The line "I was so ahead of the curve the curve became a sphere, fell behind all my classmates and I ended up here" makes me think of how it's kind of common for gifted kids to fall behind once they hit college because they end up getting burnt out from the pressure and because they didn't have to learn many of the skills others needed in order to get through high school, since they never had to try as hard at school before that. So they end up not being able to reach their potential as adults which hits them really hard and can lead to mental health struggles. Pretty relatable and heartbreaking feeling she's singing about here
yeah... I'm that kid grown up now. Let me tell you, university has been rough. I'm almost done with it (still another year to go) and I can't wait for it to be over. Sometimes it was hard to just breathe. I'm doing better now, but for a while there it was like drowning.
I felt as though the “you” in the bridge is the alcohol or drug. They feel like an open wound at the party, surrounded by temptation (all I want is you). The addiction is the “flashback, on the film reel, on the only screen in town” meaning taking a drink is always on their mind and it’s constant torture. Therefore every moment they don’t take a drink is a huge effort even though no-one will ever know how hard they are trying.
She's had some serious issues with depression -- to the point of almost abandoning her career in 2016. She also struggles with anexoria, and the beauty/weight issues that sort of drive that. She discusses these in her documentary, Miss Americana. But the song itself is about a fictional character with a substance abuse problem.
I think we need to listen to Renegade (with the National) next just to continue this conversation on depression. Really liked this video! Thanks Andrew
I was in a horrendous place when Folklore came out, so depressed that I had a hard time even getting out of bed and I didn't even want to listen to this album but once I gave it a chance this song made me break down crying because I felt like I wasn't alone. It's by far my favorite song on the album. Luckily I'm in a much better place right now but the second verse always makes me emotional. I really loved your own personal take on the music and the song, you brought a really big smile to my face. EDIT: And about Taylor, she definitely has battled with mental health issues. She has battled with a big eating disorder, her mother has had cancer more than once (and she's her favorite person), she had very close friends that betrayed her, she had confidence issues because she didn't go to college. This song feels incredibly personal in my opinion. PS: I agree that "The Bridge" is an amazing movie that's underrated.
When you have a group of friends and hang out and get close, your personalities or mentalities kind of merge, you absorb the history or pains that you have all gone through .... thats kinda what I think is going on here, if you see Aarons interviews on writing with Taylor, two creative souls that can understand each other so well. He has spoken about his depression experiences in interviews, so as writing collaborators and friends I can imagine they have talked about their experiences of isolation and torment. In this song in particular I feel like Taylor was able to give words and structure to these feelings that are soooo darn familiar to a lot of us.
I think you're right about the place she's coming from. folklore is framed as story-telling about other people (as is evermore) but I see a lot of her own experiences in the songs regardless. Just from knowing a bit about her and being a fan. She just hasn't clearly said "this is about me! This is about this specific incident!" in the way that some of her past music was very autobiographical, but I see it. It broadens out who the song connects with to do it this way, which is cool
Totally agree. Being a fan of hers, I see Taylor's struggles and experiences in a lot of lyrics about other storylines. It's almost like you can tell apart the Taylor-part of the lyric and the fictional-character part. And I love it. Is like she found a way to tell two stories at once
Thank you for this reaction! This is one of my favorites. If i may give my 2 cents about the meaning at 18:06 when you are talking about someone wanting to go back to high school: I actually have a different take, I think its more about missing the potential you thought you had when you were young.
I love your insight about the generational realization too, and I agree completely. You really need to hear the studio version of this song, it's even better I think.
I didn’t know if you’d care if I came back. I’d like to think it could be a personal reference to when she went away pre reputation that after she was shunned by the public, she didnt know if her fans still loved her or would care if she releases music again.
13:02 if you ever saw the show "Bojack Horseman" they touch this specific topic in the second to last episode. "the view from halfway down". and im not sure if its not based in a poem or short story with the exact same name.
This to me is a song about addiction. It’s hard to be at a party when I feel like an open wound it’s like you can’t go anywhere when trying to step away from what makes life bearable
I went to an event about suicide where the guy who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge was a spokesperson. He talked about immediately regretting it once he jumped. Now he devotes his time to helping others
As a woman, fought with depression from 11-29.multiple counselors with no one identifying I need anti depressants. Now 49, I look back on choices and decisions before I found assistance and relate to 90% of this song. It shouldn’t have been that difficult but when you’re still going through puberty everyone, including most doctors assume it’s hormones. 18 years of that assumption while I tried to find help is crazy. Ruined/lost a lot of relationships/people while I wasn’t emotionally rational. It’s a miracle I didn’t drink too much. There was a part of me that just wanted to get lost in or escape. I spent my 20’s with people thinking I was a stick in the mud because I didn’t drink but I knew it was a bad idea with being depressed. Everyone thought I had no reason to feel like that because they didn’t understand I wasn’t completely rational. I asked for help so many times. I’m just glad I didn’t give up. It was love for my family that kept me trying but not everyone actually has a family let alone a support system. I was blessed. For those of you reading this, Don’t ever give up!
I really relate to the 2nd verse so much. I love studying. Ever since I was in elementary, I've been doing advanced studies. And at that time, my teachers understood me. They adjusted to me. They catered to me. They knew I did maths differently. Because my math teachers are also always our math trainors who trained us for math olympiads. So they know that I use shortcuts a lot and would always shorten the solutions or just come up with my own solution. That wasn't the case is high school. My teachers didn't understand me. I had to comply with what was the standard. I have to write multiple steps, the longer the better. But I only knew the shortest steps. So I had to relearn that. And eventually, I wasted my potential due to that. Now during this pandemic, I got into reading books. And I got into really advanced studying. I'm already studying business management and criminal psychology on my own. I was so ahead that I fell behind on my usual classes because I was already learning something higher. So it was torture having to learn backwards.
I am loving your reactions to songs. Also your ability to not judge people is pretty cool. I sincerely hope you listen to Folklore and Evermore in their original form as well, because they sound quite different. My personal favorites of her and I have been a fan since album one.
Depression is not a new topic for her considering a song "Forever Winter" she wrote about her best friend who committed suicide for her 2012 album. She didn't release it for a (right) reason back then, but decided to released it on Red's re-recording. Forever Winter's lyric is not that special. But picturing her regret and desperation always able to make me cry every single time. Forever Winter and Epiphany are the only two songs from her that always made me cry no matter how many times I listen to it. Marjorie sometimes does (because I do miss my grandma), but not always. Oh, and I hope you listen to Renegade to. It's her project with Big Red Machine. It's about loving someone who has a mental health problem. Some people think she sings from Joe's perspective. Others think it's about Aaron.
I also think this song is a plea to people who aren't going through that, but know some people who are, to be understanding when the narrator's efforts fall short, and to appreciate the effort. So, like, people who have a loved one struggling to recover from alcohol addiction, who have been hurt by that person, and are still being hurt by them as they inevitably stumble along the way. I heard another reactor to this song mention an interview with someone who was a recovering addict, talking about how hard it is when to everyone around you, anything less than perfection (perfectly abstaining) is a failure, and how hard and painful that is. So to people who can't relate, I think this song might provoke some empathy for those in the narrator's position.
Every time you start this playing the guitar and look up at the camera as if we just walked in on you playing, it feels like I’ve been thrown back to when I was a kid. I expected you to say something like “Oh hey there guys” and act like we’re all just in some neighbourhood together, and this is just one of the things we do. It’s felt very Bob Ross-esque
First time I've listened to that song, It touched me so deeply. I used to cry every time I listened, but now it's a memory of something I struggled and I succeded. Thank you Lord Jesus for that! I thanks Taylor for writing that strong song
He never used to listen to pop -- go back to his review of the top guitar related videos on YT. It is both hilarious, and very very sad what the algorithm brings up; but it did bring Taylor to his attention -- for Teardrops on My Guitar. In the middle of a bunch of kid videos that sound like they learned English in Eastern Europe.
@@robertthompson7242 tbf I wouldn't call someone who never listened to pop a music snob. I would call them a music snob however if they demeaned people who like it or criticized it for the mere fact that it wasn't like rock/alt etc. Simply not liking pop is perfectly understandable though
@@Anna13Tonks tbf, you are responding to a quick summary description; if you want to know why HE DEFINES HIMSELF as a music snob, go back and watch his first few videos. It is sort of tongue in cheek, but also true in some ways.
Taylor didnt go to college, her family moved to Nashville when she was 15 so she could pursue music but she does have classes about her at Harvard. Yes, watch Miss Americana and see what she went through before this . Ive watched the Bridge
I get the women and men diagnosis thing. The reason men’s suicide rates are higher is because of this sort of patriarchal idea that asking for help is weak and men are supposed to be strong and not show emotions other then “masculine” ones such as anger and aggression. They’re less likely to ask for help or go out and get a diagnosis. Men are sort of encouraged to be prideful and that means taking less than you need. I think both men and women have it at the same rate though. Another factor is that because masculine ideas encourage aggression, when men do attempt suicide, they are more likely to choose violent means which are more successful so even if women were to attempt suicide as much, and less women reach that point because they are more likely to ask for help, the suicide rates would still be less because they don’t go for very violent and often more successful means such as guns. I hope that makes sense.
Condescending ????? Taylor has been open about how she struggled with mental health especially during 2014-2017. And as a fan, I have noticed that she’s often depicted drinking, she loves whine and whisky and I can’t help but connect that “drinking problem” to her ( although I’m not saying that a drink once in a while is bad, but it seems to make her feel better). She also has that personality that wants to make everyone happy which takes a toll on mental health when you slip up (the massive hate train she experienced in 2014-2017)
Taylor is never condescending. She went through a lot too with relationships, idiotic media, old record label who betrayed her. She had an eating disorder. So Don't assume she doesn't know what she talking about.
interestingly enough, the only song I have ever considered condescending was "Innocent," She basically told Kanye, if life was too tough, get in bed with Mommy. He's over a decade older than she is, and she treated him like a child. It is only a song about forgiveness if you don't consider who is saying what to whom. And, she sang it at the MTv awards . . . . quite the anniversary.
@@richardh776 Disagree with my comment by showing what I said is wrong --- not with "hater"! "Hater" ! Why do you want to sound like a seventh grader? I've been a fan for years. First, I'm mot expressing hate, just making a statement about the lyrics; and second, since I am as old as her parents, I can express an opinion about what is and isn't appropriate to say to an older person. She is a stunning and capable and SUBTLE artist. A lot of what she says has more than one meaning. And imo, she did NOT forgive him; she very very politely skewered him. Brilliantly.
@@robertthompson7242 you can think what you think and I can think what I think. Songs can mean different things to different people you know. Ever heard of subjective. Boy a long story for something you replied needlessly really.
Your comment from the WHO and the statistics aren't quite correct. Women definitely suffer higher rates of depression and mental illness. However, women also attempt suicide something like 2 or 3 times more than men do. Sadly, men's suicide attempts tend to be fatal more frequently because they typically choose more violent/effective types of suicide. And echoing what others have said, Taylor definitely struggles with her own mental health issues. She has an eating disorder, she went through a major depressive episode after the Kanye West BS and the stuff with Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun fking her over. She also basically has PTSD from being sexually molested by I think a press photographer or something like that that she won a court case against in recent years and from being groomed by John Mayer when she was 19.
The line "I was so ahead of the curve the curve became a sphere, fell behind all my classmates and I ended up here" makes me think of how it's kind of common for gifted kids to fall behind once they hit college because they end up getting burnt out from the pressure and because they didn't have to learn many of the skills others needed in order to get through high school, since they never had to try as hard at school before that. So they end up not being able to reach their potential as adults which hits them really hard and can lead to mental health struggles. Pretty relatable and heartbreaking feeling she's singing about here
yeah... I'm that kid grown up now. Let me tell you, university has been rough. I'm almost done with it (still another year to go) and I can't wait for it to be over. Sometimes it was hard to just breathe. I'm doing better now, but for a while there it was like drowning.
I felt as though the “you” in the bridge is the alcohol or drug. They feel like an open wound at the party, surrounded by temptation (all I want is you). The addiction is the “flashback, on the film reel, on the only screen in town” meaning taking a drink is always on their mind and it’s constant torture. Therefore every moment they don’t take a drink is a huge effort even though no-one will ever know how hard they are trying.
I didn't think of that... Great insight!
Oh wow. I love that interpretation! It makes so much sense. I always wondered about that line.
@@sarabothe8729 The fact that the lyrics have so many possible interpretations is what makes them amazing! I’m an English Lit nerd, so I love it!
This my favourite of the album...it kind of saved my life
Hey Fellow Indian,I hope u are doing ok. I am also a swiftie from India. ❤️
Thank you for staying :)
#alwayskeepfighting swifties always got each other. Sending you love!! 💓
She's had some serious issues with depression -- to the point of almost abandoning her career in 2016. She also struggles with anexoria, and the beauty/weight issues that sort of drive that. She discusses these in her documentary, Miss Americana. But the song itself is about a fictional character with a substance abuse problem.
This one speaks to me on a spiritual level. One of the best things she's ever written for sure. Loved your reaction and sensitivity, as always!!
I think we need to listen to Renegade (with the National) next just to continue this conversation on depression.
Really liked this video! Thanks Andrew
I fucking love Renegade!
Big Red Machine is a side project with only Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner!
I was in a horrendous place when Folklore came out, so depressed that I had a hard time even getting out of bed and I didn't even want to listen to this album but once I gave it a chance this song made me break down crying because I felt like I wasn't alone. It's by far my favorite song on the album.
Luckily I'm in a much better place right now but the second verse always makes me emotional. I really loved your own personal take on the music and the song, you brought a really big smile to my face.
EDIT: And about Taylor, she definitely has battled with mental health issues. She has battled with a big eating disorder, her mother has had cancer more than once (and she's her favorite person), she had very close friends that betrayed her, she had confidence issues because she didn't go to college. This song feels incredibly personal in my opinion.
PS: I agree that "The Bridge" is an amazing movie that's underrated.
C-PTSD in recovery here. Thank you for talking so openly about mental illness Andy. Love this video, as always :)
When you have a group of friends and hang out and get close, your personalities or mentalities kind of merge, you absorb the history or pains that you have all gone through .... thats kinda what I think is going on here, if you see Aarons interviews on writing with Taylor, two creative souls that can understand each other so well. He has spoken about his depression experiences in interviews, so as writing collaborators and friends I can imagine they have talked about their experiences of isolation and torment.
In this song in particular I feel like Taylor was able to give words and structure to these feelings that are soooo darn familiar to a lot of us.
Another reason he's got a good grasp on folks going through it --- his father was a rabbi when he grew up in New Jersey.
I think you're right about the place she's coming from. folklore is framed as story-telling about other people (as is evermore) but I see a lot of her own experiences in the songs regardless. Just from knowing a bit about her and being a fan. She just hasn't clearly said "this is about me! This is about this specific incident!" in the way that some of her past music was very autobiographical, but I see it. It broadens out who the song connects with to do it this way, which is cool
Totally agree. Being a fan of hers, I see Taylor's struggles and experiences in a lot of lyrics about other storylines. It's almost like you can tell apart the Taylor-part of the lyric and the fictional-character part. And I love it. Is like she found a way to tell two stories at once
the album version of this is really pretty
Thank you for this reaction!
This is one of my favorites.
If i may give my 2 cents about the meaning at 18:06 when you are talking about someone wanting to go back to high school: I actually have a different take, I think its more about missing the potential you thought you had when you were young.
I love your insight about the generational realization too, and I agree completely.
You really need to hear the studio version of this song, it's even better I think.
I didn’t know if you’d care if I came back.
I’d like to think it could be a personal reference to when she went away pre reputation that after she was shunned by the public, she didnt know if her fans still loved her or would care if she releases music again.
13:02 if you ever saw the show "Bojack Horseman" they touch this specific topic in the second to last episode. "the view from halfway down". and im not sure if its not based in a poem or short story with the exact same name.
This is the best song off the album! 🖤 The studio version it’s amazing
Me Talking / Jack and Taylor talking: lmao love it
I always love your musical intros, you're so good at what you do!
i deeply enjoy ur commentary
Great analysis as usual. Sir, you are a philosopher as well as a musician.
This to me is a song about addiction. It’s hard to be at a party when I feel like an open wound it’s like you can’t go anywhere when trying to step away from what makes life bearable
I went to an event about suicide where the guy who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge was a spokesperson. He talked about immediately regretting it once he jumped. Now he devotes his time to helping others
As a woman, fought with depression from 11-29.multiple counselors with no one identifying I need anti depressants. Now 49, I look back on choices and decisions before I found assistance and relate to 90% of this song. It shouldn’t have been that difficult but when you’re still going through puberty everyone, including most doctors assume it’s hormones. 18 years of that assumption while I tried to find help is crazy. Ruined/lost a lot of relationships/people while I wasn’t emotionally rational. It’s a miracle I didn’t drink too much. There was a part of me that just wanted to get lost in or escape. I spent my 20’s with people thinking I was a stick in the mud because I didn’t drink but I knew it was a bad idea with being depressed. Everyone thought I had no reason to feel like that because they didn’t understand I wasn’t completely rational. I asked for help so many times. I’m just glad I didn’t give up. It was love for my family that kept me trying but not everyone actually has a family let alone a support system. I was blessed. For those of you reading this, Don’t ever give up!
It wil be very cool if you make a cover of a Folklore or Evermore song. You are very talented and I would love to see/hear something like that!
I was waiting for this!!!!! Your points are excellent
I'm loving all of these videos. Thank you, I guess it's free therapy.
I love your channel and the take you have on music, artists, and life. I'm glad I found you!
As usual, great reaction and review.
I really relate to the 2nd verse so much. I love studying. Ever since I was in elementary, I've been doing advanced studies. And at that time, my teachers understood me. They adjusted to me. They catered to me. They knew I did maths differently. Because my math teachers are also always our math trainors who trained us for math olympiads. So they know that I use shortcuts a lot and would always shorten the solutions or just come up with my own solution.
That wasn't the case is high school. My teachers didn't understand me. I had to comply with what was the standard. I have to write multiple steps, the longer the better. But I only knew the shortest steps. So I had to relearn that. And eventually, I wasted my potential due to that. Now during this pandemic, I got into reading books. And I got into really advanced studying. I'm already studying business management and criminal psychology on my own. I was so ahead that I fell behind on my usual classes because I was already learning something higher. So it was torture having to learn backwards.
I am loving your reactions to songs. Also your ability to not judge people is pretty cool.
I sincerely hope you listen to Folklore and Evermore in their original form as well, because they sound quite different. My personal favorites of her and I have been a fan since album one.
❤ I love this song.
Depression is not a new topic for her considering a song "Forever Winter" she wrote about her best friend who committed suicide for her 2012 album. She didn't release it for a (right) reason back then, but decided to released it on Red's re-recording.
Forever Winter's lyric is not that special. But picturing her regret and desperation always able to make me cry every single time. Forever Winter and Epiphany are the only two songs from her that always made me cry no matter how many times I listen to it. Marjorie sometimes does (because I do miss my grandma), but not always.
Oh, and I hope you listen to Renegade to. It's her project with Big Red Machine. It's about loving someone who has a mental health problem. Some people think she sings from Joe's perspective. Others think it's about Aaron.
I also think this song is a plea to people who aren't going through that, but know some people who are, to be understanding when the narrator's efforts fall short, and to appreciate the effort. So, like, people who have a loved one struggling to recover from alcohol addiction, who have been hurt by that person, and are still being hurt by them as they inevitably stumble along the way. I heard another reactor to this song mention an interview with someone who was a recovering addict, talking about how hard it is when to everyone around you, anything less than perfection (perfectly abstaining) is a failure, and how hard and painful that is. So to people who can't relate, I think this song might provoke some empathy for those in the narrator's position.
Every time you start this playing the guitar and look up at the camera as if we just walked in on you playing, it feels like I’ve been thrown back to when I was a kid. I expected you to say something like “Oh hey there guys” and act like we’re all just in some neighbourhood together, and this is just one of the things we do.
It’s felt very Bob Ross-esque
First time I've listened to that song, It touched me so deeply. I used to cry every time I listened, but now it's a memory of something I struggled and I succeded. Thank you Lord Jesus for that! I thanks Taylor for writing that strong song
Just reacting to the title, you don’t seem like a snob to me, just knowledgeable.
He never used to listen to pop -- go back to his review of the top guitar related videos on YT. It is both hilarious, and very very sad what the algorithm brings up; but it did bring Taylor to his attention -- for Teardrops on My Guitar. In the middle of a bunch of kid videos that sound like they learned English in Eastern Europe.
@@robertthompson7242 that is very funny.
@@mollypocrass4562 did you watch the vid? 🤣🤣
@@robertthompson7242 tbf I wouldn't call someone who never listened to pop a music snob. I would call them a music snob however if they demeaned people who like it or criticized it for the mere fact that it wasn't like rock/alt etc. Simply not liking pop is perfectly understandable though
@@Anna13Tonks tbf, you are responding to a quick summary description; if you want to know why HE DEFINES HIMSELF as a music snob, go back and watch his first few videos. It is sort of tongue in cheek, but also true in some ways.
Taylor didnt go to college, her family moved to Nashville when she was 15 so she could pursue music but she does have classes about her at Harvard. Yes, watch Miss Americana and see what she went through before this . Ive watched the Bridge
great discussion❤️
in my top 4 from folklore for sure.
I get the women and men diagnosis thing. The reason men’s suicide rates are higher is because of this sort of patriarchal idea that asking for help is weak and men are supposed to be strong and not show emotions other then “masculine” ones such as anger and aggression. They’re less likely to ask for help or go out and get a diagnosis. Men are sort of encouraged to be prideful and that means taking less than you need. I think both men and women have it at the same rate though. Another factor is that because masculine ideas encourage aggression, when men do attempt suicide, they are more likely to choose violent means which are more successful so even if women were to attempt suicide as much, and less women reach that point because they are more likely to ask for help, the suicide rates would still be less because they don’t go for very violent and often more successful means such as guns. I hope that makes sense.
Aaron D. has had depression too
the uber/lyft pun 💀💀💀😂😂😂😂
Taylor did have a high school friend that died from an overdose in 2010,I’m sure that may of been in her mind.
God DAMN you look like Tom Segura. You are amazing! New fan here ^_^ taylor is a songwriter and storyteller. With music and lyrics.
I feel like you can really hear a dessner/the national influence here
Condescending ????? Taylor has been open about how she struggled with mental health especially during 2014-2017. And as a fan, I have noticed that she’s often depicted drinking, she loves whine and whisky and I can’t help but connect that “drinking problem” to her ( although I’m not saying that a drink once in a while is bad, but it seems to make her feel better).
She also has that personality that wants to make everyone happy which takes a toll on mental health when you slip up (the massive hate train she experienced in 2014-2017)
bro you have such a college professor vibe.
Taylor is never condescending. She went through a lot too with relationships, idiotic media, old record label who betrayed her. She had an eating disorder. So Don't assume she doesn't know what she talking about.
interestingly enough, the only song I have ever considered condescending was "Innocent," She basically told Kanye, if life was too tough, get in bed with Mommy. He's over a decade older than she is, and she treated him like a child. It is only a song about forgiveness if you don't consider who is saying what to whom. And, she sang it at the MTv awards . . . . quite the anniversary.
@@robertthompson7242 no that is a lie. Innocent is to forgive Kanye for what he did. So get better examples hater.
@@richardh776 Disagree with my comment by showing what I said is wrong --- not with "hater"! "Hater" ! Why do you want to sound like a seventh grader? I've been a fan for years.
First, I'm mot expressing hate, just making a statement about the lyrics; and second, since I am as old as her parents, I can express an opinion about what is and isn't appropriate to say to an older person.
She is a stunning and capable and SUBTLE artist. A lot of what she says has more than one meaning. And imo, she did NOT forgive him; she very very politely skewered him. Brilliantly.
@@robertthompson7242 you can think what you think and I can think what I think. Songs can mean different things to different people you know. Ever heard of subjective. Boy a long story for something you replied needlessly really.
@@richardh776 you got the story because you resorted to name - calling. Otherwise, I do generally respect opinions.
Your comment from the WHO and the statistics aren't quite correct. Women definitely suffer higher rates of depression and mental illness.
However, women also attempt suicide something like 2 or 3 times more than men do. Sadly, men's suicide attempts tend to be fatal more frequently because they typically choose more violent/effective types of suicide.
And echoing what others have said, Taylor definitely struggles with her own mental health issues. She has an eating disorder, she went through a major depressive episode after the Kanye West BS and the stuff with Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun fking her over.
She also basically has PTSD from being sexually molested by I think a press photographer or something like that that she won a court case against in recent years and from being groomed by John Mayer when she was 19.