Tell Me It's Over

Album: Head Above Water (2018)
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Songfacts®:

  • Avril Lavigne sings on this empowering soul ballad about finding the strength to walk out of a wrong relationship. She's had enough of the man's lack of commitment and rather than expecting him to change, she's urging herself to ditch him.

    I ain't playing no games
    'Cause I've got nothing left to lose
    I'm so tired of circular motions
    They leave me dizzy and confused


    The twice-married singer said in a statement: "If someone doesn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated, don't put up with it. It's understandably so hard because in the past every time you saw them, they sucked you in and you fell right back into their web, but not anymore starting now!"

    Lavigne added that the vulnerable vocals and lyrics are "reflective of the feelings I had in relationships like these."
  • Avril Lavigne wrote the bluesy breakup anthem with:

    Canadian singer-songwriter Melissa Bel, who is based in the UK.

    Texan native Ryan Cabrera, who had two solo Hot 100 hits in the mid-2000s with "True" and "On the Way Down."

    Canadian writer-producer Justin Gray, whose other credits include Ryan Cabrera's "House On Fire" and Mariah Carey's "Almost Home."

    Carolina Liar keyboardist Johan Carlsson, who has co-produced several Ariana Grande songs including "A Little Bit of Your Heart" and "Dangerous Woman." He also produced this track.
  • The song has a vaguely retro sound. Lavigne said she was inspired by some of the female singers of the mid 20th century era that she regularly listens at home, such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin and Etta James. She explained: "They represent women who stand up for women and aren't going to put up with a man's bulls--t anymore!"
  • The Erica Silverman-directed video finds the singer sporting a Dusty Springfield-like 1960s hairdo. We see Lavigne and her man sharing a love-filled Christmas before things fall apart and the pair break up.

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