Mean BY TAYLOR SWIFT
meanYou, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me You have knocked me off my feet again Got me feeling like I'm nothing You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard Calling me out when I'm wounded You picking on the weaker man You can take me down with just one single blow But you don't know, what you don't know... Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? You, with your switching sides And your wildfire lies and your humiliation You have pointed out my flaws again As if I don't already see them I walk with my head down Trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you I just wanna feel okay again I bet you got pushed around Somebody made you cold But the cycle ends right now 'Cause you can't lead me down that road And you don't know, what you don't know... Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? And I can see you years from now in a bar Talking over a football game With that same big loud opinion But nobody's listening Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing But all you are is mean All you are is mean And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean But someday I'll be living in a big ol' city And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so?.. Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city (Why you gotta be so?..) And all you're ever gonna be is mean (Why you gotta be so?..) Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (Why you gotta be so?..) And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? BACKGROUND/ EXPLANATION: This song is written by Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift wrote it as a reply to the criticism she received after her 2010 Grammy Awards performance. She described the opinions as being just 'mean'. She points out in the prose that criticism which is not constructive or professional is hard to 'shake off'. This was the centre of her song.
OPINION: This song has a very nice flow to it. It is very detailed, unique and interesting. The song itself is very descriptive and has a sort of internal rhyme in each line. The meaning of the poem revolves around the idea of bullying and being bullied. The song is written in the view of the victim and how the victim has hopes for the future. The victim in this poem talks about how one day she will fight back and empower herself. |
Poetry ANALYSISYou, with your words like knives
The 'you' referred to uses hurtful words which hurt the author.(imagery) And swords and weapons that you use against me You have knocked me off my feet again Continuous bullying Got me feeling like I'm nothing (simile) You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard (simile) Calling me out when I'm wounded Picking on someone when in advantage. You picking on the weaker man Picking on those who are not equal in strength etc. You can take me down with just one single blow Describes how powerful bully is. But you don't know, what you don't know... Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city Victim makes it to the real world. And all you're ever gonna be is mean While the bully's future will never change. Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me Being able to fight back. And all you're ever gonna be is mean Bully's future will never change. Why you gotta be so mean? (Repetition) You, with your switching sides Uncertainty friendship status. And your wildfire lies and your humiliation Quick spreading lies and actions that cause demean. You have pointed out my flaws again Focusing on victim's weaknesses. As if I don't already see them I walk with my head down Tries to avoid eye contact with bully. Trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you Trying to ignore the bully. I just wanna feel okay again Wanting to feel accepted. I bet you got pushed around History of being bullied Somebody made you cold Bully must have become mean after being bullied. But the cycle ends right now Fighting back 'Cause you can't lead me down that road' And you don't know, what you don't know... Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city Making it to the real world. And all you're ever gonna be is mean Bully's future will never change. Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me Being able to fight back. And all you're ever gonna be is mean Bully's future will never change. Why you gotta be so mean? (Repetition) And I can see you years from now in a bar Imagines future where victim comes across bully. Talking over a football game With that same big loud opinion Characteristics of the bully. But nobody's listening Bully does not dominate, therefore bully is ignored. Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things Bully never changes. Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing Bully feels sense of jealousy towards victim. But all you are is mean All you are is mean And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life Characteristics of the bully. And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean But someday I'll be living in a big ol' city Making it to the real world. And all you're ever gonna be is mean Bully's future will never change. Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me Being able to fight back. And all you're ever gonna be is mean Bully's future will never change. Why you gotta be so mean? (Repetition) Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city (Why you gotta be so?..) Making it to the real world. And all you're ever gonna be is mean (Why you gotta be so?..) Bully's future will never change. Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (Why you gotta be so?..) Being able to fight back. And all you're ever gonna be is mean Bully's future will never change. Why you gotta be so mean?(Repetition) POETIC TECHNIQUES: Similes Repetition Imagery THEMES: Anti- bullying Self-empowerment OBVIOUS SOCIAL MESSAGE: Bullying |