Tate McRae’s It’s ok I’m ok is a deceptively upbeat yet emotionally layered track that explores the aftermath of a failed relationship through the lens of acceptance, detachment, and self-reassurance. The song revolves around a past lover moving on with someone new, while McRae asserts her indifference — but the repetition and slightly sarcastic undertones suggest a more complicated emotional state beneath the surface.
Through a blend of conversational lyrics, a hypnotic chorus, and an understated yet infectious melody, McRae captures the feeling of trying to convince yourself (and others) that you’re completely over someone, even when traces of resentment or nostalgia linger.
Themes: Denial, Closure, and Rewriting the Narrative
On the surface, the lyrics present McRae as completely indifferent to her ex’s new relationship. She repeatedly insists “It’s okay, I’m okay” and “I don’t want him anyway,” reinforcing the idea that she has fully moved on. But as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this declaration might not be entirely genuine. The way she describes the new girl’s excitement — “You're movin' like I did before I found out” — suggests that she once felt the same way, but experience taught her otherwise.
The contrast between the new girl’s perception of the guy (“He’s so perfect”) and McRae’s disillusionment (“Oh, what version?”) highlights a key theme: romantic idealization versus harsh reality. McRae once saw him as perfect too, but time revealed a different side. Now, as the new girl falls into the same cycle, McRae distances herself from the past, positioning herself as wiser and more self-aware.
Another underlying theme is performative detachment. The song’s repetitive nature — particularly in the chorus and post-chorus — mirrors someone convincing themselves that they don’t care. The more she repeats “Take him, he’s yours” and “You can have him anyway”, the more it feels like she’s reinforcing the idea for herself rather than for the other girl. It’s a classic case of saying you’re over it so many times that it starts to sound questionable.
Lyrical Devices: Subtle Sarcasm and Emotional Repetition
One of the song’s most clever lyrical elements is the subtle shift in tone and perspective. While McRae never explicitly says she resents her ex or the new girl, the phrasing carries a slightly sarcastic undercurrent.
- “And she be like, ‘He's so perfect’ / I be like, ‘Oh, what version?’” – This line is dripping with irony. McRae acknowledges the other girl’s excitement but subtly undercuts it, implying that he may not be as flawless as he seems.
- “Take him, he’s yours” – This could be read as a generous gesture, but paired with her been-there-done-that attitude, it feels like she’s passing off something she no longer wants. The repetition makes it sound like she’s washing her hands of the situation — whether out of true indifference or a need to convince herself.
The song also makes use of repetition as an emotional tool. The line “It’s okay, I’m okay” loops over and over, reinforcing the idea that moving on isn’t just something you do — it’s something you tell yourself until it feels true. The post-chorus (“You can have him anyway”) acts almost like an echo, as if McRae is detaching herself from the situation in real-time.
The outro serves as the final act of emotional distancing. With each repetition of “I don’t want him anyway”, the phrase shifts from passive acceptance to active dismissal, as if McRae is peeling away any remaining attachment.
Musicality and Structure: A Hypnotic, Conversational Flow
The production of It’s ok I’m ok is deceptively light, featuring a rhythmic beat and smooth, almost trance-like layering of vocals. This upbeat sound contrasts with the emotional depth of the lyrics, making it feel like a breakup song you could still dance to.
The chorus-heavy structure mirrors the way people process breakups — cycling through the same thoughts, reinforcing their emotions, and trying to reframe the past in a way that feels empowering. The steady, almost hypnotic repetition of “It’s okay, I’m okay” reflects a coping mechanism — one that is both convincing and slightly performative.
McRae’s delivery plays a key role in the song’s emotional layering. Her voice is cool and composed, lacking the dramatic heartbreak typically associated with breakup songs. This restraint adds to the track’s sense of self-awareness — she’s not crying over him; she’s moving on, but with an edge of detached amusement.
Tate McRae’s Perspective: Experience as Wisdom
McRae often explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-worth in her music, but It’s ok I’m ok presents a more evolved perspective. Unlike songs where she dwells in the pain of a breakup, this track sees her reclaiming control —not through romantic revenge, but through emotional detachment.
She recognizes that love can be deceiving (“Before I found out”), that excitement fades, and that sometimes, moving on means watching someone else fall for the same illusion. However, she doesn’t dwell on regret or bitterness — she chooses a different path, one of cool indifference (or at least, the performance of it).
By the end of the song, the listener is left wondering: Is she truly over it, or is she still processing? The answer doesn’t really matter. What matters is that McRae is framing the breakup on her terms, making it clear that she’s not the one who lost anything.
Final Thoughts
It’s ok I’m ok is an effortlessly catchy, emotionally layered track that captures the complexities of post-breakup detachment. Through its hypnotic repetition, conversational lyricism, and subtly sarcastic undertones, Tate McRae delivers a song that feels both liberating and bittersweet.
It’s not a song about devastation —it’s a song about choosing to move on. Whether or not McRae fully believes the words she’s singing is beside the point. What matters is that she’s saying them, making peace with the past, and proving that sometimes, the best response is no response at all.
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