Olivia Dean – Nice To Each Other. Lyrics & Meaning
Olivia Dean – Nice To Each Other: A Sweet Plea for Keeping Things Simple
Ever found yourself stuck in that awkward, heavy silence? The one that hangs in the air right before the dreaded, “So… what are we?” conversation? It’s a moment filled with a weird mix of hope and anxiety, where you’re suddenly expected to slap a label on something that feels wonderfully, confusingly undefined. The pressure to follow a script—to do “the classic stuff”—can sometimes crush the very magic you’re trying to protect. Well, if that feeling sounds all too familiar, then Olivia Dean’s soulful track “Nice To Each Other” is the comforting, gentle anthem you didn’t know you needed. This song isn’t just a tune; it’s a quiet revolution against relationship rulebooks, and we’re about to unpack its simple, profound genius.
Let’s Unpack the Gentle Genius of “Nice To Each Other” by Olivia Dean
Right from the get-go, Olivia sets a scene we can all picture. There’s a conflict, an unspoken tension that needs to be addressed. She feels it, and instead of leaning into the fight, she proposes a beautiful escape.
Here we are, back again
Fighting what’s in front of me
There’s so much to unpack again
But if I come to Italy
Now, she’s probably not talking about booking an actual flight to Rome. “Italy” here feels like a metaphor—a sunny, beautiful state of mind where all the complications and baggage just melt away. It’s her way of saying, “Can we just escape this pressure and find a simpler, warmer place to exist together?” This sets the stage for the song’s core philosophy, which unfolds in its deceptively simple chorus.
A Chorus That’s More Than Just a Hook
The chorus is where the heart of the song truly beats. It’s not a grand declaration of love, but something far more realistic and, honestly, more meaningful for where she is at this moment.
We could be nice to each other
Wrong for each other
Right for each other
And rise to each other
Rise to each other
Let’s break this down because it’s brilliant. The foundation is just being nice. That’s it. No fireworks, no dramatic promises, just a baseline of kindness and respect. Then she acknowledges the beautiful contradiction of it all: maybe they’re “wrong for each other” on paper, but they feel “right for each other” in the moment. She’s holding both possibilities at once, which is so real. And the final line, “rise to each other,” is the kicker. It suggests a relationship where the goal isn’t to possess or define one another, but to mutually elevate. To become better versions of themselves, together. It’s about growth, not ownership.
Tossing Out the Relationship Rulebook
Olivia continues this theme of vulnerability and realism by admitting her own flaws in the most charming way possible. She’s not trying to present a perfect, polished version of herself. She’s messy, and that’s okay.
“I’ll Probably Crash Your Stupid Car”
This verse is just pure, unadulterated honesty. It’s a playful warning that she’s not perfect and is bound to make mistakes.
I don’t know where the switches are
Or where you keep the cutlery
And I’ll probably crash your stupid car
And make your life a misery
This isn’t a lack of confidence; it’s a radical act of self-acceptance. She’s saying, “This is me, flaws and all. I’m not going to pretend to be someone I’m not.” It completely dismantles the pressure we often feel in the early stages of a relationship to be the “ideal” partner. By admitting she might “make your life a misery,” she’s using humor to lower the stakes and keep things real.
But the real thesis statement of the song comes in the bridge. This is where she explicitly rejects the conventional path of relationships that has failed her in the past.
‘Cause you know I’ve done all the classic stuff
And it never works, you know it
So can we say we’ll never say the classic stuff
Just show it
This is it. The “classic stuff”—the grand romantic gestures, the premature “I love yous,” the rush to define everything—it doesn’t work for her. She’s proposing a new way forward, one that prioritizes actions over empty words. Don’t say it, show it. Her solution is beautifully organic, like tending to a delicate plant.
Water, sunlight, talking all night
Just enough to grow it
How perfect is that? She suggests that what this budding connection really needs isn’t a label or a grand plan. It just needs the basics: genuine care (water), positivity (sunlight), and deep communication (talking all night). It’s about nurturing something gently and letting it grow at its own pace, without forcing it into a predetermined shape.
The song’s ultimate message is a powerful one, wrapped in a smooth, soulful package. It gives us permission to do relationships differently. It champions the quiet power of kindness, the beauty of the undefined, and the strength in showing up for someone without needing a title to validate it. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most profound and healthy thing you can do for a connection is to simply agree to be nice to each other and let that be enough.
What’s your take on “Nice To Each Other”? Does its message of ditching the “classic stuff” resonate with you, or do you see it differently? I’m curious to hear how this song lands with other listeners. Let’s chat about it!
