During the week ending November 5, 2022, the song debuted at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
High Infidelity
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wound open, game token
I didn't know you were keeping count
Rain soaking, blind hoping
You said I was freeloading
I didn't know you were keeping count
High infidelity
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around, dancing around it
High infidelity
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
I was dancing around, dancing around it
Do you really wanna know where I was April 29th?
Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?
Storm coming
Good husband, bad omen
Dragged my feet right down the aisle
At the house lonely, good money
I'd pay if you'd just know me
Seemed like the right thing at the time
You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
The slowest way is never loving them enough
Do you really wanna know where I was April 29th?
Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life?
High infidelity
Put on your records and regret me
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around, dancing around it
High infidelity
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
I was dancing around, dancing around it
Do you really wanna know where I was April 29th?
Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?
You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
The slowest way is never loving them enough
High infidelity
Put on your records and regret meeting me
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around, dancing around it
High infidelity
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
I was dancing around, dancing around it
Ooh
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Ooh
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Well, there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
And it's never enough, it's never enough
Lock broken, slur spoken
Wound open, game token
I didn't know you were keeping count
Rain soaking, blind hoping
You said I was freeloading
I didn't know you were keeping count
But oh, you were keeping count
The lyrics of "High Infidelity" by Taylor Swift are about a woman who cheated on her partner and is now regretting her actions. She reflects on her infidelity and how it has affected her relationship. The first verse describes the tension and conflict between the couple, with the lines "Lock broken, slur spoken/Wound open, game token." The woman is aware that her partner is keeping track of her actions, saying "I didn't know you were keeping count."
The chorus describes the guilt and regret that the woman feels. She wants her partner to listen to her music and remember her, but also regrets the ways in which she has hurt him. The line "Your picket fence is sharp as knives" refers to the idea that the perfect exterior of their relationship hides deep pain and hurt.
The second verse goes into more detail about the woman's relationship and why she was unfaithful. She married a man who seemed like the "perfect husband," but she was still unhappy and searching for something more. She meets someone who brings her back to life, but ultimately chooses to betray her partner's trust. The woman is torn between her love for her partner and the passion she feels for the other man. She wonders if she has to be honest about her affair or keep it a secret.
Overall, "High Infidelity" is a melancholic song about the reality of cheating and the pain it causes. It explores the complex emotions that come with infidelity and the damage it can do to a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Lock broken, slur spoken
My trust in you is broken, I cannot control my emotions anymore
Wound open, game token
I am hurt from your actions, but it seems like a game to you
I didn't know you were keeping count
I did not realize you were keeping score of my mistakes and shortcomings
Rain soaking, blind hoping
I am caught in the storm, hoping for a positive outcome, even though I am blind to the truth
You said I was freeloading
You accused me of living off of you without making any effort of my own
High infidelity
Cheating on a partner
Put on your records and regret me
Listen to the music we enjoyed together and regret ever being a part of my life
I bent the truth too far tonight
I have lied to you so much that my lies are now out of control
I was dancing around, dancing around it
I was avoiding dealing with the real issues and only pretending that everything is okay
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Listen to music and let it remind you of the time we spent together, but then destroy all memories of our past relationship
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
Although you may seem innocent and kind, you can be just as hurtful as someone wielding a knife
Do you really wanna know where I was April 29th?
Do you really want to know where I was when I was unfaithful to you?
Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?
Do I really have to explain in detail how much affection and love I have for someone else?
Storm coming, Good husband, bad omen
Although things may seem calm on the surface, a storm is brewing, and being married does not guarantee good fortune
Dragged my feet right down the aisle
Even though I was unsure and hesitant about getting married, I still went through with it
At the house lonely, good money
Although I may have a lot of wealth and material possessions, I am still unhappy and unfulfilled
I'd pay if you'd just know me
I am willing to give up my possessions and everything I have if it means that you would truly understand me
Seemed like the right thing at the time
At the time, I thought that getting married was the right thing to do, but in retrospect, it may have been a mistake
Well, there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
There are many ways to hurt and destroy a person, even if you love them
The slowest way is never loving them enough
The slowest and most painful way to hurt someone is by not giving them the love and care that they need and deserve
Put on your records and regret meeting me
Listen to any music that reminds you of me and regret ever meeting me
Ooh
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Ad-lib
But oh, you were keeping count
I now realize that you have been keeping track of all my mistakes and shortcomings
And it's never enough, it's never enough
No matter what I do or say, it will never be enough to make up for my wrongdoings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Brooking Dessner, Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@architaagrawal1656
Earlier i didn't understood the narrative but now I know.
April 26th, 2016 was the day when 'This is what you came for' was released by Rihanna and Calvin.
And that song was originally written by Taylor. Calvin had said he can't see himself collaborating with Taylor and this line led to their breakup.
The 'he' in 'do I really need to tell you how he brought me back to life' refers to Tom Hiddleston, who was spotted dancing around with Taylor in the after party. So, the line goes 'I was dancing around, dancing around it'.
The song really becomes something else when you completely understand it.
Taylor is a genius 💜
@moinshaikh8961
“Slowest one is never loving them enough” lyrical genius 💥
@lameesalsmadi7590
Yes!!
@melindaabond
Ikr.. no words were ever more true
@alyponk5016
Such a deep line
@lyzamatillano3699
this one so painful to speak of in a song lyric
@moniqueengleman873
I really felt that in my Soul.
@shreshth3690
Midnights has the unwavering boppiness of 1989, the depth of folklore and evermore, the heart of Lover, and the middle finger of reputation.
@forevermore13
And it also has the vulnerability of Speak Now and the courage of Fearless (for having the courage to share her sleepless nights with us.) (By the way, I saw this on another comment.)
@whoru6698
FACTSSSS
@alyponk5016
I've heard 2 songs, and loving it already