New Rules

Song Meaning of New Rules by Dua Lipa

Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren, and Ian Kirkpatrick wrote the song. Kirkpatrick handled the production as well, and after it was turned down by several artists, he offered it to Lipa.

In order to move past a past boyfriend, Lipa sets up a series of rules for herself in the song's lyrics. According to Lipa, that was the song she wished she had when she broke up with someone.

Commercially, the song topped the UK Singles Chart and also did so in five other nations, becoming Lipa's first number one single. It also peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lipa's first top 10 entry.

New Rules lyrics by Dua Lipa

One, one, one...

Talkin' in my sleep at night

Makin' myself crazy

(Out of my mind, out of my mind)

Wrote it down and read it out

Hopin' it would save me

(Too many times, too many times)

My love, he makes me feel like nobody else

Nobody else

But my love, he doesn't love me, so I tell myself

I tell myself

One, don't pick up the phone

You know he's only calling 'cause he's drunk and alone

Two, don't let him in

You'll have to kick him out again

Three, don't be his friend

You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning

And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

I got new rules, I count 'em

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

I keep pushin' forwards, but he keeps pullin' me backwards

(Nowhere to turn) no way

(Nowhere to turn) no

Now I'm standing back from it, I finally see the pattern

(I never learn, I never learn)

But my love, he doesn't love me, so I tell myself

I tell myself

I do, I do, I do

One, don't pick up the phone

You know he's only calling 'cause he's drunk and alone

Two, don't let him in

You'll have to kick him out again

Three, don't be his friend

You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning

And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

I got new rules, I count 'em

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

Practice makes perfect

I'm still tryna learn it by heart

(I got new rules, I count 'em)

Eat, sleep, and breathe it

Rehearse and repeat it, 'cause I

(I got new, I got new, I...)

One, don't pick up the phone

You know he's only calling 'cause he's drunk and alone

Two, don't let him in

You'll have to kick him out again

Three, don't be his friend

You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning

And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

I got new rules, I count 'em

I got new rules, I count 'em

(Oh, whoa-oh)

I gotta tell them to myself

I got new rules, I count 'em

(Baby, you know I count 'em)

I gotta tell them to myself

Don't let him in, don't let him in

Don't, don't, don't, don't

Don't be his friend, don't be his friend

Don't, don't, don't, don't

Don't let him in, don't let him in

Don't, don't, don't, don't

Don't be his friend, don't be his friend

Don't, don't, don't, don't

You gettin' over him