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Album:
Taylor Swift is back with her 6th album Reputation. This album is her most controversial album as it takes a unique turn from Taylor's usual pop style. The album itself features many tracks that reference celebrities such as Kanye, Calvin Harris and her current boyfriend, Joe Alwyn. "Look What You Made Me Do" kicked off the album and for good reason, it instantly set the tone for the entire album. The three main themes of the album are:
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Unapologetic
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Retribution
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Love
The iconic lyric "The old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, cause' she's dead!" told fans that Taylor wants to shed off her old skin and is doing so by creating an album that shows herself with no filter. Although, Taylor has said that she isn't completely burning her roots, and "Getaway Car" is a perfect example of the old Taylor that we know.
Background:
Getaway Car is about Taylor's relationship with Calvin Harris and her falling for someone else, in this case, Tom Hiddleston. The entire song is based around the theme of robbing a bank and uses Bonnie and Clyde as inspiration. Although the entire song seems about robbing a bank, it's actually a metaphor for her and Calvin's soon to be ending relationship.
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[Intro]
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
The first reference to the bank robbing couple, Bonnie and Clyde. The 'getaway car' symbolises her and Calvin's relationship, you can keep driving away from your problems, but, much like Bonnie and Clyde, it was doomed from the start.
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[Verse 1]
He was the best of times, the worst of crimes
I struck a match and blew your mind
But I didn't mean it
And you didn’t see it
The ties were black, the lies were white
And shades of grey in candlelight
I wanted to leave him
I needed a reason
This verse highlights a few key points. The line "the worst of crimes" alludes to Taylor cheating on Calvin for Tom, obviously feeling guilt over it.
"I struck a match and blew your mind" refers to Taylor first meeting Tom at the Met Gala and was the first spark of their relationship. Although, "But I didn't mean it, And you didn't see it" shows that Taylor had no intention of impressing Tom as she was in a relationship with Calvin.
"The ties were black, the lies were white" once again referring to the Met Gala.
"And shades of grey in candlelight" she uses colours in these lines to symbolise her emotions. The "shades of grey" highlights her uncertainty in her current relationship and Tom.
"I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason" this line further concretes the idea of Tom being the 'getaway' car in this scenario. Taylor sees him as a way to get away from Calvin.
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[Pre-Chorus]
X marks the spot, where we fell apart
He poisoned the well, I was lyin' to myself
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
We never had a shotgun shot in the dark
"He poisoned the well" symbolises Tom's presence putting a strain on Taylor and Calvin's relationship.
"I was lyin' to myself" shows that Taylor wanted to push her feelings for Tom away, but she can't help thinking about it.
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[Chorus]
You were drivin' the getaway car
We were flyin’, but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
We're ridin' in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
In a getaway car, oh-oh
No, they never get far, oh-ahh
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
"You were drivin' the getaway car, We were flyin', but we'd never get far" further highlights the idea of Taylor using Tom as a way to get out of her current relationship, while also knowing that it's going to be doomed no matter what happens.
"Don't pretend it's such a mystery, Think about the place where you first met me" yet another reference to the Met Gala where she met both Tom and Joe. Tom should of known that their relationship would turn sour considering what she did to Calvin.
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"There were sirens in the beat of your heart" is showing the panic in both Calvin's and Tom's emotion. Calvin knows that he isn't the only one and Tom also knows this.
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"No, nothing good starts in a getaway car" while once again referencing Bonnie and Clyde, with the previous lyrics tied into it, this line now shows Taylor's acceptance of the doomed relationships.
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[Verse 2]
It was the great escape, the prison break
The light of freedom on my face
But you weren’t thinkin’
And I was just drinkin'
While he was runnin’ after us, I was screamin', "go, go, go!"
But with three of us, honey, it's a side show
And a circus ain't a love story
And now we’re both sorry (we're both sorry)
"It was the great escape, the prison break, The Light of freedom on my face" this line tells the listener that she is now in a relationship with Tom, after 'escaping' from Calvin.
"But you weren't thinking" highlights Tom's obliviousness to the situation, he was just used to get Taylor away from Calvin.
"But with three of us, honey, it's a side show" This line in particular showcases Taylor's hatred for public relationships. She's realised that this love triangle is drama that the media is eating up.
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[Pre-Chorus]
X marks the spot, where we fell apart
He poisoned the well, every man for himself
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
It hit you like a shotgun shot to the heart
"He poisoned the well" symbolises Tom's presence putting a strain on Taylor and Calvin's relationship.
"I was lyin' to myself" shows that Taylor wanted to push her feelings for Tom away, but she can't help thinking about it.
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[Chorus]
You were drivin' the getaway car
We were flyin’, but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
We're ridin' in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
In a getaway car, oh-oh
No, they never get far, oh-ahh
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
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"You were drivin' the getaway car, We were flyin', but we'd never get far" further highlights the idea of Taylor using Tom as a way to get out of her current relationship, while also knowing that it's going to be doomed no matter what happens.
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"Don't pretend it's such a mystery, Think about the place where you first met me" yet another reference to the Met Gala where she met both Tom and Joe. Tom should of known that their relationship would turn sour considering what she did to Calvin.
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"There were sirens in the beat of your heart" is showing the panic in both Calvin's and Tom's emotion. Calvin knows that he isn't the only one and Tom also knows this.
"No, nothing good starts in a getaway car" while once again referencing Bonnie and Clyde, with the previous lyrics tied into it, this line now shows Taylor's acceptance of the doomed relationships.
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[Bridge]
We were jet-set, Bonnie and Clyde
Until I switched to the other side
To the other si-i-i-i-ide
It's no surprise I turned you in
'Cause us traitors never win
I'm in a getaway car
I left you in a motel bar
Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys
That was the last time you ever saw me
This brige is one of the most pivotal parts of the song, as it reveals that Taylor was just playing Tom.
"Until I switched to the other side" & "It's no surprise I turned you in" are both metaphors for Taylor using Tom as a way to get away from Calvin, and now that she has done just that, she is now leaving him. It's no surprise that the relationship is ending because they were, from the start of the song, described as Bonnie and Clyde.
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"Cause us traitors never win" refers to herself, as although she technically got what she wanted, she is now alone, paying the price for her sins.
"Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys, That was the last time you ever saw me" this soul-cutting line shows Taylor as independent, and driving the 'getaway car' alone, leaving Calvin, and now Tom, in the dust.
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[Chorus]
Drivin' the getaway car
We were flyin’, but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
We're ridin' in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
In a getaway car, oh-oh
No, they never get far, oh-ahh
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
You were drivin' the getaway car, We were flyin', but we'd never get far" further highlights the idea of Taylor using Tom as a way to get out of her current relationship, while also knowing that it's going to be doomed no matter what happens.
"Don't pretend it's such a mystery, Think about the place where you first met me" yet another reference to the Met Gala where she met both Tom and Joe. Tom should of known that their relationship would turn sour considering what she did to Calvin.
"There were sirens in the beat of your heart" is showing the panic in both Calvin's and Tom's emotion. Calvin knows that he isn't the only one and Tom also knows this.
"No, nothing good starts in a getaway car" while once again referencing Bonnie and Clyde, with the previous lyrics tied into it, this line now shows Taylor's acceptance of the doomed relationships.
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[Outro]
I was ridin' in a getaway car
I was cryin' in a getaway car
I was dyin' in a getaway car
Said goodbye in a getaway car
Ridin' in a getaway car
I was cryin' in a getaway car
I was dyin' in a getaway car
Said goodbye in a getaway car
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The outro wraps up the song in a very sad way. Taylor has come full circle, she used a 'getaway car' to escape someone and get to someone else. She repeats this process on Tom, leaving him for her current boyfriend, Joe. Although, she is obviously hurt by her actions, she still pushes on.
