View source for 1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back

{{short description|2021 song by Olivia Rodrigo}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name      = 1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back
| artist    = [[Olivia Rodrigo]]
| released  = May 21, 2021
| album     = [[Sour (album)|Sour]]
| studio    = Amusement (Los Angeles)
| genre     =<!-- Please source genres. -->
| length    = 2:43
| label     = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
| writer    =
* Olivia Rodrigo
* [[Taylor Swift]]
* [[Jack Antonoff]]
| producer  = [[Dan Nigro]]
| misc      =  {{External music video|1={{YouTube|w-HfMiue7-k|"1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back"}}|header=Lyric video|type=song}}
}}

"'''1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back'''" (stylized in [[all lowercase]]) is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter [[Olivia Rodrigo]]. It is the fourth track on her debut studio album, ''[[Sour (album)|Sour]]'', which was released on May 21, 2021, via [[Geffen Records]]. [[Dan Nigro]] produced the song. [[Taylor Swift]] and [[Jack Antonoff]] also received songwriting credits for its [[interpolation (popular music)|interpolation]] of Swift's 2017 song "[[New Year's Day (Taylor Swift song)|New Year's Day]]".

The song's lyrics describe the harmful effects of inconsistent communication on a romantic relationship. Musically, "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" is a tender [[Chill-out music|downtempo]] ballad driven by a damp piano and subtle [[Bass guitar|bass]]. Upon ''Sour''{{'s}} release, "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" received positive comments from music critics, who complimented its simplistic instrumentation and vulnerable lyrics. Commercially, the song reached the top 20 in Australia, Canada, Singapore, and the United States, and the top 30 in New Zealand and Portugal.

== Background and release ==
{{Blockquote|text=We interpolated "[[New Year's Day (Taylor Swift song)|New Year's Day]]," which is [[Taylor Swift|Taylor]]'s song from ''[[Reputation (album)|Reputation]]''. I came up with the "1 step forward" concept and I sort of wrote a verse and a chorus, and when I got home — I was in the car on a road trip, and when I got home, I decided to sing it over the chords of "New Year's Day." I think they're really beautiful chords. I was lucky enough to get that approved, and it's on the record now.|author=Rodrigo on [[Interpolation (popular music)|interpolating]] "New Year's Day" in "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back"|source=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''<ref name="ZachSangBB"/>}}

Following the viral success of her debut single "[[Drivers License (song)|Drivers License]]", on April 13, 2021, Rodrigo announced the title, track listing and cover artwork of her debut studio album, ''[[Sour (album)|Sour]]''; the fourth track was titled "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back".<ref name="RollingStoneSOUR">{{cite magazine|last=Martoccio|first=Angie|date=April 13, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo Details Debut Album 'Sour,' Reveals Tracklist|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-sour-album-tracklist-1155119/|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413173932/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-sour-album-tracklist-1155119/|archive-date=April 13, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> On May 20, 2021, the personnel involved in the album were revealed on digital music platforms, in which [[Taylor Swift]] and [[Jack Antonoff]] were credited as songwriters on "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back". ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reported that the song [[interpolation (popular music)|interpolates]] Swift's 2017 song "[[New Year's Day (Taylor Swift song)|New Year's Day]]", which was written by Swift and Antonoff. Rodrigo has cited Swift as her biggest music inspiration<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Spanos|first=Brittany|author-link=Brittany Spanos |date=May 20, 2021|title=Why Taylor Swift Got a Writing Credit on Olivia Rodrigo's Album|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-album-1172170/|url-status=live|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|archive-date=May 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520171948/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-album-1172170/}}</ref> and one of the core influences on ''Sour''.<ref name=":12">{{cite web|date=April 21, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo talks debut album SOUR, being inspired by Alanis Morissette|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/olivia-rodrigo-talks-debut-album-sour-being-inspired-by-alanis-morissette-taylor-swift-and-kacey-musgraves__32951/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425051638/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/olivia-rodrigo-talks-debut-album-sour-being-inspired-by-alanis-morissette-taylor-swift-and-kacey-musgraves__32951/|archive-date=April 25, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|language=en}}</ref> The album was released on May 21, 2021, via retail stores, [[Digital audio|digital music]] and [[Music streaming|streaming platforms]], as well as on Rodrigo's website.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=May 21, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Is Here: Stream It Now|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9575978/olivia-rodrigo-sour-stream|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521180158/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9575978/olivia-rodrigo-sour-stream|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}</ref>

== Composition and recording ==
{{Listen
|filename=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back.ogg
|pos= right
|title= "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back"
|description=A sample of the final chorus in "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back", displaying Rodrigo's intimate vocals over soft piano keys and faint bass strums.}}

"1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" details the impact of inconsistent and unhealthy communication on a relationship,<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|last=Paul|first=Larisha|date=May 21, 2021|title=Every Song Ranked on Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour': Critic's Picks|url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/9576109/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review-tracks-ranked|url-status=live|archive-date=May 22, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522091510/https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/9576109/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review-tracks-ranked}}</ref> and the subject's mixed responses via text messages.<ref name=":10" /> It is a [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]] led by a dampened piano<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|date=May 21, 2021|title=Allow Olivia Rodrigo to Introduce Herselves|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/21/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review.html|access-date=May 22, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521233237/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/21/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with a descending [[chord progression]].<ref name=":10">{{cite web|last=Wood|first=Mikael|date=May 21, 2021|title=Review: Olivia Rodrigo delivers flawless Gen Z pop on her debut album|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-20/olivia-rodrigo-sour-debut-album-review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521180205/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-20/olivia-rodrigo-sour-debut-album-review|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The song [[Interpolation (popular music)|interpolates]] the piano [[Chord (music)|chords]] from Swift's "New Year's Day", the final track of her sixth studio album, ''[[Reputation (album)|Reputation]]'' (2017).<ref name="Interpolation">{{cite magazine|last=Spanos|first=Brittany|date=May 20, 2021|title=Why Taylor Swift Got a Writing Credit on Olivia Rodrigo's Album|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-album-1172170/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520171948/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-album-1172170/|archive-date=May 20, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Rodrigo stated that she had the verse and chorus of "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back", and decided to play it over the chords of "New Year's Day", which she thought were "beautiful".<ref name="ZachSangBB">{{cite magazine|last=Iasimone|first=Ashley|date=May 30, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo Tells the Stories Behind Several 'Sour' Songs on 'Zach Sang Show'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9580330/olivia-rodrigo-sour-song-meanings-zach-sang-show/|url-status=live|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531021516/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9580330/olivia-rodrigo-sour-song-meanings-zach-sang-show/}}</ref> The song is set in the key of [[D major]] with a slow [[tempo]] of 56 beats per minute. Rodrigo's vocals span from [[A (musical note)|A]]<sub>3</sub> to [[B (musical note)|B]]<sub>4</sub>.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rodrigo|first1=Olivia|last2=Swift|first2=Taylor|last3=Antonoff|first3=Jack|date=May 21, 2021|title=1 step forward, 3 steps back|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0234378|url-status=live|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=MusicNotes|publisher=|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181928/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0234378}}</ref> She created the song's [[Hook (music)|hook]] from a text message, stating that she "thought it would be a cool way to describe this toxic, sort of manipulative relationship". The bird chirping heard at the beginning of the track was an idea by [[Dan Nigro]], the song's producer and Rodrigo's musical collaborator on ''Sour'', who recorded them through a window at his house.<ref name="ZachSangBB" /> The song's title is inspired by the phrase "1 steps forward and 2 steps back", but replaces the 2 with 3, which has been associated with Swift's lucky number 13.<ref name="Variety review">{{cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=May 21, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Is One Sweet Entreé Into a Lifetime of Music-Making: Album Review|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-sour-album-review-1234978321/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521180232/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-sour-album-review-1234978321/|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="Billboard" />

== Critical reception ==
[[Maura Johnston]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the song a "regret-wracked" tune.<ref name="EWReview2">{{cite magazine|last=Johnston|first=Maura|author-link=Maura Johnston |date=May 21, 2021|title=Sour review: Olivia Rodrigo's debut album hints at an even brighter future|url=https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521180203/https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review/|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' critic Tatiana Tenreyro wrote that "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" blends Swift's influences with that of [[Regina Spektor]], "inviting listeners who may have mourned failed romances while listening to ''[[Begin to Hope|Begin To Hope]]'' to feel nostalgic, while also allowing a new generation of teenagers to recognize themselves". Tenreyro added that the track "seamlessly transitions" into "[[Deja Vu (Olivia Rodrigo song)|Deja Vu]]", the succeeding track on ''Sour''.<ref name="AV Club review">{{cite web|last=Tenreyro|first=Tatiana|date=May 22, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR is so much more than a breakup album|url=https://music.avclub.com/olivia-rodrigo-s-sour-is-so-much-more-than-a-breakup-al-1846939048|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603043323/https://www.avclub.com/olivia-rodrigo-s-sour-is-so-much-more-than-a-breakup-al-1846939048|archive-date=June 3, 2021|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> ''[[NME]]''{{'s}} Rhian Daly said that "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" is a "perfectly fine song" but leaves "little impression" due to its location between Rodrigo's familiar singles "Drivers License" and "Deja Vu".<ref name="NME review">{{cite web|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=May 21, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo – 'Sour' review: this year's breakout star channels '90s alt-rock|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review-2942135|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521180227/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review-2942135|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=[[NME]]}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Jon Caramanica]] asserted that the song, like its fellow tracks, perfects "the precise language for an imprecise, complex emotional situation; and working through private stories in public fashion."<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'s}} Olivia Horn identified the song's "Swiftian" songwriting, in which Rodrigo "treats emotional turmoil like jet fuel, and laces her lyrics with specifics". Horn labelled it "dewy-eyed soft balladry à la [[Ingrid Michaelson]]".<ref name="Pitchfork review">{{cite web|last=Horn|first=Olivia|date=May 21, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo: SOUR Album Review|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/olivia-rodrigo-sour/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521142022/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/olivia-rodrigo-sour/|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Chris DeVille, reviewing for ''[[Stereogum]]'', said that "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Forward" depicts "the strength of Rodrigo's conviction and her ability to condense universal frustrations into soundbites."<ref>{{cite web|last=DeVille|first=Chris|date=May 21, 2021|title=Premature Evaluation: Olivia Rodrigo Sour|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2148461/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521180208/https://www.stereogum.com/2148461/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/|archive-date=May 21, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Evening Standard}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' writer Larisha Paul lauded the song's mature and confessional lyricism.<ref name="Billboard" />

== Commercial performance ==
Following the release of ''Sour'', all of the album's 11 tracks debuted on the [[Billboard Global 200|''Billboard'' Global 200]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Global 200 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2021-06-05|access-date=2021-06-30|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=June 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604163338/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2021-06-05|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. Hot 100]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Hot 100 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2021-06-05|access-date=2021-06-30|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605103531/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2021-06-05|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Canadian Hot 100]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2021-06-05|access-date=2021-06-30|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603005100/https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2021-06-05|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Australian Singles Chart|Australian Singles]] charts,<ref>{{cite web|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-30|website=[[ARIA]]|language=en|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201114073343/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart}}</ref> simultaneously. "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" entered the Global 200 at number 17. It landed at numbers 17, 18 and 19 in Canada, Australia, and the United States, respectively. The song also reached numbers 26 and 28 in [[New Zealand singles chart|New Zealand]] and [[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|Portugal]], respectively.

==Credits and personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Sour''.<ref name="Notes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Sour|first=Olivia |last=Rodrigo|year=2021|type=liner notes|publisher=[[Geffen Records]]|id=00602438077441}}</ref>

'''Recording'''
* Recorded at Amusement Studios (Los Angeles)
* Mixed at SOTA Studios (Los Angeles)
* Mastered at [[Sterling Sound]] (New York City)

'''Personnel'''
{{div col}}
* [[Olivia Rodrigo]] – vocals, backing vocals, songwriter, co-producer, piano
* [[Dan Nigro|Daniel Nigro]] – producer, recording engineer, [[organ (music)|organ]], bass
* [[Taylor Swift]] – songwriter
* [[Jack Antonoff]] – songwriter
* Dan Viafore – assistant engineer
* Mitch McCarthy – mixing engineer 
* Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
{{div col end}}

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back"
! scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|18|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|song=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back|rowheader=true|access-date=June 30, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcanadianhot100|17|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|rowheader=true|access-date=February 7, 2023}}
|-
{{single chart|Czechdigital|90|year=2021|week=21|rowheader=true|access-date=September 7, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|17|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|rowheader=true|access-date=February 7, 2023}}
|-
! scope="row"| Greece ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-10 |title=Charts |url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |access-date=2022-02-07 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610180129/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |archive-date=10 June 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|89
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|26|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|song=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back|rowheader=true|access-date=June 30, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Portugal|28|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|song=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back|rowheader=true|access-date=June 30, 2021}}
|-
!scope="row"| Singapore ([[Recording Industry Association Singapore|RIAS]])<ref name=Singapore>{{cite web|url=https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/|title=RIAS Top Charts|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association Singapore]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601113017/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/|archive-date=June 1, 2021|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>
| 15
|-
{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|86|year=2021|week=21|rowheader=true|access-date=September 7, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|UKstreaming|19|date=20210528|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|rowheader=true|access-date=February 7, 2023}}
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|type=single|certyear=2023|access-date=June 9, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|access-date=July 10, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|access-date=March 4, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|title=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2021|certyear=2023|access-date=July 5, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back |artist=Olivia Rodrigo|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|access-date=March 1, 2024|id=17980-5451-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back |artist=Olivia Rodrigo|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2021|certyear=2023|access-date=July 6, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Olivia Rodrigo}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:One Step Forward, Three Steps Back}}
[[Category:2020s ballads]]
[[Category:2021 songs]]
[[Category:Olivia Rodrigo songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Olivia Rodrigo]]
[[Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jack Antonoff]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Dan Nigro]]