Cross You Out

## Audio

**"Cross You Out"** is a song by Charli XCX featuring Sky Ferreira. It is the third track on XCX's third studio album *Charli* and it was released as its first promotional single on August 16th, 2019.

## Background

When asked about the song in an interview with the Fader, Charli spoke about how she and Sky have known eachother for a long time and how much she admires her. Also, she commented that she had an idea for "Cross You Out" and she sent it to Sky, however, she was not totally convinced it would work, because of style differences and Sky maybe concentrated on working on her album.

In the end, Ferreira wanted to do the song, so she went to Los Angeles, and recorded her verse. Charli was extremely excited after getting to work with Sky Ferreira. She opined that this song is actually a song that could be on [her 2013 album] *True Romance* or Ferreira's 2013 album *Night Time, My Time*, before praising the latter and encouraging Sky to bring on her upcoming album "*Masochism*".

For unknown reasons, the cover art was changed last minute and a different picture of Charli & Sky from the same photoshoot was used.

## Theme

On August 14th, Charli posted a photo of her together with Sky on Instagram, to caption it expressing her happiness towards this collaboration happening, as well as explaining the meaning of "Cross You Out": *"This song means a lot to me, for me it’s about leaving some pretty traumatic people from my past behind me. It feels euphoric that this song is about to be out in the world so soon."*

Fans have speculated that Charli is singing about her former manager, Dave Bianchi. *"That song... is definitely about change in my life, look, I don't want to say anything bad about people I've worked with; it's not my style. I will say that, with any relationship, there's a point where it feels like a breakup."* - she carefully told The Guardian.

## Lyrics

Built a world all in my mind

All on my own, will I survive? Oh

Century of tears

Sadness was my only smile, yeah

So I fall apart

But you're gone and I'm doing fine

I'm screaming out

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

Melt me down one piece at a time

I seal these eyes wide shut

I wasn't mesmerized, no

Century of tears

Sadness was another denial, yeah

Thought I'd fall apart

But now you're gone, I'm doing fine

I'm screaming out

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

I've become someone better

I've become someone better

Yeah, yeah

Now I look in the mirror

And I love myself better

Yeah, yeah

I've become someone better

I've become someone better

Yeah, yeah

Now I look in the mirror

Feels so good to forget ya

Yeah, yeah

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

Ooh, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

When you're not around, when you're not around, ooh

When you're not around, when you're not around

I'll finally cross you out

## References

1. ↑ "Charli XCX is Making Space for the Pop Music We Deserve: The FADER Interview"
2. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B1KRDjjHgnO/
3. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/16/charli-xcx-its-weird-yelling-into-a-mic-while-my-boyfriend-does-a-puzzle