Clara Bow
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remarkable
All your life, did you know
You′d be picked like a rose"
"I'm not trying to exaggerate
But I think I might die if it happened
Die if it happened to meNo one in my small town thought
I′d see the lights of Manhattan"
"This town is fake but
You're the real thing
Breath of fresh air through smoke rings
Take the glory, give everything
Promise to be dazzling"
"You look like Stevie Nicks
In '75, the hair and lips
Crowd goes wild at her fingertips
Half moonshine, a full eclipse"
"I′m not trying to exaggerate
But I think I might die if I made it,
Die if I made it
No one in my small town
Thought I′d meet these suits in LA,
They all want to say ..."
"This town is fake but
You're the real thing
Breath of fresh air through smoke rings
Take the glory, give everything
Promise to be dazzling"
"The crown is stained but you′re the real queen
Flesh and blood amongst war machines
You're the new god we′re worshipping
Promise to be ... dazzling"
Beauty is a beast that roars
Down on all fours
Demanding "more"
Only when your girlish glow
Flickers just so
Do they let you know
It's hell on earth to be heavenly
Them′s the breaks
They don't come gently
"You look like Taylor Swift
In this light
We're loving it.
You′ve got edge she never did
The future′s bright
... Dazzling."
In the first set of lyrics, Taylor Swift is drawing a parallel between the listener and Clara Bow, an iconic silent film actress known for her beauty and charm. By likening the listener to Clara Bow in a flattering light, Swift is highlighting their remarkable essence and beauty. The reference to being "picked like a rose" suggests that the listener has always stood out and been chosen for their unique qualities. Swift seems to be questioning if the listener has always been aware of the impact they have on others.
The second set of lyrics delves into Swift's personal feelings of longing and yearning for success and recognition. She expresses a sense of disbelief that such dreams could even come true for her, especially coming from a small town background. She contrasts her own aspirations with the perceived limitations of her upbringing, emphasizing the transformative power of ambition and the allure of opportunities beyond one's immediate environment.
Moving on to the third set of lyrics, Swift continues to celebrate the listener's authenticity and genuineness amidst a backdrop of superficiality and pretense. She admires the listener as a breath of fresh air in a world filled with smoke and mirrors, urging them to embrace their own glory and to give their all. The promise to be dazzling is a call to embrace one's true self and shine brightly despite the challenges and facade of the entertainment industry.
In the final set of lyrics, Swift invokes the image of Stevie Nicks in 1975 as a symbol of timeless rockstar allure and charisma. She once again reflects on her own aspirations and the perceived unlikelihood of achieving success on a grand scale. Swift contrasts the glamour of fame with the humanness of the listener, reinforcing the theme of staying true to oneself amidst the demands and pressures of the industry. The reference to being the "real queen" and worshipped like a god underscores the transformative power of staying genuine and authentic in a world obsessed with image and spectacle. The closing lines capture the essence of the song's message, praising the listener for their unique qualities and potential to shine brilliantly in their own right.
Line by Line Meaning
You look like Clara Bow in this light
You resemble the iconic actress Clara Bow under this lighting.
Remarkable
Truly outstanding.
All your life, did you know
Have you always been aware?
You'd be picked like a rose
That you would be chosen like a flower.
I'm not trying to exaggerate
I am not exaggerating.
But I think I might die if it happened
I might not survive if it occurred.
Die if it happened to me
The impact would be fatal for me.
No one in my small town thought
Nobody in my hometown believed.
I'd see the lights of Manhattan
That I would experience the glamour of Manhattan.
This town is fake but
Despite the town's insincerity,
You're the real thing
You are authentic.
Breath of fresh air through smoke rings
Your presence is refreshing amid artificial surroundings.
Take the glory, give everything
Accept the fame and put your all into it.
Promise to be dazzling
Commit to being radiant.
You look like Stevie Nicks
You resemble the musician Stevie Nicks.
In '75, the hair and lips
Referring to Stevie Nicks' appearance in 1975.
Crowd goes wild at her fingertips
The audience adores her.
Half moonshine, a full eclipse
A combination of brightness and shadow.
But I think I might die if I made it
I might not survive if I achieved success.
No one in my small town
Nobody in my community.
Thought I'd meet these suits in LA
Expected to encounter these powerful individuals in Los Angeles.
They all want to say ...
They are all eager to acknowledge...
The crown is stained but you're the real queen
Despite imperfections, you are the genuine ruler.
Flesh and blood amongst war machines
A human being amidst mechanical warfare.
You're the new god we're worshipping
You are the deity we now revere.
Beauty is a beast that roars
Attractive individuals can be quite intimidating.
Down on all fours
Vulnerable.
Demanding 'more'
Expecting further admiration or attention.
Only when your girlish glow
Only when your youthful radiance.
Flickers just so
Shines just the right amount.
Do they let you know
Do they acknowledge.
It's hell on earth to be heavenly
It can be challenging to be perceived as angelic.
Them's the breaks
That's just how things are.
They don't come gently
The challenges are not presented with kindness.
You look like Taylor Swift
You resemble the singer Taylor Swift.
In this light
Under this illumination.
We're loving it
We are enjoying this.
You've got edge she never did
You possess a boldness she lacked.
The future's bright
There are positive things ahead.
... Dazzling.
Absolutely radiant.
Writer(s): Aaron Brooking Dessner, Taylor Alison Swift
Contributed by Dominic M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sparte5770
Guys!!! This song is the little sister of The Lucky One 🥺
"Now, it’s big black cars and Riviera views
And your lover in the foyer doesn’t even know you
And your secrets end up splashed on the news front page
And they tell you that you’re lucky, but you’re so confused
'Cause you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used
And all the young things line up to take your place.
Another name goes up in lights
You wonder if you’ll make it out alive
[Chorus 1]
And they’ll tell you now, you’re the lucky one
Yeah, they’ll tell you now, you’re the lucky one
But can you tell me now, you’re the lucky one?
@zacuzzi
"you look like taylor swift in this light, we're loving it you've got edge she never did" what a way to end it raising the critiques question of her and comparisons to certain other younger singer-songwriter like her.
@martina-dd6vb
What does this have to do with Olivia?
@amishatiwari9469
@@martina-dd6vbI think it means how women in the industry are always compared to each other. Like PPL says Taylor Swift is Madonna of our generation. Now new artists are compared to Taylor swift eg. Olivia PPL says she is new Taylor Swift and she should be afraid as Olivia will replace her. Like the industry is not big enough for everybody?!!
@johnnyboooy21
@@elliejasmine7752literally Courtney Love just said it
@bhupendranogia1622
I mean you are right PPL should not pass on the labels and let artists be represented by their own new uniqueness and names and not be compared...we can create infinite new genres of singers
@LPSmeow1989
@martina-dd6vb Nobody mentioned her except you
@cbmccarty1
I like this song a lot. FYI…Clara Bow was a very famous movie star many years ago and known as the “The It Girl” and she made 46 silent films and 11 talkies. Taylor Swift has done just as much in recorded music, tours and videos and she’s now “The It Girl”. Clara Bow and Taylor Swift have both lived lives that, at times, must be frazzling but the price you pay to be dazzling. (from an unofficial member of the tortured poets department)
@Riddle-Me-This53902
Thank you ❤❤
@PranavSanikommu
I WOULD SAY YOU ARE AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE TTPD CU YOU GOT THAT MEANING SO RIGHT!!!
@Barna-xBr
thank You fou enlighting us♥♥