my tears ricochet
folklore (2020)
Fans believe “my tears ricochet” connects to Taylor’s personal life as well — with the song really being about Scott Borchetta’s betrayal of Taylor when she left his label Big Machine Records for Republic Records at the end of 2018. Taylor herself has said the following on the song:
“Chronologically, this was the first [song written for the album]. It wrote that one alone. It’s definitely one of the saddest songs on the album. Picking a ‘Track Five’ is sort of a pressurized decision but I knew from day one this was probably going to be it. It’s a song about karma, about greed, about how somebody could be your best friend and your companion and your most trusted person in your life and then they could go and become your worst enemy who knows how to hurt you because they were once your most trusted person. And it does remind me of people going through a divorce and having that person they swore to be with forever then become the person they spend most of their time talking shit about. Writing this song, it kind of occurred to me that in all of the superhero stories the hero’s greatest nemesis is the villain that used to be his best friend. When you think about that, you think about how there’s this beautiful moment in the beginning of a friendship where these people have no idea that one day, they’ll hate each other and try to take each other out. I mean, that’s really sad and terrible.” — Taylor Swift
Producer Jack Antonoff, who has worked with Taylor since 2013 on songs like “Out Of The Woods” and “Cruel Summer,” shared via Twitter that “august” and “my tears ricochet” were his favorite things he’d done together with Taylor. “folklore” producer Aaron Dessner told Vulture:
“This is one of my absolute favorite songs on the record. I think it’s a brilliant composition, and Taylor’s words, the way her voice sounds and how this song feels, are, to me, one of the critical pieces. It’s lodged in my brain. That’s also very important to Taylor and Jack. It’s like a beacon for this record.” — Aaron Dessner
“my tears ricochet” debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of August 8, 2020.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
We gather here, we line up, weepin’ 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?
‘Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you
‘Til my dying day
[Chorus]
I didn’t have it in 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
[Verse 2]
We gather stones, never knowing what 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
[Chorus]
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 the wake?
Cursing my name, wishing 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)
And when you can’t sleep at night (You hear my stolen lullabies)
[Chorus]
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 on this pain
Crossing out the good years
And you’re cursing my name, wishing I stayed
Look at how my tears ricochet
| Album | folklore |
|---|---|
| Released | July 24, 2020 |
| Recorded | 2020 |
| Studio | Kitty Committee Studio (Los Angeles) |
| Genre | Indie Folk |
| Length | 4:16 |
| Label | Republic Records |
| Songwriter | Taylor Swift |
| Producer | Jack Antonoff |