The message that Lorde is trying to convey through her lyrics and music video is that after a person experiences a loss of something sentimental it is easier to foresee a positive outcome than to reach it. Lorde desperately wants to withdraw the memories and pain from her past relationship in order to progress towards a better future for herself. This is specifically conveyed in the video through the repeated symbolism of the green light. This green light is both mentioned in the lyrics and depicted in the video. Much like when a traffic light turns green the green light symbolizes the exact point in time when Lorde will move on from the upsetting relationship.
The message conveyed is supported through Lorde’s personal experiences and anecdotes
