Chords
1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back

1 step forward, 3 steps back by Olivia Rodrigo discusses the insecurities and uncertainties within a relationship, inspired by the toxic cycle and emotional swings that can occur in a romance. The songs composition musically reflects the feeling of moving forward and stepping back in the relationship, highlighted by the song title and lyrics.

Key: C

Introduction:

difficulty
easy |||||
      C            C/G          F7M           C            C/G          F7M 
e -------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
B -------1---1--------1---1----1-------- -------1---1--------1---1----1-----

                     C           C/G   F7M 
Called you on the phone today
                  C            C/G   F7M 
Just to ask you how you were
                      C        C/G   F7M 
All I did was speak normally
                            C    C/G   F7M 
Somehow I still struck a nerve
                              C         C/G   F7M 
You got me fucked up in the head, boy
                  C       C/G     F7M 
Never doubted myself so much
                            C     C/G   F7M 
Like am I pretty, am I fun, boy
                         C          C/G           F7M 
I hate that I give you power over that kind of stuff

                  C          Em         F7M         C 
Cuz it' s always one step forward and three steps back
          C             Em           F7M      C 
I' m the love of your life until I make you mad
              C          Em         F7M         C 
It' s always one step forward and three steps back
         C                  Em              F7M         C 
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy, I don' t understand
       F7M        C 
No, I don' t understand

  C     C/G          F7M 
Maybe in some masochistic way
 C          C/G     F7M 
I kind of find it all exciting
  C            C/G         F7M 
Likе, which lover will I get today
           C              C/G          F7M 
Will you walk me to thе door or send me home crying

       C          Em         F7M         C 
It' s one step forward and three steps back
          C             Em           F7M     C 
I' m the love of your life until I make you mad
              C          Em         F7M         C 
It' s always one step forward and three steps back
         C                  Em              F7M        C 
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy, I don' t understand

           C         Em         F7M            C 
No, it' s back and forth did I say something wrong
       C          Em         F7M        C 
It' s back and forth going over everything I said
       C         Em         F7M            C 
It' s back and forth did I do something wrong
       C          Em         F7M         C 
It' s back and forth maybe this is all your fault instead

       C           Em        F7M         C 
It' s one step forward and three steps back
          C                     Em            F7M          C 
And I' d leave you, but the rollercoaster' s all I' ve ever had
             C          Em         F7M         C 
Yeah, it' s one step forward and three steps back
         C                  Em              F7M        C 
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy, I don' t understand
       F7M        C 
No, I don' t understand