Analysis of folklore (deluxe version)

Join Saph as she dives into why folklore (deluxe version) is Taylor Swift's best album and why it means so much to her!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Drop the Needle with SAFF. Today's episode, we
will go over Folklore Deluxe Version by Taylor Swift. So
I am so excited to do this album because I
am a Swiftie. I am a Taylor Swift fan, and
although my album is reputation, I do feel like this

(00:23):
is Taylor Swift's magnum opus. Although it literally isn't technically
my favorite, it is up there. It is like this
should be number one, but because of the emotional attachment
I have to reputation, it isn't. But this is one
of my favorite albums by her. Usually when people talk
about Taylor Swift, people tend to deny her writing. Can't

(00:46):
deny her writing in this album, you just can't. I
discovered this album in December of twenty twenty two January
of twenty twenty three, and I had lived alone. I
was living alone in an RV and I was a
scene You're in high school and I remember pitch black
mornings listening to this album on the way to work
out at the high school for powerlifting. Part of the

(01:08):
reason why I love Winter is because I've historically had
horrible things happened to me in winter, like literally every
single winter. It's just like something horrible, but I feel
the most emotion during those times, and so so many emotions,
so many memories, good or bad. In this album is
part of those memories that I have in the winter.
So yes, I am a Taylor Swift fan. I am

(01:29):
a self proclaimed swift Ye. My story with Taylor Swift
which I've been itching to tell because I was worried.
I didn't want to do Taylor Swift right off the
bat because I didn't want to lose my credibility just
because some people just act crazy when you say that
you're Swifty. But I got recommended to do this album.
Not even recommended, I got asked to do this album

(01:51):
by somebody, you know how at the end of every
episode I say, please fill my DMS with suggestions whatever.
So yeah, I got suggested to do this album. So
there we go. That's not even this album. I got
suggested to do Taylor Swift, and I said, you know
how to indoctor Nata swifty folklore. So here we are
my personal experience with Taylor Swift, my relationship. How I've

(02:14):
grown to become a Swifties started all the way back
in twenty fourteen. With nineteen eighty nine. I always heard
Taylor Swift like she was always around because my grandparents
listened to country radio. So I remember being in my
like Papa's Ford f one fifty with country radio in
the background, hearing h like or mean or fearless or

(02:38):
just country Taylor Swift, and then like, remember it was
like a huge deal when Taylor Swift switched drama genres.
Oh my gosh, she switched genres. Oh my gosh. Right,
I remember that was a huge thing, and that kind
of like sort of got my attention. And I don't
even remember how I discovered that I loved eight nineteen
eighty nine, but I loved to shake it off. I

(03:01):
literally sang it me and my like childhood best friend
saying it in fourth grade at our Christmas party, our
school Christmas party. There's us, Carrie. There's a video of
us karaoke singing this. I might find it and post it.
So after that, my mom burned a CD with nineteen
eighty nine on it, and it literally says I found it,
like it's I have it now, but I found it

(03:23):
like last year, and it says Taro Swift twenty fourteen,
nineteen eighty nine, Taro Swift twenty fourteen, It's just a
burned CD. And I listened to that CD on repeat.
I mean every single day. I would be dancing in
my room to nineteen eighty nine, So I know that
album front to back, nineteen eighty nine right, A couple
of years ago. By I kind of just like wasn't

(03:45):
keeping up. I wasn't on the internet. Actually, I haven't
been on I wasn't on the internet till probably twenty
twenty three is when I was on social media. So
I missed all the twenty fourteen Tumblr era. I missed
all that twenty sixteen Snapchat era. I was in sixth
grade when that was happening, and I heard everything. I
just didn't. I wasn't in on it, if that makes sense.

(04:08):
That wasn't on the internet. So so I just wasn't
up to date with Taylor Swift or anything. Flash forward
to twenty twenty, twenty twenty one. I hear the song
of My Tears Ricochet, and I start crying to it
every single night because it related to me, like every
single lyric. Okay, fast forward a little bit longer, just

(04:32):
a few months. We come to May twenty twenty one,
this is the day that I was officially a doctor,
NATed as a swiftye. I say, I heard I did
something bad by Taylor Swift from the album Reputation, and
it spoke to me, never trust a narcissist, but they

(04:53):
love me. At the time, I was going through a
huge so much narcissistic abuse it's not even funny, and
it just spoke to me. And I was also like
going through breakups summer Revenge era, you know. So it
spoke to me. Then like a week later, I heard
don't blame me, and that that is like, I okay,

(05:13):
So I say I did something bad, caught my attention
don't blame me, and doctrinated me. Then I fell in
love with the Reputation album. Next year, announced Midnights, Taylor
Swift is releasing her new album Midnights. I'm like, okay,
I'll give it a listen. Since I am I am,
I love Reputation. I really like Reputation, and I like
this one song from this random album called Folklore nineteen

(05:36):
eighty nine is in my bones. I love nineteen eighty nine, Kay,
give it a listen. I hear the first chords of
Lavender Hayes and I'm like, what what is this? So
Midnights is on repeat. She goes on tour. It's announced
Taylor Swift the Era's tour, and I'm like, okay, I mean,
this is my chance to see Shake It Off nineteenighty

(05:56):
nine clean hopefully Clean live. Oh my gosh, I might
get to see live. Ended up being my surprise song.
But yeah, I just knew it would speak something and
speak something, it would heal something in me to listen
to nineteen eighty nine lives since so much had happened
since the last time. I was like, you know, since
I became a fan of Terrorist, so I've became a
fan of nineteen eighty nine and then you know, my tears,

(06:17):
Ricochet and stuff. I bought the tickets and then I
started listening to her music and then I started like, okay,
let me study. And I listened to every era and
one of the first eras that I did listen to
it was I think it was Lover. I really like Lover.
And then I stumbled upon Folklore and this, like I

(06:38):
said earlier, was around December twenty twenty two January twenty
twenty three, and it just it was different, you know,
and it was just it was a different sound, writing
was different. She stripped everything pop and it just it
was And like I said earlier, you can't help but
pay attention to the writing. And it was just so gorgeous.

(07:02):
And I was like, oh my gosh, I love this album.
Too bad, reputation already is taken my spot, taken to
my number one spot. Too bad that I'm already a
self proclaimed rep girly. But folklore is up there. Folklore
is tied. I can't even say tiede because I reputation

(07:24):
have such a different place in my heart. But folklore
is up there. So let's get into the creation of
this album. This was released July twenty fourth, twenty twenty.
This was surprise release, I believe. The morning of she
had made an announcement on Good Morning or Good Morning
America and was like, Hey, my album's dropping tonight. It's

(07:45):
called Folklore. Hope you enjoy it. And yeah. So the
genre alternative rock, indie folk, indie etronica, I think, is
how you pronounce that or chamber pop indie folk. For
the purpose of this, lots of acoustic guitars, lots of pio.
She worked with Jack Ansonoff and Aaron Desner. This was
the first time that she had worked with Aaron Dosner.

(08:06):
She worked with William Bowery aka Joe her boyfriend ex
boyfriend now but boyfriend at the time. They made this
album like in separate areas of the United States because
of quarantine. Apparently, this is how the band. I don't
want to get it wrong. I think it's the national
that Aaron Desner is a part of. This is how
they make their music. And so that's why she was like,

(08:26):
she reached out to Aaron Destner and was like, hey,
would you mind I'm writing? Would you mind, Like, do
you want to like collaborate on this? And it just
happened so some context, she just said she just started
writing and then it quickly became an album. And this
is why we got ever more so soon afterwards, because
she just wrote all day. Basically, she would read, watch
TV and write. That's pretty much it. She didn't even

(08:49):
tell her record label until one week before it's release.
She says, quote fantasy writing, we now know in twenty
twenty four that is that is complete, that the album
is metaphorical, not fiction. But she swore at the time
that this was fiction, and so she doesn't really give
much context behind the songs. So just like, oh, you know,

(09:10):
I just was inspired by this. It's like, oh, girl,
Giry was going through it. We now know she was
going through Hella denial specifically more and evermore this album
is just its whole other thing, and evermore we can
tell she's in deep denial and then of course, like
Midnights is just denial completely kind of going into acceptance
that relationship is over. Moving on quote from New York

(09:35):
Times that this is a quarantine album made largely with
Aaron Destner from The National. She swerves away from her
last few releases, embracing atmosphere a rock and other characters
point of view in the Long Pond Studio Sessions that's
on Disney Plus, and see Jack and Taylor's sibling like
dynamic and it's really cute because they've been working together
since I believe nineteen eighty nine, and we have obviously
the video of them writing the bridge of Getaway Car.

(09:59):
But in this documentary, the Long Pond Studio Sessions that's
on Disney Plus, that they played this entire album and
talk through it. They're just like going back and forth
and tears like Jack Jack stop like it's just so
sibling explains why they can like make gorgeous stuff together.
You know, let's get into this album, shall be. I've
been waiting to do this. Okay, first song the one

(10:24):
I hear the first few chords of this album of
this song, I hear boom boom boom, and I'm like
I lock in. I'm like folk cour It's like my lifeline.
I love this album. This song is rumored to be
about Matti Heally, especially now after TTBD Torture Poe's Department

(10:45):
has been released and we have we now know that
there was a ten year situationship between them, So that
explains a lot of like her past songs, especially in
Folkcorn ever more of her like looking on the past
and stuff, you know, Quarantine. She's probably thinking about everything. Yeah,
but we're gonna be about mate Healy. Aaron Dosner says, quote,
I feel like you capture the whole spirit of the
record in the song. This is from Taylor Swift quote

(11:08):
updating a former lover on where you're at in life
now and trying to be positive about it. Also where
she was creatively in Quarantine, just like trying to be
positive about the situation. Initially for the folklore era of
the Arastaurs she was with. She did start with inbysimal String,
which is on this album, but she switched it to

(11:28):
the one shortly after, and that was because of the breakup.
We know know. Okay, let's get into these lyrics. First
lyrics of the entire album. Guys, Okay, I'm doing good.
I'm on some new shit. Been saying yes instead of no.
I thought I saw you at the bus stop. I didn't, though,
I hit the ground running each night I hit the

(11:50):
Sunday matinee. You know, the greatest films of all time
were never made. I guess you never know, never know,
And if you wanted me, you really should have showed.
And if you never bleed, you're never gonna grow. And
it's all right now. But we were something, don't you
think so? We'aring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool. And
if my wishes came true, it would have been you.

(12:12):
In my defense, I have none for never leaving well
enough alone, but it would have been fun if you
would have been the one. I have this dream. You're
doing coal shit, having adventures on your own. You meet
some woman on the internet and take her home. We
never painted by the numbers, baby, but we were making
it count. You know, the greatest loves of all time

(12:34):
are over now I guess you never know, never know,
and it's another day waking up alone. But we were something,
don't you think so? We'aring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool,
And if my wishes came true, it would have been you.
In my defense, I have none for never leaving well
enough alone, but it would have been fun if you

(12:54):
would have been the one. Okay, we're gonna pause for
a second. Welcome to the first bridge of night. Sorry,
I'm deep, I'm a deep Swiftie. This is the first
bridge of the episode of Drop the Needle for Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift's bridges are iconic. This is this is a
known fact, so I just had to make a little special. Okay,

(13:17):
So this is the first bridge that we're ever doing
for Taylor' swood. I persist and resist the temptation to
ask you if one thing had been different, would everything
be different today? But we were something, don't you think so?
Rose flowing with your chosen family, And it would have
been sweet if it could have been me In my defense,
I have none for digging up the grave of another time,

(13:39):
but it would have been fun if you would have
been the one this. Reading these lyrics now kind of
even put like further push the narrative that this is
about Mattie Healy, given now that we do have TTPD
and know that like kind of throughout the relationship, she
was kind of still like thinking about Maddie and stuff

(14:00):
throughout her in Joe's relationship, you know, like fresh out
the slammer. Now, pretty baby, I'm running back home to you,
fresh out the slammer. I know who my first call
will be too, like she was thinking about him the
entire time. Okay, next song is Cardigan. This was the
single technically single, I mean, she didn't release anything before

(14:22):
I don't believe, but this one has a music video
and the end of this music video transitions into willow By,
which is evermore and like the music videos transition, which
is really cool. This is the first part that we
hear of the focal or love triangle. Yes, there is
a love triangle in this and it's cool. It's really cool.
So this is from a girl named Betty. This is

(14:46):
from her perspective and in this triangle. This is like
something that has happened in high school. And the song
card again is from Betty's perspective thirty like twenty thirty
years later. Looking back on this love, Taylor Swift said
that she does believe that Betty and we won't name
the guy yet, I don't even think no wi Heiti

(15:07):
does get named and another song on the album, but
Betty and this guy they do still end up together
after what's about to play out, you know later in
the album to according to Taylor Swift, but he put
her through it is a direct quote and when she
said that, because obviously a lot of people are like, Okay,
this is about probably Joe Taylor and now we think Maddie,

(15:30):
but just like another person and stuff. And Taylor was like, well,
Betty and his name, I'm just gonna say it, James.
Betty and James they end up together. But he really
put her through it, and Jack and Aaron like look
at her like really like they kind of have like
a That's not how love is supposed to go. And

(15:51):
so obviously people are like, that's just a lot about
Joe and Taylor's relationship. Ah, you know, anyway, let's get
into Betty's perspective. First song on the Folklore Triangle, Betty's perspective.
Here we Go, Vintage T, brand new phone, high Hills
on cobblestones. When you are young, they assume you know nothing. Sequence, smile,
black lipstick, sensual politics. When you are young, they assume

(16:15):
you know nothing. But I knew you dancing in your
Lee Viz drunker under a street light. I I knew
you a hand under my sweatshirt, baby, kiss it better.
I And when I felt like I was an old
card again under someone's bed, you put me on and
said I was your favorite. Before we move on, I
just want to let you know there were so many
lyrical parallels in this album, and I think that's also

(16:38):
why it makes it so good. So all of this
stuff that we're hearing right now, we are going to
hear again. A Friend to all is a friend to none, Chase,
two Girls Lose, the one that's already a parallel from
the song we just heard. Heard. When you are young,
they assume you know nothing, But I knew you playing
hide and Seek and giving me your weekends. I I

(16:58):
knew you your heart beat on the life high Line.
Once in the twenty lifetimes I And when I felt
like I wasn't on card again, under someone's bed, you
put me on and said I was your favorite. And
then we get to the bridge to kiss. In cars
and downtown bars was all we needed. You drew stars
around my scars. But now I'm bleeding because I knew

(17:19):
you stepping on the last train marked me like a
blood stained eye. I knew you try to change the ending,
Peter losing Wendy. I I knew you leaving like a father,
running like water. I when you are young, they assume
you know nothing, but I knew you'd linger like a
tattoo kiss. I knew you'd haunt all of all of

(17:40):
my what ifs. The smell of smoke would hang around
this long because I knew everything when I was young.
I knew i'd curse you for the longest time, chasing
shadows in the grocery line. I knew you'd miss me
once the thrill expired, and you'd be standing in my
front porch light, and I knew you would come back
to me. You'd come back to me, and you'd come

(18:00):
back to me, and you'd come back to me. And
when I felt like I was an old card again
under someone's bed you put me on and said I
was your favorite. Uh. A lot of these lyrics we're
gonna hear parallels later, like porch Light and also try
to change the ending Peter losing Wendy. Okay. There is
a song now in her latest album, The Torture Post Apartment,

(18:23):
specifically the anthology, called Peter. I think this song I don't.
I really don't know if this song is about Maddie
or Joe, cause so in the song Peter, she says,
you said you're gonna grow up, then you're gonna come
find me. You said you were gonna grow up, then
you were gonna come find me. You said you were
gonna grow up, Then you're gonna come find me, And
she says, you know like this now, woman, you know

(18:43):
I'm I'm done waiting, And basically she was saying like
I was waiting for you to be more mature and
come back to me. I don't know if she was
talking to Maddie and saying like I thought you said
you were. We weren't ready at the time, but you
were ready now, or if she's talking to Joe saying like, well,
you said that in a few in six years you'll
be ready to marry me? Are you not? You know?

(19:04):
And and this this is two albums before what two
albums before, yeah, saying try to change the ending, Peter
losing Wendy Like, is this her talking about you know,
Maddie or is this her talking to Joe like you
try to you try to say, you know, this would
be better off of for not together because I don't

(19:25):
want to get married. Okay. It just makes me so
sad now because I love them and I dedicate a
lot of this love songs that she wrote about Joe
to my boyfriend and when they broke up, I cried.
I cried that day. Okay, let's get into the next song.
It's called the Last Great American Dynasty. This has written

(19:45):
about the woman Rebecca Harkness. Her and her husband had
lived in this house in Rhode Island, and she everyone
hated her in the town and she was like too loud,
she was just disrupting, wrote this sweet community. But yeah,
the song is about the history of the house that
Taylor Swift bought in Rhode Island. She said that she

(20:07):
had been wanting to write a story about Rebecca Harkness
since twenty thirteen, which is when Taylor bought the house,
and she noticed a lot of parallels between them, just
like you know, Taylor Swift being in the media, especially
in twenty thirteen when she had her girl Squad and
everybody was so mad that she was having fun and
having friends and living in New York and just being amazing,
you know. But yeah, Taylor noticed a lot of similarities

(20:28):
between her and Rebecca, especially since Taylor would throw these
huge for the July parties at this Rhode Island house,
which she still does, and she does a reveal in
the bridge of the song that it was bought by her.
So let's get into this. Rebecca rode up on the
afternoon train. It was sunny. Her saltbox house on the

(20:48):
coast took her mind off. Saint Louis. Bill was the
heir to the standard oil name and money, and the
town said, how did the middle class divorcee do it?
The wedding was charming, if a little there's only so
far new money goes. They picked out a home and
called it Holiday House. The parties were tasteful, if a
little loud. The doctor had told him to settle down.

(21:10):
It must have been her fault. His heart gave out,
and they said, there goes the last great American dynasty.
Who knows if she never showed up what could have been.
There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen.
She had a marvelous time ruining everything. Rebecca gave up
on the Rhode Island set forever, flew in all her
bitch pack friends from the city, filled the pool with champagne,

(21:33):
and swam with the big names, and blew through the
money on the boys in the ballet and losing on
card game bets with Dolly. And they said, there goes
the last great American dynasty. Who knows if she never
showed up what could have been. There goes the most
shameless woman this town has ever seen. She had a
marvelous time ruining everything. Here we go to the bridge.

(21:54):
They say she was seen on occasion pacing the rocks,
staring out at the midnight sea, and in a feud
with her neighbor, she stole his dog and died at
Key Lime Green fifty years is a long time holiday
house sat quietly on that beach, free of women with madness,
their men and bad habits. And then it was bought

(22:14):
by me who knows if I never showed up, what
could have been. There goes the loudest woman this town
has ever seen. I had a marvelous time ruining everything.
I had a marvelous time ruining everything. A marvelous time
ruining everything, A marvelous time. I had a marvelous time.
I love this especially now because you know this this

(22:37):
weekend actually is the last of the Aristour. The Aerostar
is wrapping up, and obviously I am watching a Gletchie
livestream every night. Do not judge me. I'm a clown
for REPTV and I just love Davor. But I think
last weekend she did a mashup with the song for
the surprise song set. I can't remember what she matched
it up to. Oh, I think what I've been ours

(22:57):
like this love is ours? Talking about like this spirit,
the spirit of the Aristoy, it's ours. It would always
be in our memories, you know. And then she like
mashed it up with this saying like I had a
marvelous time ruining everything. She's saying, I had a great
time with y'all, especially since the beginning of this tour.
She hated it when I saw her, When I saw
her Arlington Night Too, when I got Death by a
Thousand Cuts and Clean for my surprise songs. She did not.

(23:19):
She was not in a good headspace. She was not
she was going through a breakup. And now we know
in TTPD she literally hated us. Okay, the song I
Can do with the broken Heart all the pieces of
me shouted as the crowd was chanting more. I was
part of that crowd Arlington Night too, Battie. But anyway, yeah,
she mashed up this song saying like you know, I

(23:40):
had a marvelous time ruining everything. But yeah, I love
this song. It's it's a good storytelling song for sure,
Like for sure, I love the reveal in the bridge
when she says and then it was bought by me
and especially the lion like flew in all her bitchpack
friends from the city, Like I mean, come on, that
is literally Taylor. Okay. Next song Exile. So this was

(24:03):
co written with William Bowery, which is Joe And this
is like one of the saddest songs on the album,
and they co wrote it together. Yeah, Joe wrote the
piano metal melody and the first verse. They liked to
write sad songs together and in the Midnight's era with
the song You're Losing Meat, which was released on my

(24:23):
birthday last year? Might I add? Karis reflects to release
stuff on my birthday, which is November twenty ninth, And
of course I'm a rep girly, so I'm sitting here thinking,
does I recall late November and call it what you want?
November twenty ninth. I don't know. She reased something on
my She released two things on my birthday this year,
I don't know anyway, and the song You're Losing Me

(24:44):
Again that was released on streaming on my birthday last year.
She says, how long can we be a sad song?
Until we're too far gone to bring back to life?
So yeah, she directly like call made a call back
to them liking to write sad songs together. Which is
this song bonnie Ver wrote the bridge. This is featuring
bonnie Ver. Usually she crowns this track four, but she

(25:07):
crowns she crowns track five as the most vulnerable song
on the album, and you would think it would be
this one, but no, this, the next song, is the
most vulnerable. But yeah, this one's so sad and it's
written again with Joe but yeah, it's it's just a
good song. So let's get into it. Oh, I was
gonna say, sorry, this is what I was gonna say.

(25:29):
The history with the track five is apparently the fans
this is before I became a swifty. They noticed that
every track five on all of her albums was her
most like vulnerable song. Dear John speak Now all you
had to do was stay nineteen eighty nine delicate. I
think by reputation she started intentionally making the most vulnerable song.

(25:53):
But like number five, and reputation is delicate, then what's
after a reputation lover the archer that's talking about her
like deepest anxieties and fears than this one, which is
my tears works shay this the next one is tolerated.
So yeah, you get the Gist's that's the that's the
story behind it. So let's get into the lyrics for

(26:14):
Exile featuring Bonnie Bear. I can see you standing, honey,
with his arms around your body, laughing. But the joke's
not funny at all. And it took you five whole
minutes to pack us up and leave me with it,
holding all this love out here in the hall. I
think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like
the ending. You're not my homeland anymore? So what am

(26:37):
I defending? Now? You are in my town. Now I'm
in exile seeing you out. I think I've seen this
film before. Okay, so then that was Sponnie Bear's verse.
Second verse, Taylor, I can see you stare in Honey
like he's just your understudy, Like you get your knuckles
bloody for me, second third and one hundredth chances balance

(26:59):
in on breaking branches. Those eyes add insult to injury,
and I think this is the No, this is just
her stile. I was gonna say this might be limited together.
It's just her. I think I've seen this film before
and I didn't like the ending. I'm not your problem anymore?
So who am I offending? Now? You're my crown? Now
I'm in exile seeing you out. I think I've seen
this film before, So I'm leaving out the side door.

(27:21):
This is kind of a duet that's about to happen,
so step right out. There was no amount of crying
I can do for you all this time. We never
we always walked a very thin line. You didn't even
hear me out. You gave you never gave a warning sign.
In the background, she says, I gave so many signs
all this time. I never learned to read your mind
in the background, never learned to read my mind. I

(27:43):
couldn't turn things around. You never turn things around because
you never gave a warning sign. I gave so many signs,
so many signs, so many signs. You didn't even see
the signs. I think I've seen this film before and
I didn't like the ending. You're not my homeland anymore,
So what am I defen You're in my town now,
I'm in exile seeing you out. I think I've seen

(28:04):
this film before, so I'm leaving out the side door.
Hey do the do it again? So step right out.
There was no amount of crying I can do for you.
All this time, we always walked a very thin line.
You didn't even hear me out. You never gave a
warning sign. I gave so many signs all this time.
I never learned to read your mind, never learned to
read my mind. I couldn't turn things around. You never

(28:28):
turn things around because you never gave a warning sign.
I gave so many signs all this time, so many signs.
I never learned to read your mind. So many signs.
I couldn't turn things around. I couldn't turn things around
because you never gave a warning sign. You never gave
a warning sign. You never gave a warning sign. She
wrote that with her boyfriend, and she had as convinced

(28:50):
that that was fake and now they're not together. Okay.
This next song is very near and dear in my
heart Track five, the most vulnerable song on this album.
This is the tailor song that I relate to the
most out of her entire discography that I relate tomost
and I'm talking about every single lyric. When I sing this,
I am talking to my abuser, which is my stepdad

(29:14):
who he was my stepdad. I used to cry to
this every single night. I literally have this song tatted
on me. It's on my arm. My tears workche She
said this is the first song that she's ever written
for the that she wrote for the album like this
was the first song that she fully wrote. She wrote
it alone, and Jack believes that this is the best

(29:35):
best song she's ever written. Jack Antonoff, this is a
song about karma, greed, the worst betrayal, someone being your
best friend and then becoming your worst enemy, so they
know how to hurt you the most. She said. It
also reminds her of like going through a divorce, you know,
like you spent all this time with somebody, and then
after the divorce, it's the it's the person you spend
the most talking shit about. You know. This song is

(29:57):
more from a bird's eye view. Berry pulled back and
vomiting on the entire experience instead of writing like cathartically
in the moment. It's kind of even though she was,
it's like again, a bird's eye view. It's really it's crazy.
I love this song so much, so much, so much, like,

(30:19):
oh my gosh, I love the song. I mean, there's
a reason why it's tattooed on me. So yeah, let's
get into it. We gather here, we line up weeping
in a sunlit room. And if I'm on fire, you'll
be made of ashes too. Even on my worst day,
did I deserve, babe, all the hell you gave me?

(30:39):
Because I loved you? I swear I loved you till
my dying day. I didn't have it and myself to
go with grace, And you're the hero flying around saving face.
And if I'm dead to you, why are you at
the wake, cursing my name? Wishing I stayed? Look at
how my tears ricochet. We gather stones, never knowing what

(31:03):
they'll mean, Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring.
You know, I didn't want to have to haunt you,
But what a ghostly scene. You wear the same jewels
that I gave you as you bury me. I didn't
have it in myself to go with Grace, cause when
i'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave.
And if I'm dead to you, why are you at

(31:26):
the wake cursing my name? Wish and I stayed? Look
at how my tears ricochet bridge and I can go
anywhere I want, anywhere I want, just not home. And
you can aim for my heart, go for blood, but
you would still miss me in your bones. And I
still talk to you when I'm screaming at the sky,

(31:49):
and when you can't sleep at night, you hear my
stolen lullabies. I didn't have it in myself to go
with Grace, and so the battleships will sink beneath the waves.
You had to kill me, but it killed you just
the same, cursing my name, wishing I stayed, You turned
into your worst fears, and you're tossing out blame, drunk

(32:13):
on this pain, crossing out the good years, and you're
cursing my name, wishing I stayed. Look at how my
tears were gochet so good this song is. It's about
the the Master's debacle. You know how her manager, her
ex manager, Scott was it manager. I can't remember Scott

(32:35):
very close friend, I mean been with her since the beginning,
sold her Masters to Scooter Braun, who, like this was
the ultimate betrayal because apparently, like she said that he
knew that he was gonna sell her Masters, and she
was hoping he was going to sell it to her,
like that's what they were planning on, and they had

(32:55):
like they apparently like had agreed like, okay, well, no
matter who it's getting sold to, it's gonna be Scooter.
And then he did. And she says he had three
three hundred million convenient reasons to forget all the reasons
why they said that they wouldn't. So when she says,
and when you can't sleep at night, you hear my

(33:15):
stolen lullabies, she means her first six albums, I mean,
that's the reason why she's re recording them. But yeah,
this song is everything to me. I mean every single lyric.
I mean, and you're tossing out Blaine drunk on this pain,
crossing out the good years, and you're cursing my name
wish and I stayed look at my tears, Ricochet. I
didn't have it in myself to go with Grace. I mean,

(33:36):
I can go anywhere I want, just not home like ugh,
I love this song. Next song is Mirrorball, and this
one is everybody. I mean, everybody in their mama has
a mirror ball tattoo. If they have a tattoo. Regarding folklore,
it's definitely mirrorble. But mine is my tears Workochet, So

(33:56):
Mirrorball the lyrical, there's a lyrical parallel to this, to
a later song called This is Me Trying. She says
that we have people like this in society talking about
a mirror ball. They hang there and every time they
break it entertains us. She's saying, like, you have to
be different versions of yourself for different people. Everyone has
the ability to be a shape shifter, but what does
that do to you at the end of the day.

(34:18):
She said, this is this is the first time she
lyrically addresses the pandemic. She's call out the circus, bring
the disco down, like we'll get to it. And after
she says, after all, even after like the pandemic, and
then canceling everything, she says, after all that she's still
trying to please people. And of course people take this
and ran with it. But yeah, let's get into mirrorble.

(34:40):
I want you to know I'm a mirror ble. I'll
show you every version of yourself tonight. I'll get you
out on the floor, shimmering, beautiful, and when I break,
it's in a million pieces. Hush. When no one is around,
my dear, you'll find me on my tallest tiptoes, spinning

(35:01):
in my highest heels, love shining just for you. Hush.
I know they said the end is near, but I'm
still on my tallest tiptoes, spinning on my highest heels,
love shining just for you. I want you to know
I'm a mirror ball. I can change everything about me

(35:21):
to fit in. You are not like the regulars, the
masquerade revelers, drunk as they watch my shattered edges glisten. Hush,
when no one is around, my dear, you'll find me
on my tallest tiptoes, spinning in my highest heels, love
shining just for you. Hush. I know they said the

(35:42):
end is near, but I'm still on my tallest tiptoes,
spinning in my highest heels, love shining just for you. Bridge.
And they called off the circus, burned the disco down
when they sent home the horses and the wordio clowns.
I'm still in that tritrope. I'm still trying everything to
get you laughing at me. And I'm still a believer.
But I don't know why. I've never been a natural.

(36:05):
Do is try, Try Try. I'm still in that trap piece.
I'm still trying everything to get you laughing at me.
That's when she addresses the pandemic. When they turn, when
they sit home the horses in the word of the clowns,
caught off the circus, bring the just go down because
I'm a mirror ball. I'm a mirror ball, and I'll
show you every version of yourself tonight. This is a

(36:26):
really good song. It's just her and the like in
a like dreamy guitar. It's really beautiful. I like this song,
but I feel like everybody ruined it for me. Unfortunately,
it is what it is. Okay, let's get into the
next song. It's called seven. This was inspired by a
kid throwing a tantrum. You'll get when the lyric is there.

(36:49):
She said, like, you know, when you're a kid, you
kind of like you just like kind of scream ferociously
anytime you wanted. And she said, now you kind of
withhold that in, like like what are we withholding now?
Her trauma? And so it's kind of it's detrimental now
that we can't, you know, scream and just when we
feel that emotion and end of just holding it in

(37:10):
and kind of like eats us alive. This song has
like a nostalgic tone through lyrics. The story that she's
telling is like a childhood friend that moved away, you know. Okay,
please picture me in the trees. I hit my peak
at seven feet in the swing over the creek. I

(37:31):
was too scared to jump in, but I I was
high in the sky with Pennsylvania under me? Are there
still beautiful things? Sweet tea in the summer? Cross your
heart won't tell no other. And though I can't recall
your face, I still got love for you. Your braid's like
a pattern love you to the moon and to Saturn
passed down. Like folk songs, the love lasts so long.

(37:56):
This also this is that's just the first verse. This
also could also be not even just her talking about
like I see it as her talking about a like
childhood friend, but this is this is also her talking
about herself, like although I can't recall your face, I's
still that love for you, like kind of just addressing
her younger self versus like, you know, because some people

(38:17):
are like, oh, she's still in me, you know, like
you can still feel her, but she's like seeing her
as a completely different person, especially since like she's Taylor
Swift now and not just Taylor the kid, you know.
And I've been meaning to tell you. I think your
house is haunted. Your dad is always mad, and that
must be why. And I think you should come live
with me and we can be pirates. Then you won't

(38:37):
have to cry or hide in the closet, and just
like a folk song, our level be passed on. I
like that that verse as the second verse. I really
like it because I always imagine that that is how
like my friends like they would hear that and think
of me because of just like the shit I had
been through, and they're just like I've been meaning to
tell you. I think your house is haunted, you're away,

(38:58):
your dad's always mad, and that must be why. And
I think you should come live with me and we
can be pirates and you won't have to cry, you know, like,
come live with me, come escape with that, you know.
Please picture me in the weeds. Before I learned civility,
I used to scream ferociously anytime I wanted. I I
sweet tea in the summer, cross my heart won't tell

(39:20):
no other. And though I can't recall your face, I
still got love for you. Pack your dolls and a sweater,
will move to India forever, pass down like folks songs
or love lasts so long, very cute nostalgia, whether you
see it as her, you know, talking about a childhood friend,
or even just talking about herself. All right, Next song

(39:41):
is August. This is the second part of the folklore
love triangle. This is Taylor's best song, in my opinion,
like her best song, like one hundred percent. If you
don't listen to any other song on this album, listen
to this one. And if you want to know me,
listen to My tears. Workshine, but August, yes, this is

(40:01):
the best one. Her best song. This girl. She remains nameless,
but US Swifties and Taylor have called her August Steen.
I mean, but this is the girl that James, which
we will get to James' perspective in the song Betty,
So James cheated on Betty with this girl, and that

(40:23):
is from that. The song August is like from her perspective,
and he spent the summer with her, and the song
is about that summer. I mean August. Taylor says she
wanted to write from her perspective to show that this
that she isn't the villain and she's someone who did
get hurt in this process. This is a big, huge
growth step from Speak Now, which is her third album.

(40:45):
Speak Now is better than Revenge that literally has a lyric.
Says she's better known for the things that she does
on the Mattress because this guy left her, which was
Joe Jonas by the way, left her and like on
an eighteen second phone called broke up with her or
a thirty second foe call while she was eighteen broke
up with her and moved on to with his actress.

(41:05):
But she said she's better known for the things that
she does on the Mattress. Yeah, nineteen year old Taylor
was ruthless, fearless if you may. But she during the
re record for Speak Now, she changed that lyric to
he was a moth to the flame. If he was
a moth to a flame, she was holding the matches. So,
I mean, miss girl is a feminist. I'm completely joking

(41:28):
this girl. She recognized that that was a bad lyric
and she changed it. But yeah, this song August is
just a big step and growth from just you know,
being young. And the end, James does go back to Betty,
as we will hear in the song Betty, and in
the song it is alluded to that he did take
this girl's virginity or they both took each other's virginity,

(41:51):
which is insane, Like you cheat on your girlfriend and
like you lose your virginity to this other chick. Yeah,
this song kind of sounds like a dream and it
was all written behind the lyric Meet Me behind the Ball.
Terrorist said that she loved that lyric, like she just
wrote it down and like she has been wanting to
write a song surrounding that lyric for so long and

(42:12):
even though that lyric is at the very end of
the song, the whole song is just amazing. Actually again
her best song for sure. Okay, let's get into August,
Salt Air and the rust on your door. I never
needing needed anything more. Whispers of are you sure never
have I ever before? Yeah? That is that is the

(42:33):
virginity being taken. Whispers of are you sure never have
I ever before? Dude, come on anyway? That just makes
me mad. But I can see us lost in the memory.
August slipped away into a moment in time because it
was never mine. And I can see us twisted in
bed sheets. August sipped away like a bottle of wine
because you were never mine. Mine. You are back beneath

(42:55):
the sun, wishing I could write my name on it.
Will you call when you're back at school? I remember
thinking I had you. But I can see us lost
in the memory. August slipped away into a moment in
time because it was never mine, and I can see
us twisted in bed sheets. August slipped away like a
bottle of wine because you were never mine. And then

(43:16):
we have an instrumental break. And when I mean that
this is her best song, I don't mean just lyrically,
I mean instrumentally. This is her best song. So listen
to this bridge. Back when we were still changing for
the better, wanting was enough for me. It was enough
to live for the hope of it all. Cancel plans,

(43:37):
just in case you'd call and say, meet me behind
them all. So much for summer love in saying us
because you weren't mine to lose. You weren't mine to lose. No,
but I can see us lost in the memory. August
slipped away until a moment in time because it was
never mine. And I can see us twisted in bed sheets.
August slipped away like a bottle of wine because you

(43:59):
were never mine. Never mind, never mind. But do you remember,
Remember when I pulled up and said get in the car,
and then canceled my plans just in case you'd call back,
When I was living for the hope of it all,
for the hope of it all, meet me behind the mall.
Remember when I pulled up and said get in the car,
and then canceled my plans just in case you call back.
When I was living for the hope of it all,

(44:19):
for the hope of it all. Remember when I pulled
up and said, get in the car and then cancel
my plans, just in case you call back. When I
was living for the hope of it all, for the
hope of it all, for the hope of it all,
for the hope of it all, for the hope of
it all, for the hope of it all, and then
we get boom, boom boom. I'm telling you, this is

(44:43):
such a good song. And then it just like fades out.
It's just so gorgeous, so gorgeous. This will be referenced
a lot in the song Betty Almost Cardigan and August
are like all in song Betty. Okay. Next song is
this is Me Trying. The first verse is about a
life It's like someone in life crisis, contemplating suicide, but

(45:05):
they leave, they don't, they don't go through with it.
The second verse is about someone with an academic burnout
and struggling with addiction with alcohol, and then the bridge
is about trying in a relationship. So here you go.
I've been having a hard time adjusting. I had the
shiniest wheels, now they're resting. I didn't know if you'd
care if I came back. I have a lot of
regrets about that. Pulled a car off the road to

(45:27):
the lookout. Could have followed my fears all the way down.
I love that line. That is such a creative way
to say. I could have jumped off the cliff. I
could have followed my fears all the way down. Maybe
I don't quite know what to say, but I'm here
in your doorway, and I just wanted you to know
this is me trying. I just wanted you to know
that this is me trying. They told me all my

(45:50):
cages were mental, so I got wasted, like all my potential,
and my words shoot to kill when i'm mad, and
I have a lot of regrets about that. I was
so ahead of the curve the he became a sphere,
fell behind all my classmates, and I ended up here
pouring my heart to a stranger. But I didn't pour
the whiskey. I just wanted you to know that this
is me trying. I just wanted you to know that

(46:12):
this is me trying. At least I'm trying bridge. And
it's hard to be at a party when I feel
like an open wound. It's hard to be anywhere these
days when all I want is you. You're a flashback
and a film reel on the one screen in my town.
And I just wanted you to know that this is
me trying, and maybe I don't quite know what to say.

(46:33):
I just wanted you to know that this is me trying,
at least I'm trying. Yeah, And obviously this could all
be about like one person or several different like three
different scenarios to three different people, or just one person
just trying so hard in different aspects of your life
and it just keeps failing. You know. Next song is

(46:55):
elicit affairs. This is this is kind of she was
talking that this one was definitely undred recent fictional. She said,
a story about cheating. She said this kind of came
from her just reading and watching TV all day so
she could write about other people's life and not her own,
and she kind of just like conjured up this. This
kind of like affair when somebody, like in the TV show,

(47:17):
when you kind of see somebody that's like the signs
of them having an affair. You know, make sure nobody
sees you. Leave, hood over your head, keep your eyes
down till your friends. You're out for a run. You'll
be flushed when you return. Take the road less traveled
by Tell yourself. You can always stop. What started in
beautiful rooms ends with meeting and parking lots. Wow, she said,

(47:43):
at the start of this, we were doing like super
romantic things. Now we're just having sex in a parking lot.
And that's the thing about illicit affairs and clandestine meetings
and longing stairs. It's born from just one single glance.
But it dies, and it dies, and it dies a
million little times. Leave the perfume on the shelf that

(48:04):
you picked out just for him, so you leave no
trace behind, like you won't even exist. Take the words
for what they are. A dwindling mercurial high, a drug
that only worked a first few hundred times, A drug
that only worked at first few hundred times. She said.
Now now we're just in a habit of having sex.
It's not even good anymore. I'm just it's just worked

(48:25):
a few times, and now I'm just going with a routine.
I don't even know why I'm still doing this. And
that's the thing about illicit affairs and clandestine meetings and
stolen stairs. They show their truth one single time, but
they lie and they lie, and they lie a million
little times. Bridge and you want to scream, don't call
me kid, don't call me baby. Look at this god

(48:47):
forsaken mess that you made me. You showed me colors.
You know I can't see with anyone else. Don't call
me kid, don't call me baby. Look at this idiotic
fool that you made me. You taught me a secret language.
I can't speak with anybody else, and you know, damn
well for you, I would ruin myself a million little times.
So the bridge could be either this person I think

(49:11):
woman because she says perfume, woman cheating on her husband,
and the woman saying this like don't call me kid,
don't call me baby, to the person that she's cheating with,
or could be the husband saying like confronting, like you know,
damn well for you, I'd ruin myself a million little times,
and you did this to me. Okay, Invisible String, I

(49:31):
love this song. Okay, Invisible String. This is a play
on the red string theory, which is an East Asian
belief that an invisible red string connects people who are
destined to be together. Every time she alludes to her
love for Joe, she always alludes to it as golden,
and she refers to this invisible string at the end
of the song as a single thread of gold. In

(49:51):
the song Daylight, which is in Lover, it's the last
song of Lover, she says, I once believed love would
be burning red, but it's golden, burning red aka from
the song red, Loving Him was red. Reputation, which is this,
All of it has a reputation of being like the

(50:12):
Badass album. It's a love album. It literally is. Listen
to it. It's a love album. There's only three songs
on there talking about you know, I did something bad,
Look what you made me do? And this is why
we can't have nice things. Those are the three songs
that are like you know, super Karmer, Repee. Everything else
is a love song. But reputation. That album has a
gold motif all throughout the entire album, Like in the tour,

(50:33):
it's just it's gold. It's all gold. And it's because
she was falling love with Joe and she refers to
all of her love with him as gold. So let's
get into this. This is a cute song. It's a
really good song. She wrote it after she sent an
exa baby gift aka Joe Jonas, which is who I
mentioned over earlier from Better Than Revenge. She mentioned dive bar,
which is the same one that she mentions in rep

(50:55):
Aka the song Delicate dive Bar on the east Side
where You at. He mentions rapping past mistakes and barbed
wire in the song something Wrapped all my past mistakes
and barbed wire that in the next album Evermore, she
brings up and says, where's that man who threw blankets
over my barbed wire in the song Tolerated And again
she swore that that was fiction. Yeah, let's get into

(51:19):
invisible string. Green was the color of the grass where
I used to read at Setenayeal Park. I used to
think I would meet somebody there. Teal was the color
of your shirt when you were sixteen at the yogurt
shop you used to work at to make a little money.
Time Curious, Time gave me no compasses, gave me no signs.
Were their clues I didn't see? And isn't it just

(51:43):
so pretty to think all along there was some invisible
string tying you to me. Bad was the blood of
the song and the cab and your first trip to
La You ate at my favorite you ate at my
favorite spot for dinner. I love this lyric. Bad was
the blood of the song and the cab on your
first trip to La. So when Joe, who's from London,

(52:04):
on his first time in La Bad Blood by Taylor
Swift was playing in the cab, that's so cute. You
ate at my favorite spot for dinner. He ended up
eating at her favorite spot. And you know, before they
even met, Bold was the waitress on her three year
trip getting lunch down by the lakes. She said, I
looked like an American singer. I really want to know
if that waitress heard this song. Was like, so, you

(52:26):
mean to tell me? I met Taylor Swift and she
played it off. You mean to tell me? I said, hey,
you look like Tarror Swift and I didn't realize it
was Taylor time, mystical time, cutting me open then healing me. Fine?
Were their clues I didn't see? And isn't it just
so pretty to think all along there was some invisible

(52:47):
string tying you to me? Did we get to the bridge?
A string that pulled me out of all that wrong arms,
right into that dive bar. Something wrapped all my mistakes,
all my past mistakes, barbed wire chains around my demons,
wool to brave the seasons, One single thread of gold
tied me to you. Cold was my steel. Cold was

(53:10):
the steel of my axe to grind for the boys
who broke my heart, now I send their babies presents.
Gold was the color of the leaves when I showed
you around Centennial Park. Hell was the journey, but it
brought me heaven. So she mentioned the first line of
this song is green was the color of the grass
when I used to read at Centennial Park, and she

(53:30):
ends it when I showed gold was the color of
the leaves when I showed you around Centennial Park. Hell
was the journey, but it brought me heaven. That's so cute. Time,
wondrous time. It gave me the blues and then purple
pink skies and it's cool baby with me, And isn't
it just so pretty to think all along there was
some invisible stream tying you to me me. Yeah that's

(53:53):
oo ah, yeah. I know this album like the back
of my hand. But it's really cute, especially because I'm
I'm a full circle moment person. I believe in like
fate is everything to me, and she said that fate
is what the idea of fate is what made her
write the song like kind of pushed inspired her to

(54:15):
write the song. Okay, the next song is mad Woman,
which is my shit. She says, this is female rage.
I hate that. I I love Taylor, She's such a millennial,
but I hate the word the phrase female rage like
so much, like so much, like so much. I hate

(54:39):
like so much female rage. It's so female rage. Can
you just say that the woman is mad? Like? I
hate when people refer to women as females. I mean,
it's dehumanizing women anyway. Just that's my little, my little
shpiel on female rage. I just hate that. I hate
it so much. Anyway, She calls it fe all range.

(55:01):
It's definitely about her emotions through the Master's debacle, about
you know, the selling of her masters. She says that
women we've been expected to silently absorb the vile behavior men.
Now we respond to the bad male behavior. And she said,
quote the response is treated like the offense itself. Yeah.
So I think of the song as so, so you're mad,

(55:21):
You're mad that I'm mad about what you did to me.
That's basically what the song is. And I relate to
this not only as a woman, as a black person.
I mean, they were calling Bilma terrorist group when it's like, Okay,
I'm mad because you're killing innocent people, innocent black lives,
Like come on, she says a quote in the song
women like hunting witches too, doing your dirtiest work for you.

(55:43):
It's obviously that that wanting me dead was really brought
you two together. And that is rarmored to be about
Carly Klass because she was also in the Master's Debacle,
and of course we have the Galer fans out there
who do believe that they were dating at some point.
No comment on that from me. The bridge is my
favorite part of the song because it's her doubling down

(56:04):
on her feelings invaliding herself. I love it's so beautiful
and I can definitely relate to it. And she also
addresses what I believe is Scooter Braun's wife as well,
and it kind of not even necessarily parallels, but reminds
me of the lyrics from Vigilante Shit, like she got
the envelope? Where do you think she got it from?
Like she's talking about his ex wife and that one,
and she kind of refers to it in the song

(56:26):
as well. So let's get into mad Woman. What did
you think I say to that there's a cert there's
a scorpion sting. When fighting back, they strike to kill,
and you know I will? You know I will? What
do you sing on your drive home? Do you see
my face and your neighbor's lawn? Does she smile or
does she mouth? Fuck you forever? Every time you call

(56:50):
me crazy, I get more crazy? What about that? And
when you say I'm singing angry? I get more angry.
And there's nothing like a mad woman with a shame
she went mad? No one likes a mad woman. You
made her like that, and you'll poke that bear till
her claws come out, and you find something to wrap
your noose around. And there's nothing like a mad woman. Now,

(57:12):
I breathe flames each time I talk. My cannon's on fire.
In at your yacht. They say move on, but you
know I won't. And women like hunting witches too, doing
your dirtiest work for you. It's obvious that wanting me
dead has really brought you two together. Every time you
call me crazy, I get more crazy. What about that?

(57:33):
And when you say I seem angry? I get more angry.
And there's nothing like a mad woman. What a shame?
She went mad? No one likes a mad woman. You
made her like that, and you poke that bear till
her claws come out, and you find something to wrap
your noose around. And there's nothing like a mad woman.
Here's the bridge. This is my favorite part. And when
she says this, she has like there's an oomph to it.

(57:55):
Taking my time, taking my time, because you took everything
for me, watching you climb, watching you climb over people
like me. The Master of Spin has a couple side flings.
Good wives always know. This is Scooter Broun's wife. She
should be mad, should be skating like me. But no
one likes a mad woman. What a shame she went mad?

(58:17):
You made her like that. This is when I have
am I one of the people who are thinking like, ooh,
rep TV might be an announced to night, REPTIV might
be announced tonight, Ooh rep TV might be announced tonight. Yes,
I am one of those people. But I don't get
mad when she doesn't. I don't sit there and troll
her and be like, well, Taylor sayway may ray gosh,

(58:40):
some Swifties actually make me mad. You're not swifties, you're performing,
So what is the lyrics? Sanctimoniously performing soliloquis that I
will never see Hannah's and what does she say, Sarah's
and Hannahs in their Sunday best shouting to herselves, what
a mess. Yeah, some of y'all are fake. So when
I get mad at that because she sitting here saying,

(59:01):
I'm taking my time, taking my time because you took
everything from me, Like, yeah, I'm taking my time with
this because this is me, this is my project, this
is me. That was a this was all me before
and due to paperwork and that I signed when I
was fifteen. I didn't own my stuff and you and

(59:22):
then you sold it behind my back to somebody that
like the ultimate portrayal. So I'm taking my time because
you took everything for me. Okay. Next song Epiphany. This
was inspired by her grandfather who fought in World War
two uh Guadalcanal, and she said that he like never
talked about it to anyone because of how traumatizing it was.

(59:43):
So the first verse is about a war. The second
verse is about healthcare workers during COVID because she was
saying that, like, yeah, like that happened to my grandfather,
but there's people who's doing this right now during COVID
you know, like my mom was a COVID Like my
mom like literally was she's she's been a nurse for
seventeen or I'm twenty, so twenty years and in the
last six years she's been in what's it called, like

(01:00:05):
nursing or administration, like on the administrative side of the hospital.
But even though she was in administrative positions, they were
so short staffed they asked her to like she worked
nights and weekends during COVID and like the stories she
would say that like she would that she would be
working on somebody so well, and like would it be
like he's doing really well. In the next week he'd
be they'd be dead, and she'd come back the next

(01:00:28):
weekend and they'd be gone. And so yeah, the song,
let's get into epiphany. Keep your helmet, keep your life, son,
just a flesh room. Here's your rifle crawling up the beaches. Now, sir,
I think he's bleeding out. And some things you just
can't speak about with you. I serve with you. I

(01:00:52):
fall down down, Watch you breathe in, Watch you breathing out.
Something meds did not cover, someone's daughter, someone's mother. Hold
your hand through plastic. Now, doc I think she's crashing out,
and some things you just can't speak about. Only twenty

(01:01:15):
minutes to sleep, but you dream of some epiphany, just
one single glimpse of relief, to make some sense of
what you've seen. With you, I serve with you, I
fall down, Watch you breathe in, Watch you breathing out
with you, I serve with you, I fall down, Watch
you breathe in, watch you breathing out. Only twenty minutes

(01:01:38):
to sleep, but you dream of some epiphany, just one
single glimpse of relief to make sense of what you've seen. Lyrically,
this is short, but it's the way the beat is.
She goes, She goes like with you, I serve with you,
I fall down, Damn, watch you breathe in. So it's
like it's slow. So next song, Betty, Betty, Betty, Betty, Betty, Okay,

(01:02:03):
Betty is the last part of the folklore love triangle.
There's lyrical parallels to both Cardigan when she says, when
you're young, assume you know nothing, high hills on broken cobblestones,
and August, Remember when I pulled up and said get
in the car. The whole bird of August basically the
chorus was written by Joe. Taylor liked that it was
an apology. Again, she swore this was fictional. Teenage Boy.

(01:02:25):
This is a quote from Taylor. Teenage boy apologizes after
losing the love of his life because he's been foolish. Yes,
she says, foolish. Let's get into this. This is such
a good song. It's just like the guitar and a harmonica. Yeah, Betty,
I won't make assumptions about why you switched your homeroom,
but I think it's because of me. Betty. One time

(01:02:46):
I was riding on your skateboard when I passed your house.
It's like I couldn't breathe. You heard the rumors from me, Nez.
You can't believe a word, she says most times, but
this time it was true. The worst thing that I
ever did is what I did to you. Okay, before
we get to the chorus, this is random. Blake Lively
and Ryan Reynolds have three kids. No one knew the

(01:03:07):
names of these kids until this album, and as Betty
and James are the names of Marno or of their kids. Yeah,
it's they're like they're like really good friends. Taylor, Ryan
Reynolds and Blake Lively. Okay, of course. But if I
showed up at your party, would you have me? Would
you want me? Would you tell me to go fuck myself?

(01:03:29):
Or lead me to the garden and the garden? Would
you trust me if I told you it was just
a summer thing. I'm only seventeen. I don't know anything,
but I know I miss you. Remembering card again when
she says, when you're young, they assume you know nothing. Yep,
because Betty knew everything. But this this kid did not.

(01:03:51):
This boy did not Betty, Betty, I know where it
all went wrong. Your favorite song was playing from the
far side of the gym. I was nowhere to be found.
I hate the crowds, you know that. Plus I saw
you dance with him. You heard the rumors from me, Nez,
you can't believe a word, she says most times, but
this time it was true. The worst thing that I

(01:04:12):
ever did was what I did to you. But if
I just showed up at your party, would you have me?
Would you want me? Would you tell me to go
fuck myself? Or lead me to the garden and the garden?
Would you trust me if I told you it was
just a summer thing? I'm only seventeen. I don't know anything,
but I know I miss you. Here we go, there's
a lot of parallels to Cardigan and August. I was

(01:04:36):
walking home my broken cobblestones, just thinking of you when
she pulled up. Like a figment of my worst intentions,
she said, James, get in let's drive. AKA in August
when she says, remember when I pulled up and said
get in the car, James, get in let's drive. Those
days turned into nights. Slept next to her. But I
dreamt of you a summer long. This is a boy

(01:04:59):
if I've ever met one one, Betty. I'm here on
your doorstep, and I planned it out for weeks now,
but it's finally sinking in Betty. Right now is the
last time I can dream about what happens when I
see when you see my face again. The only thing
I want to do is make it up to you.
So I showed up at your party. Yeah, showed up

(01:05:19):
at your party. Yeah, showed up at your party. Will
you have me? Will you love me? Will you kiss
me on the porch in front of all your stupid friends?
If you kiss me, will it be just like I
dreamed it? Will it patch your broken weeds only seventeen.
I don't know anything, but I know I miss you.
Standing in your card again, kissing in my car again,
stopped at a street light. You know I miss you. Boo. Yeah,

(01:05:45):
he's just a stupid boy, but makes a good love triangle. Okay,
next song is peace, so she said the instrumental. When
you hear this instrumental, which Aaron Dosner had composed produced,
she said this when she first heard it. She said,
this is what peace sounds like. And this song is
about her being so famous that there will always be
something and is that worth it? Like she's talking to

(01:06:07):
Joe specifically, but like, is it worth it? Is it
worth being with me knowing that, like all this stuff,
there's gonna be stuff happening that is out of my control.
But I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart warm.
That's a lyric, And we now know that it was
not enough for Joe, which makes the song very sad.
Now before she was asking a question and now we

(01:06:28):
do have that answer. Unfortunately, I relate to this because
I am a very traumatized person. I went through three
years of intense gaslighting, narcissistic trauma, not to mention the
thing that kickstarted that. So I'm a very traumatized person,
insane trust issues. I'm an avoidant lover. I only really
only focus on myself because I was surviving and fight

(01:06:49):
or flight for three years. So there's some problems, and
so I do go through very very dark times. And
I'm also worried that is that too much for my partner?
I mean, yeah, let's get into the piece. Our coming
of age has come and gone suddenly the summer. It's

(01:07:10):
clear I had never had the courage of my convictions.
As long as danger is near, and it's just around
the corner, corner, Darlin, because it lives in me. No,
I could never give you peace, but I'm a fire
and I'll keep your brittle heart warm if your cascade
ocean wave blues come. And all these people think gloves
for show, but I would die for you in secret.

(01:07:32):
The devil's in the details. But you've got a friend
in me. Would it be enough? If I could never
give you peace? Your integrity makes me seem small. You
paint dreamscapes on the wall. I talk shit with my friends.
It's like I'm wasting your honor. And you know that
I'd swing with you for the fences, sit with you

(01:07:52):
in the trenches. Give you my wild, give you a child,
give you the science that only comes when two people
understand each other. Family that I chose, not that I
see your brother as my brother. Is it enough? But
there's Roberts to the east, Clowns to the west. I'd
give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the
rain is always gonna come if you're standing with me.

(01:08:13):
But I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart
warm if your cascade ocean wave blues come. All these
people think loves for show, but I would die for
you in secret. The devil's in the details, But you
got a friend in me. Would it be enough if
I could never give your peace? Would it be enough?
If I can never give you peace? Would it be
enough if I could never give you peace? We now

(01:08:36):
know that it wasn't enough for him. Okay, next song
is Hoax, which this is the last song for the
original album, but we're doing the Deluxe which is only
one more song because the Little Luxe track is my
favorite Taylor Swift song of all time. So this last
song is called Hoax. This last track on the original album,

(01:08:57):
like I said. Taylor said, it embodies all the things
that this album was thematically. She said, there's confessions, nature,
emotional ambiguity, love that isn't just easy. She said, she
was right, she's riding through this is my analysis. She's
writing through her emotions, and she's targeting all different relationships
and her life, love, business, and even betrayals that she

(01:09:17):
saw their betrayals from people that she saw as family.
There's references to this is Me Trying, she said, like
could have followed my fears on the way down. Like
that's the lyric from This Is Me Trying. And she says,
and this song stood on the cliff side, screaming give
me a reason. But yeah, she kind of tackles like
all her relationships in different lines. My only one, my

(01:09:40):
smoking gun, my eclipsed son, this has broken me down,
my twisted knife, my sleepless night, my windless fight, this
has frozen my ground. Stood on the cliff side, screaming
give me a reason. Your faithless love's the only hoax
I believe in. Don't want no other shade of blue

(01:10:00):
but you. No sadness in the world would do my
best laid plan, your slight of hand, my barren Land.
I am ash from your fire, stood on the glove side,
screaming give me a reason. Your faithless love's the only
hoax I believe in. Don't want no other shade of blue.

(01:10:21):
But you no other sadness than the world would do.
This is the bridge. You know you left a part
of me back in New York. You knew the hero died,
So what's the movie for? You know it still hurts
underneath my scars from when they pulled me apart. That
is from that is she's referencing the Kanye Taylor's stuff
that went down and that caused the album reputation. You

(01:10:43):
know it still hurts underneath my scars from when they
pulled me apart. You knew the passwords, so I let
you in the door. You knew you won, So what's
the point is keeping score? You knew it still. You
knew it still hurts underneath my scars from when they
pulled me apart. But what you did was just as dark, Darling.
This was just as hard as when they pulled me apart.

(01:11:04):
My only one, my kingdom, come undone, my broken drum.
You have beaten my heart. Don't want no other shade
of blue, but you no other sadness in the world
would do. And it ends with this melody do Do
Do Do Do Doom. That's like a melody that plays
throughout the entire song, and it ends with that, and

(01:11:26):
it is a great ending. But then there's the Lakes.
Like I said earlier, this is my favorite Taylor Swift
song of all time, of all time. This is about
Joe and Taylor's three year long trip to the Lake District.
This is a referenced in an invisible string when she
says Bold was the waitress on her three year trip
getting lunch down by the lakes to the Swifties. This

(01:11:48):
is proof that we almost lost Taylor Swift, like the
Taylor that we know of, and she wanted to disappear
to the Lake District like all the poets did. But
we now know that she fell back in love with
her fame post quarantine. But this is definitely her. This
is her falling. This the writing in the song is
literally her falling out of love with her fame. And

(01:12:08):
because Joe was a very private person, very very private,
very very private, did not like how famous she was.
You can kind of connect the dogs how that panned
out and how the swifties feel about him six years later,
not wanting to marry her whole thing. Let's get into
little lakes. Okay? Is it romantic? How all my elegies
eulogize me. I'm not cut out for all these cynical clones,

(01:12:32):
these hunters with cell phones. Take me to the lakes
where all the poets went to die. I don't belong
in my beloved, neither do you. Those windomere peaks look
like a perfect place to cry. I'm setting off, but
not without my muse. What should be over burrowed under
my skin and heart stopping waves of hurt. I've come

(01:12:53):
too far to watch some name dropping sleeves. Tell me
what are my words worth? Take me to the lakes
where all the poets went to die. I don't belong
and my beloved neither do you. Those windomere peaks look
like a perfect place to cry. I'm setting off, but
not without my muse. Here's the bridge. I want to

(01:13:15):
wharrows and sad prose. I want to watch wisteria grow
right over my bare feet because I haven't moved in years,
and I want you right here. A red rose grew
up out of ice frozen ground with no one around
to tweet it, while I bathe in cliff side pools
with my calamitous love and insurmountable grief. Take me to

(01:13:38):
the lakes where all the poets went to die. I
don't belong, and my beloved, neither do you. Those windomere
peaks like a perfect place to cry. I'm setting off,
but not without my muse and no, not without you. Ugh.
I love this. I mean, you can see her reference saying,
you know, I've come too far to watch some name
dropping sleeves. Tell me what am I wordsworth? I mean,

(01:14:01):
that's again, that's Kanye and the whole Master's debacle. And
I like, there's a lot of people who said that
they don't like when she says a red rose group
out of eyes, frozen down on ground with no one
around to tweet it. They're like, it ruins it. It
ruins that, well, yeah, because she's talking about how that
life she hates and it ruins this life that she's

(01:14:22):
dreaming about. It it's ruining her piece. Really, this instrumental
is beautiful. It's guitar, it's strings, and it ends the
album so beautifully. If you don't listen to any song
from this album. Listen to August and this song the Lakes.
This is my favorite Tarroo Stoft song of all time. Okay,

(01:14:43):
so that was the last song. In conclusion for Folklore,
this is the most intricately written album by Tara Swift,
which is why I believe it is her magnum opus.
Evermore is an elevation of this album. Evan Moore is
the next album that comes after this, and it solidifies
as her as a writer. Whereas Folklore blindsided some people
with how good the writing was. She strips the pop

(01:15:06):
narrative and allows us to truly listen to her as
well as gently listen with the instrumentals. Creatively, it's different
from what she's been doing before, and I believe she
changed a lot of people's opinions of her as an artist.
That's why I recommend Folklore to people who are trying
to get into Taylor Swift reviews. This was the twenty
twenty one Grammy's Album of the Year. Rolling Stone gave

(01:15:28):
it a four point five out of five, and Pitchford
gave it an eight point zero out of ten. Like
I said before, this this should be my favorite Roistol album,
but because I am a self self self proclaimed rep Girlly,
it's not, but it is close. I mean I literally
have a part like a song from this tatted on me. Anyway,

(01:15:50):
that wraps up this episode. Thank you so much for listening.
I do have an Instagram It's at Dropped the Needle
with saff all overcase. I do have a TikTok it
is at drop the Needle with saff. I do post
on there a lot now, so please go follow, Please
like my stuff, Please flow my dms with album recommendations

(01:16:11):
or just your overall thoughts about my podcast, about about
the episode, Always looking for suggestions to improve and what
y'all would like to hear. Thank you for listening. This
has Drop the Needle. Whatsaff