The song is basically a criticism on the complexities that a public relationship has, when it's ended. It's somewhat of a commentary of societies obsession with other peoples misfortune and personal failures, specifically breakups, instead of investing time into empathizing into the emotional aftermath of a breakup. In a sense everyone can relate to it, but I think she as a hugely successful celebrity can experience this on a much more wide scale than most humans can, because she constantly has millions of eyes on her.
This song is gut wrenching. At first she is saying people are nosey. Saying they want to know. By the end she is still trying to figure out how it ended.
The song starts with: "We hereby conduct this post-mortem", basically creating the image of a relationship autopsy. The worlds fasination with people dissecting celebrities, or even other regular peoples, relationships when it's ended. It's a criticism on the human nature of gossiping on behalf of the downfall or misfortune of others. In the song she navigates through reasons why, the relationship might have ended, such as: "he was a hothouse flower to my outdoors-man" or "we learned the right steps to different dances", insinuating the fact that they were on very different wave lengths than each other, and perhaps didn't fit with each other. In the chorus she reflects on a societal obsession with the details of a very sensitive a personal issue, such as breakups. "The empathetic hunger descends", where people are more eager to gossip about sensitive topics, rather than focus on the emotional well-being of the person going through such a sensitive and personal experience. The picture she creates, of the woman walking "like she was lost", in a store, and instead of asking if she's okay, the people in question start gossiping about the relationship, underlines the theme of public scrutiny and gossiping on someones misfortune. In the bridge, she describes the emotional voyage of going through a breakup, through powerful imagery and metaphors. She is describing it as a death rattle, which is the last sound someone makes, as they are about to die, and for anyone who has experienced it, it's the worst kind of pain and sound to exist. Continuing with "silenced as the soul was leaving", after the death rattle, the soul leaves the body, because the body is dead. "The deflation of our dreaming", which is Taylor realizing that there was no more hope, and the dream of this person, being the 1, is deflating and is non-existent anymore. And than she uses a nursery rhyme and spins it. The nursery rhyme: sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g, is a song that also uses in a gossiping format, to create a "kissing" rumor, when we were kids. But now instead of two people, it's her and her ghost, (because she died, and her soul left the body), and know she is d-y-i-n-g. It was comparing the ending of a relationship as the feeling of dying inside due to the loss of a loved one.
Perfect. I would also like to add the inclusion of “we’ll tell no one except all of our friends” is also a commentary of people’s love of gossip. “Hey, what happened? How did it end? I won’t tell anyone” but then to turn around and tell everyone.
To me, this song's music, lyrics, and vocals fit together perfectly. Taylor Swift is still at the peak of her game. She keeps taking it to new heights. 😊
this was my favorite ttpd song, and i wanted it so bad, for one of my surprise songs, and luckily i got it as one of my surprise songs on N3 of the stockholm leg of the eras tour
It’s a commentary on how the public always wants to know the details that aren’t their business. There is a certain group of fans that feel like they “know” their favorite celebrity & in some way feel that they are almost entitled to the details…. Did he cheat on her?… did they just drift apart?… They might not use the exact words, “How did it end?” but certainly something along the lines of “what happened?” People forget that they are a fan, not a friend. We don’t actually know celebrities & they deserve privacy just like anyone else.
The best part, the bridge!... "Say it once again with feeling How the death rattle breathing Left me bereft an realing The deflation of our dreaming My beloved ghost and me Sitting in a tree D-Y-I-N-G " Google "death rattle breathing"! "Silenced as the soul was leaving"!! "The deflation of our deeaminh"!! "My beloved ghost and me" "D-Y-I-N-G " It's all a reference to the relationship, artistically put to convey emotion, including how she sings it(with emotion) One of her greatest bridges!
What I get from this song is that Taylor Swift knows how her relationship ended, but people who simply hear that it ended see her seemingly lost and then want to know the details, rather than being supportive.
There's such a layer of hurt and longing in "soon they'll run home to their husbands, smug cause they know they can trust him". I can picture those Stepford Wife types just shaking their heads, gossiping how embarrassing it must be.
It's about people gossiping. People are just not always happy for others. And when a relationship breaks, the gossip mongers want to know "Why? It was so perfect? How did it end? What he do? What she do? Blah, blah, blah."
Johnny I really enjoy your reactions with Jeremiah but whatever is going on between you both, you really took a couple of low blows at Jeremiah in these last 2 TS songs! Honestly things we didn't need to know about. They seemed very private to Jeremiah and honestly I felt hurt for him and embarrassed! And so I won't repeat them. But I truly feel badly that u would take those low blows to him! And I as an older Swifty don't always know what words mean because Taylor is so knowledgeable with words and writing. Again I've always enjoyed ur reactions but u can tell there's def some issues amongst u both and wether u address it of not it's not truly our business but please try to be kinder esp during reactions. These last 2 were very harsh and that made them A LOT LESS ENJOYABLE. I'm truly sorry Jeremiah 😞🙏😢❤ and lastly Johnny u should really think about how the insults u said may affect listeners who may have the same issues as Jeremiah and how ur words may not only impact him but listeners too. Just my thoughts and opinions ✌️ 🎶🎵
The song is basically a criticism on the complexities that a public relationship has, when it's ended. It's somewhat of a commentary of societies obsession with other peoples misfortune and personal failures, specifically breakups, instead of investing time into empathizing into the emotional aftermath of a breakup. In a sense everyone can relate to it, but I think she as a hugely successful celebrity can experience this on a much more wide scale than most humans can, because she constantly has millions of eyes on her.
Perfectly said. It’s this right here!!
This song is gut wrenching. At first she is saying people are nosey. Saying they want to know. By the end she is still trying to figure out how it ended.
The song starts with: "We hereby conduct this post-mortem", basically creating the image of a relationship autopsy. The worlds fasination with people dissecting celebrities, or even other regular peoples, relationships when it's ended. It's a criticism on the human nature of gossiping on behalf of the downfall or misfortune of others.
In the song she navigates through reasons why, the relationship might have ended, such as: "he was a hothouse flower to my outdoors-man" or "we learned the right steps to different dances", insinuating the fact that they were on very different wave lengths than each other, and perhaps didn't fit with each other.
In the chorus she reflects on a societal obsession with the details of a very sensitive a personal issue, such as breakups. "The empathetic hunger descends", where people are more eager to gossip about sensitive topics, rather than focus on the emotional well-being of the person going through such a sensitive and personal experience.
The picture she creates, of the woman walking "like she was lost", in a store, and instead of asking if she's okay, the people in question start gossiping about the relationship, underlines the theme of public scrutiny and gossiping on someones misfortune.
In the bridge, she describes the emotional voyage of going through a breakup, through powerful imagery and metaphors. She is describing it as a death rattle, which is the last sound someone makes, as they are about to die, and for anyone who has experienced it, it's the worst kind of pain and sound to exist. Continuing with "silenced as the soul was leaving", after the death rattle, the soul leaves the body, because the body is dead. "The deflation of our dreaming", which is Taylor realizing that there was no more hope, and the dream of this person, being the 1, is deflating and is non-existent anymore. And than she uses a nursery rhyme and spins it. The nursery rhyme: sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g, is a song that also uses in a gossiping format, to create a "kissing" rumor, when we were kids. But now instead of two people, it's her and her ghost, (because she died, and her soul left the body), and know she is d-y-i-n-g. It was comparing the ending of a relationship as the feeling of dying inside due to the loss of a loved one.
Perfect. I would also like to add the inclusion of “we’ll tell no one except all of our friends” is also a commentary of people’s love of gossip. “Hey, what happened? How did it end? I won’t tell anyone” but then to turn around and tell everyone.
Yup and come one come all to the circus that is my life and heartbreak 💔 she’s a magical genius
To me, this song's music, lyrics, and vocals fit together perfectly. Taylor Swift is still at the peak of her game. She keeps taking it to new heights. 😊
this was my favorite ttpd song, and i wanted it so bad, for one of my surprise songs, and luckily i got it as one of my surprise songs on N3 of the stockholm leg of the eras tour
It’s a commentary on how the public always wants to know the details that aren’t their business. There is a certain group of fans that feel like they “know” their favorite celebrity & in some way feel that they are almost entitled to the details…. Did he cheat on her?… did they just drift apart?… They might not use the exact words, “How did it end?” but certainly something along the lines of “what happened?” People forget that they are a fan, not a friend. We don’t actually know celebrities & they deserve privacy just like anyone else.
One my favourite TTPD songs, so sad but beautiful at the same time ❤😢
Queen of bridges🤯
The best part, the bridge!...
"Say it once again with feeling
How the death rattle breathing
Left me bereft an realing
The deflation of our dreaming
My beloved ghost and me
Sitting in a tree
D-Y-I-N-G "
Google "death rattle breathing"!
"Silenced as the soul was leaving"!!
"The deflation of our deeaminh"!!
"My beloved ghost and me"
"D-Y-I-N-G "
It's all a reference to the relationship, artistically put to convey emotion, including how she sings it(with emotion)
One of her greatest bridges!
It’s so incredibly sad yet so relatable. It makes me think of me and my ex.
The bridge is the saddest she's ever written. Poignant, gut-wrenching and pathetic, and I say that with the utmost respect. I love it
One of my favorite TS songs
The best TTPD song
What I get from this song is that Taylor Swift knows how her relationship ended, but people who simply hear that it ended see her seemingly lost and then want to know the details, rather than being supportive.
The live of this is hauntingly raw and amazing!!!
There's such a layer of hurt and longing in "soon they'll run home to their husbands, smug cause they know they can trust him". I can picture those Stepford Wife types just shaking their heads, gossiping how embarrassing it must be.
5:08 she's rapper fr 😭
FAV song on the entire album other than The Prophecy🥰🫶🏻
This song is not my favourite on The Anthology, but I think it might be one of the most well written. This is Taylor in full poet mode
It's about people gossiping. People are just not always happy for others. And when a relationship breaks, the gossip mongers want to know "Why? It was so perfect? How did it end? What he do? What she do? Blah, blah, blah."
Johnny I really enjoy your reactions with Jeremiah but whatever is going on between you both, you really took a couple of low blows at Jeremiah in these last 2 TS songs! Honestly things we didn't need to know about. They seemed very private to Jeremiah and honestly I felt hurt for him and embarrassed! And so I won't repeat them. But I truly feel badly that u would take those low blows to him! And I as an older Swifty don't always know what words mean because Taylor is so knowledgeable with words and writing. Again I've always enjoyed ur reactions but u can tell there's def some issues amongst u both and wether u address it of not it's not truly our business but please try to be kinder esp during reactions. These last 2 were very harsh and that made them A LOT LESS ENJOYABLE. I'm truly sorry Jeremiah 😞🙏😢❤ and lastly Johnny u should really think about how the insults u said may affect listeners who may have the same issues as Jeremiah and how ur words may not only impact him but listeners too. Just my thoughts and opinions ✌️ 🎶🎵
So beautiful. I can only think of Joe Alwin. But she's so much better off now! 🫶