The song is speculated to be about Taylor's current boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.
The line “so it goes” originates from the novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut, written in 1969. He says the line several times in the novel whenever a death occurs, as a narrative transition to another subject.
This could be symbolic to Swift’s reputation album as a whole, since she has publicly said the “old Taylor” is dead. This album is her transition into the “new” Taylor – so it goes.
Taylor’s use of the phrase could also mean something similar to “That’s life; life goes on.” Even when they “break down a little,” she and her boyfriend are still secure in their relationship and they still keep trying.
Swift has also used the phrase “So It Goes” in the past on her "1989" album, in the song “Style”, with the lyric:
"So it goes, he can’t keep his wild eyes on the road."
And the song “You Are in Love”, on the deluxe version of the same album, with the lyric:
"So it goes, you two are dancing in a snow globe, round and round."
So It Goes...
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All eyes on you, my magician
All eyes on us
You make everyone disappear, and
Cut me into pieces
Gold cage, hostage to my feelings
Back against the wall
Trippin', trip-trippin' when you're gone
'Cause we break down a little
But when you get me alone, it's so simple
'Cause baby, I know what you know
We can feel it
And all the pieces fall
Right into place
Getting caught up in a moment
Lipstick on your face
So it goes
I'm yours to keep
And I'm yours to lose
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
Do bad things with you
So it goes
Met you in a bar
All eyes on me, your illusionist
All eyes on us
I make all your grey days clear and
Wear you like a necklace
I'm so chill, but you make me jealous
But I got your heart
Skippin', skip-skippin' when I'm gone
'Cause we break down a little
But when I get you alone, it's so simple
'Cause baby, I know what you know
We can feel it
And all the pieces fall
Right into place
Getting caught up in a moment
Lipstick on your face
So it goes
I'm yours to keep
And I'm yours to lose
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
Do bad things with you
So it goes
Come here, dressed in black now
So, so, so it goes
Scratches down your back now
So, so, so it goes
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
I did a number on you
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
Who's counting?
One, two, three
And all the pieces fall (pieces fall)
Right into place
Getting caught up in a moment (caught up, caught up)
Lipstick on your face
So it goes
I'm yours to keep (oh)
And I'm yours to lose (baby)
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
(I) do bad things with you
So it goes
Come here, dressed in black now
So, so, so it goes
Scratches down your back now
So, so, so it goes
Come here, dressed in black now
So, so, so it goes
Scratches down your back now
So, so, so it goes
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's "So It Goes…" create an image of a passionate and intense romantic relationship. The song seems to be about two people who are obsessed with each other, despite the fact that their love may be toxic. Swift sings about meeting her partner in a bar, where they were the center of attention. They push each other to the brink and make each other crazy with lust, but the intensity of their love makes it difficult to let each other go.
The lyrics are loaded with metaphors that are open to interpretation. The phrase "gold cage, hostage to my feelings" could represent how trapped she feels by her emotions. She's also "wearing" her partner like a necklace, which symbolizes ownership, domination or control. The imagery of "scratches down your back" paints a picture of rough, passionate sex. The lyrics also use repetition to create a sense of urgency and visceral energy.
Overall, the song captures the excitement, obsession, and danger that can come with a passionate romance. It could be seen as a commentary on the thin line between love and obsession.
Line by Line Meaning
See you in the dark
I only want to be with you when we can be alone and away from everyone else
All eyes on you, my magician
When we're together, everyone is captivated by your charm and you have a hold over me like magic
All eyes on us
When we're together, we become the center of attention and everyone is watching our every move
You make everyone disappear, and
When you're around, everyone else fades into the background and I can only focus on you
Cut me into pieces
You have the power to make me feel vulnerable and exposed
Gold cage, hostage to my feelings
I feel trapped by my emotions and my attachment to you, unable to escape the feelings that hold me captive
Back against the wall
I feel like I'm up against a wall when I'm with you, as if I have no other option but to stay with you
Trippin', trip-trippin' when you're gone
My mind is in chaos when you're away, I miss you and I can't stop thinking about you
'Cause we break down a little
Our relationship has its ups and downs, and sometimes we struggle to hold it together
And when you get me alone, it's so simple
When we're alone, everything feels easy and natural between us
'Cause baby, I know what you know
We have a deep understanding between us, we share the same feelings and desires
We can feel it
Our connection is strong and we can feel it in every moment we spend together
And our pieces fall
When we're together, we fit perfectly and everything falls into place
Right into place
Our relationship feels natural and effortless, as if we were meant to be together
Get caught up in the moments
We lose ourselves in the intense moments we share together
Lipstick on your face
We're lost in passion and our physical connection leaves a mark on both of us
So it goes
This is just the way things are between us, we can't resist each other and we can't escape our feelings
I'm yours to keep
I belong to you, and I'm willing to stay by your side no matter what happens
And I'm yours to lose
But you also have a responsibility to take care of me and keep me safe, because you have the power to hurt me deeply
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
I'm not a bad person, but I'm willing to do things I know I shouldn't because of my feelings for you
Do bad things with you
We both know that our relationship is forbidden and we're taking risks by being together, but we can't resist the temptation
Met you in a bar
We met in a place where we were both looking for something to distract us from our problems
Your illusion is
You had a certain persona or image that you projected when we first met, and I was enchanted by it
Wear you like a necklace
I'm proud to be with you and I want to show you off to the world, like a piece of valuable jewelry
I'm so chill, but you make me jealous
I usually don't get bothered by things easily, but when it comes to you, I can't help feeling a little possessive and jealous
But I got your heart
Despite everything, you still love me and I know that I have a hold on your heart
Skippin', skip-skippin' when I'm gone
When I'm away, I know that you miss me just as much as I miss you
Come here, dressed in black now
We're meeting in secret, dressed in a way that will help us blend in and not draw attention to ourselves
Scratches down your back now
Our physical connection is intense and passionate, leaving marks on each other's bodies
You did a number on me
You've left a deep emotional impact on me, and I can't shake my feelings for you no matter how hard I try
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
We're both doing things that we know we shouldn't, but it doesn't matter to us because we're so caught up in our feelings for each other
Who's counting?
We're not keeping track of our mistakes or the risks we're taking, because we're too focused on the present moment and each other
1, 2, 3
We're counting on each other to always be there, to always understand each other, and to never let go
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Oscar Michael Gorres, Johan Karl Schuster, Martin Max Sandberg, Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jesusalfonsourreagomez6373
See you in the dark
All eyes on you, my magician
All eyes on us
You make everyone disappear, and
Cut me into pieces
Gold cage, hostage to my feelings
Back against the wall
Trippin', trip-trippin' when you're gone
'Cause we break down a little
But when you get me alone, it's so simple
'Cause baby, I know what you know
We can feel it
[Chorus]
And all the pieces fall right into place
Getting caught up in a moment
Lipstick on your face
So It Goes…
I'm yours to keep
And I'm yours to lose
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
Do bad things with you
So It Goes…
Met you in a bar
All eyes on me, your illusionist
All eyes on us
I make all your gray days clear
And wear you like a necklace
I'm so chill, but you make me jealous
But I got your heart
Skippin', skip-skippin' when I'm gone
'Cause we break down a little
But when I get you alone, it's so simple
'Cause baby, I know what you know
We can feel it
[Chorus]
And all the pieces fall right into place
Getting caught up in a moment
Lipstick on your face
So It Goes…
I'm yours to keep
And I'm yours to lose
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
Do bad things with you
So It Goes…
Come here, dressed in black now
So, So, So It Goes…
Scratches down your back now
So, So, So It Goes…
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
I did a number on you
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
Who's counting? (One, two, three)
[Chorus]
And all the pieces fall right into place (Pieces fall)
Getting caught up in a moment (Caught up, caught up)
Lipstick on your face
So It Goes…
I'm yours to keep (Oh)
And I'm yours to lose (Baby)
You know I'm not a bad girl, but I
I do bad things with you
So It Goes…
Come here, dressed in black now
So, So, So It Goes…
Scratches down your back now
So, So, So It Goes…
Come here, dressed in black now
So, So, So It Goes…
Scratches down your back now
So, So, So It Goes…
@iambanafsha
Reputation doesn't have a single bad song and this song is one of my favs🖤 this album rocked its production.
@iambanafsha
@Neha Riyaz you guessed that right.
@gsiya4023
@Neha Riyaz I mean i don't like ME!
@mcchilde2903
@G Siya you don't have to necessarily like everything, the point is Taylor's a great artist :))
@ariyatabassumabdullah1143
@G Siya that's from lover so the op's point still stands
@autumnstan
@noor malik i think a comment was deleted
@bonfire5794
A concept for a music video:
Sirens are blaring, and the camera switches between old vintage videos; a car burning on the side of a road, a vehicle chase, helicopters, a bank vault in the dark being opened, and finally it shows Taylor getting her mugshot and she narrates what happened, and wonders where it all went wrong.
The song starts, and we are shown scenes of her and her love interest planning a heist, falling in love and planning to run away together, then at the bridge it's revealed both of them planned to betray each other and steal the treasure for themselves. The man attempts to cuff her and leave her to get caught, but she reveals he is cuffed too and they both end up getting caught together. They kiss just as they are separated and then it shows Taylor getting her mugshot again. She looks at the camera and smirks, as if she knows they will inevitably escape their captivity and try it again; she poses as if it's not a mugshot but the paparazzi, and then says "So It Goes." right as the song ends. Her mugshot is mimicking the album cover of Reputation.
This would be sort of a prequel video to Getaway Car.
@sikaaahansa7616
Brilliant but I have a question ,what would we see when the line ‘Scratches down your back ‘ comes ??😂😂
@bonfire5794
@Sika a a Hans a This is a family show.....or is it?
@sikaaahansa7616
@Bonfire still I’m curious to know ,rest is ur choice lol