Bad Blood
Taylor Swift (feat. Kendrick Lamar) Lyrics

'Cause baby now we got bad blood
The singer now has a hostile relationship with the person they used to love.

You know it used to be mad love
They used to be deeply in love with each other.

So take a look at what you've done
The singer wants the other person to reflect on their actions and what led to their turbulent relationship.

Hey! I can't take it back, look where I'm at
The artist realizes they can't change the past and laments where their relationship has ended up as a result.

We was OG like D.O.C., remember that?
The artist reminisces about how close and original they used to be, and compares it to a specific rap group.

My TLC was quite OD, ID my facts
The singer's tender love and care was overdone, and they have the facts to prove it.

Now POV of you and me, similar Iraq
The singer now has a different perspective on their relationship, and it resembles the conflicts in Iraq.

I don't hate you, but I hate to critique, overrate you
The artist doesn't hate the other person, but they resent criticizing and overvaluing them in the past.

These beats of a dark heart, use basslines to replace you
The artist replaces their negative feelings with music, and uses basslines to distract from their broken heart.

Take time and erase you, love don't hear no more
The artist acknowledges it takes time to move on from a failed relationship, and their heart doesn't feel love anymore.

No, I don't fear no more
The singer is no longer afraid of being alone, or afraid of the person who hurt them.

Better yet, respect ain't quite sincere no more
The artist no longer has genuine respect for the other person, as their relationship is now defined by conflict and hostility.

Oh, it's so sad to
The singer feels a sense of melancholy when they think about their past relationship.

Think about the good times
They remember the happy moments they shared with the other person.

'Cause, baby, now we've got bad blood
The singer reiterates that they now have a toxic relationship with the person they used to love.

Now we've got problems
Their relationship is now defined by issues and conflicts.

And I don't think we can solve 'em
The artist doubts that their issues can ever be resolved.

You made a really deep cut
The other person caused a significant and possibly lasting wound to the singer.

And, baby, now we've got bad blood, hey!
The singer repeats that their relationship is now defined by hostility and resentment.

Remember when you tried to write me off?
The artist recalls a specific instance when the other person tried to dismiss or ignore them.

Remember when you thought I'd take a loss?
The artist remembers how the other person believed they would lose in a conflict or disagreement.

Don't you remember? You thought that I would need ya
The artist questions if the other person recalls how they believed the artist would depend on them.

Follow procedure, remember? Oh, wait, you got amnesia
The singer mockingly reminds the other person to follow their own rules, and suggests they conveniently forgot what they once said or did.

It was my season for battle wounds
The artist was going through a difficult time, and faced personal battles and struggles.

Battle scars, body bumped, bruised
The singer experienced literal and emotional injuries as a result of their conflicts with the other person.

Stabbed in the back, brimstone, fire jumping through
The singer was betrayed and hurt by the other person, and felt intense anger and pain as a result.

Still, all my life, I got money and power
The singer asserts that while their relationship may have ended up a mess, they still have success and influence in their life.

And you gotta live with the bad blood now
The other person has to accept and deal with the negative effects their actions had on the artist and their relationship.

Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes
Temporary fixes don't last or fix the real problem, especially when the wound runs deep.

You say sorry just for show
The other person's apologies are insincere and only done to maintain appearances.

If you live like that, you live with ghosts
If you only put up a front and don't address your mistakes, you'll have to face the haunting consequences later on.

(You forgive, you forget, but you never let it go)
The artist acknowledges the popular phrase, but adds that even if you forgive and forget, you'll still remember the pain and resentment it caused.

If you love like that, blood runs cold
If you continue to love like that, you'll eventually become cold and distant.