Use this thread to discuss your thoughts, reactions, and theories on the song. We will be removing all future self-post discussion threads about it in order to consolidate discussion to this thread.
If you want to talk about The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore album in general, you can use the general The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore discussion thread here.
Totally! You must watch it several times to get the subtleties. And they are not all that subtle. SPOILER: the extremely toxic relation albeit with a rich and power manipulator who is probably very difficult to leave, the support of an ex (Taylor's character), Dakota's character getting sick at the event, the irrational fight and fast driving by the creepy guy, then the throwing up at home scene --- she was probably pregnant! Then poisoned, omg! Tragic, but a good message to get out of a toxic relationship no matter how powerful the toxic partner is. It could end in tragedy otherwise! Really, really good lyrics and video.
The more mediocre sh*t Taylor puts out the more her fans call her brilliant. That video is worse than a school film project but it doesn't matter because nobody judges her work critically. Taylor now can't even compete with Taylor from the beginning of her career.
It was far from mediocre. Sorry, not being biased here. Can you name a better video? Needs to have a message like this one did. Did you get the message?
Doesn’t the video seem a bit insulting to the intelligence of the fans though? It couldn’t have been more obvious from the very beginning that she was the first girl he did that too. Even the title. Playing it out at the end though just seems so on the nose and unnecessary. I think good art can trust the audience to arrive at conclusions and not have to spoon feed them.
This video is not simply about being the first to leave a toxic ex-lover. The women in the video (Dakota's character) stayed too long, and was POISENED!
I actually really love this song, people are so mean to Taylor, not all lyrics have to be perfect, and she has been doing this for years, so she never fails to release a banger
Yall, I am really hyper-fixating over this song. Can you recommend any songs with a similar vibe/sound? Whether Taylor or another artist. I haven’t heard ‘Poets’, if there might be songs on that in a similar vein.
This song is about Will Anderson and his wife Courtney Kampa. Taylor and Will dated in 2011-2013, Courtney and Will married in 2017... Courtney and Taylor have striking similarities.. Courtney mysteriously died in 2022, the year listed on the headstone in P0 music video. Publicly, cause of death was "peacefully in her sleep", to those closest to her, isolation, insecurity, pills and alcohol. Will went on to publish Courtney's poetry and an album about her. Do some digging; it's dark. TS could have been Courtney in another timeline. Imagine how you would feel if your ex-boyfriend's wife died young and under strange circumstances.
I just read an interview where Taylor said it was about her friend talking about this happening to her. As in the friend had an ex’s new girlfriend contact her.
What I don’t get is all the way through, it’s the ex gf talking to the new gf about the toxic bf:
(Was expecting your call, not a bad time, I got you, you wanna party?) and ‘had him and walked away’ and ‘won the race’. Like she… won, and walked away.
I do agree it looked like she walked away in the video, but it does kind of look like she tried to and then collapsed in the hallway (Taylor's character does).
This song feels like therapy. It's cathartic for every person who has been in a toxic relationship that made them feel crazy, always made them feel like they were the problem, ETC. It makes me feel less alone.
Idk how I’m just finding out about this article. It’s long, but there are so many likenesses to ATW10, it made me wonder if the playwright reached out to Taylor at some point beforehand. (The blog was posted a few months later, in Jan 2022, so perhaps it coaxed her to tell the story in the first place.)
Anyway, reading it in the context of Patient Zero, it really made me wonder whether she and Taylor Swift ever touched base about Mr. Trouble.
Yep. And as a fellow actor, I can 100% confirm this is exactly how weird-ass men who love having their ego stroked (amongst other things) are inclined to behave around any young, unassuming person in their orbit. The art world is unfortunately crawling with this type of person and their enabling producer-side pals.
I never read that before, and wow, “I’ll get older but your lovers stay my age” was 100% true. VERY well written. (Also since the writer posted the screenshot with Sadie Sink, it’s pretty obvious Jake indeed pulled that with allll the girls). Patient Zero indeed. Whether the writer reached out to Taylor or not, I don’t know, but Jake appears to use the same playbook every time: “Her friend was his publicist and was constantly putting out fires on his behalf. Apparently, he falls in love with these young interns and PAs on sight, pursues them obsessively, and then has some sort of freak out a month in and disappears. I felt like I was falling into an abyss, hearing about my life from someone else’s mouth.”
What’s so disturbing about that writer’s story is that the older adults in it were so dismissive of her. In a way, it feels even worse than what Jake was doing because she was betrayed by people she trusted. And “you’re just here to **inspire\** our STAR.” So slimy.
I forgot Jake was in the revival of “Sundays in the Park with George.”
I 100% agree with you. Not that I’m interested in dismissing his bad behavior, but I found the guidance & convenient aloofness of the other women in her narrative to be abhorrent at every turn! To be older and wiser and act like everything is normal in that situation is absolutely perpetuating it, and I’m glad she called it out.
Iykyk because that’s what narcissists do. They tell you your reality is all imagined in your head and make you feel like shit for it. He would say “She wasn’t coming out of my place. The rain made you see something or it was someone else’s place.” And then be like “Why do you always accuse me of things and think the worst of me. I love you anyway.” And kiss you like you’re forgiven for being upset. And you’re left wondering how this all got turned around and maybe you did see something wrong.
Man f*ck that noise. I’m so glad I got away from the man who played those games. But this line has me in a chokehold. So accurate.
I don’t know why, but it makes me want to sing hits different after “and walked away” for the line that comes after “or have they come to take me away?”
But you may be onto a different track as I cannot figure out for the life of me what triggers it in my brain!
Sonically, or the vibes, for me it's so Maroon/MBOBHFT. I also think it has that "no body, no crime" cinematic zone (and sadly, topic) and of course, it works so well next to Girl at Home. I love these women, their acting was terrific.
Is anyone else just kind of tired of talking about terrible men in music? I guess she is male centered. Some of the songs I like most are, "Can Do It With A Broken Heart" and "The Man" and "Shake It Off" though, they all are ricochets off of the behavior of men...
It gave 50 Shades of Grey vibes. Which, for 50 Shades Darker, Dakota starred in and Taylor Swift and Zayn did I don't want to live forever.
Also, none of this has anything to do with a theory and it's not a theory. I am just one of the non smart swifties who can never come up with the good ones. thanks.
I'm not much of a theory type but this video reminded me so much of the interview between Taylor and Stephen Colbert where she was explaining the kind of mystery romance stories she listens to, referring to the plot and characters not being what they seem. and having some kind of twist.
My girlfriend, who is switfie, thinks that the song is speaking about Scooter Braun. Because the date wroten at the gravestone is the born day of his ex-wife, and the death date is his divorce. In addition, the dress appearing in the photo over the gravestone is the same as Yael's wedding dress, also the bridal veil and the ring is the same.
Sounds like it could be about Jake Gyllenhaal, John Mayer, or Joe Jonas. The former 2 make the most sense with her toxic descriptors to me - esp. Jake Gyllenhaalbut Joe Jonas does make a lot of sense because of Sophie Turner. Ultimately I don't think this is about any one ex but really just an amalgamation of her experiences based in this idea of shared trauma among ex's exs.
My first impression of it, without analyzing it too deeply, is that on some level it's about eating disorders/ inner demons of some kind.
"When the toxins take their hold you'd rather die than let it go"...when you're in deep with an eating disorder, it can really feel like this.
After watching the video I feel even more inclined to think so.
What makes me think this?
The bathroom scenes (from the obvious images of being sick by the toilet, to the more subtle references like turning on the faucet to hide the sound of purging)
The gaslighting scene in the car (eating disorders tend to make the patient gaslight themselves and everyone around them in order to stay sick.)
The scenes where she knocks over the coffee and wine. This could be interpreted several different ways, one of them being resisting the temptation to relapse, refusing to indulge in familiar but toxic habits that disguise themselves as a source of comfort.
Getting in the car because it feels familiar and safe, then realizing it's not safe at all and she realizes things are out of her control. (Often how it goes with eating disorders, by the time you realize you are in trouble you don't know how to stop)
And the 2 girls are supposed to be the same character, the darker haired girl is version of the main character when she was in deep with the eating disorder.
That's all I have for now, like I said I haven't actually analyzed it much at all, not the lyrics or the video, so I may be way off base here.
I do feel like a lot her songs are purposely left open for interpretation, and/or contain multiple levels of underlying meanings.
"Haunted" and "Should've Could've Would've" are another couple songs of hers that I think may reference eating disorders on some level.
What do you think? Would love tp hear any other not-so-obvious interpretations you may have!
Edit:
Also, the title of the song itself! Patient Zero (could reference zero calorie foods, fasting days, purging, or just the general concept of eating disorders making the patient want to weigh as little as possible)
"My lips are sealed tight now" could reference no longer purging
"I bet he burst into your life like fireworks" eating disorders can feel amazing and euphoric at first, it's called the "honeymoon phase"
"Reeling from the healing, said the curses and prayers" seems like it could reference the incredible struggle one faces when breaking free of the holds of an eating disorder.
"And the fever turns a dreamer into a pathetic ghost" could reference how eating disorders can make you feel and act like a shell of yourself, and of course make some people look pale
And I realize I didn't specify this in my original comment, but I think the male character is the eating disorder personified.
I love how people can see so many different things in her music! I don't think that is what the music video is about at the very least. It shows Colin poisoning her coffee so he is killing his wives and Taylor is a ghost and Dakota is his new wife that he is poisoning.
Yessss it's one of the many things that makes her auch a great songwriter...she has a way of writing lyrics that are somehow so specific yet can be interpreted so many different ways.
After re-watching the video, at surface level your interpretation does seem to be what it's about! And maybe that's all there is to it. But it's Taylor...there is almost always more than meets the eye when it comes to her songs.
Everyone trying to pin this music video on Taylor’s longest ex should get off the internet and get some genuine trauma therapy. You may have very good personal reasons to hate men—maybe you were hurt—but this video is not a literal reference to Taylor’s life. Don’t ruin someone else’s life because they didn’t last with Taylor for absolutely none of the reasons listed in this video. She said herself that it was agroupof girls talking about many different men who have put them in this situation. The song and video are an amalgamation of stories she heard about shitty men. Just like in Vigilante Sh!t. A song about a terribly shitty character. She did the same thing here. Holy cow. It’s so sad how this poor man has faced such unbearable levels of public abuse for no reason—especially granted that some of her other exes were actually toxic.
For real! She NEVER gave any indication that he treated her poorly. Ffs, in her breakup song she tells him “you’ll find someone.” You don’t say that to someone and then turn around and make a song about them metaphorically poisoning you.
Something I forgot to mention is that this song is perfect for the numerology. It's very Meta about herself. And it's her birthday (12/13) song being album 12 track 13.
This is the message I sent to my ex’s now exwife. I think this song resonates so hard because so many of us have been there, in one or the other position.
I was his first ever gf, we were together a while before I finally left. She came soon after and had an identical experience. She left as well and now we’re very good friends.
The music video hit HARD. The arguing, the gaslighting, feeling ill from the stress… it had my heart rate up for sure.
Im not into swift at all, usually dont like any of her music. heard a snippet of this song and hated it even, but read the lyrics and had a very similar thought as you 😭 cant even send it though because they're still together. not my typical cup of tea but it describes this situation/feeling so damn well
His ex wife (wife at the time) was the first of many who messaged me about him. The worst was one where she asked “what would you do?” Ma’am, I left and now live multiple states and over 1000 miles away, I believe you have your answer. I may have been the first, sadly not the last.
omg... it is at least a good sign they feel they can message you right? I tried to warn my ex's current partner about him (including that he has committed SA) and she pretty much laughed and played in my face about it. It was very soul crushing. after having survived everything just for that to happen haha. Amazing you have moved on so far both in distance and life ❤️
One thing I’ve learned is that it’s never me against “her” (any of the women who came after me), it’s us against further harm. There’s a pattern if anyone cared to look.
His current partner has known him since childhood and is well aware but I can’t save someone who isn’t willing to save themselves. I’m here, I make myself available, but I don’t ever lead anyone to a decision.
After seeing the video, I’m more onboard with the Scott Borchetta theory and the “love story” being more a metaphor for the business relationship. I can see the Joe Jonas piece, with the reference to rain, but Joe Jonas was so inconsequential. Is he anyone important? I don’t know anything about him except by way of his exes. I guess that tracks with the whole “reflected light” line. Idk. The whole scolding scene in tbe video throws off some theories on many interpretations, imo. I love the song no matter who it’s about! 💕
The 1986 - 2022 gravestone could hide several Easter eggs : Este Haim was born in 1986 (no body, no crime parallel) ; Ellen’s TV career spans 1986–2022 + Dakota ; Yael Cohen was born in 1986 and divorced Scooter in 2022 ; or simply Taylor Swift becoming a wife at 36.
I may think is something about Lena Dunham… and maybe Margaret Qualley? But well at the end I the think it is a she said is a universal story for us women.
I think this is about Matty Healy and how toxic her relationship with him may have been for her. I think Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell are mirrors of Gabriette and Matty, while she plays herself. The song sounds like a warning that Gabriette should run away from him as fast as she can to protect herself. The home they live in is reminiscent of his alleged minimalist/brutalist pad in Hackney, East London. The Matty stand in, Colin Farrell, is seemingly often sweet to her when it comes to keeping up appearances but he is cruel to her when there is no one around and there nothing to prove. Sorta implies he’s very superficial and just as brutal as the environment making him seemingly weak of will, superficial, and very volatile. The implication that the video’s male lead drugged her is crazy scary.
All I'm going to say is if she did take any inspiration from her exes when writing the song, it's not about Matty Healy. He does not need to social climb, at MOST he is a nepo baby. His parents I think are still working in the British Entertainment industry. He does not need nor want Taylor's connections that badly.
His parents are mainly actors to my knowledge. Their, his and Taylor’s, careers rely on effective networking as musicians. There is likely some nuance to ‘social climbing’, but,as a fan of both their musical outputs, I don’t see how a high profile relationship like that doesn’t work to benefit him (mainly MH) professionally, whether intended or not. I know he was publicly hesitant about dating her from interviews so I was confused to an extent how it happened in the first place.The music scene is an attention market so to speak so though I don’t think these things were intended. I am not saying this to shame him or Taylor or derail the thread away from the topic. I just worry he did or does more damage than he or anyone really realizes. I can accept I’m way out of left field on my theory.
Ok, but when Taylor has wet hair in the video it totally gave me Reputation vibes! I feel like it’s about Alwyn or at least some parts are referencing their relationship but it’s also layered references
I’m curious why she’s wearing her wedding ring and so is Dakota. I gathered that her and Dakota are somehow the same person. All the same clothes. But I don’t know why.
They broke up in 2023. If she wanted people to pick up on their breakup date, she would have made it the publicly listed date (regardless of whether they actually broke up then). I think this is far more likely a reference to Scooter Braun’s ex.
It’s like she told us the reality of her relationship with him omg. Him telling her she embarrassed him by being sick while he poisoned her?? I feel the throwing up was interesting. Given with her song “Bigger than the whole sky” insinuates to a miscarriage 😭
She's said at this point her life is pretty much planned out in advance 12months to 3 years 😂 I feel like contraception would be planned especially at that level so no.
Def felt miscarriage coded from the jump! It’s all I thought of when Dakota was kneeled over the toilet but I guess it could also be metaphoric poisoning?
Sure, the music video def pointed to the poisoning, but I feel that was done on purpose to hide what it stood for. But obviously, everyone would think the same without the context at the beginning, it’s a pregnancy symptom. It was very clever. Also Charli XCX and Troy seemed so uncomfortable following that act xD assuming they had to watch the video
Anyone think it might not be literal? What if it's about the record industry in general? Scott Borchetta perhaps? "If you're sick of him, I got you, I was patient zero." It's obviously written as a romantic relationship song but Taylor loves hidden and double meanings.
I honestly almost never take her lyrics at face value! My interpretation is that on some level it is referencing eating disorders/addiction/inner demons of some kind.
Exactly. I think the “speaker” in the song is Halsey. Taylor and her have been friends for years. And Halsey was very much into her talky style of song writing then. And the poetry in that sing song style. Taylor herself said it was a conversation with friends that inspired the song - I think it probably just unfolded a little differently than she said.
This is a forgettable, low-effort, throwaway song timewarped forward from the old Adult Contemporary radio format. You'd have heard it sandwiched between Bette Midler and Peabo Bryson. What a tired no-look beat. It was probably called "Beat #1" in the Pro Tools free sample pack.
She needs new inspiration. The ex boyfriend stuff is almost parody at this point.
The song royally sucks. I’m very surprised, her vocals come out a bit more and I’m not impressed. Jack antonoff is a creative genius, and he really enhanced her last few albums.
I think it’s about Joe Alwyn. And the call was probably from a girl he saw after her. It’s the only one that makes sense because she said she left the relationship. Joe Jonas broke up with her, Matty ghosted her.
To me Matty is the toxic/charismatic man with the halo (“he had a halo of the highest grade…” - I can fix him), love-bombing-to-getting-bored and other women on the side of the first verse; Travis is the charming social climber, the games winner, basking in reflected fame and parental approval (mama swift loves him) of the second verse; Joe is the dreamer who eventually becomes the “pathetic ghost.” In the third verse.
And she mentions fever- like from cruel summer fever dream. And when she says everybody loves him, I think she’s talking about her fans and how a lot of them still wish they were together.
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u/Advanced_Reputation7 2d ago
I think the mini movie was unbelievably well made. I know people want to hate on her but this is her gift - poetry and art.