So It Goes...
reputation (2017)
Background
Taylor released her fifth studio album, 1989, in October 2014. Its synth-pop production transformed her sound and image from country-oriented to mainstream pop. The album was a massive commercial success, selling over five million copies in the U.S. within one year, and spawning three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles. The BBC asserted that the success of 1989 solidified Taylor’s status as a global pop star.
In 2016, when Taylor was at the peak of overexposure, some of her rivals in the industry (including Scooter Braun, Kanye West and Justin Bieber) succeded in launching a worldwide hate campaign against her. As a result, Taylor disappeared from public view for an entire year and thought about quitting music for good. She became increasingly reticent on social media, having previously maintained an active presence with a large following, and avoided interactions with the press. She conceived her sixth studio album, reputation, as an answer to the media commotion surrounding her celebrity.
Lyrical Theme and Composition
«I’d just become a father. I was not in the room when the melody and the lyrics were written. Max and Shellback did half of the album with her in L.A., and I had done this [instrumental] track—which is weird too, because I don’t do tracks. No one really does tracks on our team now. But I’d started that idea. Shellback was looking through things on his computer, listened to that track, and Taylor reacted to it. 'Oh, what’s that? That’s special. I haven’t done anything like that. Can we do that?'»
«So they were vibing and doing melodies, and Taylor had the lyrics. She wrote everything quickly. I woke up — this is the funny part of the story — and someone is FaceTiming me at 6:30 in the morning. I’ve just had a child. I was up all night and my eyes were bloodshot and my hair was crazy. I saw it was Shellback and I ignored the call, put my phone away, and jumped into the shower. My girlfriend is like, 'Can you answer your phone? Someone’s calling you constantly, it’s Johan [Shellback]! Can you just take it?' I got out of the shower with a towel wrapped around me and I texted Shellback like, 'Ok, it’s 6:30 a.m., I am so tired, I’ve been up all night, and I just got out of the shower. Can I call you back later?' He said, 'No. Call me. Now.' I called him back and saw this girl on his couch. She goes, 'Hi! It’s Taylor! How are you?' And I’m presenting myself [in a towel] after a shower…it was a very unpleasant picture for her. She goes, 'We just heard the track. We had the melody. The lyrics are like this. I can read you the lyrics! I had this idea. What do you think about that?' And I was like, '…Yes!' It was a very strange songwriting session for me, but I’m very thankful for that. It’s the one FaceTime call I’ll remember for the rest of my life.»
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
See you in the dark
All eyes on you, my magician
All eyes on us
You make everyone disappear, and
Cut me into pieces
Gold cage, hostage to my feelings
Back against the wall
Trippin’, trip-trippin’ when you’re gone
[Pre-chorus 1]
‘Cause we break down a little
But when you get me alone, it’s so simple
‘Cause baby, I know what you know
We can feel it
[Chorus]
And all the pieces fall right into place
Getting caught up in a moment
Lipstick on your face
So it goes…
I’m yours to keep
And I’m yours to lose
You know I’m not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you
So it goes…
[Verse 2]
Met you in a bar
All eyes on me, your illusionist
All eyes on us
I make all your grey days clear, and
Wear you like a necklace
I’m so chill, but you make me jealous
But I got your heart
Skippin’, skip-skippin’ when I’m gone
[Pre-chorus 2]
‘Cause we break down a little
But when I get you alone, it’s so simple
‘Cause baby, I know what you know
We can feel it…
[Chorus]
And all the pieces fall right into place
Getting caught up in a moment
Lipstick on your face
So it goes…
I’m yours to keep
And I’m yours to lose
You know I’m not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you
So it goes…
[Refrain]
Come here, dressed in black now
So, so, so it goes…
Scratches down your back now
So, so, so it goes…
[Bridge]
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who’s counting?
I did a number on you
But, honestly, baby, who’s counting?
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who’s counting?
Who’s counting? (One, two, three)
[Chorus]
And all the pieces fall (Pieces fall) right into place
Getting caught up in a moment (Caught up, caught up)
Lipstick on your face
So it goes…
I’m yours to keep (Oh)
And I’m yours to lose (Baby)
You know I’m not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you
So it goes…
[Refrain]
Come here, dressed in black now
So, so, so it goes…
Scratches down your back now
So, so, so it goes…
Come here, dressed in black now
So, so, so it goes…
Scratches down your back now
So, so, so it goes…
| Album | reputation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | November 10, 2017 | |||
| Written | 2015 | |||
| Genre | Electro Pop | |||
| Length | 3:47 | |||
| Label | Big Machine Records | |||
| Songwriters | Taylor Swift Max Martin Shellback Oscar Görres | |||
| Producers | Max Martin Shellback Oscar Görres | |||
REPUTATION CHRONOLOGY | ||||
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