Pop Song Analysis: "I Knew You Were Trouble"

When I heard the first verse of Taylor Swift’s new song, “I Knew You Were Trouble,” I was pretty impressed. True, it was about a failed relationship, which isn't exactly a new concept for her song writing, but it seemed like she had matured a bit because, for the first time, she was accepting partial blame for the failure. She takes responsibility right at the beginning of the chorus: "I knew you were trouble when you walked in, so shame on me now." Apparently, she knew she was getting into a doomed relationship, and she owns up to that. Did this song mark a change in Taylor's writing style? Is she evolving from the high school fairy tale view of the world to a blunt, more mature outlook?

Nope. She tried, I guess. She tried to write a dark(-ish)loss-of-innocence kind of song where she gets involved with a guy who she discovers at the beginning is not the relationship type, ignores that fact, and gets hurt as a result- but she still portrays herself as the heartbroken victim of the big bad boyfriend of the month. Yes, she admits that she knew he wasn't serious about her, stating that she "guess[ed] he didn't care," a quality she liked at first. But, of course, he's still the bad guy. He started it. As much she insists she knew he was trouble, as much as she pretends to blame herself, she still makes it his fault; he “got [her] in [his] sights…and when [she] fell hard, [he] took a step back without [her].” Basically what she’s saying is she got involved with this guy who wasn't looking for anything serious, she developed stronger feelings that he didn't return, and the resulting heartbreak is his fault. Ugh.

The bridge is the part that bugs me the most: "And the saddest fear starts creeping in: that you never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything." First of all: DUH. At least to the first part: "you never loved me." Um...I thought that's what she liked about him in the first place. And I understand that it's possible for real feelings to develop from a casual relationship, and when it's one-sided it can really hurt, but the fact that she acts like it's some shocking, soul-crushing realization is annoying because she has stated several times (though not explicitly) that she knew he didn't love her. She knew he didn't care. SHE KNEW HE WAS TROUBLE, DAMMIT. How is it a fear if it's something she already knew?! Also, saying he never loved anyone or anything might be a little hyperbolic. Just because he wasn't in love with her doesn't mean he’s completely incapable of the emotion. But no, Taylor insists that this cold-hearted, soulless bastard has never loved anything. Her. His parents. That pet hamster he had when he was five years old. Ice cream.  ANYTHING.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m just as guilty of feeling resentful toward a guy for not as strongly about me as I did about him. It’s a relatable situation-a way of coping with the vulnerability that stems from rejection- and if it had been handled better, it could have been a really good topic for a song.  Instead, Taylor wrote another breakup song that slams another ex, and it’s extra obnoxious because she tries to act like this breakup song is different by making a half-assed attempt at taking partial blame that comes across as a backhanded apology.

And of course I sing along to it at the top of my lungs whenever it’s on the radio. Dammit.