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Vigilante Shit

Midnights (2022)

“Vigilante Shit” is track eight on Taylor’s tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Written by her and co-produced by Jack Antonoff, the song follows a woman who is seeking revenge.

Background and Release

On August 28, 2022, Taylor announced her tenth studio album, Midnights, set for release on October 21, 2022. One month later, she began unveiling the track-list in a randomized order through a video series on TikTok, called Midnights Mayhem With Me. It consisted of 13 episodes, with one song revealed in per episode. In the second edition on September 23, 2022, Taylor announced the title of the eighth track as “Vigilante Shit.”

Lyrical Theme

“Vigilante Shit” follows a woman who seeks revenge on her nemesis, presumably someone who has committed a crime. Taylor and the subject of the song ostensibly obtain their revenge following a fallout – instead of getting sad, they get even. In prologue for Midnights, Taylor wrote:

«Why are you still up at this hour? Because you’re cosplaying vengeance fantasies, where the bad bad man is hauled away in handcuffs and you get to watch it happen. You laugh into the mirror with a red wine snarl. You look positively deranged.»

Taylor Swift

Live Performances

“Vigilante Shit” was part of the regular setlist for Taylor’s sixth headlining concert tour, “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024). The performance was a burlesque chair dance that resembled the musical Chicago (1975). It went viral on social media and critics highlighted it as a standout moment of the show. In The Eras Tour book, Taylor wrote that “Vigilante Shit” was her favorite performance of the night:

«Then, my favorite moment of the night: 'Vigilante Shit.' It's just the most fun I've ever had, that one. The chair choreography! The catty, vengeful, mischievous personas we get to try on and play with.»

Taylor Swift

Commercial Performance

In the United States, songs from Midnights occupied the entire Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100; a historic feat. “Vigilante Shit” debuted at No. 10 on the chart. Taylor became the first artist to simultaneously occupy the Top 10 spots of the Hot 100; the female artist with the most Top 10 songs (40); and the first act to occupy the entire Top 10 of the Hot 100, Streaming Songs, and Digital Songs charts simultaneously. Midnights also became the first album in history to contain ten Top 10 songs.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Draw the cat eye sharp enough to kill a man
You did some bad things, but I’m the worst of them
Sometimes I wonder which one’ll be your last lie
They say looks can kill and I might try
I don’t dress for women
I don’t dress for men
Lately I’ve been dressing for revenge

[Chorus 1]
I don’t start shit but I can tell you how it ends
Don’t get sad, get even
So on the weekends
I don’t dress for friends
Lately I’ve been dressing for revenge

[Verse 2]
She needed cold hard proof so I gave her some
She had the envelope, where you think she got it from?
Now she gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride
Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife
And she looks so pretty
Driving in your Benz
Lately she’s been dressing for revenge

[Chorus 2]
She don’t start shit, but she can tell you how it ends
Don’t get sad, get even
So on the weekends
She don’t dress for friends
Lately she’s been dressing for revenge

[Bridge]
Ladies always rise above
Ladies know what people want
Someone sweet and kind and fun
The lady simply had enough…

[Verse 3]
While he was doing lines
And crossing all of mine
Someone told his white collar crimes to the FBI
And I don’t dress for villains
Or for innocents
I’m on my vigilante shit again

[Chorus 1]
I don’t start shit, but I can tell you how it ends
Don’t get sad, get even
So on the weekends
I don’t dress for friends
Lately I’ve been dressing for revenge