iLLIcIt afFAiRS
Taylor Swift Lyrics
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Hood over your head
Keep your eyes down
Tell your friends you're out for a run
You'll be flushed when you return
Take the road less traveled by
Tell yourself you can always stop
What started in beautiful rooms
And that's the thing about illicit affairs
And clandestine meetings
And longing stares
It's born from just one single glance
But it dies, and it dies, and it dies
A million little times
Leave the perfume on the shelf
That you picked out just for him
So you leave no trace behind
Like you don't even exist
Take the words for what they are
A dwindling, mercurial high
A drug that only worked
The first few hundred times
And that's the thing about illicit affairs
And clandestine meetings
And stolen stares
They show their truth one single time
But they lie, and they lie, and they lie
A billion little times
And you wanna scream
Don't call me kid
Don't call me baby
Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me
You showed me colors you know
I can't see with anyone else
Don't call me kid
Don't call me baby
Look at this idiotic fool that you made me
You taught me a secret language
I can't speak with anyone else
And you know damn well
For you I would ruin myself
A million little times
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's song "illicit affairs" express the emotions and feelings of two people engaging in an extramarital affair. The first verse begins with a description of secrecy, encouraging the lover to leave unnoticed, with a hood over their head, and their eyes down. The lyrics suggest that the affair is being kept a secret from the public and maybe even their closest friends. They also encourage the lover to take a less traveled road, convincing themselves that they can stop whenever they want, although it is apparent that might not be the case as the song progresses. The idea that what started in "beautiful rooms" ends up in "meetings in parking lots" suggests that what started as something romantic and clandestine had become a shadow of what it once was.
The pre-chorus encapsulates the idea of the song's title, "illicit affairs," and "longing stares," born from a single glance, but dying a thousand little deaths. This idea is repeated and expanded in the chorus, emphasizing the real nature of these secrets meetings, which are fueled by passion, wild thoughts, and emotions that will never see the light of day. The second verse emphasizes how the two people fear being caught, with the singer asking her lover not to calling her kid, and she fears the result of his actions. Instead of the beautiful colors, he once showed her would become a "godforsaken mess," and she would become an "idiotic fool."
Overall, the song emphasizes that the passionate love portrayed in the affair can only exist under specific secretive conditions, which are not sustainable in the long run. Even when it ends, both parties involved might never forget it.
Line by Line Meaning
Make sure nobody sees you leave
Be sure nobody spots you exiting.
Hood over your head
Cover your face with a hoodie.
Keep your eyes down
Don't look anyone in the eyes.
Tell your friends you're out for a run
Lie to your friends that you are exercising.
You'll be flushed when you return
You'll appear excited or flustered returning after the secretive act.
Take the road less traveled by
Use unconventional routes to avoid being noticed.
Tell yourself you can always stop
Reassure yourself that you can quit the affair anytime.
What started in beautiful rooms
The affair began in romantic and exclusive settings.
Ends with meetings in parking lots
The affair ends in public and mundane places.
And that's the thing about illicit affairs
The song is about the nature of secret and forbidden relationships.
And clandestine meetings
Illicit affairs involve secret encounters.
And longing stares
The affair involves looking at one another with desire.
It's born from just one single glance
The relationship started from a single moment of attraction.
But it dies, and it dies, and it dies
The excitement and passion of the affair slowly fade and wither away.
A million little times
This phrase represents the numerous moments where the excitement dwindles.
Leave the perfume on the shelf
Avoid using perfume to cause suspicion from your partner.
That you picked out just for him
The scent was specifically chosen for the other person.
So you leave no trace behind
Be careful not to leave any evidence behind.
Like you don't even exist
Acting in secrecy means not leaving a hint of your presence.
Take the words for what they are
Understand the truth behind the situation.
A dwindling, mercurial high
The feeling of love in these relationships is fleeting and unpredictable.
A drug that only worked
The passion felt in the affair can only last for a short time.
The first few hundred times
The spark of desire lasts only for a limited time.
And stolen stares
The lovers sneak glances at each other.
They show their truth one single time
The truth of the affair is only revealed once.
But they lie, and they lie, and they lie
The affair is a constant deception, despite the feelings involved.
A billion little times
This phrase symbolizes the repetitiveness of the lies.
And you wanna scream
The artist is overwhelmed by the situation.
Don't call me kid
The artist asserts herself as a mature adult.
Don't call me baby
The singer hates the treatment she's receiving from her lover.
Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me
The lover is blamed for the mess the singer is in.
You showed me colors you know
The lover revealed new experiences to the artist.
I can't see with anyone else
The artist can't experience these feelings with anyone else.
You taught me a secret language
The lover helped to develop a unique way of communicating with each other.
I can't speak with anyone else
The singer can only share this connection with the lover.
And you know damn well
The lover is fully aware of the impact he has on the artist.
For you I would ruin myself
The singer is so invested in the lover that she's willing to self-destruct for him.
A million little times
This phrase represents the numerous moments where the singer would sacrifice herself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jack Michael Antonoff, Taylor A. Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lostgirl_1394
folklore is teaching me more vocabulary than school
@Doryplory
Same. English isn't my first language and this album actually thaught me a few new words.
@lostgirl_1394
@@Doryplory taylor the educator 😂
@DeniseSantos-qe5ee
😂😂😂😂😂😂 Is funny
@yeganeazizova8944
Me too. İ love her and her albums , sound , songs ....
@Miley-vk1sw
She's the best singer and songwriter AND english teacher 😌
@jonaxxenthusiast5365
somebody said 'taylor swift constructing bridges better than engineers' damn she ain't lying
@Raiderordeath
Hahahaha.....couldn't have said it better!
@namename9372
Frrrr
@JF-ct5sg
Any fellow engineers who are Taylor Swift fans?? 🙋🏻♀️