The most underrated song on the album and one of my absolute favorites. When this song first came out the ‘young’ tiktokers thought Taylor was copying Olivia with this idea of ‘Get Him Back” but I guarantee this song was probably being written during the same time Olivia was writing it. Especially because we know You’re Losing Me was written in December 2021 and Guts came out September 23, 2023.
These two songs do have a lot in common and have the same underlying idea – either ruin him or love him. Olivia is so gen z she reminds me of all of my students. I’d love to write about the lineage of women that have opened the doors for others with her style. From TLC, to Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, and now Olivia- she has this punky but pop style which is so different from Sabrina Carpenter.
I feel like the internet is constantly trying to pin women against women, and specifically Olivia and Taylor. People had this fight online about who came up with this idea first and who presented it first, and honestly.. no. LOL. All music is borrowed and I’m even wondering if they had a conversation about this. However, they both explain this circumstance COMPLETELY different. Olivia’s has a bit more revenge grunge tone in her lyrics – like overall we’re going to ruin this man. While Taylor is still contemplating on what she needs to do next, and what is best for her, while fighting with herself about signals he’s sending her.
Lyrical Breakdown
Lilac short skirt
The one that fits me like skin
In her Youtube Shorts she was wearing a lilac skirt, however.. I’m not sure it’s the one she is explaining only because this skirt is more, fluffy and a line than tight and skin fit. However it is cute. But her referencing this specific piece of clothing, makes me think it’s one he really liked her in… or had complemented her in the past when she wore it.
Did your research
You knew the price goin’ in
I’ve referenced this line quite a bit in my blogs prior – Taylor has a good amount of anxiety about dating people in the limelight because they typically can’t handle the heat she takes on everyday from the media and the public, about her success, about her literally just existing. Even when fans create groups and have zoom calls like ‘swifties for harris‘ somehow Fox News takes it as a headline that she should stick to music… but like.. it’s not even her? LOL So stupid. But Matty knew what dating her was going to be – especially in the public. But he runs, because he loves me.
And I’ll tell you one thing, honey
I can tell when somebody still wants me, come clean
Standing at the bar like something’s funny, bubbly
Once you fix your face, I’m goin’ in
I absolutely love this verse, because of the ending. All of it is very theatrical. Standing across the bar, looking at someone you know is just being loud and happy with their drink to cover up their utmost desires. Once you put the act down, I’m going in to talk to you. I feel this situation probably didn’t really happen, but it does make for some killer visuals in a complicated story.
Whether I’m gonna be your wife or
Gonna smash up your bike, I
Haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
These lines kind of remind me of So it’s going to be forever, or it’s gonna go down in flames. Either we end up together, or I’m going to take revenge. I’m so mad at you, but I love you, and I’ll take you back in an instant, but if that’s not what you choose, I’m comin’ for you.
Whether I’m gonna curse you out or
Take you back to my house, I
Haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
Same Idea but less commitment lol –
I, I hear the whispers in your eyes
I’ll make you wanna think twice
You’ll find that you were never not mine
You’re mine
The whispers in your eyes is such a beautiful way to say the desire in someone’s eyes. Or those conversations you have with your eyes with someone who you know so well. I see the desire in your eyes, I’ll prove to you that you’re still mine, and you still want me. Basically she is trying to convince herself, or him, that everything will work out if he puts his trust in her. You are the greatest thing that’s ever been mine.
Small talk, big love
Act like I don’t care what you did
I’m an Aston Martin
That you steered straight into the ditch
Then ran and hid
I love that she references a luxury British car LOL
The first line could mean a few different things.
Small talk – as in small chit chat – but big love behind the words
Or small talk as in saying things that you don’t really follow through with – because the love will not allow you to actually stick to what you say.
She references herself as the luxury car [I love that] that he really ditched and threw away and then cowardly ran away from her cause he loves her. That boy really breaks his favorite toys.
And I’ll tell you one thing, honey
I can take the upper hand and touch your body
Flip the script and leave you like a dumb house party
Or I might just love you ’til the end
This is definitely a revenge thought – I can lead you on – make you feel the way I do physically, and then leave you. Make you feel how I did when you left me, or if you get the signal from my eyes, I can forgive you and love you – if you let me.
Whether I’m gonna be your wife or
Gonna smash up your bike, I
Haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
Whether I’m gonna flip you off or
Pull you into the closet
I haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
Back to the teenage petulance. Seven Minutes in Heaven, haha. Pullin people into the closet, kissing them without any one seeing. This definitely could be the idea that her friends disagree with the relationship after what he has done [or even before that] so the kissing in hiding – makes sense too.
I can feel it comin’, hummin’ in the way you move
Push the reset button, we’re becoming something new
Say you got somebody, I’ll say, “I got someone too”
Even if it’s handcuffed, I’m leaving here with you
This verse is a bit of a dream she’s imagining. She can feel him coming back, hummin’ in the way you move. Just thinkin’ out loud here… singing is out loud, everyone can hear it – hummin’ is more muted and usually softer so not everyone can hear it. If we are hummin’ in the way we move, then it must be small unforeseen gestures – so we can feel it comin’ but slowly and unforeseen, pushing the reset button on their relationship and turn into something new, and she’s hoping, better.
It may be down the road when they both have new people that he comes around, but no matter what, now or later, she’ll always come back to him and she’ll fight for him until she dies. let’s hope this is not true any more.
Bygones will be bygone eras fadin’ into gray (fadin’ into gray)
We broke all the pieces but still want to play the game (oh)
Told my friends, “I hate you but I love you just the same”
Pick your poison, babe
I’m poison either way
The past is the past [she’s hoping for the reset button] ERAS FADING INTO GRAY. This was a line for me that meant two things. The eras of them, in and out, is over and done. It is either her now, or never again [kind of contradicting the statement above, showing her back and forth on this get him back idea]. It also makes me think of the direction of her music. All of her eras coming to a close, and the forward being just free flowing art instead of categorized with her reinventing herself every time.
The line about the friends definitely relates to the pull you into the closet line. You know when you are seeing someone your friends heavily disapprove of, and this person does something to hurt you but you are so damn hung up on them you tell your friends you’re over them, but really you are lying to your friends. She does say to them that she loves him and hates him, which they understand.
pick your poison babe… either with me or without me, it’s going to ruin you. With me you’ll get media speculation, without me, I’ll come for you.
I, I hear the whispers in your eyes
I’ll make you wanna think twice
You’ll find that you were never not mine
I’m gonna get you back
And at the end we are left with his eyes making her believe he still wants her, she is planning on making him think twice about leaving her, because he still loves her, but also she will make him want her, or she’ll take revenge.
Eventually she thinks he’ll see his mistake, but we are left with the question of what type of ‘getting back at’ is she going to do?
Visual Representation
I couldn’t decide lol
Finger trap – silly – trapping someone in a nightmare, or tricking them into loving you again.
Even if it’s handcuffed, I’m leaving here with you