Here's how Taylor described the list:
You Don’t Get To Tell Me About Sad
“These songs all have one thing in common… I wrote them while feeling anger. *laughs* Over the years, I’ve learned that anger can manifest itself in a lot of different ways but the healthiest way that it manifests itself in my life is when I can write a song about and then often times that helps me get past it.”
- Vigilante Shit, High Infidelity, Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve, Exile , Illicit Affairs, Mad Woman, Tolerate It, Bad Blood, Is It Over Now?, I Knew You Were Trouble, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, The Last Time, The Moment I Knew, Babe, I Bet You Think About Me, Dear John, Better Than Revenge, Tell Me Why, You’re Not Sorry, Forever & Always, Mr. Perfectly Fine
This happens to be my favorite flavor of Taylor. It's how I discovered her, hello Should've Said No! And they were pretty easy to spot and add to the anger list in her TTPD 5 Stages of Grief series.
Self-Titled-
Picture to Burn
(the OG anger song)
I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me
I grew up with the
"That's fine, I'll tell mine you're gay"
And she's since changed it because using gay as a slur or outing someone isn't given the pass it once was in society. But if you read it as outing someone. That someone could definitely be another gal. Right from the jump, first album, there was Gaylor content.
There's no time for tearsI'm just sitting here planning my revenge
Taylor is NOT sad about this mofo. Did she name this list after this particular song?
There's nothing stopping meFrom going out with all of your best friends
Could also be a gay line, just sayin'.
And if you're missing me, you'd better keep it to yourself'Cause coming back around here would be bad for your health
She doesn't miss them, never wants them back, and is pissed off!
You're a redneck heartbreak who's really bad at lyingSo watch me strike a match on all my wasted timeAs far as I'm concerned, you're just another picture to burn
Cold As You
Honestly, I know I'll get hate for this but I think (at least in part) it might be about her dad. I interspersed some chunks of THE Scott Swift email. He was a bit wordy and without boundaries, but I think overall the email shows his dedication to his daughter and her career. And I can see where she got some of her cleverness and sense of humor. Scott is doing a lot of the leg work and behind the scenes, the less glamorous stuff and making things happen a lot of the time. Can I see how some of his wording and sentiments would rub Taylor the wrong way? Absolutely! I think he might have some narcissistic tendencies and maybe some violent ones too.
I can't decide if he thinks of Taylor as a product and cash cow, or if he would just bend over backwards to make her dreams come true. Maybe it's the same thing. At the end of the day, I think Scott and Taylor love each other, though maybe they don't always like each other. And they are loyal to each other-for better or worse. There are probably ups and downs, and I think this is a song that describes some of their tensions.
This song has some sad lines, but underneath is seething anger. Even the title is saying she could never be as cruel is this person.
And when you take, you take the very best of me.../And you do what you want 'cause I'm not what you wanted
Damn, this is harsh of the other person.
What a rainy ending given to a perfect dayJust walk away
Here, Taylor is disappointed, but she's not asking this other person for anything. She is telling them to get the eff out of her face. Leavin' like a father.
You never did give a damn thing, honey
The anger becomes more evident in this line. All this person did was take from Taylor. Even though she's not what they wanted, they took the best of her.
Oh, every smile you fake is so condescendingCountin' all the scars you've made
She is going back through every incident that this person hurt her. And she's mad that they made her sad.
Now that I'm sittin' here thinkin' it throughI've never been anywhere cold as you
Should’ve Said No
You can hear it in the tone of her voice. The anger is palpable. Whoever cheated, everyone who EVER cheated, is about to get a tongue-lashing!
It's strange to think the songs we used to sing/The smiles, the flowers, everything is gone
Everything good this person did, everything positive that came from this relationship has been undone by this act.
Yesterday I found out about youEven now just looking at you/Feels wrongYou say that you'd take it all back/Given one chance, it was a moment of weaknessAnd you said, "Yes"/You should've said, "No"You should've gone home/You should've thought twice 'fore you let it all goYou should've known that word 'bout what you did with her/Get back to me (get back to me)And I should've been there/In the back of your mindI shouldn't be asking myself, "Why?"You shouldn't be beggin' for forgiveness at my feetYou should've said, "No"Baby, and you might still have me
This piece of shit cheated on Taylor and she's not accepting any apologies.
You can see that I've been cryin'Baby, you know all the right things/To sayBut do you honestly expect me to believe/We could ever be the same?You say that the past is the past/You need one chance, it was a moment of weaknessAnd you said, "Yes"/You should've said, "No"
Taylor can't look past this act. Everything is ruined. Baby, and you might still have me, oh-whoa
I can't resist/Before you go, tell me thisWas it worth it?/Was she worth this?
No, no, no, no, no, no
And that other girl sucks.
I can also see this song as anger towards her father for cheating on her beloved mom. Or from her mom's perspective as well. More than one thing can be true.
Reputation-
I did something bad
I never trust a narcissist
Uh oh, this other person is not good.
'Cause for every lie I tell themThey tell me three
She's only reciprocating what the other person is putting out.
If a man talks shit, then I owe him nothingI don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming
Taylor is retaliating against their bad behavior.
But if he drops my name, then I owe him nothin'And if he spends my change, then he had it comin'
This guy is dating her for clout. And enjoying her lifestyle while he's with her.
They say I did something bad/Then why's it feel so good?Most fun I ever hadAnd I'd do it over and over and over again if I couldIt just felt so good, good
This guy is being a total douche! So yeah, Taylor enjoys stickin' it to him a little-it's only fair.
They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't oneThey got their pitchforks and proofTheir receipts and reasonsThey're burning all the witches, even if you aren't oneSo light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)Light me up, go ahead and light me up (light me up)
There's a Gaylor reading, but that's not what we're here for, right now so I'll spare you. I think we can also read this as sexism. Guys are allowed to lie, clout-chase, use her for the money and it's fine with the media/public. But as soon as she's not cool with that, as soon as Taylor claps back-she's seen as petty or problematic. If men date around, talk shit, or use women as trophies nobody bats an eye. If a woman even does half of that she's vilified.
This is why we can’t have nice things
So why'd you have to rain on my parade?I'm shaking my head and locking the gates
This is why we can't have nice things, darlin'Because you break them, I had to take them away
Another person (or the same person) is ruining everything good and Taylor is sick and tired of it.
Did you think I wouldn't hear all the things you said about me?
It was so nice being friends againThere I was, giving you a second chanceBut you stabbed me in the back while shakin' my hand
And therein lies the issue, friends don't try to trick youGet you on the phone and mind-twist you
And so I took an axe to a mended fence
But I'm not the only friend you've lost latelyIf only you weren't so shady
She's not gonna take anymore frenemies shit.
Here's a toast to my reeaaaal friendsThey don't care about the "he said, she said"And here's to my babyHe ain't readin' what they call me lately
And here's to my mamaHad to listen to all this drama
She differentiates the people that are loyal to her vs. the person/people that are fake.
Exhibit 1:
this was posted after a drought of MUTUAL communication/sightings of nearly 2 years.
Exhibit 2:
same night as Nashville Reputation concert that Karlie attended
It's shade bc Karlie isn't in the reaaaal friends pic.
And here's to you'Cause forgiveness is a nice thing to doHahaha, I can't even say it with a straight face
She big mad.
And this next song shows how it changed her as a person.
Look what you made me do
I don't like your little gamesThe role you made me play of the foolNo, I don't like you
I don't like your perfect crimeHow you laugh when you lieIsn't cool, no, I don't like you (oh!)
The edited phone call and media lies, SnakeGate, and the revenge porn were too much. Understatement of the century. These events traumatized her and shaped who Taylor became as a person.
I (I) don't (don't) like your kingdom keys (keys)They (they) once belonged to me (me)You (you) asked me for a place to sleepLocked me out and threw a feast (what?)
Betrayal is a hard pill to swallow. And no good deed goes unpunished. As a result, Taylor will have trust issues from here on out.
And then the world moves on, but one thing's for sureMaybe I got mine, but you'll all get yours
The 5 Stages of Grief came into play back then too. Taylor was shocked it was happening to her and tried to defend herself in the media, which just dug the hole deeper. She was depressed and attempted to go underground (to what extent we may never actually know, because it's been exaggerated). THIS song is absolutely the anger phase. She is ready to lash out.
But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time (nick of time)I got a list of names, and yours is in red, underlinedI check it once, then I check it twice, oh!
The people on the bad list are about to get it!
I'm sorryBut the old Taylor can't come to the phone right nowWhy? Oh, 'cause she's dead (oh)
Taylor will never be the same as a result of these events. She'll be more untrusting and jaded. But the art that was inspired really worked out for her, didn't it?!
So the final You Don't Get to Tell me About Sad list:
- Vigilante Shit, High Infidelity, Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve, Exile , Illicit Affairs, Mad Woman, Tolerate It, Bad Blood, Is It Over Now?, I Knew You Were Trouble, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, The Last Time, The Moment I Knew, Babe, I Bet You Think About Me, Dear John, Better Than Revenge, Tell Me Why, You’re Not Sorry, Forever & Always, Mr. Perfectly Fine
- Picture to Burn, Should've Said No, Cold as You
- Look What You Made Me Do, I Did Something Bad, This is Why we Can't Have Nice Things
