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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Great version of a great song,
I can't believe people are accusing this song of being childish. Taylor was bullied in school right? The way I see it this song isn't about Kanye at the VMA's but about standing up to bullies now how is that childish?
This song is a little childish. The story behind this song is that Bob Lefsetz, who is a music industry critic with little to no filter at times, criticized Swift's performance at the 2010 Grammys in his blog. He actually does praise Swift and her album Fearless and he does offer his own opinion on the matter along with counter arguments to what he predicts will or won't come true. In fact, the review he gives isn't all that "mean" except for the fact that he does call Swift "too young and dumb." Though I will admit that that statement by him is uncalled for, he does make a lot of good points that apply to the music industry as a whole and not just Swift herself. He says that she is part, not the sole resident, of a "dustbin of teen phenoms. Who we expect to burn brightly and then fade away. From New Kids On The Block to Backstreet Boys to Miley Cyrus." Honestly, we don't see the longevity of artists that we used to and they seem to be in it more for the sprint than the marathon. He also does site that some of these artists do advance their careers in other ways but it typically isn't in the form of main stream music.<br /> <br /> As for the performance itself, it is difficult to find one with decent audio but once you see it you will for the most part understand Lefsetz's opinion. I personally don't really care for Swift one way or another and I do think that her music is a little over hyped. If her career does have the stamina that is needed today, she will definitely come into her own more and be more consistent in performances but she still has her off and awkward moments as of now. <br /> <br /> The general lyrics and the video of the song are actually quite inspiring to those who are actually down trodden and need that boost to get themselves up. However, this message loses its momentum when you take into account the inspiration of this song and the fact that the events that led up to it were when Taylor Swift was on the Grammys already, had made a name for herself, and had won album of the year. I'm sorry, but if someone's life was going that splendidly at the age of 20, I hardly think that the objective opinion of one critic should have that much impact.<br /> <br /> And just because I'm a stickler for demonstrating my point:<br /> -Link to the article on Leftsetz's blog: lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2010/02/01/grammys/<br /> -Link to the performance: youtube.com/watch<br /> -Songfacts: songfacts.com/detail.php<br /> -Article about Leftsetz: wired.com/magazine/2012/02/mf_lefsetz/all/1