There’s been so much hype geared toward Taylor Swift’s lead single for her sixth studio album Reputation. “Look What You Made Me Do” is different but maybe that’s the point.
You see, the old Taylor isn’t dead. She’s still here and her fans know this. There’s a point she’s simply trying to make with the track and if you just listen to it once, you won’t understand why. But if you listen closely, you will know that the track is quite brilliant.
All in all, “Look What You Made Me” isn’t about just one person (since we all know the media is begging to pin it on someone just to trash talk Taylor), it’s about those who have wronged her and those who she thought had her back but decided it wasn’t cool to like her, so they left. But for the sake of you wanting to know, we will analyze the lyrics to make the point that the message is empowering and impactful. We will also point out that this isn’t a ‘victim’ song. This is a ‘I’m stronger and I’m going to tell my side of the story” kind of song. It’s brilliant.
Verse 1:
I don’t like your little games
Don’t like your tilted stage
The role you made me play
Of the fool, no, I don’t like you
I don’t like your perfect crime
How you laugh when you lie
You said the gun was mine
Isn’t cool, no, I don’t like you (oh!)
Analysis:
Okay, so we know that this verse, in particular, could be geared at Kanye West. But there’s more depth to it than that, which is why we love Taylor. We don’t think this entire verse is referring to Kanye. We actually believe that it could be referring to the media in general, The media speaks countless lies about Swift and it’s getting to the point where we can’t take it anymore. “How you laugh when you lie” is a straight shot at the media, letting them know that she’s aware of what they do.
The media has also stated that every crisis Taylor is in is her fault. She’s the one who points the gun, but in all actuality, it’s the other way around. It’s brilliant the way she speaks vaguely but so clearly about the hurt and pain these people have caused her.
Pre-Chorus / Chorus:
But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time
Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time
I’ve got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined
I check it once, then I check it twice, oh!
Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do
Look what you just made me do
Look what you just made me
Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do
Look what you just made me do
Look what you just made me do
Analysis:
The pre-chorus and chorus go hand in hand. It’s obvious that her ‘image’ is changing this era. But we don’t really think it is. We believe she’s just playing the character the media wants her to play. The genius thing about this chorus and pre-chorus is the way it showcases all of these elements.
Taylor is a smart person and well know this. She got smarter though. She got smarter because she now knows she can’t trust everyone. She now knows that she has to be careful with those around her.
Again, this reveals that this song isn’t just about one person whose hurt someone. It’s about several, so we really can’t pin this on anyone person, even if we wanted to.
Verse 2:
I don’t like your kingdom keys
They once belonged to me
You ask me for a place to sleep
Locked me out and threw a feast (what?)
The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama
But not for me, not for me, all I think about is karma
And then the world moves on, but one thing’s for sure
Maybe I got mine, but you’ll all get yours
Analysis:
We believe that this verse is referring to a relationship and also Twitter. Remember when Twitter decided to have a #TaylorSwiftisOver party? They literally celebrated after Kim K supposedly ‘exposed’ her (mind you, she didn’t). But ultimately, we find it sad that people are what made her write this song, and they don’t seem to care.
Bridge:
I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me
I’ll be the actress, starring in your bad dreams
I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me
I’ll be the actress, starring in your bad dreams
I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me
I’ll be the actress, starring in your bad dreams
i don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me
I’ll be the actress, starring in your bad dreams
(Look what you made me do)
(Look what you made me do)
“I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now.”
“Why?”
“Oh ’cause she’s dead!”
Analysis:
Taylor isn’t playing around and we love it. She’s standing up for herself and it’s a beautiful thing to watch. Oh, and for those who really believe that she’s dead. She’s not. It’s a reference to when people ask “Where’s the old Taylor?” or again, the #TaylorSwiftisOver party. You thought she was so easy to bully but Taylor remembers that and it hurt her. But all in all, that part is the best part. Why? It’s called sarcasm.