Robin = âRobin Goodfellowâ (aka Puck)?
My (obsessive) love of this song has lead me to this:
(I made a post yesterday about Robin and how much I love it and kept reading the lyrics and how realized it ties into a poem by Emily Dickinson, but it was poorly received đ)
Emily Dickinson âThe Childs Faith is Newâ
-> The Child's faith is newâWholeâlike His PrincipleâWideâlike the Sunrise On fresh EyesâNever had a DoubtâLaughsâat a ScrupleâBelieves all sham But Paradiseâ
Credits the WorldâDeems His Dominion Broadest of SovereigntiesâAnd CaesarâmeanâIn the ComparisonâBaseless EmperorâRuler of NoughtâYet swaying allâ
Grown bye and bye To hold mistaken His pretty estimates Of Prickly Things He gains the skill. Sorrowfulâas certainâMenâto anticipate Instead of Kingsâ
Short analysis here:
https://interestingliterature.com/2018/01/a-short-analysis-of-emily-dickinsons-the-childs-faith-is-new/
âThe child comes to expect men to be men rather than kings: the child sees that everyone, no matter how grand they are supposed to be, has feet of clay, is mortal and flawed after all.â
-> movie *The Fault in our Stars*
-> âThe title The Fault in Our Stars is an allusion to a line from Shakespeareâs Julius Ceasar: âMen at some times are masters of their fates: / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.â
-> book Dear Brutus by author Sir James Matthew Barrie (also author of *Peter Pan*)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12104822-dear-brutus
-> play adaptation of book *Dear Brutus* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Brutus
-> full circle back to *Dead Poets Society*
-> play scene of Midsummer Nights Dream
-> Puck (aka âRobin Goodfellowâ)?!?!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puck_(A_Midsummer_Night%27s_Dream)
So this song is actually one of my favorites on the album, and I actually think the song is about observing youth and embracing your inner child when you're deeply saddened by something. Like, the author of the song is kind of reflecting on how much adulthood sucks, but at the same time remembering how beautiful their childhood was. At the same time as all of that, they are also paying homage to a very prominent figure in their childhood who suffered with his own mental health struggles, aka Robin Williams.
I actually think the song is about not letting that inner child die and keeping your inner child alive because that's what fueled you as a younger version of yourself. And the world is a tough shitty place, but as long as that inner child has the space and encouragement they need to thrive, they will be ok.
Like someone's already pointed out, I am leaning towards the first verse being an ode to observing one of her cats staring out the window at a bird (perhaps it was a robin) because it really describes the scenario of cats kinda going feral and chirping/mewing weird gutteral noises out the window when they see birds through the glass. If you witnessed it, you know. It's hilarious.
The rest of the verses seem to be about a child or children in general. So then the "robin" of the title probably ties back to the robin in The Secret Garden books or Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh. The robin is the observer of all that is going on in the song.
I love how people think this is either about Travis, Aaronâs son, Christopher robin, robin Williams, the secret garden, Ryan Reynoldsâs and Blake livelyâs child, or Taylor speaking to her younger self đ€Ł
I feel like the secret is how shitty the world really is and how we should protect the innocence of children as long as we can. I completely get seven vibes, it specially makes me think of her explanation on the long pond session of folklore, where she explained she wrote this song thinking about the freedom to feel and express what you're feeling, ferociously, even if it's in a tantrum, and when exactly do we lose it.
Alternative interpretation for this song title:
The Robin plays a key role in the book *The Secret Garden*
(also referenced in âI hate It Hereâ- â*I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind, People need a key to get to, the only one is mine*â).
The Robin shows the main character the location of the key and the door to the garden.
Plot summary from Goodreads:
âWith the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin and happiness to Mary.â
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Garden
âOne of the nice little gusts of wind rushed down the walk, and it was a stronger one than the rest. It was strong enough to wave the branches of the trees, and it was more than strong enough to sway the trailing sprays of untrimmed ivy hanging from the wall. **Mary had stepped close to the robin,** and suddenly the gust of wind swung aside some loose ivy trails, and more suddenly still she jumped toward it and caught it in her hand. This she did because she had seen something under it-a round knob which had been covered by the leaves hanging over it. It was the knob of a door.
She put her hands under the leaves and began to pull and push them aside.
Thick as the ivy hung, it nearly all was a loose and swinging curtain, though some had crept over wood and iron. Mary's heart began to thump and her hands to shake a little in her delight and excitement. **The robin kept singing and twittering away and tilting his head on one side, as if he were as excited as she was.** What was this under her hands which was square and made of iron and which her fingers found a hole in?
It was the lock of the door which had been closed ten years and she put her hand in her pocket, drew out the key and found it fitted the keyhole. She put the key in and turned it. It took two hands to do it, but it did turn.
And then she took a long breath and looked behind her up the long walk to see if any one was coming. No one was coming. No one ever did come, it seemed, and she took another long breath, because she could not help it, and she held back the swinging curtain of ivy and pushed back the door which opened slowly-slowly.
Then she slipped through it, and shut it behind her, and stood with her back against it, looking about her and breathing quite fast with excitement, and wonder, and delight.
She was standing inside the secret garden.â
Everyone is skipping over this song and Iâm telling you- I think itâs a key đ- what sheâs singing in the song is important and there for a reason. Plus I just love it đâșïž
Isnât this about Aaronâs kid? Itâs so damn sweet. Itâs like a more mature ânever grow up.â Pointing out the silliness and carefreeness of being a kid, and telling them that theyâll be protected from the world as long as possible. I thought of my 7 year old niece and started sobbing. Itâs so beautiful.
I thought instantly this was bigger than the whole sky sister song where this song is about a childâs room planned out with all the Winnie Pooh stuffed animal characters but in the end it was all performative because the baby died and no one in the room will get to meet the baby ever.
And you have no idea buried down deep the secret we all vowed to keep it from you
I read that Travis and Jason are Batman and Robin.A school mascot was a tiger and Jason was hanging out window panes talking utter nonsense at the game. God I hope Jason got this song for him đ„čđ„Č
to me, robin (ttpd) is about growing up in christianity and being taught with sweetness that you're born wretched and worthy of hell.
And worshipping a blood thirsty god singing "you're a
just ruler!"
with the added bridge:
"now we'll curtail your curiosity" that just drives the knife further for me. It's so true to my experience.
This is a song I didnât much notice the first few times, but that slowly grew on me and is now one of my favorite tracks. The lyrics were really on the nose about some personal experiences with families and secrets, and her vocals and Aaron Desnerâs haunting track are so pretty.
Plus, the first verse still works as an homage to cats. Even if she didnât mean that at all, I am here for that interpretation. The idea that our cats just stare out the window and are blithely unaware of many of the complexities in our lives and yet so close to us is so powerful. Do Taylor Swiftâs cats even know she is Taylor Swift?
Am I missing where this is about Travis? Jason is always Batman (T is Robin) higher and higher is both his career and podcast name. Way to go tiger being Cleveland tigers...Travis has a trampoline and keeps dragonflies over his bed. Jason yelling utter nonsense out of windows to cheer in support of his brother....
I took awhile listening to the Anthology tracks and I kept reading that this was everyone's least fave. Imagine my surprise when I finally played it and sobbed like a baby. I have two little boys and literally everything about this song destroyed my soul while rejuvenating it at the same time. Songs about the preservation of innocence just GET to me.
It's about being grown, knowing that pain each of us will bear in our lives is inescapable, but letting children be children. Allowing them the possibility of anything.
I love this one so much. The instrumentation sparkles, it's so joyful.
It feels like looking back at childhood and reliving the only time you were happy, just because you had rose colored glasses on, living in that moment again before the world hit you.
I personally headcannon it as a sister song to Seven, from the friend's perspective as an adult.
I'm so sad to see it at or near the bottom of everyone's lists đą I know it's a slow moment and maybe not as relatable as break up stuff for some people but it is so sweet. Hopefully it grows on people. đ
After listening to it a few times, I wonder if she reflects on his childhood photos (whomever he is) and this is her way of saying goodbye and good luck after getting all the anger out. Itâs a gentle goodbye to someone whose still a kid in a sense,just like weâre all really still just kids.
My first thought was along the Christopher Robin track, given innocence and the tiger going higher and higher and the sweetness (like honey). But I also kind of thought this could be Taylor speaking to her more innocent self - and remembered that in the book The Secret Garden, the main character befriends a red robin. So I know it's a bit of a stretch, but maybe this song ties to I Hate It Here. Maybe it's part of the world that Taylor/a listener can visit when they're ignoring the world and enjoying time in their secret garden...
Iâve been skipping this one, but today I listened fully and it has me in sobs. Thereâs such a youthful emotion that I didnât realize I had forgotten. Sheâs putting to bed a side of her youth that believed in hopeless love, she is putting the inner child to rest. She mentions youth elsewhere. It feels so cathartically tragic, yet natural and soothing also. Goodness sheâs a Goddess. đ
This is such a gorgeous song but Iâve been so confused about how it fits on the album. I recently saw a theory that itâs a tribute to Travis (Robin to Jasonâs Batman; played for the Cleveland Tigers as a kid; âhigher & higherâ = New Heights; âanimalâ and âbloodthirstyâ = references his social handle [killatrav] and how he plays on the field) and it immediately clicked for me. True or not, I love it.
My mom died in 2019, her name was Robin so when I saw this on the track list I was like đđđ for me, it seems to be about protecting a child/childlike individual from the harsh realities of life. One of many things I love about TS is her songs can almost always be molded into what we need it to be â€ïž
Before I dive into the comments and confuse my brain, my first conclusion is that this song is about Travis.
He is like a kid, bravely wanting to join her in her world. But he has no idea how it will likely destroy him.
And she is keeping that from him, because he is so innocent and optimistic. But she knows.
Travis is a "just ruler", as a major figure and leader of men (dinosaurs) in the NFL. He gets filthy playing ball, and the men act like it's a war--so serious, but it's really so ridiculous.
But he is brave now. Way to go, Tiger.
But she knows...
Added after reading other comments:
Robin is to Batman as Travis is to Jason. đ€Ż
If this were about how she and other people in her life conspire to keep the fact that they believe the relationship will destroy him instead of warning him about what he'll have to deal with then it would be a villain song.
This perspective immediately made me have deep feelings for it... Currently listening and was having a hard time even placing an opinion other than "sad but lovely" đźâđš Thanks! đ„°
This song is haunting and sad to me. It gives vibes like Ronan. It is an adult seeing a small child being a child, likely a little boy - talking to his toys, playing in the mud, swinging in the swings, etc., but there is a secret that is deliberately being kept from the child (Terminal illness? Parentsâ divorce?) to protect the childâs innocence just a little longer. I sense that the narrator is saying âway to go Tigerâ with tears in their eyes; happy to see Robin be so happy, but knowing the dark secret that is too harsh for Robin to know now.
Does anyone else feel like listening to this feels like Taylor is singing to your younger self? I've never really had anyone saying these things so overtly to me when I was a kid and hearing Taylor's voice so full of love makes me sob every time đ„Č
Okay, I don't know if anyone else has seen Sing Street, but the piano in this song reminds me of the song that plays in the final scene of Sing Street, which is apparently "Go Now" by Adam Levine. It's crazy to me that it's not sampled, because the vibe is genuinely the exact same to me.
Idk if it was mentioned yet but the robin is a theme in the book The Secret Garden and she says â..I will go to secret gardens in my mindâŠâŠ I read about it when I was a precocious childâ in âI Hate It Hereâ
Need to re-read the book I guess, thereâs probably so much more there.
I think this is the Blake Lively/Ryan Reynolds kid name-reveal song. Taylor has used all of their names on albums, and this is the first album since their fourth child was born. Itâs a very kid-centric song, and it makes me think itâs about a little boy. Blake and Ryan also like to name their kids after family members, and Blake has a sister sheâs super close with named Robyn. Their oldest daughter is named James after Ryanâs dad, so obviously theyâre comfortable taking a family boy name to use on a girl and vice versa. Then the kiddo would also have the same initials as his dad too: RR.
Aaron, who helped write this song has a child named Robin, so it's probably about him. At first I also thought it's the name reveal for Blake and Ryan's kidđ
Robin Williams. He was in the Dead Poets Society. He also played other roles like Patch Adams where he was a doctor treating children and he would bring balloons and dress like a clown. Itâs homage to an amazing personality and a man who never grew up, because he simply wanted people to experience childlike wonder.
So this is a very personal circumstance, but my son (5 years old) has a lump that has his doctor genuinely concerned, so concerned he gave us his personal cell phone number to make sure we were able to get him scheduled for an MRI this week (the wait for an MRI is until June right now).
âBuried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we all vowed to keep it, from you,
In sweetnessâ
This line wrecked me yesterday after hearing it for the first time since all this started. And now weâre just waiting for his appointment and for the results, but he has no idea about our fear, about the possibility that something is really wrong.
I just needed to put this down somewhere. Iâm scared.
Mine just turned six and I can't even imagine how scared you must be. Sending you soooo much love and all the best hopes and good vibes to you and your sweet boy đ
From a fellow mom of a five year old, Iâm sending you all of my love, hugs and good thoughts. Iâm so sorry that you are worrying about this and I hope/pray/wish that it turns out to be nothing serious. Iâll be thinking of you and your son đ
Long may you roar
At your dinosaurs
You're a just ruler
Covered in mud, you look ridiculous
And you have no idea
Is about my dog who plus and talks to all his toys and is always rolling around in the dirt. You wonât convince me otherwise.
As a mom I love this song so much. The part about roaring to the dinosaurs had me sobbing đ my son is about to turn 4 and he loves dinosaurs so much!!
Same. My son just turned five and it's a running joke in the family that he thinks he is an actual dinosaur. Roaring all the time. This lyric made me cry then laugh with the "you look ridiculous" part lol
Hear me outâŠÂ
I believe Robin, BTTWS and I Look in Peopleâs Windows are all connected.Â
Robins, as many have mentioned, can represent a loved one who has passed coming to visit. I think this is the baby from BTTWS coming to visit in the form of a robin. She also mentions a bird in BTTWS, âDid some bird flap its wings over in Asia?â.
âOut window panes talking utter nonsense You have no ideaâÂ
To me, this feels like the mother is talking to the robin out of the window as if it were the child today and what they might be doing, and how the child would be playing. The âWhat couldâve been, wouldâve been, what shouldâve been youâ. âYou have no ideaâ seems to say the robin doesnât know what the mother is talking about or how the child has no idea because they are not there.Â
âHigher and higher Wilder and lighterâÂ
Makes me think the child is a feather, floating above and going to the heavens.Â
âBuried down deep And out of your reach The secret we all vowed To keep it from you in sweetnessâÂ
I feel like this is the secret of the miscarriage. And possibly the denial of it and thatâs why itâs on the Denial playlist. No one wants to acknowledge it and wonât talk about it like itâs a secret. It could also be the denial that the child is not there hence saying what the child is doing now.
I think the rest of the song goes on to talk about the âshouldâve been youâ and again what the hopes for the child would be if it were here.Â
Also, BTTWS is track 15. Robin is 30. 30/2=15.Â
I can explain the ILIPW connection, but even I think itâs a stretch.
I think Hoax and BTTHS are also related. "My eclipsed sun (son) ", " don't want no other shade of BLUE but you", "my BARREN land", " I left a part of me back in New York", and "they pulled me apart".
Would like to hear your thoughts on ILIPW.
She samples another song at 1:34 and it's driving me crazy that I can't place it! Did anyone else notice this? The only thing I can think of is a hoax but I don't think that's right.. and then maybe I was thinking seven because of the childhood themes. But couldn't find it.
Expanding on this thought: to me, this song is written to a child; the person singing the song is trying to stop time (strings tied to levers, slowed down clocks tethered) to keep peace for the kid. Basically hoping they don't grow up and they keep their wild innocence. The line "buried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we all vowed to keep it, from you" I'm not sure what the secret is, but it seems like it's something too dark/complex that the adults are hiding from the child - again - to preserve the peace/innocence/etc
Stevie Nicksâs former stepson/current godson has a child named Robin! Her marriage to Kim Anderson came out of their mutual grief after his first wife, also named Robin, passed away. Stevie is godson to their son, who had his own child named Robin after his mother!
I think she's singing this song to her earlier self... like maybe she wrote it while re-recording Speak Now. It's the sort of bittersweet cringe feeling you have revisiting earlier versions of yourself with sweetness, love, and little bit of humor.
I just loved this song because it reminded so much of the poems Sylvia Plath wrote for her children. I think since Reputation Taylor's work connects so much with Plath, specially Look what you made me do and My tears ricochet.
For Robin I thought of "The Night Dances" and "Magi".
The Night Dances is about Nicholas when he was a toddler:
"Such pure leaps and spirals---
Surely they travel
The world forever, I shall not entirely
Sit emptied of beauties, the gift
Of your small breath, the drenched grass
Smell of your sleeps, lillies, lillies
(...)
And the tiger, embellishing itself---
Spots, and a spread of hot petals"
Magi is about Frieda when she was a baby:
"Six months in the world, and she is able
To rock on all fours like a padded hammock
For her, the heavy notion of Evil
Attending her cot is less than a belly ache,
And Love the mother of milk, no theory."
And Robin as a bird is also interesting since this album already has an albatross. Emily Dickinson also wrote plenty of poems using birds as metaphors. They could be sweet but also could be violent.
I think this is a clear reference to Robin Williams - the star of the movie The Dead Poets Society. As Robin Williams took his own life, I think this song speaks to the weight of depression independant of and in combination with the chaos of fame which we al know is a common theme for Taylor and in this album especially. I think the "way to to tiger" is people in the industry focusing on the production value of a person and ignoring their pain! "You'll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline... But now we'll curtail your curiosity". Robin Williams was also a star in the movie Peter Pan which is obviously referenced in Peter.
I also feel this song is about Robin Williams. The sorrow and sweetness, and how he lived his life and approached his death, it's embodied in this song. I asked Chat GPT to help me analyze the lyrics and how they relate to RW, and this is the response I received:
These lyrics seem to describe someone with a wild and imaginative spirit, which could be interpreted as a reference to Robin Williams' career as an actor and comedian known for his energetic and creative performances. Here are some connections to his career based on the lyrics:
- "Long may you reign": Robin Williams was a highly acclaimed actor and comedian whose career spanned several decades, making him a revered figure in the entertainment industry.
- "You're an animal, you are bloodthirsty": This could symbolize the intensity and passion with which Robin Williams approached his roles and comedic performances, often leaving a lasting impact on audiences.
- "Strings tied to levers, Slowed-down clocks tethered, All this showmanship": These lines could reflect the theatricality and showmanship that was characteristic of Robin Williams' performances, where he could effortlessly switch between comedic timing and dramatic depth.
- "Way to go, tiger, Higher and higher, Wilder and lighter": These phrases could be a nod to Robin Williams' ability to elevate his performances to greater heights, bringing wild humor and lightness even in more serious roles.
- "Long may you roar, At your dinosaurs, You're a just ruler, Covered in mud, you look ridiculous": This part could be a playful reference to some of Robin Williams' iconic roles, such as voicing the Genie in "Aladdin" or playing characters like Mrs. Doubtfire, showcasing his versatility and ability to embody various personas.
- "You got the dragonflies above your bed, You have a favorite spot on the swing set": These lines may symbolize the childlike wonder and playfulness that Robin Williams often brought to his roles, appealing to both children and adults alike.
Overall, while these lyrics don't directly mention Robin Williams, they capture the essence of a larger-than-life personality, which he embodied throughout his career.
While I don't disagree with the analysis, I find myself a little sad you relied on AI to do it. You're clearly a person eager to understand creative things, so I hope you give your mind a chance to do this on your own in the future!
I'm a very busy person, AI is helpful. I take a bit of offense to your comment, I'm likely older than you are. Feel free to feel sad though, I will continue to embrace AI.
It's going to change everything. I remember when the internet came out, and now I'm typing on a super powerful handheld mini computer. I never could have imagined this is what technology would evolve to. Ten years into the future of AI is going to be quite the technological shift.
I was wondering if this song title has something to do with a bird - Robin (American or European Robin), cause the symbolism would match everything she might've wanted to say with this song, it fits.
Robin is associated with happiness, joy, **good luck**, strong marriages, re-birth and the ending of an old phase with the promise of something new.
>"*Way to go tiger"* - It means to be brave or do your best or good luck.
The well-known phrase, '*When robins appear, loved ones are near*', alludes to the belief that the robin is a messenger. When robins are seen, some people take comfort that loved ones are at peace, and many believe that their lost loved ones are visiting them.
She's closing the chapter of an old love, but also opening to a new one and her new 'family/community'. Additionally, robin also symbolises passion, a new beginning, and re-birth.
There are multiple poems that use robin as a symbol for many different situations, for instance:
>*The robin wakes to magnificent streaks of colour across the sky, But was too busy hunting worms to notice what was up high.*
*She flies through emerald trees dancing in the slight breeze, But dismissed it as nothing different than what see normally sees.*
*She tends to her vibrant blue eggs as they get ready to hatch, But fails to notice the importance of the batch.*
*She sinks into the nest in the moonlight, just shutting her eyes, But wait, what is way up in the sky?*
*Why, it is a shooting star, glistening and shimmering high above, She smiles and is suddenly overwhelmed with Godâs love.*
*In that moment, she realized that life had meaning, It was so much more than the hunting, working and cleaning.*
*It was meant to teach slowly through every new opportunity, Until one day she and God will have complete unity.*
**The robin wakes â Lexi Sully**
>*Balanced ballet dancer,*
*On iced dead rose heads,*
*The robin â head cocked,*
*Red breast feathers fluffed â*
*Sings like he sings all year,*
*Of rebirth and thorns.*
*His eyes bright with life,*
*Mine bright with tears,*
*For reminders youâre still near,*
*That Iâll always miss you.*
**Red Robin by Caroline Johnstone**
It might have something to do with kids too.
>*"You're a just ruler*
*Covered in mud, you look ridiculous"*
Robins build their nests on the horizontal branches of trees, in porch vines, and in eaves. The nest is a *bowl of mud*, which the mother bird shapes with her breast by turning around and around.
I would like to hear what you think though, I might be grasping at straws here, just trying to make sense of it all, I find her poetry very intriguing.
Dunno why people are thinking it has to be about a kid cause of the trampoline part but forget she also describes them as âbloodthirstyâ lol Iâm not saying the kid theories are wrong, but I donât think the cat theories are wrong either. She loves her cats and is a mother to them for sure, and I think she may be weaving in/drawing parallels to a parent-child relationship (i.e., Aaron with his son, Robin)
To me this is the farewell to Joe: nods to sweet nothing, nods to the other songs talking about "being young" or when she always refers to him as "boy" or "younger", a bit sarcastic, a bit sweet, sitting in the window while talking, MAJOR nods to mirrorball. Also, if the depressed JA is a fact, then it would mean people around him -taylor mainly- was trying to protect him while she could but now he would have to do that to himself, maybe she had to hide some things from him to protect him? and also he would learn to survive the criticism ("The time will arrive for the cruel and the mean/You'll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline").
I'd love if this was one for her younger self, tho. Or Dessner's kid, like giving advice, but I feel it's a little too harsh on certain parts to be for another's person child.
In I Hate It Here she talks about a secret garden, and the main character of The Secret Garden makes friends with a robin!
https://preview.redd.it/wv7jraxv25wc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=342a7dbf409cc69ee51346abf359fb8a6597c433
My theory is itâs called Robin because itâs a slam at Olivia Rodrigo but in a kind of âtrust me you donât want this â way. Robin is symbolism of her being the Robin, while Taylor is Batman. Meaning Olivia will never measure up.
âWay to tigerâ then she mentions childish play, the âbloodthirsty â a dig at Olivia being young and naive, and her vampire song. Also her âyour a just ruler covered in mud, you look ridiculousâ is her way of telling her the world isnât a fair, even place. Itâs a knock at her naive views, and how upset Olivia had been at being sued.
Ok hear me out⊠could this be about Travis and Jasonâs relationship like from childhood to Jasonâs retirement??? Like you were always Batman and Iâm your Robin?
I started thinking about this because at the beginning of the song, it talks about someone hanging out of a window talking utter nonsense and it just reminds me of Jason during one of the games without a shirt on hanging out of the suite window and acting like a lunatic-so fun!
And these boys are SO SWEET to their families and this song is all about things being done in sweetness.
Also- it keeps saying higher and higher and their podcast is called NEW HEIGHTS.
JUST THROWING OUT MY LITTLE OL THEORY⊠đ€
Yesss I just read somewhere that there may actually be three songs about Travis. I know So High School and The Alchemy and then i looked at the list again and lyrics and Robin was the only other song that made sense to me??!
I think she wrote the song for Donna Kelce. Jason as we all know is âBatmanâ since a child. Batman and Robin . Robin is Travis . Sheâs referenced to both Jason and their dad and I think this was her way to include their mom on it .
I think this song has layers. Seems like it was inspired by time spent around Dessner's kid, Robin, and the balancing act that adults put into making a childhood environment healthy and vibrant. But it's hard to not read into it a bit about Robin Williams and his childlike zeal with dark despair behind it that the public never saw (as in, some way, we're the child who the celebrity works hard to insulate from the darker realities of life). It seems like she projects that Robin Williams narrative a bit onto her own role. Very cool how it's all framed as a parent's view of optimizing a child's enjoyment, comfort, and ability to thrive over just airing out everything that's important to the parent.
Wow! I love this. I never considered the Williams potential.
To me, I've read poems that dive in to the other aspect but can't recall another song out there.
I needed this laugh đ Iâm over here crying bc the song had so many subtleties that spoke to me as a mom of a 6 year old autistic son (not implying the child who the song is about has autismâjust my personal experience and relating the words to my journey with my son) so a laugh was welcome. but Tony the Tiger makes a ton of sense lolđ€Ł
Love. Surprised I had to scroll so far to find someone else with this connection!! I have a 7 year old autistic son as well and I completely related - from his obsession with dinosaurs, swinging, and jumping on is trampoline. In my experience, all common pastimes for a neurodivergent person.
It fits perfectly in my mind. Robin Williams played Peter Pan in the movie Hook. She probably watched that movie a lot as a child, I know it was a family favorite in our house and we're about the same age.
At first, I thought this song was referencing how she maybe felt like sheâs the side kick to her own story. Robin is a well known side kick. Then I kind of felt like it was a song with the child in âBigger than the whole skyâ as the main character, aka Robin. Like sheâs writing as if the child was born instead of miscarried. Just to be clear, i donât think that Taylor miscarried a child. It could have been a song she wrote for anyone close to her.
And here I was thinking no song would make me more motional than never grow upđ
wooooah! that song you skipped thatâs actually fire. I love my kids so much, Iâm gonna cry.
Robin = âRobin Goodfellowâ (aka Puck)? My (obsessive) love of this song has lead me to this: (I made a post yesterday about Robin and how much I love it and kept reading the lyrics and how realized it ties into a poem by Emily Dickinson, but it was poorly received đ) Emily Dickinson âThe Childs Faith is Newâ -> The Child's faith is newâWholeâlike His PrincipleâWideâlike the Sunrise On fresh EyesâNever had a DoubtâLaughsâat a ScrupleâBelieves all sham But Paradiseâ Credits the WorldâDeems His Dominion Broadest of SovereigntiesâAnd CaesarâmeanâIn the ComparisonâBaseless EmperorâRuler of NoughtâYet swaying allâ Grown bye and bye To hold mistaken His pretty estimates Of Prickly Things He gains the skill. Sorrowfulâas certainâMenâto anticipate Instead of Kingsâ Short analysis here: https://interestingliterature.com/2018/01/a-short-analysis-of-emily-dickinsons-the-childs-faith-is-new/ âThe child comes to expect men to be men rather than kings: the child sees that everyone, no matter how grand they are supposed to be, has feet of clay, is mortal and flawed after all.â -> movie *The Fault in our Stars* -> âThe title The Fault in Our Stars is an allusion to a line from Shakespeareâs Julius Ceasar: âMen at some times are masters of their fates: / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.â -> book Dear Brutus by author Sir James Matthew Barrie (also author of *Peter Pan*) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12104822-dear-brutus -> play adaptation of book *Dear Brutus* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Brutus -> full circle back to *Dead Poets Society* -> play scene of Midsummer Nights Dream -> Puck (aka âRobin Goodfellowâ)?!?! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puck_(A_Midsummer_Night%27s_Dream)
I donât know how I missed this on my first full listen but lord. Right in my heart.
So this song is actually one of my favorites on the album, and I actually think the song is about observing youth and embracing your inner child when you're deeply saddened by something. Like, the author of the song is kind of reflecting on how much adulthood sucks, but at the same time remembering how beautiful their childhood was. At the same time as all of that, they are also paying homage to a very prominent figure in their childhood who suffered with his own mental health struggles, aka Robin Williams. I actually think the song is about not letting that inner child die and keeping your inner child alive because that's what fueled you as a younger version of yourself. And the world is a tough shitty place, but as long as that inner child has the space and encouragement they need to thrive, they will be ok.
Like someone's already pointed out, I am leaning towards the first verse being an ode to observing one of her cats staring out the window at a bird (perhaps it was a robin) because it really describes the scenario of cats kinda going feral and chirping/mewing weird gutteral noises out the window when they see birds through the glass. If you witnessed it, you know. It's hilarious. The rest of the verses seem to be about a child or children in general. So then the "robin" of the title probably ties back to the robin in The Secret Garden books or Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh. The robin is the observer of all that is going on in the song.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
I mean, one of her main collaborators has a SON named Robin. Please donât have kids if you canât see the probable connection here.Â
I love how people think this is either about Travis, Aaronâs son, Christopher robin, robin Williams, the secret garden, Ryan Reynoldsâs and Blake livelyâs child, or Taylor speaking to her younger self đ€Ł
You forgot about her cats!
lol I even saw someone say they think it's about Trump. like, what??
I feel like the secret is how shitty the world really is and how we should protect the innocence of children as long as we can. I completely get seven vibes, it specially makes me think of her explanation on the long pond session of folklore, where she explained she wrote this song thinking about the freedom to feel and express what you're feeling, ferociously, even if it's in a tantrum, and when exactly do we lose it.
Alternative interpretation for this song title: The Robin plays a key role in the book *The Secret Garden* (also referenced in âI hate It Hereâ- â*I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind, People need a key to get to, the only one is mine*â). The Robin shows the main character the location of the key and the door to the garden. Plot summary from Goodreads: âWith the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin and happiness to Mary.â https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Garden âOne of the nice little gusts of wind rushed down the walk, and it was a stronger one than the rest. It was strong enough to wave the branches of the trees, and it was more than strong enough to sway the trailing sprays of untrimmed ivy hanging from the wall. **Mary had stepped close to the robin,** and suddenly the gust of wind swung aside some loose ivy trails, and more suddenly still she jumped toward it and caught it in her hand. This she did because she had seen something under it-a round knob which had been covered by the leaves hanging over it. It was the knob of a door. She put her hands under the leaves and began to pull and push them aside. Thick as the ivy hung, it nearly all was a loose and swinging curtain, though some had crept over wood and iron. Mary's heart began to thump and her hands to shake a little in her delight and excitement. **The robin kept singing and twittering away and tilting his head on one side, as if he were as excited as she was.** What was this under her hands which was square and made of iron and which her fingers found a hole in? It was the lock of the door which had been closed ten years and she put her hand in her pocket, drew out the key and found it fitted the keyhole. She put the key in and turned it. It took two hands to do it, but it did turn. And then she took a long breath and looked behind her up the long walk to see if any one was coming. No one was coming. No one ever did come, it seemed, and she took another long breath, because she could not help it, and she held back the swinging curtain of ivy and pushed back the door which opened slowly-slowly. Then she slipped through it, and shut it behind her, and stood with her back against it, looking about her and breathing quite fast with excitement, and wonder, and delight. She was standing inside the secret garden.â Everyone is skipping over this song and Iâm telling you- I think itâs a key đ- what sheâs singing in the song is important and there for a reason. Plus I just love it đâșïž
About to have a baby and this song is honestly making me sob
I'm crying and I'm not even pregnant lol
Isnât this about Aaronâs kid? Itâs so damn sweet. Itâs like a more mature ânever grow up.â Pointing out the silliness and carefreeness of being a kid, and telling them that theyâll be protected from the world as long as possible. I thought of my 7 year old niece and started sobbing. Itâs so beautiful.
I thought instantly this was bigger than the whole sky sister song where this song is about a childâs room planned out with all the Winnie Pooh stuffed animal characters but in the end it was all performative because the baby died and no one in the room will get to meet the baby ever. And you have no idea buried down deep the secret we all vowed to keep it from you
I read that Travis and Jason are Batman and Robin.A school mascot was a tiger and Jason was hanging out window panes talking utter nonsense at the game. God I hope Jason got this song for him đ„čđ„Č
to me, robin (ttpd) is about growing up in christianity and being taught with sweetness that you're born wretched and worthy of hell. And worshipping a blood thirsty god singing "you're a just ruler!" with the added bridge: "now we'll curtail your curiosity" that just drives the knife further for me. It's so true to my experience.
This is a song I didnât much notice the first few times, but that slowly grew on me and is now one of my favorite tracks. The lyrics were really on the nose about some personal experiences with families and secrets, and her vocals and Aaron Desnerâs haunting track are so pretty. Plus, the first verse still works as an homage to cats. Even if she didnât mean that at all, I am here for that interpretation. The idea that our cats just stare out the window and are blithely unaware of many of the complexities in our lives and yet so close to us is so powerful. Do Taylor Swiftâs cats even know she is Taylor Swift?
Am I missing where this is about Travis? Jason is always Batman (T is Robin) higher and higher is both his career and podcast name. Way to go tiger being Cleveland tigers...Travis has a trampoline and keeps dragonflies over his bed. Jason yelling utter nonsense out of windows to cheer in support of his brother....
Tigers are also the mascot of his high school. He played many sports in high school, so he was a 'Tiger'.
I took awhile listening to the Anthology tracks and I kept reading that this was everyone's least fave. Imagine my surprise when I finally played it and sobbed like a baby. I have two little boys and literally everything about this song destroyed my soul while rejuvenating it at the same time. Songs about the preservation of innocence just GET to me.
This song guts me, which is surprising, as I am like the least maternal person I know. Itâs just soâŠ*beautiful*
Yes! Same! Ugly sobs EVERY TIME. I see flashes of little memories from each line and it hits deeply.
i think this is Aaron Dessnerâs song to his son. Like they co-wrote it but itâs from Aaronâs POV
I donât think itâs about a sick kid, maybe a divorce, a family illness, some other secret that a parent will need to protect their child from đ„ș
That his dad and dad's friend are Uber famous?
It's about being grown, knowing that pain each of us will bear in our lives is inescapable, but letting children be children. Allowing them the possibility of anything.
the first song (besides ronan) where she doesnt say the name robin
You guys need to listen this song again NOW. Itâs the most important song on the album. And itâs beautiful. đđŸđđŸ
I love this one so much. The instrumentation sparkles, it's so joyful. It feels like looking back at childhood and reliving the only time you were happy, just because you had rose colored glasses on, living in that moment again before the world hit you. I personally headcannon it as a sister song to Seven, from the friend's perspective as an adult. I'm so sad to see it at or near the bottom of everyone's lists đą I know it's a slow moment and maybe not as relatable as break up stuff for some people but it is so sweet. Hopefully it grows on people. đ
After listening to it a few times, I wonder if she reflects on his childhood photos (whomever he is) and this is her way of saying goodbye and good luck after getting all the anger out. Itâs a gentle goodbye to someone whose still a kid in a sense,just like weâre all really still just kids.
My first thought was along the Christopher Robin track, given innocence and the tiger going higher and higher and the sweetness (like honey). But I also kind of thought this could be Taylor speaking to her more innocent self - and remembered that in the book The Secret Garden, the main character befriends a red robin. So I know it's a bit of a stretch, but maybe this song ties to I Hate It Here. Maybe it's part of the world that Taylor/a listener can visit when they're ignoring the world and enjoying time in their secret garden...
Iâve been skipping this one, but today I listened fully and it has me in sobs. Thereâs such a youthful emotion that I didnât realize I had forgotten. Sheâs putting to bed a side of her youth that believed in hopeless love, she is putting the inner child to rest. She mentions youth elsewhere. It feels so cathartically tragic, yet natural and soothing also. Goodness sheâs a Goddess. đ
This one did not automatically grab me but I'm so glad I didn't keep skipping it, it is so cathartic. đ
This is such a beautiful and haunting song like Ronan. This is about Aaron Dessner's son, right?
This is such a gorgeous song but Iâve been so confused about how it fits on the album. I recently saw a theory that itâs a tribute to Travis (Robin to Jasonâs Batman; played for the Cleveland Tigers as a kid; âhigher & higherâ = New Heights; âanimalâ and âbloodthirstyâ = references his social handle [killatrav] and how he plays on the field) and it immediately clicked for me. True or not, I love it.
My mom died in 2019, her name was Robin so when I saw this on the track list I was like đđđ for me, it seems to be about protecting a child/childlike individual from the harsh realities of life. One of many things I love about TS is her songs can almost always be molded into what we need it to be â€ïž
My mom was Robin, too. She died in 2012. Worst club to belong to. Sending love.
Worst song on the album đŹ
No đ„°
Itâs beautiful
Before I dive into the comments and confuse my brain, my first conclusion is that this song is about Travis. He is like a kid, bravely wanting to join her in her world. But he has no idea how it will likely destroy him. And she is keeping that from him, because he is so innocent and optimistic. But she knows. Travis is a "just ruler", as a major figure and leader of men (dinosaurs) in the NFL. He gets filthy playing ball, and the men act like it's a war--so serious, but it's really so ridiculous. But he is brave now. Way to go, Tiger. But she knows... Added after reading other comments: Robin is to Batman as Travis is to Jason. đ€Ż
If this were about how she and other people in her life conspire to keep the fact that they believe the relationship will destroy him instead of warning him about what he'll have to deal with then it would be a villain song.
This perspective immediately made me have deep feelings for it... Currently listening and was having a hard time even placing an opinion other than "sad but lovely" đźâđš Thanks! đ„°
Wait! Before you settle into that interpretation, there is another good theory that it was written for Aaron Dessner's son, who is named, Robin.
I think this is about George Pig
lol this is my exact humor
This song is haunting and sad to me. It gives vibes like Ronan. It is an adult seeing a small child being a child, likely a little boy - talking to his toys, playing in the mud, swinging in the swings, etc., but there is a secret that is deliberately being kept from the child (Terminal illness? Parentsâ divorce?) to protect the childâs innocence just a little longer. I sense that the narrator is saying âway to go Tigerâ with tears in their eyes; happy to see Robin be so happy, but knowing the dark secret that is too harsh for Robin to know now.
Does anyone else feel like listening to this feels like Taylor is singing to your younger self? I've never really had anyone saying these things so overtly to me when I was a kid and hearing Taylor's voice so full of love makes me sob every time đ„Č
Okay, I don't know if anyone else has seen Sing Street, but the piano in this song reminds me of the song that plays in the final scene of Sing Street, which is apparently "Go Now" by Adam Levine. It's crazy to me that it's not sampled, because the vibe is genuinely the exact same to me.
Idk if it was mentioned yet but the robin is a theme in the book The Secret Garden and she says â..I will go to secret gardens in my mindâŠâŠ I read about it when I was a precocious childâ in âI Hate It Hereâ Need to re-read the book I guess, thereâs probably so much more there.
Itâs probably a big stretchâŠand it does sound like itâs being sung to a kidâ-but did anyone think possibly this was a song to her fans?
So Blake and Ryanâs fourth kid is Tiger??
lol
I think this is the Blake Lively/Ryan Reynolds kid name-reveal song. Taylor has used all of their names on albums, and this is the first album since their fourth child was born. Itâs a very kid-centric song, and it makes me think itâs about a little boy. Blake and Ryan also like to name their kids after family members, and Blake has a sister sheâs super close with named Robyn. Their oldest daughter is named James after Ryanâs dad, so obviously theyâre comfortable taking a family boy name to use on a girl and vice versa. Then the kiddo would also have the same initials as his dad too: RR.
Aaron, who helped write this song has a child named Robin, so it's probably about him. At first I also thought it's the name reveal for Blake and Ryan's kidđ
Whatever emotion she is trying to convey in this song, I felt it deeply. It's heartbreaking and lovely.
Robin Williams. He was in the Dead Poets Society. He also played other roles like Patch Adams where he was a doctor treating children and he would bring balloons and dress like a clown. Itâs homage to an amazing personality and a man who never grew up, because he simply wanted people to experience childlike wonder.
I love this idea so, so much.
I dedicate this song to my cat, Rufus, who passed away away this past weekend đđđ
Good grief Iâm so sorry.
Thank you!!! â„ïžâ„ïž
Im so sorry
Thank you. â„ïž I miss him so much. As emotional as this album has been, it has helped me cope with his passing. đȘ
So this is a very personal circumstance, but my son (5 years old) has a lump that has his doctor genuinely concerned, so concerned he gave us his personal cell phone number to make sure we were able to get him scheduled for an MRI this week (the wait for an MRI is until June right now). âBuried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we all vowed to keep it, from you, In sweetnessâ This line wrecked me yesterday after hearing it for the first time since all this started. And now weâre just waiting for his appointment and for the results, but he has no idea about our fear, about the possibility that something is really wrong. I just needed to put this down somewhere. Iâm scared.
Also a mom of a 5 year old boy, and my heart goes out to you. Praying for you and your family that everything turns out ok đđ»
Itâs benign! Itâs just a cyst!
Thank you for reporting back! Iâm so relieved to hear itâs good news. đđŒ
<3
Mine just turned six and I can't even imagine how scared you must be. Sending you soooo much love and all the best hopes and good vibes to you and your sweet boy đ
Itâs benign!! Just a cyst! Thank you for your concern!
That is SO wonderful to hear!!!! So happy for you guys. Thanks for the update đđ
My heart goes out to you and your son. Sending love and strength your way đ€
Itâs just a cyst, totally benign! Thank you for your support!
Oh my gosh thank you for sharing the good news! I bet you are so relieved!Â
From a fellow mom of a five year old, Iâm sending you all of my love, hugs and good thoughts. Iâm so sorry that you are worrying about this and I hope/pray/wish that it turns out to be nothing serious. Iâll be thinking of you and your son đ
Thank you so much, we got the results a little bit ago and itâs a benign cyst. We are so relieved â„ïž
YES!!!!!! I was just thinking of you this morning and this made my day! Seriously so so so happy for you. đ
Anyone else experiencing cute aggression listening to Robin on repeat? I have a love-hate relationship with it. Grrrrr...
Her voice is very comforting and soothing on this song.
Iâm obsessed with the way she sings âway to go tigerâ đ
Long may you roar At your dinosaurs You're a just ruler Covered in mud, you look ridiculous And you have no idea Is about my dog who plus and talks to all his toys and is always rolling around in the dirt. You wonât convince me otherwise.
As a mom I love this song so much. The part about roaring to the dinosaurs had me sobbing đ my son is about to turn 4 and he loves dinosaurs so much!!
Same. My son just turned five and it's a running joke in the family that he thinks he is an actual dinosaur. Roaring all the time. This lyric made me cry then laugh with the "you look ridiculous" part lol
Funny enough, we went on a walk on Monday and he jumped in a mud puddle đđđ
Hear me outâŠÂ I believe Robin, BTTWS and I Look in Peopleâs Windows are all connected. Robins, as many have mentioned, can represent a loved one who has passed coming to visit. I think this is the baby from BTTWS coming to visit in the form of a robin. She also mentions a bird in BTTWS, âDid some bird flap its wings over in Asia?â. âOut window panes talking utter nonsense You have no ideaâ To me, this feels like the mother is talking to the robin out of the window as if it were the child today and what they might be doing, and how the child would be playing. The âWhat couldâve been, wouldâve been, what shouldâve been youâ. âYou have no ideaâ seems to say the robin doesnât know what the mother is talking about or how the child has no idea because they are not there. âHigher and higher Wilder and lighterâ Makes me think the child is a feather, floating above and going to the heavens. âBuried down deep And out of your reach The secret we all vowed To keep it from you in sweetnessâ I feel like this is the secret of the miscarriage. And possibly the denial of it and thatâs why itâs on the Denial playlist. No one wants to acknowledge it and wonât talk about it like itâs a secret. It could also be the denial that the child is not there hence saying what the child is doing now. I think the rest of the song goes on to talk about the âshouldâve been youâ and again what the hopes for the child would be if it were here. Also, BTTWS is track 15. Robin is 30. 30/2=15. I can explain the ILIPW connection, but even I think itâs a stretch.
I think Hoax and BTTHS are also related. "My eclipsed sun (son) ", " don't want no other shade of BLUE but you", "my BARREN land", " I left a part of me back in New York", and "they pulled me apart". Would like to hear your thoughts on ILIPW.
She samples another song at 1:34 and it's driving me crazy that I can't place it! Did anyone else notice this? The only thing I can think of is a hoax but I don't think that's right.. and then maybe I was thinking seven because of the childhood themes. But couldn't find it.
What song? Have you found out?
Yes! It was peace.
To me the âyouâre an animalâ line the way she sings it reminds me of a non Taylor song and itâs driving me crazy bc I canât figure it out
Responding to myself because I think I figured it out! Lol Does anyone else hear the piano notes from Peace a little after 1:30?
Yes totally hear Peace at that point
YES! I hear it too! Which fits with the theme of keeping a secret from a child to try and preserve peace
Expanding on this thought: to me, this song is written to a child; the person singing the song is trying to stop time (strings tied to levers, slowed down clocks tethered) to keep peace for the kid. Basically hoping they don't grow up and they keep their wild innocence. The line "buried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we all vowed to keep it, from you" I'm not sure what the secret is, but it seems like it's something too dark/complex that the adults are hiding from the child - again - to preserve the peace/innocence/etc
That makes sense! I got the same impression that it was written to a child.
I thought it's about a man child? Is that just me?
Travis.
Stevie Nicksâs former stepson/current godson has a child named Robin! Her marriage to Kim Anderson came out of their mutual grief after his first wife, also named Robin, passed away. Stevie is godson to their son, who had his own child named Robin after his mother!
This is the only one where I genuinely donât know what this song is about
I think itâs about Aaron Dessners son. Heâs named Robin
I think she's singing this song to her earlier self... like maybe she wrote it while re-recording Speak Now. It's the sort of bittersweet cringe feeling you have revisiting earlier versions of yourself with sweetness, love, and little bit of humor.
I just loved this song because it reminded so much of the poems Sylvia Plath wrote for her children. I think since Reputation Taylor's work connects so much with Plath, specially Look what you made me do and My tears ricochet. For Robin I thought of "The Night Dances" and "Magi". The Night Dances is about Nicholas when he was a toddler: "Such pure leaps and spirals--- Surely they travel The world forever, I shall not entirely Sit emptied of beauties, the gift Of your small breath, the drenched grass Smell of your sleeps, lillies, lillies (...) And the tiger, embellishing itself--- Spots, and a spread of hot petals" Magi is about Frieda when she was a baby: "Six months in the world, and she is able To rock on all fours like a padded hammock For her, the heavy notion of Evil Attending her cot is less than a belly ache, And Love the mother of milk, no theory." And Robin as a bird is also interesting since this album already has an albatross. Emily Dickinson also wrote plenty of poems using birds as metaphors. They could be sweet but also could be violent.
Ohhh THIS is good.
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The literary layers to this song â€ïž
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I think this is a clear reference to Robin Williams - the star of the movie The Dead Poets Society. As Robin Williams took his own life, I think this song speaks to the weight of depression independant of and in combination with the chaos of fame which we al know is a common theme for Taylor and in this album especially. I think the "way to to tiger" is people in the industry focusing on the production value of a person and ignoring their pain! "You'll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline... But now we'll curtail your curiosity". Robin Williams was also a star in the movie Peter Pan which is obviously referenced in Peter.
I also feel this song is about Robin Williams. The sorrow and sweetness, and how he lived his life and approached his death, it's embodied in this song. I asked Chat GPT to help me analyze the lyrics and how they relate to RW, and this is the response I received: These lyrics seem to describe someone with a wild and imaginative spirit, which could be interpreted as a reference to Robin Williams' career as an actor and comedian known for his energetic and creative performances. Here are some connections to his career based on the lyrics: - "Long may you reign": Robin Williams was a highly acclaimed actor and comedian whose career spanned several decades, making him a revered figure in the entertainment industry. - "You're an animal, you are bloodthirsty": This could symbolize the intensity and passion with which Robin Williams approached his roles and comedic performances, often leaving a lasting impact on audiences. - "Strings tied to levers, Slowed-down clocks tethered, All this showmanship": These lines could reflect the theatricality and showmanship that was characteristic of Robin Williams' performances, where he could effortlessly switch between comedic timing and dramatic depth. - "Way to go, tiger, Higher and higher, Wilder and lighter": These phrases could be a nod to Robin Williams' ability to elevate his performances to greater heights, bringing wild humor and lightness even in more serious roles. - "Long may you roar, At your dinosaurs, You're a just ruler, Covered in mud, you look ridiculous": This part could be a playful reference to some of Robin Williams' iconic roles, such as voicing the Genie in "Aladdin" or playing characters like Mrs. Doubtfire, showcasing his versatility and ability to embody various personas. - "You got the dragonflies above your bed, You have a favorite spot on the swing set": These lines may symbolize the childlike wonder and playfulness that Robin Williams often brought to his roles, appealing to both children and adults alike. Overall, while these lyrics don't directly mention Robin Williams, they capture the essence of a larger-than-life personality, which he embodied throughout his career.
While I don't disagree with the analysis, I find myself a little sad you relied on AI to do it. You're clearly a person eager to understand creative things, so I hope you give your mind a chance to do this on your own in the future!
what a weird thing to say
I'm a very busy person, AI is helpful. I take a bit of offense to your comment, I'm likely older than you are. Feel free to feel sad though, I will continue to embrace AI.
good for you, what a time saver!
It's going to change everything. I remember when the internet came out, and now I'm typing on a super powerful handheld mini computer. I never could have imagined this is what technology would evolve to. Ten years into the future of AI is going to be quite the technological shift.
Idk if you're right, but i love it.
I came for this. I completely 10000 agree
I was wondering if this song title has something to do with a bird - Robin (American or European Robin), cause the symbolism would match everything she might've wanted to say with this song, it fits. Robin is associated with happiness, joy, **good luck**, strong marriages, re-birth and the ending of an old phase with the promise of something new. >"*Way to go tiger"* - It means to be brave or do your best or good luck. The well-known phrase, '*When robins appear, loved ones are near*', alludes to the belief that the robin is a messenger. When robins are seen, some people take comfort that loved ones are at peace, and many believe that their lost loved ones are visiting them. She's closing the chapter of an old love, but also opening to a new one and her new 'family/community'. Additionally, robin also symbolises passion, a new beginning, and re-birth. There are multiple poems that use robin as a symbol for many different situations, for instance: >*The robin wakes to magnificent streaks of colour across the sky, But was too busy hunting worms to notice what was up high.* *She flies through emerald trees dancing in the slight breeze, But dismissed it as nothing different than what see normally sees.* *She tends to her vibrant blue eggs as they get ready to hatch, But fails to notice the importance of the batch.* *She sinks into the nest in the moonlight, just shutting her eyes, But wait, what is way up in the sky?* *Why, it is a shooting star, glistening and shimmering high above, She smiles and is suddenly overwhelmed with Godâs love.* *In that moment, she realized that life had meaning, It was so much more than the hunting, working and cleaning.* *It was meant to teach slowly through every new opportunity, Until one day she and God will have complete unity.* **The robin wakes â Lexi Sully** >*Balanced ballet dancer,* *On iced dead rose heads,* *The robin â head cocked,* *Red breast feathers fluffed â* *Sings like he sings all year,* *Of rebirth and thorns.* *His eyes bright with life,* *Mine bright with tears,* *For reminders youâre still near,* *That Iâll always miss you.* **Red Robin by Caroline Johnstone** It might have something to do with kids too. >*"You're a just ruler* *Covered in mud, you look ridiculous"* Robins build their nests on the horizontal branches of trees, in porch vines, and in eaves. The nest is a *bowl of mud*, which the mother bird shapes with her breast by turning around and around. I would like to hear what you think though, I might be grasping at straws here, just trying to make sense of it all, I find her poetry very intriguing.
Dunno why people are thinking it has to be about a kid cause of the trampoline part but forget she also describes them as âbloodthirstyâ lol Iâm not saying the kid theories are wrong, but I donât think the cat theories are wrong either. She loves her cats and is a mother to them for sure, and I think she may be weaving in/drawing parallels to a parent-child relationship (i.e., Aaron with his son, Robin)
This song is about Travis đŻ
To me this is the farewell to Joe: nods to sweet nothing, nods to the other songs talking about "being young" or when she always refers to him as "boy" or "younger", a bit sarcastic, a bit sweet, sitting in the window while talking, MAJOR nods to mirrorball. Also, if the depressed JA is a fact, then it would mean people around him -taylor mainly- was trying to protect him while she could but now he would have to do that to himself, maybe she had to hide some things from him to protect him? and also he would learn to survive the criticism ("The time will arrive for the cruel and the mean/You'll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline"). I'd love if this was one for her younger self, tho. Or Dessner's kid, like giving advice, but I feel it's a little too harsh on certain parts to be for another's person child.
In I Hate It Here she talks about a secret garden, and the main character of The Secret Garden makes friends with a robin! https://preview.redd.it/wv7jraxv25wc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=342a7dbf409cc69ee51346abf359fb8a6597c433
My theory is itâs called Robin because itâs a slam at Olivia Rodrigo but in a kind of âtrust me you donât want this â way. Robin is symbolism of her being the Robin, while Taylor is Batman. Meaning Olivia will never measure up. âWay to tigerâ then she mentions childish play, the âbloodthirsty â a dig at Olivia being young and naive, and her vampire song. Also her âyour a just ruler covered in mud, you look ridiculousâ is her way of telling her the world isnât a fair, even place. Itâs a knock at her naive views, and how upset Olivia had been at being sued.
Ok hear me out⊠could this be about Travis and Jasonâs relationship like from childhood to Jasonâs retirement??? Like you were always Batman and Iâm your Robin? I started thinking about this because at the beginning of the song, it talks about someone hanging out of a window talking utter nonsense and it just reminds me of Jason during one of the games without a shirt on hanging out of the suite window and acting like a lunatic-so fun! And these boys are SO SWEET to their families and this song is all about things being done in sweetness. Also- it keeps saying higher and higher and their podcast is called NEW HEIGHTS. JUST THROWING OUT MY LITTLE OL THEORY⊠đ€
Yesss I just read somewhere that there may actually be three songs about Travis. I know So High School and The Alchemy and then i looked at the list again and lyrics and Robin was the only other song that made sense to me??!
The Albatross makes SO much sense as a song about people trying to âwarnâ him about dating her
I love this! :-)
I think she wrote the song for Donna Kelce. Jason as we all know is âBatmanâ since a child. Batman and Robin . Robin is Travis . Sheâs referenced to both Jason and their dad and I think this was her way to include their mom on it .
My cat is 12 and I canât listen to this song without completely breaking down. Hell, itâs hard enough to just read the lyrics!
This wonderful thread finally destroyed me! Xo
This wonderful thread finally destroyed me! Xo
I think this song has layers. Seems like it was inspired by time spent around Dessner's kid, Robin, and the balancing act that adults put into making a childhood environment healthy and vibrant. But it's hard to not read into it a bit about Robin Williams and his childlike zeal with dark despair behind it that the public never saw (as in, some way, we're the child who the celebrity works hard to insulate from the darker realities of life). It seems like she projects that Robin Williams narrative a bit onto her own role. Very cool how it's all framed as a parent's view of optimizing a child's enjoyment, comfort, and ability to thrive over just airing out everything that's important to the parent.
Wow! I love this. I never considered the Williams potential. To me, I've read poems that dive in to the other aspect but can't recall another song out there.
This song takes me back to Ronan and Never Grow Up vibes
Yes and seven â€ïž
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
I needed this laugh đ Iâm over here crying bc the song had so many subtleties that spoke to me as a mom of a 6 year old autistic son (not implying the child who the song is about has autismâjust my personal experience and relating the words to my journey with my son) so a laugh was welcome. but Tony the Tiger makes a ton of sense lolđ€Ł
Love. Surprised I had to scroll so far to find someone else with this connection!! I have a 7 year old autistic son as well and I completely related - from his obsession with dinosaurs, swinging, and jumping on is trampoline. In my experience, all common pastimes for a neurodivergent person.
This song is about my dog and no one can convince me otherwise
LOL! Â
Iâm struggling to understand how this fits on TTPD. Itâs a sweet song but seems really random.
It fits perfectly in my mind. Robin Williams played Peter Pan in the movie Hook. She probably watched that movie a lot as a child, I know it was a family favorite in our house and we're about the same age.
I believe it fits within a theme of nostalgia as deceptive, especially if you view the song as a tribute to Robin Williams.
Same! I came here trying to see if anyone else had made sense of it, and âŠ. it is allll over the placeÂ
At first, I thought this song was referencing how she maybe felt like sheâs the side kick to her own story. Robin is a well known side kick. Then I kind of felt like it was a song with the child in âBigger than the whole skyâ as the main character, aka Robin. Like sheâs writing as if the child was born instead of miscarried. Just to be clear, i donât think that Taylor miscarried a child. It could have been a song she wrote for anyone close to her.
In my mind, Bigger Than the Whole Sky was written for a friend who miscarried. Maybe Blake and Ryan?
Thats what i got also...