3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Cardigan Lyrics
Vintage tee, brand new phone
High heels on cobblestones
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
Sequined smile, black lipstick
Sensual politics
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
But I knew you
Dancin' in your Levi's
Drunk under a streetlight, I
I knew you
Hand under my sweatshirt
Baby, kiss it better, I
And when I felt like I was an old cardigan
Under someone's bed
You put me on and said I was your favorite
A friend to all is a friend to none
Chase two girls, lose the one
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
But I knew you
Playing hide-and-seek and
Giving me your weekends, I
I knew you
Your heartbeat on the High Line
Once in twenty lifetimes, I
And when I felt like I was an old cardigan
Under someone's bed
You put me on and said I was your favorite
To kiss in cars and downtown bars
Was all we needed
You drew stars around my scars
But now I'm bleedin'
'Cause I knew you
Steppin' on the last train
Marked me like a bloodstain, I
I knew you
Tried to change the ending
Peter losing Wendy, I
I knew you
Leavin' like a father
Running like water, I
And when you are young, they assume you know nothing
But I knew you'd linger like a tattoo kiss
I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs
The smell of smoke would hang around this long
'Cause I knew everything when I was young
I knew I'd curse you for the longest time
Chasin' shadows in the grocery line
I knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired
And you'd be standin' in my front porch light
And I knew you'd come back to me
You'd come back to me
And you'd come back to me
And you'd come back
And when I felt like I was an old cardigan
Under someone's bed
You put me on and said I was your favorite
High heels on cobblestones
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
Sequined smile, black lipstick
Sensual politics
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
Dancin' in your Levi's
Drunk under a streetlight, I
I knew you
Hand under my sweatshirt
Baby, kiss it better, I
Under someone's bed
You put me on and said I was your favorite
Chase two girls, lose the one
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
Playing hide-and-seek and
Giving me your weekends, I
I knew you
Your heartbeat on the High Line
Once in twenty lifetimes, I
Under someone's bed
You put me on and said I was your favorite
Was all we needed
You drew stars around my scars
But now I'm bleedin'
Steppin' on the last train
Marked me like a bloodstain, I
I knew you
Tried to change the ending
Peter losing Wendy, I
I knew you
Leavin' like a father
Running like water, I
And when you are young, they assume you know nothing
I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs
The smell of smoke would hang around this long
'Cause I knew everything when I was young
I knew I'd curse you for the longest time
Chasin' shadows in the grocery line
I knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired
And you'd be standin' in my front porch light
And I knew you'd come back to me
You'd come back to me
And you'd come back to me
And you'd come back
Under someone's bed
You put me on and said I was your favorite
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc
Writer
Aaron Brooking Dessner, Taylor A. Swift
Duration
3:59
Submitted by
aj96 On Jul 24, 2020
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The second track of Taylor's new album 'Folklore' was written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner. Produced by Aaron Dessner. It was recorded by Jonathan Low and Aaron Dessner at Long Pond (Hudson Valley, NY). Mixed by Jonathan Low at Long Pond (Hudson Valley, NY). Mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound (New York, NY). The track was released on July 24, 2020.
What the artist means On cardigan Taylor Swift attacks this catchy beat and talks about her class with a vintage and a brand new phone. She sounds so mature and in charge on this as she laughs off her detractors on the track. The song title makes so much sense now, she decries am ex-lover and talks about rejection, heartbreak and melancholy. Showing us that she has moved on but hasn't forgotten the tears she shed when she was an old cardigan under his bed. The beat of this track is beautiful and allows Taylor to flex all over this with a relaxed but yet pulsating delivery. She uses amazing metaphors on this, bringing the listener into her seemingly perfect but sordid world. The travails of being one of the biggest public figures of the planet. Taylor certainly isn't slowing down anytime soon.
What the song means to me Another track, another essential break up song. This song reminds me of my self-worth and how important it is to bounce back after a failed relationship or worse still unrequited love. If Ms. Taylor can go through it who can't. The track's production is amazing and the singer flexes her vocals without losing a single step. Another track, another soon to be classic. I will give this song a rating of 9/10.
“cardigan” is an ode to another lost love and romance. Young love is imprinted onto your mind with this track. This is the type of love that leaves its mark long after it is gone. With Swift’s lyrics, “And when I felt like when I was an old cardigan/Under someone’s bed/ You put me on and said I was your favorite”. Love in this song fades with time, but old things are still familiar and once upon a time you loved this person. This is a love ballad that shows how love changes over time and the longing of what once was.
This might be a reach, but after reading the lyrics it makes me think this song might be referencing the relationship between her and John Meyer. The lines “chasing shadows in the grocery line” , “you’d come back to me” and “your heartbeat on the high line”.....they’re all song lines in Meyer songs. I’m not suggesting she has longing for him or anything of that nature but maybe she was reminiscing about past love. Nostalgia maybe?