I Did Something Bad
Taylor Swift Lyrics

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I never trust a narcissist
But they love me
So I play 'em like a violin
And I make it look oh so easy
'Cause for every lie I tell them
They tell me three
This is how the world works
Now all he thinks about is me

I can feel the flames on my skin
Crimson red paint on my lips
If a man talks shit, then I owe him nothing
I don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming

They say I did something bad
Then why's it feel so good?
They say I did something bad
But why's it feel so good?
Most fun I ever had
And I'd do it over and over and over again if I could
It just felt so good, good

I never trust a playboy
But they love me
So I fly him all around the world
And I let them think they saved me
They never see it comin'
What I do next
This is how the world works
You gotta leave before you get left

I can feel the flames on my skin
He says, "Don't throw away a good thing"
But if he drops my name, then I owe him nothin'
And if he spends my change, then he had it comin'

They say I did something bad
Then why's it feel so good?
They say I did something bad
But why's it feel so good?
Most fun I ever had
And I'd do it over and over and over again if I could
It just felt so good, good

It just felt so good

They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one
They got their pitchforks and proof
Their receipts and reasons
They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one
So light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)
Light me up, go ahead and light me up (light me up)
Light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)
Light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)

They say I did something bad
Then why's it feel so good?
They say I did something bad
But why's it feel so good?
Most fun I ever had
And I'd do it over and over and over again if I could
It just felt so good, good

Oh, you say I did something bad
Then why's it feel so good, good?
So bad, why's it feel so good?

Why's it feel, why's it feel so good? (Bad)
It just felt so good, good

Overall Meaning

In "I Did Something Bad," Taylor Swift delves into the theme of revenge against those who have wronged her. She sings about how she doesn't trust narcissistic men, but they cannot resist her and she uses this to her advantage. For every lie she tells, they tell her three, which leaves them wrapped around her finger. She revels in the power she holds over them, claiming that the fun that she's having is worth any consequences that might arise. She continues to say that she doesn't care about the opinions of others who claim she's done something bad because to her, it feels good.

Swift also sings about how she doesn't trust playboys, but they also fall for her when she flies them around the world. She lets them think that they have saved her, but always has the upper hand. She can't let them leave her first, so she leaves them. The chorus repeats the idea that what she's done may have been bad, but it feels good, and she'd do it over and over again if she could. Swift uses the bridge to comment on how society tends to punish people mercilessly, even if there isn't any justification for doing so. She explains how people who haven't done anything wrong can still be caught in the crosshairs because of the mob mentality.

Line by Line Meaning

I never trust a narcissist But they love me So I play 'em like a violin And I make it look oh so easy
I am aware that narcissists are not to be trusted, but as they still fall for me, I manipulate them with ease.

'Cause for every lie I tell them They tell me three This is how the world works Now all he thinks about is me
I deceive narcissists with lies, and they end up telling me more than I do, giving me an opportunity to control them, that's how the world works.

I can feel the flames on my skin Crimson red paint on my lips If a man talks shit, then I owe him nothing I don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming
I can feel the heat of excitement and passion, with my bold red lipstick on, I owe nothing to a man who speaks ill of me, and I don't feel sorry because he deserved what he got.

They say I did something bad Then why's it feel so good? They say I did something bad But why's it feel so good? Most fun I ever had And I'd do it over and over and over again if I could It just felt so good, good
They accuse me of wrongdoing, but it doesn't feel that way, rather it feels incredibly pleasurable, and I would do it again without hesitation because it was fun and satisfying.

I never trust a playboy But they love me So I fly him all around the world And I let them think they saved me
I don't trust playboys, but I can't deny their admiration for me. I exploit this by taking them around the world and letting them believe they helped me, when in reality they did nothing.

They never see it comin' What I do next This is how the world works You gotta leave before you get left
I always surprise playboys by my actions, and they never expect it. This is how the world works, and I suggest leaving first before getting hurt.

I can feel the flames on my skin He says, "Don't throw away a good thing" But if he drops my name, then I owe him nothin' And if he spends my change, then he had it comin'
I can feel the energy and heat of desire, he tells me not to give up something good, but if he betrays me, I don't owe him anything, and if he wastes my money, he deserves what he gets.

They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one They got their pitchforks and proof Their receipts and reasons They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one So light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up) Light me up, go ahead and light me up (light me up) Light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up) Light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)
People are unfairly targeted and accused even if they are innocent, and those blaming them have so-called evidence and reasons. So, they are going to light me up too, so be it.

Oh, you say I did something bad Then why's it feel so good, good? So bad, why's it feel so good? Why's it feel, why's it feel so good? (Bad) It just felt so good, good
You are suggesting that I did something wrong, but it felt incredible, that's why. It felt right even though it might be deemed wrong by society, and I don't regret it at all.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Karl Johan Schuster, Max Martin, Taylor Swift

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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