Swift shared via Instagram that “my tears ricochet” is about an “embittered tormentor showing up at the funeral of his fallen object of obsession.” She revealed in a YouTube livechat that it was the first song she wrote for folklore.
Some fans believe it connects to Swift’s personal life as well — with the song really being about Scott Borchetta’s betrayal of Swift when she left Big Machine records for Republic.
In addition, on August 2017’s “Look What You Made Me Do,” Swift infamously proclaimed “the old Taylor” dead. The prominent funeral imagery makes it sound like Swift may be mourning this metaphorical murder.
This song was confirmed on Taylor’s social media accounts on July 23, 2020.
mY tEArS rICOchEt
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We line up weeping in a sunlit room
And if I'm on fire
You'll be made of ashes, too
Even on my worst day
Did I deserve, babe
All the hell you gave me?
I swear I loved you
'Til my dying day
I didn't have it in myself to go with grace
And you're the hero flying around saving face
And if I'm dead to you why are you at the wake?
Cursing my name
Wishing I stayed
Look at how my tears ricochet
We gather stones
Never knowing what they'll mean
Some to throw
Some to make a diamond ring
You know I didn't want to
Have to haunt you
But what a ghostly scene
You wear the same jewels
That I gave you
As you bury me
I didn't have it in myself to go with grace
'Cause when I'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave
And if I'm dead to you why are you at the wake?
Cursing my name
Wishing I stayed
Look at how my tears ricochet
And I can go anywhere I want
Anywhere I want
Just not home
And you can aim for my heart, go for blood
But you would still miss me in your bones
And I still talk to you
When I'm screaming at the sky
And when you can't sleep at night
You hear my stolen lullabies
I didn't have it in myself to go with grace
And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves
You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same
Cursing my name
Wishing I stayed
You turned into your worst fears
And you're tossing out blame
Drunk on this pain
Crossing out the good years
And you're cursing my name
Wishing I stayed
Look at how my tears ricochet
In "my tears ricochet," Taylor Swift channels her emotions into a haunting ballad that reflects the anger, heartbreak, and betrayal felt after a lost love. The song is a metaphor for the way in which our actions and choices can come back to haunt us. The opening stanza describes the aftermath of a funeral, and how the singer and her loved ones are processing their grief. However, the following lines bring attention to the underlying issue - a past love that was destructive and damaging.
Swift then questions whether she deserved the pain that her former lover caused her regardless of her worst days, and if her unconditional love was worth it. The second verse references the gifts and experiences they shared, contrasting it with the destructive end. She laments that she is unable to move on from the memories of their love, which continue to haunt her, and how her lover can now wear the same jewels she gave him as he buries her.
Throughout the song, Swift emphasizes that her former lover's deeds will come back to him too, as they both will have to face the consequences of their actions. The bridge separates the internal and external struggles, providing a heart-wrenching insight into Swift's internal conversations with her lover. Overall, the song paints a tragic picture of lost love and betrayal that culminates into a fiery reckoning for the ex-lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
We gather here
We come together in this place
We line up weeping in a sunlit room
We stand in a bright room with tears in our eyes
And if I'm on fire
If I am hurting or suffering
You'll be made of ashes, too
You will also feel the pain
Even on my worst day
Even when I am at my lowest
Did I deserve, babe
Did I deserve all the hurt you caused me
All the hell you gave me?
All the pain and suffering you inflicted on me?
'Cause I loved you
Because I loved you deeply
I swear I loved you
I really did love you
'Til my dying day
Until the day I die
I didn't have it in myself to go with grace
I couldn't handle the pain with poise and elegance
And you're the hero flying around saving face
You're the one trying to look good and come out on top
And if I'm dead to you why are you at the wake?
If you don't care about me anymore, why are you here mourning me?
Cursing my name
Blaming and hating me
Wishing I stayed
Regretting that I left
Look at how my tears ricochet
See how my sadness affects others and comes back to me
We gather stones
We collect things without knowing their eventual significance
Never knowing what they'll mean
Not having a clue what their value will be
Some to throw
Some to use as weapons
Some to make a diamond ring
Some to turn into something beautiful and valuable
You know I didn't want to
You know I didn't want to haunt you
Have to haunt you
Have to make you feel guilty and remorseful
But what a ghostly scene
But how haunting and disturbing it is to see me everywhere
You wear the same jewels
You have kept and wear the same gifts I gave you
That I gave you
That I gave to you with love
As you bury me
As you say goodbye to me forever
And I can go anywhere I want
I am free to do and be whatever I want
Anywhere I want
Anywhere in the world
Just not home
But not to the place I consider home
And you can aim for my heart, go for blood
You can try to hurt me deeply
But you would still miss me in your bones
But you would still feel my absence deeply
And I still talk to you
I still speak to you even though you can't hear me
When I'm screaming at the sky
When I am full of emotion and yelling into the abyss
And when you can't sleep at night
And when you are unable to find peace
You hear my stolen lullabies
You hear my familiar and comforting songs in your head
And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves
And so our relationship will be destroyed and come to an end
You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same
You had to end things between us, but it was hard on you too
You turned into your worst fears
You became the thing you most feared
And you're tossing out blame
And you're blaming me for everything
Drunk on this pain
Lost in the intense emotions and unable to think clearly
Crossing out the good years
Ignoring and focusing on the negative parts of our past
And you're cursing my name
And you're still angry at me
Wishing I stayed
Wishing I had chosen to be with you instead of leaving
Look at how my tears ricochet
See how my emotions continue to have an impact on you and everyone else around me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor A. Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@caelumphyriinaarcanacorniu5316
Hi! While I do respect your opinion and your interpretation of this song, I am also one of the person's who saw the semblance of Marriage Story in this song.
You see, why do people who saw Marriage Story instinctively knew that it's partly inspired is becasue of the words. And Taylor said in an interview, "It was partly inspired by Marriage Story". While the first verse really relates to the film, the second verse also has some "undertones"
(POTENTIAL SPOILER BELOW)
re:
> Ghost - Charlie dressed up as a ghost by the next Halloween on the film, and it's kinda funny, ironic and sad at the same way.
> "Gather stones" might be their ring, since their rings do have stones in there (yep it's really small, to the point that you can't see it XD one of the very
verysmall detail that I appreciated on Noah's direction)> i guess "Same jewels" also means that Nicole's necklace is somehow connected to the line. I have this HC that Charlie gave it to her before. and it stays right there until the end of the film.
i'd also like to think that the first verse is on Nicole's perspective, and the second one's Charlie's. since the words resonates on their characterizaton and their development throughout the film.
So yeah. I just really have to "slightly" disagree on your interpretaton, but it's okay, we all have our different opinions. Have a nice day :)
@nataliehall9416
"I can go anywhere I want, anywhere I want--just not home." It hurts me everytime.
@elrondisaiah
Line for my Big Brother,He doesn't want to go home
@Lenore4Evermore
🥺🥺
@Fiorellandia
It reminds me of the line “Please don’t drop me home because it’s not my home, it’s their home and I’m welcome no more” by The smiths.
@Sparky12355
Yep exactly how I feel
@bubeudeh
every time...
@willnss
Only now I realized what she means with "you hear my stolen lullabies" y'all shes talking about her records. shes a genius
@novanramadaan
Owwww yeaaa
@ens3701
Oh my goshhh! I thought I was the only one who noticed lol
@marvelsdnf5155
@@ens3701 this is a straight reference to the you know the guys right that scott and scooter
she is directly shading them in this song