With the latest release of her album, “Midnights,” Taylor Swift has once again got me in a chokehold. However, I find myself relating to the lyrics of this new album more than her previous ones. Perhaps it’s because the central idea behind the songs on “Midnights” is about maturing and finding oneself; At least that’s how I interpreted it. However, Taylor Swift has always had a duality to her songs; her perception of herself and her lovers/society’s perception. I feel as though this album focuses on that contrast. For this post, I’d like to analyze some of the lyrics of this album that impacted me the most.
Anti-Hero
It’s me, hi, I’m the problem it’s me At tea time, everybody agrees I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror It must be exhausting, always rooting for the anti-hero
When I first listened to this song I thought about many anti-hero’s in film such as Loki from Thor, Deadpool, Harley Quinn, The Narrator from Fight Club, Jack Sparrow, Wednesday Adams, and so on. The characters who try their best but are never the heroes; the characters who deep-down hate themselves. Out of all the examples of doubles/doppelgängers I’ve studied, I’ve never come across the anti-hero; however, it makes perfect sense. An anti-hero has no real identity, no real purpose. They’re constantly split between good and bad. Even the audience does not know their true identity. When will they help save the day? when will they instigate trouble? The lyrics “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror” and “did you hear my covet narcissism I disguise as altruism” remind me of Dorian Gray. I believe he is an anti-hero. He’s the central character in his story, yet he lacks the classic heroic attributes. Dorian Gray was afraid of what he really was; it’s why he hid the portrait of Basil where no one could see. He is quite literally the type of person to stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror. Covert narcissism is defined as the “quiet or vulnerable narcissism and is more subtle, marked by passive aggression and depression.” A covert narcissist is also described as someone who “craves admiration and importance.” Sound familiar? Dorian constantly craved the admiration of Henry. Although he did flaunt his newfound identity at times, I liked to think that he kept to himself. It would explain him hiding his own portrait. I do think, however, that he hid his covert narcissism through altruism. He stopped caring for Basil and for the supposed love of his life, Sibyl. The hidden truth was that he cared about them, but his vulnerability and insecurity held a stronger grasp on him.
Did you hear my covet narcissism I disguise as altruism Like some kind of congressman? One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving And life will lose all its meaning
Midnight Rain
He was sunshine, I was midnight rain He wanted it comfortable I wanted that pain He wanted a bride I was making my own name Chasing that fame He stayed the same All of me changed like midnight rain
Although this song focuses more on romance and heartbreak, it still symbolizes a duality within Taylor Swift. She created a version of herself that her lover preferred, even though it wasn’t truly her. I don’t think the duality/doubles of women in relationships is discussed enough, especially when it’s very common. However, I do think it ties into the discussion of the idealized female and the male gaze. “He wanted a bride” is an example of how women are objectified and labeled by men. They’re never given their own name, hence Taylor’s lyric “I was making my own name,” symbolizes duality. It symbolizes a tear in the cycle women have been stuck in for so long.
Later, Taylor sings….
My town was a wasteland Full of cages, full of fences Pageant queens and big pretenders But for some, it was paradise
The lyrics “full of cages, full of fences” and “pageant queens and big pretenders” also ties back to the idealized version of women in society. Much like Snow-White’s glass coffin, woman are trapped in invisible prisons; prisons created by society, by the fashion/modeling industry, and by the media. Women may pretend, but a lot of them are simply conditioned to fit into the expectations of society. As someone who has been sexualized and heavily criticized on her body, Taylor Swift writes about her own prison.
You’re On Your Own, Kid
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes I waited ages to see you there I search the party of better bodies. Just to learn that you never cared
“You’re On Your Own, Kid” had perhaps the most impact on me out of all the other songs. In a way I can picture my own struggles in the lyrics of Taylor Swift; wanting to be the perfect girl for a guy. Constantly comparing myself to other girls. The lyric “I search the party for better bodies” perfectly embodies that feeling. However, what’s most impactful about this song is the fact that it transitions from a child to a young adult; “from sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes.” This goes to show how early on girls are influenced by the male gaze, and how early on they begin to desire that male gaze.
Taylor repeats the same verse, but a little different..
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this I hosted parties and starved my body Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss
Ever since you’re a little girl, the idea that you’ll fall in love one day with your prince charming is what most excites you. How could it not, when the princesses you admire all have their happy ending? They’re all saved by the perfect kiss. Perhaps that’s why many woman stay in abusive relationships, or hand out second chances like they’ll never run out. Because when they were little girls they were convinced that they would have the perfect love story, and they held on to that idea. They sacrificed their body, physically and mentally, to get their perfect love story. They lyrics “I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this, I hosted parties and starved my body” symbolize how much woman give to a society that rarely treats them like real people. Yet this is normalized because it’s romanticized in the media we grow up watching. I truly think Taylor Swift captures what it means to be a woman in a man’s world, a man’s idealized world.
The song seems to lyrically touch on Swift’s romantic side, from wanting a guy’s attention…to reaching widespread fame and still ultimately feeling alone but finding peace in that, too “
ELLE Magazine