from a hurtful past radiates throughout the song. The narrative reflects the protagonist’s realization of their ex-partner’s toxicity and their decision to move forward, thus setting the emotional tone of liberation.
Another underlying theme is the unbiased view shown by the protagonist’s mother, who seems to dislike the ex-partner – emphasizing the discomfort that the ex-partner instilled even in the people around their relationship.
In addition, the song characterizes the protagonist’s journey towards recognizing their self-worth. The lyricist cleverly uses the job as a metaphor, signifying how the persona gets so involved in the relationship they fail to perceive the reality of the scenario.
Lastly, the theme of regret can be inferred from the final lines, hinting that the protagonist may regret the impacts their absence has had on the ex-partner, despite the toxicity of their past relationship.
Overall, the song epitomizes an empowering journey of overcoming a toxic relationship, self-realization, emotional freedom, and emphasizing the importance of self-love and self-worth.