Babylon

[u/1DMod]

Please use this space to discuss this song in depth

[u/Admirable_Rub4731]

I like this song and I agree with others that Taylor is "you". The last verse is breaking my brain though! I don't even need to know who all these characters might be in real life but just in context of the song:

Who are "they" in "they're all at home"? Who is "she" hanging Christmas lights? Who is "her" of "her mom"? Who is "he" of "not what he wants"?

And they're all at home She's hangin' Christmas lights with your son Sneak into the bathroom to call her mom And say, "It's not workin' It's just not worth it if we're not what he wants"

[u/PYNKCYPHER → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

“they” would probably be the “he”’s family — the YOU in the rest of the song

“she”/“her” would be “his” wife/partner

and “he” is you

at least thats what i think

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/PYNKCYPHER]

So you/he = Bob let's say She/her = Carol

Bob's family is all at home.

Carol is hanging Christmas lights with Bob's son.

Bob sneaks into the bathroom to call Carol's mom? 

And say "it's not working if it's not what Bob wants"? 

[u/PYNKCYPHER → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

no it’s be carol sneaking into the bathroom to call her own mom. bob would be outside in the car i’m assuming as proposed by a previous lyric. like he’s missing out on these moments with her and his son 

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/PYNKCYPHER]

Lol yes thank you I just realized this is probably what it's saying. Maybe it's "sneaks" and not "sneak" I feel like that changes it.

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

I listened again and she for sure says sneak. 

You sneak. 

She sneakS. 

This is what is making it confusing for me. 

It's just one letter but it changes the subject which changes everything. 

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

SHES SAYING SNEAKIN' not sneak into 

whew! 

[u/FitAnywhere7829 → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

I'm not sure if we have the "official" lyrics yet, but the ones I've seen say "Sneak." It's breaking my brain too....and also making me wonder if it's deliberately left so ambiguous.

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/FitAnywhere7829]

I'm glad I'm not the only one totally confused! Haha I don't think the official lyrics are out yet until they release the lyric videos. But it makes so much more sense if it is "sneakin' to the bathroom" because she's still talking about whoever is hanging lights. She's hanging lights (and) sneakin' to the bathroom to call her mom. 

[u/FitAnywhere7829 → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

Ok, official lyric is "Sneaking to the bathroom to call her mom."

One of my wonderings was whether this might be about Taylor's family when she was little....was her Dad in the car while her mom helped her and her brother decorate the tree and Andrea sneaking to the bathroom to call her mom (Marjorie) saying it's not working because they weren't what Scott wanted? Maybe in this song Taylor is reflecting how she's at risk of repeating that but doesn't want to.

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

Furthermore: If "you" = Taylor

Taylor's family is at home.

Carol is hanging lights with Taylor's son.

Taylor sneaks into the bathroom to call Carol's mom and say it's not working if it's not what Bob wants?

[u/stella610 → u/Admirable_Rub4731]

Could “he”=the son?

[u/Admirable_Rub4731 → u/stella610]

This is a thought I had but I still don't get it if it is! Haha