No Better

## Audio

"**No Better**" is a promotional single released on the extended version of *Pure Heroine*. It was released for iTunes Store's "12 Days of Gifts" Christmas promotion until December 19th. It was later released as an Apple Music exclusive. But, on November 15th 2021, it was released to all streaming platforms as a single. It is the fourth promotional single released by Lorde.

## Background

### Composition

"No Better" was written by Lorde and Joel Little. It is an electropop and trip hop ballad with hip hop elements. The song has a similar sonority to that of other songs from *Pure Heroine*, featuring Lorde's "feathery" vocals and minimal production. It incorporates "woozy" basslines, and "pulsing" synthesisers in its instrumentation. Lyrically, the song describes an infatuation during different seasons.

## Reception

### Critical Reception

Marc Hogan from *Spin* wrote that the song "flits between fairly vivid first-person details", while Whitney Phaneuf from HitFix labelled "No Better" a "sexy" track. Eric Danton of *Rolling Stone* opined that the lyrics of the song are "girlish and knowing". Writing for *Slate*, L. V. Anderson shared that "No Better" is reminiscent of some of the best tracks on *Pure Heroine*, but also "lighter, simpler [...] and more confectionary than most of her debut album", in spite of its dark theme.

### Chart Performance

"No Better" entered the New Zealand Artists Singles Chart at number seven on 23 December 2013. It dropped to number nineteen the following week, before falling out of the chart.

## Lyrics

We roll in heavy summer when there's strength in our numbers

And your breath's hot and gross but I kiss you like a lover

Legs stick to the seats of the car someone grew into

I forget the knowledge from the lessons that I went to

And Jamie picks fights but they're weak and short lived

Because no one can be bothered when it's humid like this

And we roll in heavy summer like it's shameful to be underneath

The ceiling or a roof, try come out and steal our thunder

Now the days are getting cooler, and the burning of our limbs

Doesn’t happen quite as bad as the burn is just skin

Deep in the fantasies and dreams of the winter

Like the movies that we watched to pretend it wasn't winter

And everywhere we go I can feel the subtle taste

Of the deeds outgrown and the welcome overstayed

And you're no better at swimming than you were in the beginning

But you come over at night and we practice all the breathing

Go all the way

Have your fun, have it all

So take it down

Get through the days

Do your thing, do it well

So take it down

Go all the way

Have your fun, have it all

So take it down

Get through the days

Do your thing, do it well

So take it down

I'll pull the trick if I want to

I'll pull the trick and it comes true

I'm chewing gum and it's killing you

We're getting dead and it's the right way to do it

I see you happy in the front seat

I see you with all of your front teeth

You're allergic but you never said

We're getting dead and it's the right way

Go all the way

Have your fun, have it all

So take it down

Get through the days

Do your thing, do it well

So take it down

Go all the way

Have your fun, have it all

So take it down

Get through the days

Do your thing, do it well

So take it down

Go all the way

Have your fun, have it all

So take it down

Get through the days

Do your thing, do it well

So take it down

Go all the way

Have your fun, have it all

So take it down

Get through the days

Do your thing, do it well

So take it down