The song 'Fortnight' by Taylor Swift and Post Malone tells a story about strong feelings, complicated relationships, and secret wishes. It talks about love, betrayal, and wanting someone who doesn't feel the same. The word 'fortnight' shows short-lived happiness and guilty pleasures, leading to sadness. It shows how messy relationships can be and the results of hiding emotions. “I was supposed to be sent away / But they forgot to come and get me,” she kickstarts the song in the first verse with lines suggesting an admission to a hospital for people with mental illnesses. She goes in the verse admitting her lover is the reason why she is like this. In the chorus, she sings about their time in love and reflects on how he has now settled with someone else. “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life,” on the second verse she details her struggles to forget about him and the negative effects of her failure. “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America,” Post Malone sings in the outro.
Well I've had enough, of all these selfish crimes
I hurt myself again, not knowing why
It seems so easy, to leave it all behind
And avoid the truth I think I'd rather just go blind
Then everything erupts
My life has come unglued
And the ties that bind have left me
What am I to do?
Can't seem to recognize
That stare behind those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer
I think I'm cracking up, like I've lost my mind
I hurt myself again, still don't know why
I end up the same way, each and every time
I can't avoid the truth there's just nowhere to run and hide
Then everything erupts
Just like I knew it would
Been down here long enough
It never felt that good
Is this what I've become
My life has come unglued
And the tied that bind have left me
What am I to do?
Can't seem to recognize
That stare behind those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer than it appears to be right now
There must be someone I can see
There's gotta be something for me
Show it now, let it go free
I know it's there waiting on me
Let it out, let it go free
Can't seem to recognize
That stare behind those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer
Can't seem to recognize
Can't seem to recognize
Reflection must get clearer
I hurt myself again, not knowing why
It seems so easy, to leave it all behind
And avoid the truth I think I'd rather just go blind
Then everything erupts
My life has come unglued
And the ties that bind have left me
What am I to do?
Can't seem to recognize
That stare behind those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer
I think I'm cracking up, like I've lost my mind
I hurt myself again, still don't know why
I end up the same way, each and every time
I can't avoid the truth there's just nowhere to run and hide
Then everything erupts
Just like I knew it would
Been down here long enough
It never felt that good
Is this what I've become
My life has come unglued
And the tied that bind have left me
What am I to do?
Can't seem to recognize
That stare behind those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer than it appears to be right now
There must be someone I can see
There's gotta be something for me
Show it now, let it go free
I know it's there waiting on me
Let it out, let it go free
Can't seem to recognize
That stare behind those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer
Can't seem to recognize
Can't seem to recognize
Reflection must get clearer
Lyrics submitted by The_Cereal_killer
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Fortnight
Taylor Swift
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I can relate to this song. I believe this song speaks to self-disappointment. With the first song on the album being “Medicate” where it seems as though he’s talking about using drugs or alcohol to deal with his pain, I’m thinking this song might be a reflection (no pun intended) of where that sort of behavior has led him. By self-medicating he’s hiding the pain in his life but then addiction sets in and you become someone you don’t recognize anymore. When I went through this I looked in the mirror many times not recognizing who I’d become. You’re disappointed in yourself, you’re not facing your issues and now you’re stuck; but you know you have to get back to being yourself.
Really though this song could speak to anyone going through a rough time and trying to figure out where things went wrong.