Olivia Rodrigo’s Traitor, from her debut album SOUR (released on 21 May 2021), is one of the most emotionally charged songs from her record-breaking release.
While it wasn’t released as a single, the song quickly became a fan favourite, and its heartbreaking lyrics resonated with listeners worldwide.
In Traitor, Rodrigo delves deep into the feeling of betrayal from an ex who moves on too quickly after a breakup, leaving the listener with a raw sense of emotional vulnerability.
But is there more to the story behind the lyrics? Fans certainly think so.
Who Is Traitor About? The Joshua Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter Connection
Although Olivia Rodrigo has never explicitly confirmed the subject of Traitor, fans widely speculate that it’s about her rumoured relationship with Joshua Bassett and his swift transition to dating Sabrina Carpenter.
This speculation is fuelled by key lines in the song, such as:
“It took you two weeks to go off and date her / Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still a traitor.”
In these lyrics, Rodrigo expresses the pain of feeling emotionally betrayed, even if no physical infidelity occurred.
Bassett’s quick rebound relationship led fans to draw parallels between Rodrigo’s emotional turmoil and the love triangle rumoured to involve Bassett and Carpenter.
This personal connection between Rodrigo and Bassett has only intensified fan speculation, making Traitor one of the most dissected tracks from SOUR.
Music Video for Traitor
The music video for Traitor, released on 21 October 2021, brings Olivia Rodrigo’s heartbreaking lyrics to life with nostalgic, camcorder-shot visuals.
In the video, Rodrigo appears detached from her friends as she reflects on the warning signs that preceded her breakup.
From late-night pool scenes to a football field at dawn, the video mirrors the emotional journey of the song as Rodrigo attempts to process her heartbreak.
For a deeper dive into the symbolism and creative direction of the music video, check out our detailed analysis here.
Lyric Breakdown: The Depth of Heartbreak
The song begins with a strikingly personal verse:
“Brown guilty eyes and little white lies, yeah / I played dumb but I always knew / That you talked to her, maybe did even worse / I kept quiet so I could keep you.”
This line sets the tone for the rest of the song, with Rodrigo reflecting on her ex’s emotional betrayal.
The vivid description of “brown guilty eyes” has led fans to assume that Rodrigo is singing about Bassett, who has brown eyes.
The emotional weight of the song intensifies in the chorus, where Rodrigo doesn’t hold back:
“You betrayed me / And I know that you’ll never feel sorry / For the way I hurt.”
The pain in her voice is palpable, as Rodrigo questions how her ex could have moved on so quickly after their relationship ended.
This sense of betrayal resonates with listeners, making it a universal theme despite its specific backstory.
Fan Reactions and Reddit Theories
Fans have been quick to dissect the lyrics of Traitor, especially on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok.
One Reddit user, Betna_the_Pickled, summarises a popular fan theory, stating:
“It’s all speculation, but it seems like the end of an on-and-off relationship with her and Joshua Bassett. This song is her finally asking, is this completely over now? She was really invested, but they were never on the same page, and the endless cycle needed to stop.”
Other fans, like Fibijean, compare Traitor to Rodrigo’s hit Out of the Woods, noting the similar themes of unstable relationships:
“It’s sort of the inverse of Out of the Woods. While Out of the Woods explores the constant fear of a relationship ending, Traitor looks at the aftermath and betrayal. It’s her way of saying, ‘You didn’t cheat, but you still hurt me.’”
This fan engagement adds layers to the song’s impact, making it a favourite topic for discussion in Olivia Rodrigo fan communities.
Chart Performance and Popularity
Despite not being released as an official single, Traitor debuted in the Top 10 on both the UK and US charts, thanks to massive streaming numbers.
The song’s raw emotion and the speculation surrounding its meaning have driven its success, with fans repeatedly streaming it to decode the lyrics.
The track was one of the breakout songs from SOUR, further cementing Rodrigo’s place as a leading voice in pop music.
The song also achieved commercial success, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified 4× platinum by the RIAA on June 30, 2023.
The song also earned Rodrigo seven nominations at the American Music Awards, where she performed a stunning rendition of the song.
Rodrigo’s Reflections on Writing Traitor
In an interview, Olivia Rodrigo explained the deeply personal writing process behind Traitor. She revealed:
“I wrote ‘Traitor’ in my bedroom when I was very sad one day… It was inspired by a situation I saw on TikTok where a girl was going through the same feelings I had. Watching her story gave me clarity about my own, and I just started writing.”
Rodrigo also mentioned how surprised she was by how many people resonated with the song.
She initially thought it was too specific to her experience, but as the song became a viral sensation, it became clear that its themes of heartbreak and emotional betrayal were universal.
Musical Influences and Connections to SOUR
Traitor fits seamlessly among the other tracks on SOUR, which explore the emotions of young love, heartbreak, and growing up.
Similar songs like “Drivers License” and “Deja Vu” dive into similar territory, exploring the fallout of lost relationships and moving on.
Rodrigo’s blend of pop-punk, emotional balladry, and raw lyricism has drawn comparisons to artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Lorde.
This connection to her contemporaries, as well as her ability to tell deeply personal stories, has made Traitor one of the defining tracks of her debut album.
Song Inspirations and Writing Process
Rodrigo co-wrote Traitor with her frequent collaborator Dan Nigro, who also contributed to the production of many other songs on SOUR.
The minimalistic, piano-driven ballad was designed to put Rodrigo’s raw emotions at the forefront, allowing listeners to focus on the heartbreaking lyrics.
In an interview with Hits Radio, Rodrigo revealed that she wrote Traitor in Salt Lake City while filming High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Rodrigo’s songwriting process often involves drawing inspiration from her own experiences and observing others.
For Traitor, she recalled how watching a girl on TikTok express the same emotions she was feeling helped her make sense of her own heartbreak.
The song received critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its honesty and vulnerability. Teen Vogue called Traitor “flawless”, and remarked that the song had a “Kacey Musgraves-esquenlight-folk backdrop.”
Tatiana Tenreyro of The A.V. Club called the song “[Rodrigo’s] most vulnerable song yet”.
NME‘s Rhian Daly described the song as “gorgeous.” Larisha Paul from Billboard praised the song, deeming it to feature Rodrigo’s “best vocal performance” throughout Sour.
Final Thoughts: Why Traitor Resonates So Deeply
Traitor is more than just a song about betrayal—it’s a raw expression of the emotional fallout that comes with watching someone you love move on too quickly.
With rumours of its connection to Joshua Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter, the song has taken on a life of its own, becoming one of the standout tracks on SOUR.
Rodrigo’s ability to turn personal pain into a universally relatable story is why Traitor continues to resonate with so many listeners.
The song’s success, fuelled by fan theories, social media engagement, and the deeply personal story behind the lyrics, ensures that Traitor will remain a staple in Olivia Rodrigo’s discography for years to come.
Olivia Rodrigo Traitor Lyrics
Intro
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Verse 1
Brown guilty eyes and
Little white lies, yeah
I played dumb, but I always knew
That you talked to her, maybe did even worse
I kept quiet so I could keep you
Pre-Chorus
And ain’t it funny how you ran to her
The second that we called it quits?
And ain’t it funny how you said you were friends?
Now it sure as hell don’t look like it
Chorus
You betrayed me
And I know that you’ll never feel sorry
For the way I hurt, yeah
You talked to her when we were together
Loved you at your worst, but that didn’t matter
It took you two weeks to go off and date her
Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still a traitor
Verse 2
Now you bring her around just to shut me down
Show her off like she’s a new trophy
And I know if you were true, there’s no damn way that you
Could fall in love with somebody that quickly
Pre-Chorus
And ain’t it funny? All the twisted games
All the questions you used to avoid
Ain’t it funny? Remember I brought her up
And you told me I was paranoid?
Chorus
You betrayed me
And I know that you’ll never feel sorry
For the way I hurt, yeah
You talked to her when we were together
Loved you at your worst, but that didn’t matter
It took you two weeks to go off and date her
Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still a traitor
Bridge
(Ah-ah-ah)
God, I wish that you had thought this through
Before I went and fell in love with you
(Ah-ah-ah)
When she’s sleepin’ in the bed we made
Don’t you dare forget about the way
Chorus
You betrayed me
‘Cause I know that you’ll never feel sorry
For the way I hurt, yeah
You talked to her when we were together
You gave me your word, but that didn’t matter
It took you two weeks to go off and date her
Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still, you’re still a traitor
(Ah-ah-ah)
Yeah, you’re still a traitor
Outro
Ooh-ooh-ooh
God, I wish that you had thought this through
Before I went and fell in love with you
