Heartbreak can create roadblocks in future relationships. That’s a fact that Kelsea Ballerini knows all too well. She says as much in her recently released ballad, “How Much Do You Love Me.” Ballerini is caught somewhere between healing and reeling in this track. While her love life seems to be on the up and up, how can she be sure it’s not destined to go south? That’s the impossible question this song presents. Uncover the meaning behind “How Much Do You Love Me,” below.
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The Meaning Behind Kelsea Ballerini’s “How Much Do You Love Me”
Ballerini hasn’t been shy about talking about her relationships publicly-especially in her songwriting. Her 2023 EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, saw her divulge hard truths about marriage and divorce. She let her broken heart guide her in the writing of that project, pushing her to become a brave and unflinching artist.
As she moved on from that relationship and into a new, loved-up headspace, so did her writing. Her happiness has broken the surface of her writing, keying fans into the strength of her latest relationship. But, healing isn’t linear. We all fall back down into the pit from time to time–no matter how high we’ve climbed. Ballerini sinks down into that space on “How Much Do You Love Me.”
You’re texting dad on the side
You’re pouring my favorite wine
You’re leaning vulnerable
When you’d rather walk away
Despite how thriving Ballerini’s relationship seems to be, she seemingly can’t help but open up old wounds. When things get tough, will he continue to fight for her? How much does he truly love her? It’s an anxiey-fuelled thought that has likely crossed the minds of her listeners at least once.
When the rubber meets the road / And life goes how it goes / And we’re not new no more / What am I in for, she asks, recalling her past heartbreak.
If the meteor hit, babe, would you get
In your car and drive to me to cry with me?
If I went insane and didn’t know my name
Would you stay beside of me, reminding me?
If I gambled away my money, would you back away?
If my jokes weren’t funny, would you laugh?
How much do you love me? I gotta ask
How much do you love me?
Lyrics are at their most effective when they are true. As any songwriter will tell you, an audience is able to pick up on genuine emotion–and are able to see through any false narratives.
Singing about letting anxiety get the better of you despite your very public, accepted relationship is certainly a difficult thing to put out there. Ballerini does so here–and to powerful results, we might add. Check out “How Much Do You Love Me,” below.
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify)
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