Clean
T.s Lyrics
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Behold
These ears can't hear a thing
Why are we crying?
It's been too dry
A tear's a waste of drink
And let
What's left begin to sink
Take what's left of me
And just throw it away
'Cuse it's anything else but clean
Take the best of me
And just throw it away
Why are we trying?
We know
That this will end the same
Why aren't we dying?
It seems
That it's the only way to change
Take what's left of me
And just throw it away
'Cuse it's anything but clean
So just throw me away
Take the best of me
And just throw it away
'Cuse it's anything but clean
Take the best of me
And just throw it out
Take the best of me
And just throw it away
'Cuse it's anything but clean
Take the best of me
And just throw it away
In the song Clean, Taylor Swift seems to be singing about a relationship that has fallen apart and has left her feeling hurt and broken. She asks why they are crying when there's no point in shedding tears as it won't change the situation. She then contemplates lying down and letting what's left of her sink, hinting at a feeling of giving up. She then acknowledges that what's left of her should be thrown away because it's anything but clean, implying her brokenness and pain are too much to bear.
The lyrics also suggest that they know their relationship is going to end the same way it always does and they wonder why they aren't dying, which seems to indicate that they have been through this cycle of hurt and disappointment before. The repetition of the line "take the best of me and just throw it away" underscores the idea of feeling used up and undervalued. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for how some people might feel after being in toxic relationships.
This song seems to convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation in its lyrics. Even the repeating chords in the song, that don't evolve much, portray a feeling of a stuck situation that is not able to escape. The slow and gradual increase in the rhythm towards the end of the song could be seen as a ray of hope that, even though the situation feels like it's not changing, it is gradually getting better, and there will be a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are you laughing?
The situation seems grim, so why laugh about it?
Behold
Take a closer look at what's happening
These ears can't hear a thing
The deafening silence that surrounds us is overwhelming
Why are we crying?
The emotional pain is too much to bear
It's been too dry
The tears won't come, leaving us feeling empty
A tear's a waste of drink
Crying won't solve anything, it's just wasting precious resources
I think I'll lie here
I give up, I am unable to find a way out of this situation
And let
I will simply allow the situation to take over me
What's left begin to sink
Whatever remains of me slowly starts to disappear
Take what's left of me
I have nothing left to give but myself
And just throw it away
But even that is worthless
'Cuse it's anything else but clean
I am full of imperfections and flaws
Take the best of me
Whatever might be considered my assets
Why are we trying?
We know it's not going to work, but we still cling to hope
We know
Deep down we have already accepted the outcome
That this will end the same
The inevitable ending will be the same as before
Why aren't we dying?
Perhaps death is the only escape from this cycle
It seems
The only way out is to leave this life behind
Take what's left of me
Once again, all that remains is myself
So just throw me away
I am not worth keeping
Take the best of me
Whatever good might be left
'Cuse it's anything but clean
I am not pure or wholesome, I am flawed
Take the best of me
Take whatever might be considered my assets
And just throw it out
It's all worthless, discard it
Take the best of me
All that's left is myself
And just throw it away
I am not worth anything
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind