This song is a beautiful example of the hate and love of a rising star in Hollywood. This idea will come back in Clara Bow, but I definitely see threads of Britney Spears Circus and Lucky in this song. Not how it sounds, but the idea of being the focus of scandals, trying to maintain your reputation, being caged and unable to do what you actually want. Britney uses it more as feeling like she holds the gaze of everyone in society, and how the center of attention is her. Reading her book however, we know that during the circus tour.. it was actually the worst time of her life. Her song shows partial of the caged ‘animal’ human, but her personal life is the full agony of it. The viewers of this ‘circus’ are reactors to everything she does. She is in power of their gaze, but we know in reality she was powerless.
When I put on a show
I feel the adrenaline moving through my veins
Spotlight on me and I’m ready to break
I’m like a performer, the dance floor is my stage
Better be ready, hope that you feel the same
All eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus
When I crack that whip everybody gon’ trip just like a circus
Don’t stand there watching me, follow me, show me what you can do
Everybody let go, we can make a dance floor just like a circus
Obviously, Britney’s take was sexualized, as I think her producer made her be, but she does love to dance – it was the only thing that truly made her happy during those times. But indeed, she was a performer, just like Taylor was when she was in deep pain for the few months after her long term break up, and after her fortnight. However, the most lineage I will always see with this song is, Lucky [by Britt], The Lucky One [by Taylor], and Who’s afraid of little old me.
Many artists discuss this push and pull relationship with their fanbase, their job, and the intrusiveness of the media in their lives. So many interviews about how fanbases support artists, and they are thankful for it, but also somedays wish they were a normal person. Before Taylor played The Lucky One, on tour, she stated ‘how horrible being famous is’ and then proceeded to play..
This version of The Lucky One happened in April – right after her long relationship was public it ended… and later this song came out, which really discusses how she feels like a caged animal who doesn’t have power. How she used to behave and follow the steps like a good girl [like Miss Americana] and how she isn’t to blame for her impulsive decisions to feel free – because she didn’t have any options before. Again, she references cages a lot. In my post But Daddy I Love Him, I discuss that as well. This album definitely has a theme of her being the spectacle and how it does ruin her life at times. She does enjoy her fans for the most part, but I think we’d be naive to say she doesn’t get sick of it or the opinions that people have about her own life. Clearly this song shows it.
So flash forward to this album. A take between loving the crowd, hating the crowd, loving fame, feeling powerless.
THE TOUR presentation of this song is quite literally the best thing I’ve ever seen. The mirror stage rumba changed my life for many reasons.
Not only does the stage rumba allow her to ‘levitate down your street’ but it also is a mirror. The mirror really does allow the fans to see themselves in the reflection. After she played this song the first time live, during the acoustic set she stated “thank you for welcoming TTPD into this tour, it’s really a musical about female rage.” And boy, did she present that in these songs.
It’s interesting just as tour itself to analyze, because in this song she is calling out the specific people in the industry, in But Daddy I Love Him, she is calling out the fans, but all of it feels fun and playful? She really is past this hurt, but she also is making a point by producing the work.
Lyrical Breakdown
… The who’s who of “Who’s that?” is poised for the attack
But my bare hands paved their paths
You don’t get to tell me about sad
I do feel these set of lines are a bit exclusive to the fans. It feels like a very personal thing Taylor went through- the whispers, the voices, the new faces in the industry discussing her, the whispers on the street about her break ups and love affairs.
She was the one who made it possible for for new artists to be here – because let’s be real, Taylor has done so much for the next upcoming generation of artists. From fighting for rights for artists, to including new stars to open for her shows – there are so many things that she took on that were handed down from women previously in generations that left their hard work to continue.
You don’t get to tell me about sad has been a line in my mind that I have really contemplated what it meant. Did someone say they were sad for her? Does she feel like she cant be sad because of her success? Does she feel sad because she worked so hard to beat patriarchal obstacles in her past and is continuing to do so, while younger artists have it a bit easier now. Maybe its like the idea of nothing new and being happy for them, but also kind of bummed she didn’t get that experience. I still have a lot of questions about the who’s who this is about. However, the more this song goes on, the more I think it is aimed at Scooter Braun – because he started to lose money on her collection of work due to her re-recordings – he had a scandal with his wife, and other things began to happen in his personal life – awh, how sad. Don’t tell Taylor about it for pity.
… If you wanted me dead, you should’ve just said
Nothing makes me feel more alive
This song, and specifically these lines really feel Mad Woman.
Now I breathe flames each time I talk
My cannons all firin’ at your yacht
They say, “Move on”, but you know, I won’t
And women like hunting witches, too
Doing your dirtiest work for you
It’s obvious that wanting me dead
Has really brought you two together
I am unsure if this line is geared toward the same individuals, that now she feels joy when they get mad at her success – orrrr if its aimed at a group, or just one person? Mad Woman people speculate was about Scooter and Scott. The yacht, the agreement, the sale of her work.
… So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street
Crash the party like a record scratch as I scream
“Who’s afraid of little old me?”
You should be
How bad do I want a music video that gives casper the friendly ghost played by Taylor Swift actually flying from the gallows and down a street to haunt someone. Besides that, this is the verse really that showcases this song being about the industry, yes, but also her anger with her music being sold. Why would they be afraid of her? Because she has recorded all of her own music, she is making her new versions more popular than her old ones, she is doing what they told her she couldn’t. And she’s the only one that has been successful at it.
… The scandal was contained
The bullet had just grazed
At all costs, keep your good name
You don’t get to tell me you feel bad
“Scooter Braun Controversy Explained as Celebrities Ditch Manager” – This happened which caused him to retire. He retired to get out of the heat as he was being dropped. If he did it now, his name wouldn’t be dragged as long because no one could ditch him, if he left. Did he tell her he felt bad? I’m not sure.
… Is it a wonder I broke? Let’s hear one more joke
Then we could all just laugh until I cry
These lines could definitely be about the jokes behind her back from the higher up industry suit and ties, or it could also relate to her project, the words from Scooter and Scott, and the reaction of the media – saying she would be unsuccessful. I’m sure re-recording all of your albums would be fucking frustrating – maybe she had fun doing it – but both of those things can exist at the same time. She was doing double the work, while writing 2 new albums. Exhausting. I thought I was a busy body…
… So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street
Crash the party like a record scratch as I scream
“Who’s afraid of little old me?”
I was tame, I was gentle ’til the circus life made me mean
“Don’t you worry, folks, we took out all her teeth”
Who’s afraid of little old me?
Well, you should be
So now we have the spectacle of the circus life. The idea of being a caged performer, both in public and on the stage. For her whole life until 2019 – being told to stay out of politics. She cut herself off from her personal social media – the fandom really isn’t the same since 2016.
… we took out all her teeth – is a reference to what they do to lions, or bigger caged animals that should be in the wild during the circus [a very cruel thing]. If they bite – it won’t hurt, it’s simply just their gums. [sadly they even have to eat mushed food because of this… it’s awful].
She can’t or couldn’t snap to attack. Everything had preventative measures so she was essentially voiceless. But that was then, and this is now – and now she has gained her voice back – and you should be threatened by her position in the industry.
… So tell me everything is not about me
But what if it is?
This is perfectly summarized anxious Taylor. Also how I feel sometimes. But what if this not about her but just a business deal? What if these passive aggressive articles aren’t really about her, but what if they are??
Then say they didn’t do it to hurt me
But what if they did?
Did the industry try to hurt her purposely or was this just about money? Did they keep her caged and protected to keep her image ‘in good face,’ or was it to sabotage her life and voice?
… I wanna snarl and show you just how disturbed this has made me
You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me
People who don’t understand metaphors when this song was put out kept showing images of her home and said she had a good upbringing [lol] but that is not what this line is about.
The asylum is the idea of fame in the industry. Looking back at her past, re-evaluating her past albums, seeing a poor business deal she made when she was 16 but in the lens of a 34 year old? She can see clearly now. She is angry she was taken advantage of. She felt like she had no choice them.
So all you kids can sneak into my house with all the cobwebs
I’m always drunk on my own tears, isn’t that what they all said?
These lines are also metaphoric, but also reference Dear Reader – “to a house not a home, all alone, cause no one is there.” But who are the kids? The fans? Cobwebs reference it is abandoned, empty, or hasn’t been accessed in a long time. Sneaking into a space that you’ll find nothing but emptiness.
My fourth drink in my hand
These desperate prayers of a cursed man
Spilling out to you for free
But darling, darling, please
You wouldn’t take my word for it
If you knew who was talking
If you knew where I was walking
To a house, not a home, all alone ’cause nobody’s there
Again Dear Reader references this idea of being drunk – but to be drunk on one’s tears is usually stated as a poor ‘pity’ ‘poor ol me’ type of comment. It is basically saying she is ‘always sorry for herself’ and to this, I think about toxic comments I’ve seen on the internet saying ‘she’s always a victim..” blah blah blah – and no. They just don’t actually know her day to day life. speculation is dangerous.
That I’ll sue you if you step on my lawn
She’s ‘mean’ and private, and out for money [all not true]
That I’m fearsome and I’m wretched and I’m wrong
This is definitely calling out the media and now.. the far right in politics? lol Childless Cat Ladies, ya dig?
Putting narcotics into all of my songs
And that’s why you’re still singing along
I love this part SO much. Narcotics can be addicting, narcotics can also make you feel drunk and tired. She’s drunk on her tears, so she produces music that makes listeners listen and relate, but is always on the radio. So maybe they hate her music and her, but damn is this song catchy.
… You caged me and then you called me crazy
I am what I am ’cause you trained me
So who’s afraid of me?
Who’s afraid of little old me?
Who’s afraid of little old me?
The end of this song finally references being caged. AGAIN MAD WOMAN.
Every time you call me crazy
I get more crazy
What about that?
And when you say I seem angry
I get more angry
The one who is getting hurt [I think Scooter or Scott – this line feels like Scott because he took her on – again this is me assuming] – in these lines feel like he is calling her ‘crazy’ now, or ‘I can’t believe she’s doing this’ – when really they were the ones that gave her building blocks on how to do things in the industry, or caged her and made her play this role in her fame or life.
Image Representation
For this image I was thinking about circus lights, magic shows, Taylor taking back her own caged past. Confrontation eyes, a smirk – giving the feeling that you SHOULD be afraid of her, while she’s surrounded by the lights that caged her, made her perform, and eventually made her feel that she no longer was in control of her life .. even her love life because of the spectacle. I wanted it to be dark, but also kind of sly.
I was tame, I was gentle ’til the circus life made me mean