I know I’m seriously late to the T-Swift first listen party, but I’ve been waiting to get to purchase a physical copy of the album, and today I got my butt to Target and finally did!

For starters the packaging is beautiful. I love the black and white, newspaper vibe. If you’ve noticed I’m a big fan of using the color scheme black, white, and red when I write my short stories. So I think the packaging is really sleek and chic. When you open the CD, there is a autographed double sided poster of Taylor, and then the CD booklet has LYRICS! I love when they put the lyrics in. I’m such a lyric junkie and this just makes life easier, having them right there in front of me.

**My current favorites include- End Game, Delicate, King Of My Heart, Dancing With Our Hands Tied, and Dress**

The first thing you see in the CD booklet is a note from Taylor herself the headline reads- “Here’s something I’ve learned about people.” In it she talks about how people have many different sides, angles, and feelings. As humans we can’t “simplify” ourselves into just one thing. When we feel emotion it comes in few. She also talks about how you have different relationships in life, and each of those relationships holds something different within you- your lover knows you differently than your best friend. And vice versa. Your mom knows you differently than your roommate, and so on. She also touches upon, how in this generation technology has made it easy for your every move to be documented, but that “we think we know someone, but the truth is that we only know the version of them they have chosen to show us.” And I think all of this is completely on point. And there is a sure relatability to her words. She also concludes with stating how fame has been both beautiful and used against her. How she knows gossip blogs will take her lyrics and run with them, but that “There will be no further explanation. There will just be reputation.” In other words, I think she’ll let the music do the talking. 

Notes Upon Listening: Girl knows how to write a damn chorus! She has this way of using colors, metaphors, and vivid images and displaying them through her words. I definitely saw a lot of gold, blue, red, black, grey colors mentioned to describe a certain feeling. With a 15 song set list, this is one sick body of work. Taylor Swift, as usual,  honey you never disappoint. And can I just say that she sounds AMAZING in this record! She hits some notes, tho! 😉

…Ready for it? 

*End Game [Feat. Future & Ed Sheeran] *A Favorite!

I have to say when I first saw Future and Ed were both featured, I was like what, huh? How’s this going to work? But then I remembered Ed can rap too. And it’s DOPE! I love the theme of the song, I wanna be your end game. End game, your “it”, your “the one.” The one you start and end all your days with. Your forever. 

Fav Lyrics:

[Taylor Swift & Future:]
I don’t wanna touch you, I don’t wanna be
Just another ex-love you don’t wanna see
I don’t wanna miss you (I don’t wanna miss you)
Like the other girls do
I don’t wanna hurt you, I just wanna be
Drinking on a beach with you all over me
I know what they all say (I know what they all say)
But I ain’t tryna play

[Taylor Swift:]
I wanna be your end game
I wanna be your first string
I wanna be your A-Team
I wanna be your end game, end game

I hit you like bang
We tried to forget it, but we just couldn’t
And I bury hatchets, but I keep maps of where I put ’em
Reputation precedes me, they told you I’m crazy
I swear I don’t love the drama, it loves me

And I can’t let you go, your hand prints on my soul
It’s like your eyes are liquor, it’s like your body is gold
You’ve been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks
So here’s a truth from my red lips

I Did Something Bad

I love the rumble right before the chorus. And that weird chant-like thing. So cool. This song is kind of an in your face, song. (Many on this record are, but I dig it!) I feel like she’s kind of just like I did this bad thing, it felt good, because your ass deserved it. Bye Boy! 😉  

Fav Lyrics:

I can feel the flames on my skin
Crimson red paint on my lips
If a man talks shit, then I owe him nothing
I don’t regret it one bit, ’cause he had it coming

They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one
They got their pitchforks and proof, their receipts and reasons
They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one
So light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)
Light me up, go ahead and light me up (light me up)
Light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)
Light me up (light me up), light me up

Don’t Blame Me

Girl hints some notes in this track! (@3:07)

Fav Lyrics:

Don’t blame me, love made me crazy
If it doesn’t, you ain’t doing it right
Lord, save me, my drug is my baby
I’ll be using for the rest of my life

My name is whatever you decide
And I’m just gonna call you mine
I’m insane, but I’m your baby (your baby)
Echoes of your name inside my mind
Halo, hiding my obsession
I once was poison ivy, but now I’m your daisy

And baby, for you, I would fall from grace
Just to touch your face
If you walk away
I’d beg you on my knees to stay

*Delicate *An Absolute Favorite!

Getting some Imogen Heap vibes, and I am here for it!

Fav Lyrics:

I can’t even decide. I love every lyric in this song! But I’ll try… 😉

This ain’t for the best
My reputation’s never been worse, so
You must like me for me…
We can’t make
Any promises now, can we, babe?
But you can make me a drink…

Dive bar on the east side, where you at?
Phone lights up my nightstand in the black
Come here, you can meet me in the back
Dark jeans and your Nikes, look at you
Oh damn, never seen that color blue
Just think of the fun things we could do

Third floor on the west side, me and you
Handsome, you’re a mansion with a view
Do the girls back home touch you like I do?
Long night, with your hands up in my hair
Echoes of your footsteps on the stairs
Stay here, honey, I don’t wanna share

Sometimes I wonder when you sleep
Are you ever dreaming of me?
Sometimes when I look into your eyes
I pretend you’re mine, all the damn time
‘Cause I like you

Look What You Made Me Do

So It Goes…

Fav Lyrics:

Gold cage, hostage to my feelings
Back against the wall
Trippin’, trip, trippin’ when you’re gone

And our pieces fall
Right into place
Get caught up in the moments
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…

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

You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who’s counting?
I did a number on you
But, honestly, baby, who’s counting?

Gorgeous

Whisky on ice, Sunset and Vine
You’ve ruined my life, by not being mine

You’re so gorgeous
I can’t say anything to your face
‘Cause look at your face
And I’m so furious
At you for making me feel this way
But what can I say?
You’re gorgeous

Ocean blue eyes looking in mine
I feel like I might sink and drown and die

Getaway Car (Yes I peeped that Hilary Duff Lyric, but I love both queens, so #NOHATE)

Fav Lyrics:

It was the best of times, the worst of crimes
I struck a match and blew your mind
But I didn’t mean it
And you didn’t see it
The ties were black, the lies were white
In shades of gray in candlelight
I wanted to leave him
I needed a reason

*King Of My Heart  *A Favorite!

YESSS with them tribal drum beats, this song has some serious soul!

Fav Lyrics:

Now you try on calling me, baby, like trying on clothes

Salute to me I’m your American Queen
And you move to me like I’m a Motown beat
And we rule the kingdom inside my room
‘Cause all the boys and their expensive cars
With their Range Rovers and their Jaguars
Never took me quite where you do

And all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for
King of my heart, body and soul, ooh whoa
And all at once, you are all I want, I’ll never let you go
King of my heart, body and soul, ooh whoa

*Dancing With Our Hands Tied  *An Absolute Favorite!

This song is a dance anthem. If I make it to one of her concerts, I can just see myself dancing my ass off to this song, singing my lungs out! That beep drop! 

Fav Lyrics:

I, I loved you in secret
First sight, yeah, we love without reason
Oh, 25 years old
Oh, how were you to know and

My, my love had been frozen
Deep blue, but you painted me golden
Oh, and you held me close
Oh, how was I to know what

I could’ve spent forever with your hands in my pockets
Picture of your face in an invisible locket
You said there was nothing in the world that could stop it
I had a bad feeling
And darling, you had turned my bed into a sacred oasis
People started talking, putting us through our paces
I knew there was no one in the world who could take it
I had a bad feeling

But we were dancing
Dancing with our hands tied, hands tied
Yeah, we were dancing
Like it was the first time, first time
Yeah, we were dancing
Dancing with our hands tied, hands tied
Yeah, we were dancing
And I had a bad feeling
But we were dancing

I’m a mess, but I’m the mess that you wanted
Oh, ’cause it’s gravity
Oh, keeping you with me

(^Michelle why don’t you just post the whole damn song!… haha)

*Dress  *A Favorite!

Sexyyyy!!! Such a great song. 

Fav Lyrics:

There is an indentation
In the shape of you
Made your mark on me
A golden tattoo
All of this silence and patience, pining and anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you (ah, ah, ah)
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from all this (ha, ha, ha, ha)

Say my name and everything just stops
I don’t want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off, take it off (ha, ha, ha)
Carve your name into my bedpost
Cause I don’t want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off, take it off (ha, ha, ha)

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things 

Getting a bit of a Lorde vibe here! #Royalssss This song is a toast to ex- friends. That laugh tho!

Fav Lyrics:

Here’s a toast to my real friends
They don’t care about that he said, she said
And here’s to my baby
He ain’t reading what they call me lately
And here’s to my momma
Had to listen to all this drama
And here’s to you
‘Cause forgiveness is a nice thing to do
Haha, I can’t even say it with a straight face

Call It What You Want

This song is beautiful. She talks about falling in love with someone who knows her for her and loves her as she is.

Fav Lyrics:

All my flowers grew back as thorns
Windows boarded up after the storm
He built a fire just to keep me warm
All the drama queens taking swings
All the jokers dressing up as kings
They fade to nothing when I look at him
And I know I make the same mistakes every time
Bridges burn, I never learn
At least I did one thing right
I did one thing right
I’m laughing with my lover
Making forts under covers
Trust him like a brother
Yeah, you know I did one thing right
Starry eyes sparking up my darkest night

I want to wear his initial on a chain round my neck
Chain round my neck
Not because he owns me
But ’cause he really knows me
Which is more than they can say, I
I recall late November, holding my breath
Slowly I said, “You don’t need to save me
But would you run away with me?”

New Year’s Day

This is the perfect song to end her album with. A look at the year gone by, full of heart, and full of hope. 

Fav Lyrics:

Don’t read the last page
But I stay when it’s hard, or it’s wrong
Or we’re making mistakes
I want your midnights
But I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day

Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you
And I will hold on to you

Please don’t ever become a stranger
Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere
Please don’t ever become a stranger
Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere

**Read all full lyrics HERE!

Bravo T-Swift! Taylor Swift is an incredible song writer, yes- but she is also a smart business woman. Her marketing strategy- I don’t give a f- attitude has placed this album in a new league. However she still has her true Taylor heart, writing songs about true emotion, and creating her own world for you to live in for an hour. A Taylor Town if you will. She comes at us with a range of sounds, emotions, and life lessons. Anger, Betrayal, Love, Lust, the list goes on.

As I make reference back to her opening statement in her booklet, she says, “We are never just good or just bad. We are mosaics of our worst selves and our best selves.”  We aren’t meant to be boxed in. And this album shows that Taylor Swift can be anything, and do anything she puts her mind to. Just like you. In many ways she’s quite the role model. Not because she writes vengeful tracks about ex- lovers and ex-friends, or because she has choppy layers now, and wears black eyeliner, and dark red lips, but because she seems to be highly aware of her humanity, and she is highly self- aware as a human being. It can be a scary thing, reflecting on your reputation, and yet she managed to take the good, the bad, and the ugly, and wrap it all up into one big ass blockbuster bow.  

Looking forward to all the new things! Get it girl!

*I do not take credit for the image used.*

-<3-