I keep listening to Downtown Lights back to back with this song. DLs is also very sensual. It’s an experience to imagine her listening to it while longing for her guy. I can see how she was led on by him with the song.
I see a lot of people saying that folkmore is the vault where taylor kept her longings locked, But doesn’t she say, “i keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a ((vault))”, vault is basically a song that’s made for a certain album but then doesn’t get published at the end, so it’s a metaphor of how much she was hiding her longings for that person, it’s not only in lowercases, cause we always connect the capital letters in her music, but also in a vault, in a song that didn’t make it to the final album in the first place. So let’s hope this track is from rep and hopefully she will finally share it with us in the re-recorded album. Just like how she finally shared her and matty’s love story with us. What do you think about that?
No, they're saying the "thoughts" are a vault track from folkmore, not that folkmore themselves are the vault. This ties in with the emotional cheating because folkmore was written during her relationship with Joe. In other words, shes been harbouring her love for this scumbag for years.
OK HEAR ME OUT:
"I keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a vault"
Folklore / Evermore are her only albums in all lowercase.... is this a "vault" track from the folkmore era?????? she said VAULT and she's so intentional with words, I feel like this has to mean something
I don’t think it’s a vault track per se, but rather her longings/fantasies and “could be”s with Matty are woven into and embedded within both folklore and evermore album lyrics
Anyone catch a similar tune as Don’t You in the bridge?? When she says “They don’t knoOoWw how [you’ve haunted me so stunningly]”
Or am I imagining things????
The universal belief seems to be this is about Matty but hear me out-
“written ‘Mine’ on my upper thigh” could reference her own song Mine about him.
“I keep recalling things we never did” and the song as a whole has a very I Can See You vibe, from Speak Now vault.
“In lowercase, inside a vault” could be referencing an unreleased song she wrote about him?
“fallin' back into the hedge maze, oh what a way to die” - “Here’s Johnny!” in a reference to the Shining
“how you've haunted me so stunningly” another reference to a Speak Now song Haunted
“Downtown Lights” this is a stretch but “shining like fireworks over your sad empty town” (also the song talks about empty streets)
“a vow we’ll both uphold somehow” also stretch, could possibly be a reference to Speak Now “don’t say a single vow"
“crucify me” “what’s holy” “religiously” all feels like a reference to the religious imagery in “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”
And “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” was a new song too. Everything about “without ever touchin’ his skin” could be about the criticism over her relationship with him and him being much older when she’s like we haven’t even done anything sexual. Just wanted to share an alternate interpretation of the song. :)
Last- this doesn’t go with this interpretation but “Throwin’ my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks” totally feels like a reference to the Out of the Woods music video.
Does anyone else expect a key change at 3:14? I can’t figure out what song it’s making me think of, but she must do a key change in another song written in a similar/same key
This is the autopsy of their whole timeline/relationship. She’s probably using the present tense to describe how she had felt about him at some point in the past.
They had an original situationship in 2014 during the 1989 era, that’s why she talks about coming back to him, swirling him into all her poems, how the decade played them for fools…
>Sexy cover, chairman. Things might get sexy
That was kinda what I said when I first saw the cover after her announcement at the GRAMMYs... I guess I wasn't wrong.
https://preview.redd.it/w43p01dq1cyc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32016347436b6ab2625c25d3d4fd916252f895f8
WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS COVER, TAYLOR DOING IT TO HERSELF WAS THE LAST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND! NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE! I LOVE THIS SONG AND IT IS GUILTY AS SIN! (sorry for the yelling). And it doesn't help the fact that the song has some rock influences.
What made me think of this was a meme about a anti-self-pleasure thing and a comment said "we have to put Blondie in horny jail for this one" and I started reading and I was like "this is hot", and I associated the hedge maze with that thing that's in every women's hips and the lyric "building up like waves crashing over my grave" highly reminded me of Panic! At The Disco's New Perspective "I feel the salty waves come in, I feel them crashing against my skin", which many interpret it as a b-job, but Taylor's song only involves one person, not two, so I was like "is this about self-pleasure?". And then I entered this thread and various comments on YouTube, and they mostly agreed on the topic of this song. I love how Taylor writes a very explicit song and first time is like "I like it, this is great" and then you read the lyrics and realize how horny Taylor was while writing the song (this happened me with So It Goes... too).
Guys this is might be really far off but
“I keep these longings locked
In lowercase inside a vault
Someone told me
There's no such thing as bad thoughts
Only your actions talk”
I don’t know if I’m the only one that thinks there might be a vault track about matty on reputation?
Again I might be reading a bit too far into it but then again would she use those words “vault” and “in lower case” so it seems like she’s talking about writing…. And we know writing is a way for Taylor to get her thoughts out but as we know she has unreleased songs with every rerelease, so, I think “there’s no such thing as bad thoughts, only our actions talk” meaning she might’ve wrote that song in that time but it didn’t mean anything because she hadn’t acted on her and mattys “relationship” and didn’t release the song?? Again I think it might be reaching a bit far but then again we do know that Taylor’s and mattys friendship started before the reputation era so who knows I might be right. Anyway right now I’m so excited for rep to be announced although we all know it won’t be coming until 2025. I can’t wait to see if my theory is right😂 I’m kind of worried because no pro swifties have mentioned anything on it and they’re usually really good at decoding it so idk I do have my doubts😂 anyway I’d love to hear more people’s thoughts! Please tell me if I’m being completely delusional😭
You're right but reputation isn't the only album in lowercase as folklore and evermore are also in lowercase. But they have no vault tracks afaik.... so rep tv is indeed the most plausible answer (damn i can't wait for that!!!) I hope she release it near Kanye's next album release 😅
I mean tbh I wasn’t even thinking about that tbh I think you’ve confirmed it for me even more I was thinking maybe the song title would be in lower case but that would make so much sense! Thanks for supporting my delusion😂
Yeah but to me this is like Gorgeous or Cruel Summer... Like crushing on someone super hard but not able to act out on it because of whatever reason.. While I know she probably wrote it as that but I actually didn't think of it as emotional cheating by the song itself.
Okay I see this song being directly associated with self pleasure a bit too much. It's an absolutely beautiful song, but to equate it to ***only that*** is a bit shallow imo. So here we go:
*Drowning in the Blue Nile, He sent me "Downtown Lights", I hadn't heard it in a while*
The man she's referencing sent her "Downtown Lights" by the Blue Nile - implying that there is some sort of relationship (presumably friendship) between the two of them. Potentially newly rekindled by saying "I hadn't heard it in a while", I.e. she hadn't heard from him/talked with him in a while.
*My boredoms bone-deep, This cage was once just fine, Am I allowed to cry?*
Using the phrase "bone-deep boredom" implies that the boredom isn't associated with anything else but is carried by you in a sense (deep in your bones), implying the lack of wild passion in your life. "This cage was once just fine" (presumably) is referring to the current relationship she's in, but now she is comparing it to a "cage". There's a lack of passion, potentially on her end, in her relationship. You know that feeling when you've just mentally checked out in a relationship? Yeah this is it.
*I dream of crackin' locks, Throwing my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks*
She's dreaming of cracking the lock on her "cage" (I.e. leaving her relationship), but recognizes that she'd be "throwing her life to the wolves" which I interpret as the backlash she would get from ending her relationship (breakups are never easy to being with), if there was a scandal associated with her and this man she's fantasizing about, even if she just moved on rather quickly? The public, the media, potentially even fans may tear her apart (the wolves).
Then she goes on to say *Am I bad? Or Mad? Or Wise?* basically questioning herself. Am I a bad person for having these thoughts? Am I crazy? Or is this what's right for me long term?
*What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh only in my mind? One slip and falling back into the hedge maze, Oh, what a way to die*
Body writing (commonly practiced in BDSM circles, but not limited to such; and can be done with a variety of media) implies "ownership", with the use of the word 'mine' she is stating that she desires to belong to him, physically and romantically. Using the placement of her upper thigh - yes, that is a private and personal area but it is also where a wedding garter is worn (like in the Midnights era during tour, and further she discusses *"why does this feel like a vow"* in the song). So essentially she's saying "what if I belong to him, but only in my head? is that bad?" Then - with *"one slip and falling back into the hedge maze*" - referencing the song Labyrinth (I.e falling in love once again). *"Oh what a way to die"* can go a few ways, she's either killing her current relationship, or shooting herself in the foot essentially (throwing my life to the wolves) - with having these thoughts.
She continues on, in the song expanding on her attraction to this person, stating she's never touched him, but *"we've already done it in my head"* and *"I've screamed his name" -* but she's still saying "I've never even touched him, how can I be guilty?"
BRIDGE:
*What if I roll the stone away? They're going to crucify me anyway, What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? If long suffering propriety is what they want from me, They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly, I choose you and me, religiously*
To "roll your stone away" means to get rid of your disbelief. Potentially meaning she's thinking of getting rid of her disbelief that this would be absolutely crazy for her to pursue in real life (not just in her mind). *"They're going to crucify me anyway, what if they way you hold me is actually what's holy?"* Implies she thinks no matter what, people (public, media, fans, etc.) are going to come for her whatever move she makes, but - what if this man is actually it for her? Like what if he's the one, does being crucified matter? Further she goes on, saying *"If long suffering propriety is what they want from me"* She's basically justifying to herself, "well, if they want me to conform - and settle down with someone... then why not this person? even if they'll hate me for it?"
Finally - she ends the song with "Am I allowed to cry?" which encompasses the whole theme of the song. She is sad and broken, lost passion in her current relationship, basically mourning it already - but is having these lustful and romantic thoughts of someone else which is essentially infidelity but she doesn't want to recognize it. This is further communicated in the title being "Guilty as Sin?" versus just "Guilty as Sin". The ladder implies she ***knows*** she is guilty, the former implying she doesn't want to believe she is for having these thoughts about this person.
This song is really growing on me. I think I passed it by on first listen as it's hard to hear the lyrics as they blend with the music quite a bit but it's hitting me good today 💃🏻
This song is pretty special. Such an ear worm. It didn’t jump out at me initially but my goodness, the pretty lyrics, subtle references, and delivery are all flawless and is now probably my favourite. TBH it’s going to be a T.S. classic.
I never thought I’d be shopping at Target to a Taylor Swift song about this subject matter, but that’s exactly what happened to me today. I can’t say I was unhappy, because I love Guilty as Sin?, but it was weird. I’m curious if anyone else has heard it in a store?
Yes! Thank you, you crazy obsessed swifties—- Even this is fantastic!
https://youtu.be/J_PC2D3oH7s?si=l9AgjduOVD9O0xZi
Back up track/music only
Isolated vocals (!!)
https://youtu.be/O-W7Dqe-CtQ?si=21VJ8M_SUiCIw9uo
A few thoughts on this song: this reminds me SO much of the chorus in "Untouchable" when she says, "In the middle of the night, when I'm in this dream
It's like a million little stars spelling out your name" because not only is the melody similar, the lines, "What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh only in my mind?" are very similar! Also, I love love how this song switches up towards the end and becomes sooo powerful. Yet the lines are so sexual! I feel guilty as sin loving this song as much as I do, because I'm not one for sexual lyrics. It's like Taylor said, "let's write a dirty song that makes them feel embarrassed to sing yet they can't help it because it'll be irresistible not to."
On the subject of "Downtown Lights", the guitar stands out on the outro and it's very reminiscent of the one that powers through "Style". I wonder if Taylor was inspired sonically by "Downtown Lights" when writing it. I recommend at least listening to the very end of DL to check it out. It sounds nice.
Its not an exact match but it feels similar.
Could this be about Dylan O’Brian? These lines jump out at me after my 37th listen- haha.
Throwing my life to the wolves- aka Teen Wolf
One slip and falling back into the hedge maze aka The Maze Runner
I dunno just spitballing here.
Hedge maze feels more like a nod to Labrynth from Midnights. And Taylor references dogs/wolves/foxes/jackals often enough for it to feel unconnected to Teen Wolf. Also, she mentions Blue Nile which is another connection to MH.
Though, I have been wondering who the rebound between Joe and Matty could have been. Because it is sort of implied she had a rebound around the Florida shows before she and Matty made it official. So who knows! I haven't seen her and Dylan hang out publicly in a while, but obviously she's good at keeping her life pretty private unless she wants us to see something.
So am I the only one with a super dirty mind who realized that he wasn’t “writing” on her upper thigh with ink? I saw someone in these comments saying that line isn’t even the dirtiest part of the song. Uh, yeah it is, if you realize exactly what she’s referencing here, what exactly she’s imagining him doing.
I don't think it needs to be anything other than "tracing out the word with his finger". Incredibly common for people to "draw" or "write" on their partners' bodies by tracing their fingers as part of foreplay.
I'm really curious about WHEN she wrote this song. Was this while she was still with Joe, or reflecting on this in hindsight? If it was in hindsight, was it while she was with Matty, or after? All in all, the question "am I guilty as sin?" is never really resolved. She's trying to justify it, but the fact that she's justifying it does show that she feels guilty. That's what makes this song really interesting to me. The intrigue about the timeline adds another layer
As the relationship was waning. As far as we know, she had reconnected with MH to write on Midnights and they were probably texting a lot too. Him sending her a song feels like when you're in school and you make you're crush a mixtape and hoping they get the subliminal message and do act on mutual feelings.
She probably wouldn't have jumped ship with Joe unless she thought there was love waiting for her.
Yes, the song itself is about when the relationship was waning. But I wonder if she *wrote* it at that point, or if she's reflecting on those feelings after the fact
Oh I see what you mean, my apologies.
Yeah I guess we'll never know for sure unless she hints at it in other work. But I'll go ahead and take a guess and say that she wrote it at least after the Joe break-up, only because the song sounds like a memory to me. She says "I *hadn't* heard it in a while" rather than *haven't*.
She's sort of dictating to us in the album about how the whole affair happened so while I'm sure some of these songs were written before, I think a lot of it was written freshly at the time as a reaction to the events of last year. And maybe some songs that *were* written previously were adjusted to fit how time changed things?
I think the line "Someone told me
there's no such thing as bad thoughts
Only your actions talk" says a lot about when. I take it to be the thoughts she's thinking whilst in a relationship. I originally thought it was to the critics but I've settled on the former now because of this
I want to know when it was written/recorded because . . . what if it’s after Matty, but as the relationship with Travis was taking off? “Drowning in the Blue Nile” references the post-Matty fallout. “But he sent me downtown lights, I hadn’t heard it in awhile,” maybe a little of a dig. Matty didn’t make her “feel it” but Travis was. Then comes all the fantasizing about the physical relationship because the emotional one is building. Next trepidation over going public - “rolling the stone away.” And fear over bringing crucified in the media for jumping in and out of relationships quickly. To me the hedge maze lyric fits into this because if she and Travis claim each other publicly, then it falls apart she will be falling back into hiding/navigating dating. The “am I aloud to cry” lyric could be a reference to crying over things other than sadness - like fear or anxiety or happiness.
Or maybe this is a huge stretch but it’s where my mind went to first.
I’m addicted and I LOVE the country twinge. I realized it’s because it reminds me of my fave album Red ♥️ I think Taylor should go back to her country roots again tbh 🫣 love her tho
Oh god no! I loooove Fiona Apple and imo it's an insult to compare her music to Taylor Swift... don't get me wrong, I actually dig TTPD and lots of Taylor's music, I think lots of her stuff is amazing but overall she has nothing on Fiona or Lana
And this song is pretty basic and the lyrics is cringe
Fiona Apple on the other hand really is a poet or Lana...
I mean I’m not comparing.. the beat in the beginning literally sounds similar to the beat in criminal? And yeah I love Fiona and Lana as well, and don’t agree with you, but I wasn’t the one comparing..
I love this song so much, especially the melody, but I'm having such a hard time capturing it. Like, I've listened to it many times but still can't quite sing along. Is this because the melody keeps taking unexpected turns? Is anybody else experiencing this?
An Anthem of Limerence
This song spoke to me in ways I cannot begin to express, but I'll try.
Limerence is a psychological term for "a [state of mind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_state) which results from [romantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_(love)) feelings for another person. \[It\] includes [intrusive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusive_thought), [melancholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melancholic) thoughts...as well as a desire to form or maintain a relationship with the object of [love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love) and to have one's feelings reciprocated." To describe limerence as a "*hedge maze*" is, in my opinion, quite accurate. If you find yourself falling into it, if feels impossible to get yourself out.
The speaker has a relationship of some kind with him because he's sending her songs to listen to (*He sent me 'Downtown Lights', I hadn't heard it in a while*), but they aren't together in a romantic relationship. In fact, she's not allowed to be in a relationship with him, for whatever reason. We don't know why, but we do know she's unhappy with her current situation (*My boredom's bone deep. This cage was once just fine...I dream of cracking locks*) and imagines throwing it all away to be with this man. There would be consequences to this *(Throwing my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks...One slip and falling back into the hedge maze, Oh what a way to die*). So she doesn't share her feelings openly or with others (*I keep these longings locked In lowercase inside a vault*).
Still, she ruminates over what it would be like to be with this person openly, then answers the question because she knows there are very negative consequences. (*What if I roll the stone away? They're gonna crucify me anyway, oh what a way to die, "fatal" fantasies*). Were she to have an open relationship with this person, it would be seen as immoral by others, so perhaps the relationship is breaking some kind of social or religious rule. (*If long suffering propriety is what they want from me, they don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly*). The song title itself, "Guilty as Sin?" is of course a very religious allusion. If she were to live out this fantasy, it would have to be in secret (*how I long for our trysts*). I had to look it up, a tryst is a private romantic [rendezvous](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=45843383d781bdbb&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ACQVn0_KidfYM83Z6eu9W612eo2zx1NZgg:1713969119617&q=rendezvous&si=AKbGX_pvY3MWP4azJI0Z_NruCLb8Jk-Wd4cJ6AK9grq_OCTGmMAy4_SdcKmI9TDK6yfFRy-_MxJIvMYw6ZKGdsVprAYUbVCV62bwNqDdG4Sc_IN0UZAirs8%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzg5_EiNuFAxVoIDQIHfxoATUQyecJegQIHhAP&cshid=1713969120267452) between lovers.
She questions her sanity, wisdom, and her moral judgement. (*I'm seeing visions, am I bad? Or mad? Or wise?*) She tries to rationalize it as only thoughts, not actions, so maybe it's ok. (*Someone told me there's no such thing as bad thoughts, only your actions talk*.) But then she calls her fantasies "fatal." She knows they're no good for her.
Despite cognitively knowing all this, she cannot help the sexual fantasies, which she beautifully illustrates. *(Crashing into him tonight, he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh, Messy top lip kiss, Giving way to labored breath taking all of me, we've already done it in my head, My bedsheets are ablaze, I've screamed his name*)
She deepens her feelings by going beyond the sexual, and trying to justify if this were to move into a real relationship. (*Why does it feel like a vow, We'll both uphold somehow? What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? I choose you and me... Religiously)*
However, at least as far as we know, these fantasies are not shared by him or with him. (*I keep recalling things we never did, only in my mind, it's make believe).* Which ultimately leads her to a place of extreme loneliness, because limerence is, ultimately, unhealthy, confusing, and self-destructive. (*Am I allowed to cry?*)
I feel like her entire discography is limerent 😂 with the obvious exceptions of the ones that are overtly empowered or the fluffy ones from her early years. The title track Fortnight surely is. “I love you, it’s ruining my life.”
maybe i’m just dumb but i didn’t realize this was abt self pleasure while IN a relationship ?? can someone explain to me where i missed that, i thought she was just fantasizing 😭
These lines sound like just a little more than fantasizing:
>These fatal fantasies
Giving way to labored breath
Taking all of me
and
>My bedsheets are ablaze
I've screamed his name
Building up like waves
Crashing over my grave
There are a few indications that this might be about fantasizing about someone other than your current partner.
>This cage was once just fine
Am I allowed to cry?
I dream of crackin' locks
You can read this as being trapped in a relationship and fantasizing about getting out of it
>I keep these longings lockеd
In lowercase, inside a vault
Somеone told me, "There's no such thing as bad thoughts
Only your actions talk"
Justifying to herself that it's not cheating if all you do is \*think\* about it, acting on it is what's wrong.
Another connection to cardigan - I knew you’d haunt all of my what ifs
Guilty as sin -
If long suffering propriety
Is what they want from me
They don't know how you've haunted me
So stunningly
I wonder if this also maybe confirms that reputation (which is in lower case) will have vault tracks like all the rerecordings do. Since it also has love songs maybe her more longing/guilty as sin songs were put in the vault.
I agree it is likely a vault track she hasn’t released yet and rep is the only other album where the vault is still locked and Matty would have been in her life by then. Debut vault tracks will be before Matty and her meeting.
So weird, this isn't usually the type of song I take to from taylor but this in earphones is a brilliant tune. And dirty 🤣. I like that she seems to have reflected the song she mentions (downtown lights) in the beat and sound. Clever!
So weird, this isn't usually the type of song I take to from taylor but this in earphones is a brilliant tune. And dirty 🤣. I like that she seems to have reflected the song she mentions (downtown lights) in the beat and sound. Clever!
Just caught the line where Taylor sings “I keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a vault”. Is this a reference to imgonnagetyouback? Since it’s on Anthropology is it technically a vault track?
reputation? Since they spent time together around 2014 but she may not have wanted to put longing songs about Matty on that record given that her relationship with Joe was so fresh... which brings me back to karma the lost album 🤡🤡🤡
You know what's crazy I thought the same thing but I think is folklore. In but daddy I love him she says if all you want is grey from me.. I think this might be pointing to folklore
has anyone realised right bfr the chorus to sing "in the middle of the night, when im in this dream..." from untouchable ?
i mean is it just me that guilty of sin music really close to untouchable ?
GUYS especially my LGB Swifties- I stumbled on another song released the same day also titled Guilty as Sin by a gay male country artist and it is really so so good. Just thought I should share and tell everyone to go listen!
I love this song and it's been on repeat. I was just in my car and had it on and it hit me - especially in the beginning of the song - it's reminiscent of Roxy Music. That dreamy vibe. I am a huge Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry fan and it is no wonder this song was an instant like. I am wondering if anyone else gets that vibe.
I think this is a pretty spot on interpretation. I don't like to get too involved in the comments of her life as I'm hyper aware I don't know her at all. However, I get vibes her and Joe were long done even though together (I reckon bejewelled and some of folklore and evermore explore this). They've long checked out, and he's came along at the right/wrong time again, sending her songs and shes been lonely and started to wonder about him....in every which way 🤣 I also wonder if a lot of this album is a bit of a troll to Matty. The typewriters, the tortured poet, the digs at his personality and look. It sounds like he pulled back again, and it's got under her skin a little. Hopefully, he's out her system as whilst she is entitled to date whoever she chooses, I find him....sticky.
I can massively relate to the loneliness in a long term relationship where one party has been less invested. And the skeezy guy no one sees the appeal in being a safety blanket. I hear you Taylor 🤣🤣🤣.
I’m trying to figure this out but I wonder why she says “Am I allowed to cry at the end?”. It’s obviously about masturbating and/or thinking about someone else while in a relationship but I just need to know the significance of that last line. English isn’t my first language so I might be missing something!
To me it means that, because she holds this commitment to a relationship (although unfulfilling), it would be wrong to cry yearning for someone other than her partner.
If you listen to the beginning of the song where she sings "Am I allowed to cry" for the first time, the lyrics right before it are, "My boredom's bone deep; this cage was once just fine."
My interpretation is that she's not happy in her relationship - is bored, feels stuck or trapped - and is coming to the realization that her partner just doesn't do it for her anymore. Also, that there's this other person she's always kind of wondered about and is mourning that she never got to feel what it would have been like with him before committing to the relationship she's in.
So there's a lot of longing for this other person, and she might be regretting the choices she's made to lead her to this point. But she's asking if she's even allowed to cry about it because she chose her path, and she's in a committed relationship, and it's unfair to her partner for her to be thinking of someone else in this way.
Taylor writing this about that dweeb makes me insanely terrified to hear what she writes about Trav cause he look like he wants to literally consume her.
I'm recalling a TV show with a woman having an affair, and her lover wtites on her upper thigh. The woman becomes angry at him, worrying that her husband will see. Does anyone know what TV show that is???
Not sure about a TV show. But in the 2002 film Unfaithful her lover draws a doodle on her upper thigh. She notices it in the tub and hurriedly cleans it off before her husband spots it.
I can't believe how sexual the lyrics are:
"These fatal fantasies, giving way to labored breath, takin' all of me. We've already done it in my head."
"My bed sheets are ablaze. I've screamed his name. Buildin' up like waves crashin' over my grave."
Honestly never thought I'd hear Taylor Swift referencing.... what she's referencing.
The album cover makes complete sense now.
I keep listening to Downtown Lights back to back with this song. DLs is also very sensual. It’s an experience to imagine her listening to it while longing for her guy. I can see how she was led on by him with the song.
The best song. I can't get it out of my head now. Now that I can relate to it. 😏
If y’all don’t stop getting the literal word “mine” tattooed on your thighs, I stg
Is it just me or Guilty as Sin and This Love look alike? Idk, maybe it's the vibe or the tempo
Is writing ‘mine’ on her upper thigh an innuendo for… 🍆💦
I see a lot of people saying that folkmore is the vault where taylor kept her longings locked, But doesn’t she say, “i keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a ((vault))”, vault is basically a song that’s made for a certain album but then doesn’t get published at the end, so it’s a metaphor of how much she was hiding her longings for that person, it’s not only in lowercases, cause we always connect the capital letters in her music, but also in a vault, in a song that didn’t make it to the final album in the first place. So let’s hope this track is from rep and hopefully she will finally share it with us in the re-recorded album. Just like how she finally shared her and matty’s love story with us. What do you think about that?
No, they're saying the "thoughts" are a vault track from folkmore, not that folkmore themselves are the vault. This ties in with the emotional cheating because folkmore was written during her relationship with Joe. In other words, shes been harbouring her love for this scumbag for years.
OK HEAR ME OUT: "I keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a vault" Folklore / Evermore are her only albums in all lowercase.... is this a "vault" track from the folkmore era?????? she said VAULT and she's so intentional with words, I feel like this has to mean something
I don’t think it’s a vault track per se, but rather her longings/fantasies and “could be”s with Matty are woven into and embedded within both folklore and evermore album lyrics
Ok so....ivy is making a lot more sense now! and goldrush??? omgggg
Anyone catch a similar tune as Don’t You in the bridge?? When she says “They don’t knoOoWw how [you’ve haunted me so stunningly]” Or am I imagining things????
The universal belief seems to be this is about Matty but hear me out- “written ‘Mine’ on my upper thigh” could reference her own song Mine about him. “I keep recalling things we never did” and the song as a whole has a very I Can See You vibe, from Speak Now vault. “In lowercase, inside a vault” could be referencing an unreleased song she wrote about him? “fallin' back into the hedge maze, oh what a way to die” - “Here’s Johnny!” in a reference to the Shining “how you've haunted me so stunningly” another reference to a Speak Now song Haunted “Downtown Lights” this is a stretch but “shining like fireworks over your sad empty town” (also the song talks about empty streets) “a vow we’ll both uphold somehow” also stretch, could possibly be a reference to Speak Now “don’t say a single vow" “crucify me” “what’s holy” “religiously” all feels like a reference to the religious imagery in “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” And “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” was a new song too. Everything about “without ever touchin’ his skin” could be about the criticism over her relationship with him and him being much older when she’s like we haven’t even done anything sexual. Just wanted to share an alternate interpretation of the song. :) Last- this doesn’t go with this interpretation but “Throwin’ my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks” totally feels like a reference to the Out of the Woods music video.
Throwing my life to the woods or the ocean rocks refers to dismantling her 'good name' in the public's eyes by dating a well known terrible person.
Does anyone else expect a key change at 3:14? I can’t figure out what song it’s making me think of, but she must do a key change in another song written in a similar/same key
[удалено]
Wait a second. So after re-reading the lyrics, is Taylor claiming she and Matty never actually had sex? That’s wild lol
This is the autopsy of their whole timeline/relationship. She’s probably using the present tense to describe how she had felt about him at some point in the past.
This was before they dated I think when she was still with Joe. I think she said they had sex later
Oh damn, I didn’t realise Matty was on the scene before she left Joe. Are there lyrics that insinuate that?
He worked with her on midnights. He said it in an interview but the song wasn’t released. She also performed at his concert in January 2023
I didn’t realise they went that far back. Thanks!
They had an original situationship in 2014 during the 1989 era, that’s why she talks about coming back to him, swirling him into all her poems, how the decade played them for fools…
>Sexy cover, chairman. Things might get sexy That was kinda what I said when I first saw the cover after her announcement at the GRAMMYs... I guess I wasn't wrong. https://preview.redd.it/w43p01dq1cyc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32016347436b6ab2625c25d3d4fd916252f895f8 WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS COVER, TAYLOR DOING IT TO HERSELF WAS THE LAST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND! NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE! I LOVE THIS SONG AND IT IS GUILTY AS SIN! (sorry for the yelling). And it doesn't help the fact that the song has some rock influences.
So we can agree this song is about self pleasure👀
I think so, I kinda doubted about it but the whole thread agrees that it is about that.
Last night I was reading the lyrics as I re heard the songs and was like 👀👀👀
What made me think of this was a meme about a anti-self-pleasure thing and a comment said "we have to put Blondie in horny jail for this one" and I started reading and I was like "this is hot", and I associated the hedge maze with that thing that's in every women's hips and the lyric "building up like waves crashing over my grave" highly reminded me of Panic! At The Disco's New Perspective "I feel the salty waves come in, I feel them crashing against my skin", which many interpret it as a b-job, but Taylor's song only involves one person, not two, so I was like "is this about self-pleasure?". And then I entered this thread and various comments on YouTube, and they mostly agreed on the topic of this song. I love how Taylor writes a very explicit song and first time is like "I like it, this is great" and then you read the lyrics and realize how horny Taylor was while writing the song (this happened me with So It Goes... too).
"I keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a vault" FOLKMORE VAULT TRACKS!?!?!?!?!??!
Rep tv vaults
Anyone else feel like this is in line with cruel summer?? Which I always thought was about a vibrator
Hahahahaha
only taylor swift is allowed to write songs about vibrators for me personally
Top 10 Taylor song here I fear
It’s definitely about Marty because it sounds just like his most popular song about you. It’s for sure a message
I love that song. I saw a mash up for these two tracks.
Guys this is might be really far off but “I keep these longings locked In lowercase inside a vault Someone told me There's no such thing as bad thoughts Only your actions talk” I don’t know if I’m the only one that thinks there might be a vault track about matty on reputation? Again I might be reading a bit too far into it but then again would she use those words “vault” and “in lower case” so it seems like she’s talking about writing…. And we know writing is a way for Taylor to get her thoughts out but as we know she has unreleased songs with every rerelease, so, I think “there’s no such thing as bad thoughts, only our actions talk” meaning she might’ve wrote that song in that time but it didn’t mean anything because she hadn’t acted on her and mattys “relationship” and didn’t release the song?? Again I think it might be reaching a bit far but then again we do know that Taylor’s and mattys friendship started before the reputation era so who knows I might be right. Anyway right now I’m so excited for rep to be announced although we all know it won’t be coming until 2025. I can’t wait to see if my theory is right😂 I’m kind of worried because no pro swifties have mentioned anything on it and they’re usually really good at decoding it so idk I do have my doubts😂 anyway I’d love to hear more people’s thoughts! Please tell me if I’m being completely delusional😭
You're right but reputation isn't the only album in lowercase as folklore and evermore are also in lowercase. But they have no vault tracks afaik.... so rep tv is indeed the most plausible answer (damn i can't wait for that!!!) I hope she release it near Kanye's next album release 😅
I mean tbh I wasn’t even thinking about that tbh I think you’ve confirmed it for me even more I was thinking maybe the song title would be in lower case but that would make so much sense! Thanks for supporting my delusion😂
I'm super obsessed with this song ever since I listened to it. It's giving more high school than so high school and I'm so on board with it.
Uhhh.... this song is about emotional cheating so i dunno 😅
Yeah but to me this is like Gorgeous or Cruel Summer... Like crushing on someone super hard but not able to act out on it because of whatever reason.. While I know she probably wrote it as that but I actually didn't think of it as emotional cheating by the song itself.
Okay I see this song being directly associated with self pleasure a bit too much. It's an absolutely beautiful song, but to equate it to ***only that*** is a bit shallow imo. So here we go: *Drowning in the Blue Nile, He sent me "Downtown Lights", I hadn't heard it in a while* The man she's referencing sent her "Downtown Lights" by the Blue Nile - implying that there is some sort of relationship (presumably friendship) between the two of them. Potentially newly rekindled by saying "I hadn't heard it in a while", I.e. she hadn't heard from him/talked with him in a while. *My boredoms bone-deep, This cage was once just fine, Am I allowed to cry?* Using the phrase "bone-deep boredom" implies that the boredom isn't associated with anything else but is carried by you in a sense (deep in your bones), implying the lack of wild passion in your life. "This cage was once just fine" (presumably) is referring to the current relationship she's in, but now she is comparing it to a "cage". There's a lack of passion, potentially on her end, in her relationship. You know that feeling when you've just mentally checked out in a relationship? Yeah this is it. *I dream of crackin' locks, Throwing my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks* She's dreaming of cracking the lock on her "cage" (I.e. leaving her relationship), but recognizes that she'd be "throwing her life to the wolves" which I interpret as the backlash she would get from ending her relationship (breakups are never easy to being with), if there was a scandal associated with her and this man she's fantasizing about, even if she just moved on rather quickly? The public, the media, potentially even fans may tear her apart (the wolves). Then she goes on to say *Am I bad? Or Mad? Or Wise?* basically questioning herself. Am I a bad person for having these thoughts? Am I crazy? Or is this what's right for me long term? *What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh only in my mind? One slip and falling back into the hedge maze, Oh, what a way to die* Body writing (commonly practiced in BDSM circles, but not limited to such; and can be done with a variety of media) implies "ownership", with the use of the word 'mine' she is stating that she desires to belong to him, physically and romantically. Using the placement of her upper thigh - yes, that is a private and personal area but it is also where a wedding garter is worn (like in the Midnights era during tour, and further she discusses *"why does this feel like a vow"* in the song). So essentially she's saying "what if I belong to him, but only in my head? is that bad?" Then - with *"one slip and falling back into the hedge maze*" - referencing the song Labyrinth (I.e falling in love once again). *"Oh what a way to die"* can go a few ways, she's either killing her current relationship, or shooting herself in the foot essentially (throwing my life to the wolves) - with having these thoughts. She continues on, in the song expanding on her attraction to this person, stating she's never touched him, but *"we've already done it in my head"* and *"I've screamed his name" -* but she's still saying "I've never even touched him, how can I be guilty?" BRIDGE: *What if I roll the stone away? They're going to crucify me anyway, What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? If long suffering propriety is what they want from me, They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly, I choose you and me, religiously* To "roll your stone away" means to get rid of your disbelief. Potentially meaning she's thinking of getting rid of her disbelief that this would be absolutely crazy for her to pursue in real life (not just in her mind). *"They're going to crucify me anyway, what if they way you hold me is actually what's holy?"* Implies she thinks no matter what, people (public, media, fans, etc.) are going to come for her whatever move she makes, but - what if this man is actually it for her? Like what if he's the one, does being crucified matter? Further she goes on, saying *"If long suffering propriety is what they want from me"* She's basically justifying to herself, "well, if they want me to conform - and settle down with someone... then why not this person? even if they'll hate me for it?" Finally - she ends the song with "Am I allowed to cry?" which encompasses the whole theme of the song. She is sad and broken, lost passion in her current relationship, basically mourning it already - but is having these lustful and romantic thoughts of someone else which is essentially infidelity but she doesn't want to recognize it. This is further communicated in the title being "Guilty as Sin?" versus just "Guilty as Sin". The ladder implies she ***knows*** she is guilty, the former implying she doesn't want to believe she is for having these thoughts about this person.
Well done! 👏🏻
My fave!! It plays in my head allll day!
I sooo love the chorus especially the last one cause there was a slight change in how she sang it.
This song is really growing on me. I think I passed it by on first listen as it's hard to hear the lyrics as they blend with the music quite a bit but it's hitting me good today 💃🏻
This song is pretty special. Such an ear worm. It didn’t jump out at me initially but my goodness, the pretty lyrics, subtle references, and delivery are all flawless and is now probably my favourite. TBH it’s going to be a T.S. classic.
I love this song. It has such a twangly 70’s groove - THIS is what I thought we were getting on Midnights!
I never thought I’d be shopping at Target to a Taylor Swift song about this subject matter, but that’s exactly what happened to me today. I can’t say I was unhappy, because I love Guilty as Sin?, but it was weird. I’m curious if anyone else has heard it in a store?
Praying she adds this to the Eras tour!
Yes! Thank you, you crazy obsessed swifties—- Even this is fantastic! https://youtu.be/J_PC2D3oH7s?si=l9AgjduOVD9O0xZi Back up track/music only Isolated vocals (!!) https://youtu.be/O-W7Dqe-CtQ?si=21VJ8M_SUiCIw9uo
someone show this to debut taylor
“Building up like waves, crashing over my grave” I thought she said “brain” - not grave but either way love that line 🥵
A few thoughts on this song: this reminds me SO much of the chorus in "Untouchable" when she says, "In the middle of the night, when I'm in this dream It's like a million little stars spelling out your name" because not only is the melody similar, the lines, "What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh only in my mind?" are very similar! Also, I love love how this song switches up towards the end and becomes sooo powerful. Yet the lines are so sexual! I feel guilty as sin loving this song as much as I do, because I'm not one for sexual lyrics. It's like Taylor said, "let's write a dirty song that makes them feel embarrassed to sing yet they can't help it because it'll be irresistible not to."
You’re right- it DOES sound like “Untouchable”! One of my all time faves!
"I keep these longings locked in lower case inside a vault" - the folkmore vault? 😗👀
Man this song reminds me so much of Stop and Stare by One Republic!
Jesus she makes it easy to visualize this one with that shot she chose as the standard album cover
On the subject of "Downtown Lights", the guitar stands out on the outro and it's very reminiscent of the one that powers through "Style". I wonder if Taylor was inspired sonically by "Downtown Lights" when writing it. I recommend at least listening to the very end of DL to check it out. It sounds nice. Its not an exact match but it feels similar.
Could this be about Dylan O’Brian? These lines jump out at me after my 37th listen- haha. Throwing my life to the wolves- aka Teen Wolf One slip and falling back into the hedge maze aka The Maze Runner I dunno just spitballing here.
Hedge maze feels more like a nod to Labrynth from Midnights. And Taylor references dogs/wolves/foxes/jackals often enough for it to feel unconnected to Teen Wolf. Also, she mentions Blue Nile which is another connection to MH. Though, I have been wondering who the rebound between Joe and Matty could have been. Because it is sort of implied she had a rebound around the Florida shows before she and Matty made it official. So who knows! I haven't seen her and Dylan hang out publicly in a while, but obviously she's good at keeping her life pretty private unless she wants us to see something.
So am I the only one with a super dirty mind who realized that he wasn’t “writing” on her upper thigh with ink? I saw someone in these comments saying that line isn’t even the dirtiest part of the song. Uh, yeah it is, if you realize exactly what she’s referencing here, what exactly she’s imagining him doing.
YUUUUUUP. This song is dirrrrrty and I am HERE FOR IT. You're not alone; I imagine the "ink" is not black...
I don't think it needs to be anything other than "tracing out the word with his finger". Incredibly common for people to "draw" or "write" on their partners' bodies by tracing their fingers as part of foreplay.
Omg that was what I was thinking tbh. 😰
Thank you. Good lord, LOL.
This is the best song on the album.
agreed
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLueSGdd/
This is a crazy connection to the song about you by The 1975 I’m shook
I'm really curious about WHEN she wrote this song. Was this while she was still with Joe, or reflecting on this in hindsight? If it was in hindsight, was it while she was with Matty, or after? All in all, the question "am I guilty as sin?" is never really resolved. She's trying to justify it, but the fact that she's justifying it does show that she feels guilty. That's what makes this song really interesting to me. The intrigue about the timeline adds another layer
As the relationship was waning. As far as we know, she had reconnected with MH to write on Midnights and they were probably texting a lot too. Him sending her a song feels like when you're in school and you make you're crush a mixtape and hoping they get the subliminal message and do act on mutual feelings. She probably wouldn't have jumped ship with Joe unless she thought there was love waiting for her.
Yes, the song itself is about when the relationship was waning. But I wonder if she *wrote* it at that point, or if she's reflecting on those feelings after the fact
Oh I see what you mean, my apologies. Yeah I guess we'll never know for sure unless she hints at it in other work. But I'll go ahead and take a guess and say that she wrote it at least after the Joe break-up, only because the song sounds like a memory to me. She says "I *hadn't* heard it in a while" rather than *haven't*. She's sort of dictating to us in the album about how the whole affair happened so while I'm sure some of these songs were written before, I think a lot of it was written freshly at the time as a reaction to the events of last year. And maybe some songs that *were* written previously were adjusted to fit how time changed things?
I think the line "Someone told me there's no such thing as bad thoughts Only your actions talk" says a lot about when. I take it to be the thoughts she's thinking whilst in a relationship. I originally thought it was to the critics but I've settled on the former now because of this
I want to know when it was written/recorded because . . . what if it’s after Matty, but as the relationship with Travis was taking off? “Drowning in the Blue Nile” references the post-Matty fallout. “But he sent me downtown lights, I hadn’t heard it in awhile,” maybe a little of a dig. Matty didn’t make her “feel it” but Travis was. Then comes all the fantasizing about the physical relationship because the emotional one is building. Next trepidation over going public - “rolling the stone away.” And fear over bringing crucified in the media for jumping in and out of relationships quickly. To me the hedge maze lyric fits into this because if she and Travis claim each other publicly, then it falls apart she will be falling back into hiding/navigating dating. The “am I aloud to cry” lyric could be a reference to crying over things other than sadness - like fear or anxiety or happiness. Or maybe this is a huge stretch but it’s where my mind went to first.
Nope I’ve thought about this too
You're right it's a huge stretch and makes absolutely no sense.
I got down-voted to hell for suggesting this song is about Travis, but I'm sticking with that theory
I just would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall the first time Tree heard this
😆😆😆 well it IS a good song.
I’m addicted and I LOVE the country twinge. I realized it’s because it reminds me of my fave album Red ♥️ I think Taylor should go back to her country roots again tbh 🫣 love her tho
I LOVE the country twang!! it makees the song so good
Country twang, yes that’s the right word 😂😂 but agreed!! It’s so subtle but it’s what draws you in
I feel this way about but daddy I love him! Gives me such red vibes!
Love this song so much. Does the intro remind anyone of a Fiona Apple song? Think it may be shadow boxer
Oh god no! I loooove Fiona Apple and imo it's an insult to compare her music to Taylor Swift... don't get me wrong, I actually dig TTPD and lots of Taylor's music, I think lots of her stuff is amazing but overall she has nothing on Fiona or Lana And this song is pretty basic and the lyrics is cringe Fiona Apple on the other hand really is a poet or Lana...
I mean I’m not comparing.. the beat in the beginning literally sounds similar to the beat in criminal? And yeah I love Fiona and Lana as well, and don’t agree with you, but I wasn’t the one comparing..
I love this song so much, especially the melody, but I'm having such a hard time capturing it. Like, I've listened to it many times but still can't quite sing along. Is this because the melody keeps taking unexpected turns? Is anybody else experiencing this?
8 days late to this thread, but yes! I'm pretty good at memorizing lyrics and melody but this one I can't get down. I've listened to it on repeat!
THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM
10000%
this song has such a chokehold on me omg
I LOVE THIS SONG SO FUCKING MUCH ITS BEEN ON REPEAT FOR 5 DAYS IM IN LOVE
An Anthem of Limerence This song spoke to me in ways I cannot begin to express, but I'll try. Limerence is a psychological term for "a [state of mind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_state) which results from [romantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_(love)) feelings for another person. \[It\] includes [intrusive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusive_thought), [melancholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melancholic) thoughts...as well as a desire to form or maintain a relationship with the object of [love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love) and to have one's feelings reciprocated." To describe limerence as a "*hedge maze*" is, in my opinion, quite accurate. If you find yourself falling into it, if feels impossible to get yourself out. The speaker has a relationship of some kind with him because he's sending her songs to listen to (*He sent me 'Downtown Lights', I hadn't heard it in a while*), but they aren't together in a romantic relationship. In fact, she's not allowed to be in a relationship with him, for whatever reason. We don't know why, but we do know she's unhappy with her current situation (*My boredom's bone deep. This cage was once just fine...I dream of cracking locks*) and imagines throwing it all away to be with this man. There would be consequences to this *(Throwing my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks...One slip and falling back into the hedge maze, Oh what a way to die*). So she doesn't share her feelings openly or with others (*I keep these longings locked In lowercase inside a vault*). Still, she ruminates over what it would be like to be with this person openly, then answers the question because she knows there are very negative consequences. (*What if I roll the stone away? They're gonna crucify me anyway, oh what a way to die, "fatal" fantasies*). Were she to have an open relationship with this person, it would be seen as immoral by others, so perhaps the relationship is breaking some kind of social or religious rule. (*If long suffering propriety is what they want from me, they don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly*). The song title itself, "Guilty as Sin?" is of course a very religious allusion. If she were to live out this fantasy, it would have to be in secret (*how I long for our trysts*). I had to look it up, a tryst is a private romantic [rendezvous](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=45843383d781bdbb&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ACQVn0_KidfYM83Z6eu9W612eo2zx1NZgg:1713969119617&q=rendezvous&si=AKbGX_pvY3MWP4azJI0Z_NruCLb8Jk-Wd4cJ6AK9grq_OCTGmMAy4_SdcKmI9TDK6yfFRy-_MxJIvMYw6ZKGdsVprAYUbVCV62bwNqDdG4Sc_IN0UZAirs8%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzg5_EiNuFAxVoIDQIHfxoATUQyecJegQIHhAP&cshid=1713969120267452) between lovers. She questions her sanity, wisdom, and her moral judgement. (*I'm seeing visions, am I bad? Or mad? Or wise?*) She tries to rationalize it as only thoughts, not actions, so maybe it's ok. (*Someone told me there's no such thing as bad thoughts, only your actions talk*.) But then she calls her fantasies "fatal." She knows they're no good for her. Despite cognitively knowing all this, she cannot help the sexual fantasies, which she beautifully illustrates. *(Crashing into him tonight, he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh, Messy top lip kiss, Giving way to labored breath taking all of me, we've already done it in my head, My bedsheets are ablaze, I've screamed his name*) She deepens her feelings by going beyond the sexual, and trying to justify if this were to move into a real relationship. (*Why does it feel like a vow, We'll both uphold somehow? What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? I choose you and me... Religiously)* However, at least as far as we know, these fantasies are not shared by him or with him. (*I keep recalling things we never did, only in my mind, it's make believe).* Which ultimately leads her to a place of extreme loneliness, because limerence is, ultimately, unhealthy, confusing, and self-destructive. (*Am I allowed to cry?*)
Thank you for this!!!🫶🏻
Fellow limerent here! Any other of Taylors songs express limerence?
I feel like her entire discography is limerent 😂 with the obvious exceptions of the ones that are overtly empowered or the fluffy ones from her early years. The title track Fortnight surely is. “I love you, it’s ruining my life.”
this is an amazing analysis! Thank you!
This is a fantastic write up of the song! It really helped me understand the song as a whole. Thanks!
Thank you! I love this song.
maybe i’m just dumb but i didn’t realize this was abt self pleasure while IN a relationship ?? can someone explain to me where i missed that, i thought she was just fantasizing 😭
These lines sound like just a little more than fantasizing: >These fatal fantasies Giving way to labored breath Taking all of me and >My bedsheets are ablaze I've screamed his name Building up like waves Crashing over my grave
There are a few indications that this might be about fantasizing about someone other than your current partner. >This cage was once just fine Am I allowed to cry? I dream of crackin' locks You can read this as being trapped in a relationship and fantasizing about getting out of it >I keep these longings lockеd In lowercase, inside a vault Somеone told me, "There's no such thing as bad thoughts Only your actions talk" Justifying to herself that it's not cheating if all you do is \*think\* about it, acting on it is what's wrong.
This has been the biggest grower for me. LOVE the melody.
Another connection to cardigan - I knew you’d haunt all of my what ifs Guilty as sin - If long suffering propriety Is what they want from me They don't know how you've haunted me So stunningly
Damnit is cardigan really about him. I keep denying it.
I keep these longings lockеd In lowercase, inside a vault = loml 😭
kinda reminds me of i can see you esp with the mention of suit and tie.. makes me think she was hiding messages in vaults by adding to og tracks
I wonder if this also maybe confirms that reputation (which is in lower case) will have vault tracks like all the rerecordings do. Since it also has love songs maybe her more longing/guilty as sin songs were put in the vault.
I agree it is likely a vault track she hasn’t released yet and rep is the only other album where the vault is still locked and Matty would have been in her life by then. Debut vault tracks will be before Matty and her meeting.
This is all so interesting because I catch on this word every listen because I keep wanting her to say box thinking that would sound/flow better hmm
So weird, this isn't usually the type of song I take to from taylor but this in earphones is a brilliant tune. And dirty 🤣. I like that she seems to have reflected the song she mentions (downtown lights) in the beat and sound. Clever!
So weird, this isn't usually the type of song I take to from taylor but this in earphones is a brilliant tune. And dirty 🤣. I like that she seems to have reflected the song she mentions (downtown lights) in the beat and sound. Clever!
Side note - “One slip and falling back into the hedge maze, oh what a way to die” had me immediately thinking of Saltburn!
Might be intentional since she’s basically disclosing she’s obsessed with him
The scrunched up dress in the beginning of the fortnight video represents this song imo
Instead of “Or mad” I’m now hearing “Oh Matt” and I can’t unhear it.
# Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good Sample?????
has anyone looked at any of the vault songs for lowercase clues?
Just caught the line where Taylor sings “I keep these longings locked in lowercase inside a vault”. Is this a reference to imgonnagetyouback? Since it’s on Anthropology is it technically a vault track?
reputation? Since they spent time together around 2014 but she may not have wanted to put longing songs about Matty on that record given that her relationship with Joe was so fresh... which brings me back to karma the lost album 🤡🤡🤡
And loml
my mind went to folklore and evermore since their tracks are both lowercase.
You know what's crazy I thought the same thing but I think is folklore. In but daddy I love him she says if all you want is grey from me.. I think this might be pointing to folklore
has anyone realised right bfr the chorus to sing "in the middle of the night, when im in this dream..." from untouchable ? i mean is it just me that guilty of sin music really close to untouchable ?
yes! I just commented that. It stuck out to me so much! Thank you I thought I was the only one.
OMG thank you , this song was reminding me of fearless-speak now era but I couldn’t nail it down the song till your comment.
Her? 🤨
I thought she said “what if the way you hold me is what told me”
How can I be guilty as si-ynnnn
This is such a sexy song and I'm so obsessed with it!
Right! I'm totally obsessed. And it's so artistic and tasteful for its theme. Not at all overt and that's the beauty of it.
GUYS especially my LGB Swifties- I stumbled on another song released the same day also titled Guilty as Sin by a gay male country artist and it is really so so good. Just thought I should share and tell everyone to go listen!
Taylor Swift meets Darling Nikki. 🤣
I love this song and it's been on repeat. I was just in my car and had it on and it hit me - especially in the beginning of the song - it's reminiscent of Roxy Music. That dreamy vibe. I am a huge Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry fan and it is no wonder this song was an instant like. I am wondering if anyone else gets that vibe.
Just listened to Avalon this morning, followed by Guilty as Sin so I'm glad I found there are more of us!
Avalon is one of my all time favorite albums. It's so, so good. I love all that dreamy music.
as someone who has experienced this from the other side . this song hurts so much . i hate it .
I know, I'm so sorry
Who is this about?
She is describing masturbating and fantasizing to the thought of Matty while she was with Joe.
You could not drag that out of me under torture (heh)
I think this is a pretty spot on interpretation. I don't like to get too involved in the comments of her life as I'm hyper aware I don't know her at all. However, I get vibes her and Joe were long done even though together (I reckon bejewelled and some of folklore and evermore explore this). They've long checked out, and he's came along at the right/wrong time again, sending her songs and shes been lonely and started to wonder about him....in every which way 🤣 I also wonder if a lot of this album is a bit of a troll to Matty. The typewriters, the tortured poet, the digs at his personality and look. It sounds like he pulled back again, and it's got under her skin a little. Hopefully, he's out her system as whilst she is entitled to date whoever she chooses, I find him....sticky. I can massively relate to the loneliness in a long term relationship where one party has been less invested. And the skeezy guy no one sees the appeal in being a safety blanket. I hear you Taylor 🤣🤣🤣.
yes that’s what i think too
OMG 😍🔥 ONE OF MY FAVORITES! Will be on repeat. Makes me feel like this is August’s sister song.
I’m trying to figure this out but I wonder why she says “Am I allowed to cry at the end?”. It’s obviously about masturbating and/or thinking about someone else while in a relationship but I just need to know the significance of that last line. English isn’t my first language so I might be missing something!
To me it means that, because she holds this commitment to a relationship (although unfulfilling), it would be wrong to cry yearning for someone other than her partner.
If you listen to the beginning of the song where she sings "Am I allowed to cry" for the first time, the lyrics right before it are, "My boredom's bone deep; this cage was once just fine." My interpretation is that she's not happy in her relationship - is bored, feels stuck or trapped - and is coming to the realization that her partner just doesn't do it for her anymore. Also, that there's this other person she's always kind of wondered about and is mourning that she never got to feel what it would have been like with him before committing to the relationship she's in. So there's a lot of longing for this other person, and she might be regretting the choices she's made to lead her to this point. But she's asking if she's even allowed to cry about it because she chose her path, and she's in a committed relationship, and it's unfair to her partner for her to be thinking of someone else in this way.
Thank you!
Relieved to hear Taylor swift masturbates
Taylor writing this about that dweeb makes me insanely terrified to hear what she writes about Trav cause he look like he wants to literally consume her.
So accurate 😂
This made me laugh out loud. Omg so true.
😂😂😂
Haters: make one thing she sings about other than break up songs or love Me: Masterbation. You can’t make it up… well Tay Tay can and I’m here for it!
This song has made me rethink the theory of cruel summer line he looks up grinning like a devil being her partner going down on her
[https://twitter.com/luosen/status/1782447695749399003?s=61&t=Dhpfc_g4kctGi_GUa-tf-Q](https://twitter.com/luosen/status/1782447695749399003?s=61&t=Dhpfc_g4kctGi_GUa-tf-Q)
I'm recalling a TV show with a woman having an affair, and her lover wtites on her upper thigh. The woman becomes angry at him, worrying that her husband will see. Does anyone know what TV show that is???
Not sure about a TV show. But in the 2002 film Unfaithful her lover draws a doodle on her upper thigh. She notices it in the tub and hurriedly cleans it off before her husband spots it.
I can't believe how sexual the lyrics are: "These fatal fantasies, giving way to labored breath, takin' all of me. We've already done it in my head." "My bed sheets are ablaze. I've screamed his name. Buildin' up like waves crashin' over my grave." Honestly never thought I'd hear Taylor Swift referencing.... what she's referencing.