In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like a nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Callin' me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man
Well, you can take me down
With just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know
Someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them
I walk with my head down
Tryna block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again
I'll bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
'Cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know
Someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
And I can see you years from now in a bar talkin' over a football game
With that same big loud opinion, but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean
All you are is mean
And a liar, and pathetic
And alone in life and mean
And mean, and mean, and mean
But someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city (why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean (why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like a nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Callin' me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man
Well, you can take me down
With just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know
Someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them
I walk with my head down
Tryna block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again
I'll bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
'Cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know
Someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
And I can see you years from now in a bar talkin' over a football game
With that same big loud opinion, but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean
All you are is mean
And a liar, and pathetic
And alone in life and mean
And mean, and mean, and mean
But someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be livin' in a big old city (why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean (why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
Lyrics submitted by mckennaaax3
Mean Lyrics as written by Taylor Alison Swift
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"I bet you got pushed around. Somebody made you cold, but the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road."
One minute later: "All you are is mean, and a liar, and PATHETIC, and alone in life."
sigh You know, sometimes I believe that she doesn't really think these things through. Because that line is...yeah, just a tad hypocritical. Plus, considering "Better Than Revenge" and "Speak Now", I'd venture to say that she does wander down that road every once in awhile. Granted, so does everyone else in the world...but they at least acknowledge it. Admittedly though, the song is fun, and the line about she can't sing actually made me burst out laughing the first time I heard it. lol. This girl's got a lot of nerve.
oh hush. ugh
i dont think when she says "the cycle ends right now" she means she not going to say anything<br /> <br /> i think she saying how she wont push someone around and make them sad. she says "i bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold" shes saying someone made him that way, and hes did that to her but shes not going to end up like he did, a mean pathetic loser. shes going to treat others with respect<br /> <br /> and each song has a different story behind them, you cant contradict each song on the albumb to another
"oh hush. ugh"<br /> <br /> What a cutting argument, I'm glad you took the the time to type that out.<br /> <br /> <br /> And Nicole, I think you mean "compare", not "contradict". I don't see how your first point differs from what I said, but as for the second, I think it's perfectly fair to call someone a hypocrite when they champion an anti-bully message in one song and then proceed to rip another girl's character and reputation to shreds in the next. If that's considered "treating others with respect", then yikes.<br /> <br /> I'm a big Taylor fan, by the way. I will just never be able to get behind this song.
Yeah, I definitely agree with you (ditalacroix). She's a hypocrite and a lot of songs are quite mean (a good example is like you mentioned, this song and "Better Than Revenge"), but if you ever mention it you get bashed by some of her fans (I am one, by the way) as if you have to agree to everything she does just because you like her music.<br /> <br /> By the way, I heard this is about a reporter, does anyone know what the person actually wrote about her that was so awful?
My take on it is that let's say a boy who is gay is bullied everyday for it, sooner or later he will look at it and be like, well why should I care what they think? They're just mean, and pathetic for making fun of me for being different. I don't think he's really going to be oh so happy that they bullied him and say how nice they are,<br /> And of course we all get a little rude sometimes, but how is she supposed to admit it? make a song saying, yes I do get mean sometimes, I do say some rude things, but hey I'm human. I'm sure anyone is like this, and she just isn't as open about that side because she understands and respects the fact she has very young fans.
well this arguent escalated quickly