The song starts off with an old western feel that almost is reminiscent of No Body No Crime. Even the lyric video is a mix of old style writing and Reputation. It feels like a faux story with real moments woven in between the lines. The song is actually pretty hilarious – I do feel like she had some comic relief while writing this. Women always choose men they think they can fix, or make better, or we think ‘maybe he isn’t that bad, he was just painted in a bad light,’ but then once you are in the relationship – we realize maybe we are in over our heads.
This song is a rather quick one – and definitely feels like a song added just to continue on with the story of the album.
Lyrical Breakdown
The smoke cloud billows out his mouth
Like a freight train through a small town
Normal people may say that he is chain smoking in a bar. But miss Swift discusses it in cloud billows that you may see in old western times. A lot of smoke, a little area, filling the room with his exhales. Slow trains, taking over small cities with massive amounts of smoke – leaving their mark and a haze.
The jokes that he told across the bar
Were revolting and far too loud
This feels like a painted picture I can see. A dimly lit bar, woman talking to a few others in a corner, looking over at this guy telling out of pocket jokes, chain smoking, and while others are embarrassed a smirk comes across the woman’s face. “What an idiot” they’d say, but he’s her idiot.
They shake their heads saying, “God, help her”
When I tell them he’s my man
But your good Lord doesn’t need to lift a finger
I can fix him, no, really I can
And only I can
A task for only her to conquer. No one thus far has been able to break him, make him presentable, make him behave. She tells people she is with him, they worry for her – they tell her they’ll pray for her [throw back to But Daddy I Love Him] but she’s a strong woman, she can fix him.
The dopamine races through his brain
On a six-lane Texas highway
This also feels like a call back to “Tellin him to floor it through the fences.” Though it’s a highway and not a country road [we assume], it is still the amount of carelessness and speed driving that we see explained in But Daddy I Love Him. Again a beautiful picture of a reckless man speeding through a six lane highway in Texas, weaving back and forth through cars is painted.
This also makes me think of Florida!!! Because maybe this is the shit-storm left back in Texas? Maybe this is the memory we were escaping from. Again, these songs all interconnect with the story of a Fortnight that left her abandoned and bitter.
His hand so calloused from his pistol
Softly traces hearts on my face
This part is obviously made up. I can’t see Healy with a gun tracing her face, however [lol], it definitely carries on the western feel – of a dangerous man and his good woman. He’s dangerous but says he’s ‘in love.’ She likes the thrill – she likes the danger because it’s a new area she hasn’t been in before.
And I could see it from a mile away
A perfect case for my certain skillset
He had a halo of the highest grade
He just hadn’t met me yet
THIS IS THE FUNNIEST FRICKEN VERSE IN THE WHOLE SONG OF THE ALBUM. I busted out laughing when I heard it at first. A mile away – meaning we can see he is problematic all over – the internet, his concerts, his interviews. She knows he’s problematic but it’s because he just hadn’t had her to help him. The ‘certain skill set’ is SO funny because again, women always choose men they think are hot and funny or unique, but have so many issues that need to be addressed, instead of just choosing a better man. He was an angel in disguise, but needed help with his demons.
Good boy, that’s right
Come close, I’ll show you heaven
If you’ll be an angel, all mine
Trust me, I can handle me a dangerous man
No, really I can
This next verse really does address the previous. He’s a good boy inside, if he flys by the angel she is she can make him better. He can be just hers, and she can handle his danger. He’s thrilling and exciting and she is good and right – together they can be the balance and be the perfect couple.
They shook their heads saying, “God, help her”
When I told them he’s my man (I told them he’s my man)
But your good Lord didn’t need to lift a finger
I can fix him, no, really I can (no, really I can)
Whoa, maybe I can’t
And the realization in the last line. WHOA maybe I can’t. He’s too far gone. He actually isn’t for me – he’s damaged and hurt – and as we know – he hurts her in the end.
But how fucking funny is it to end the song like that. WHOA – I can’t fix this.
YALL ITS SO FUNNY
With this song I really get a sense she wrote this after the pain and hurt. A reflection of the events from a larger scope – looking back at the past. Maybe a shorter, less popular song, but definitely a piece to the story to complete the picture for the listeners.
Visual Representation
An unrealistic healing that will never actually cure the sickness.