Released in 2015, Justin Bieber‘s “Love Yourself” is a breakup song that became a huge global hit, spending 24 weeks near the top of the chart in the United States. The track deals with the fallout of a toxic relationship, focusing on the relief that comes after ending things with a self-obsessed ex.
Below is a full interpretation of the lyrics in “Love Yourself.”
- Song: Love Yourself
- Artist: Justin Bieber
- Songwriters: Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin, Ed Sheeran
- Released: 2015
- Album: Purpose
- Genre: Pop
“Love Yourself” Meaning: Line by Line
Verse 1: Looking Back with Contempt
For all the times that you rained on my parade
And all the clubs you get in using my name
He begins by tallying up the ways his ex made him feel bad and took advantage of him. She frequently ruined his good moods and moments, essentially bringing him down whenever he was happy.
She was using his fame or status as a way to gain access and special treatment, like getting into exclusive clubs.
You think you broke my heart, oh girl, for goodness’ sake
You think I’m cryin’ on my own, well, I ain’t
She believes she was the one who hurt him most and left him devastated, but he dismisses this idea, saying that the breakup didn’t crush him.
He wants her to believe he is unaffected, even if that claim feels slightly forced.
Refrain: Defiance and Dismissal
And I didn’t wanna write a song
‘Cause I didn’t want anyone thinking I still care
I don’t, but you still hit my phone up
He wants control over the story, yet the need to clarify his feelings shows he’s not as free from the situation as he claims. The tone feels defensive, like someone trying to convince both himself and her that he has moved on.
She is still contacting him, making it tougher for both of them to get real closure.
And baby, I’ll be movin’ on
And I think you should be somethin’ I don’t wanna hold back
Maybe you should know that
He’s determined to move on. Telling her these things is a way to set boundaries and make sure she knows that she no longer has power over him.
This is another way for him to try to get closure and prevent her from interfering in his life.
Pre-Chorus: Realizing Her True Nature
My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone
And I never like to admit that I was wrong
His mother, who typically accepts and likes everyone she meets, did not like her. This suggests his ex had a problematic personality that was obvious to outsiders.
He’s also taking accountability for his own mistake in pursuing and staying in the relationship despite the warning signs.
And I’ve been so caught up in my job, didn’t see what’s going on
But now I know, I’m better sleeping on my own
He now knows that he was so focused on his career and working all the time that he was oblivious to how manipulative she was or how unhealthy the relationship was while they were together.
Now that he has clarity, he recognizes that being single is genuinely a better situation for him than being with his ex.
Want to play or sing this song? Get the official sheet music here.
Chorus: The Ultimate Put-Down
‘Cause if you like the way you look that much
Oh baby, you should go and love yourself
He’s calling his ex vain and self-obsessed, implying she loves her appearance more than she ever loved him.
In this context, “go and love yourself” is a socially acceptable way of saying “go f*** yourself,” so he’s delivering an insult under the guise of an encouraging phrase.
And if you think that I’m still holdin’ on to somethin’
You should go and love yourself
He again distances himself. He reiterates that she is wrong to think he misses her and is leaving the door open for them to get back together.
In this section and throughout the song, he’s convincing himself that he’s over her as much as he’s saying the words directly to her.
Verse 2: The Warning Signs
But when you told me that you hated my friends
The only problem was with you and not them
He realizes now that her inability to connect with the people close to him was a flaw in her character, not in his friends.
She tried to isolate him from people who mattered, which is a classic red flag, but he missed it or ignored it.
This was a definite sign that the relationship wasn’t going to work out.
And every time you told me my opinion was wrong
And tried to make me forget where I came from
She consistently undermined his thoughts and views, making him feel that his beliefs were always incorrect.
She also actively tried to separate him from his roots and his past, which he values.
This whole verse is meant to show us how controlling she was. Her attempts at controlling his opinions and personal history only pushed him away faster.
Verse 3: The Cost of Vulnerability
For all the times that you made me feel small
I fell in love, now I feel nothin’ at all
He admits that the relationship lowered his self-worth, describing how she constantly diminished him or made him feel insignificant.
He loved her, but the negative experience has resulted in him feeling completely numb and detached now.
I never felt so low and I was vulnerable
Was I a fool to let you break down my walls?
The relationship was draining, leading him to his lowest point. He regrets letting down his defenses and opening up to her.
He questions his own judgment for allowing himself to be so vulnerable, allowing himself to be hurt by someone so toxic.
“Love Yourself” Song Meaning: Goodbye to a Narcissist
“Love Yourself” is a liberation song disguised as a final kiss-off to an ex who was manipulative and vain. The song serves as his final words to her, cementing the fact that he has moved on and now sees her for the self-absorbed person she is.
The lyric “go and love yourself” is core message, a sarcastic way of telling her that she already does a good enough job of loving herself and does not need him or his attention. It flips the standard breakup song script. He is focusing on the relief of escaping a bad situation rather than dwelling on the pain of the relationship’s end.
There is some insecurity and lingering pain under the surface, but it’s pretty obvious that he knows walking away is the right move.
Songs Like “Love Yourself”
Here are more great songs that deal with messy breakups:
1. “IDGAF” by Dua Lipa
In “IDGAF,” Dua Lipa sings about completely over her ex, who is now trying to crawl back into her life. She is blunt and dismissive, saying that he means nothing to her now.
2. “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon
“You’re So Vain” is a classic example of a clever kiss-off to an ex who is full of himself. The lyrics mix sarcasm and frustration as she exposes his vanity and manipulative ways.
3. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
“Since U Been Gone” is a celebration of freedom after a terrible breakup. Clarkson finds happiness and clarity after realizing how bad the relationship was and how much better life is without the ex who dragged her down.
Related: Best Karaoke Songs for Women
Conclusion: The Final Word On a Bad Relationship
“Love Yourself” is a track about being foolish in love, but it’s also a celebration of seeing the truth about a toxic ex. He closes the door on the relationship not with tears, but with a sarcastic piece of advice for his ex to focus on her favorite subject: herself.
“Love Yourself” reminds us that sometimes moving on is recognizing the manipulative personality you have finally escaped.
You can listen to “Love Yourself” on Spotify and Amazon.
Check out more Breakup Song Meanings!
“Love Yourself” FAQs
Who is “Love Yourself” rumored to be about?
The song is widely rumored to be about his relationship with Selena Gomez, although this has never been confirmed by Bieber. The lyrics about his ex using his name for access and his mother disliking her fueled speculation that the song was about her or another celebrity ex-girlfriend.
What does the phrase “go and love yourself” actually mean in the song’s context?
While on the surface it sounds positive, in the context of the song’s bitter lyrics, the phrase is a thinly veiled insult. It’s a sarcastic kiss-off, meaning “go f*** yourself,” aimed at the ex for her extreme vanity and self-obsession. It’s also a way of saying, “If you love yourself so much, go ahead and do that alone.”
Who helped write “Love Yourself” with Justin Bieber?
“Love Yourself” was co-written by Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, and Benny Blanco. Ed Sheeran initially intended the song for his own album, but he gave it to Bieber.
What album is “Love Yourself” on and when did it come out?
“Love Yourself” is on Justin Bieber’s fourth studio album, Purpose, which was released in 2015. It was released as a single the same year.
