I really liked Taylor's VMA performance of this song, and although I believe it is about Kanye West, I still think it is a great song and could be interpreted however you like.
Here is my interpretation of the song (about Kanye):
"But some things you can't speak of
But tonight you'll live it all again"
These lines are talking about how most people don't talk that much about it anymore, however tonight he will have to re-live what he did last year.
"You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now
If only you had seen what you know now then"
The first line is about how people wouldn't say negative things about him (shattered on the floor) if he didn't do it and the second line is about how if he knew what it would have caused, he probably wouldn't have done it.
Like melodious10 mentioned about the line "32 is still growing up now", I think that is a reference to Kanye, since he was 32 at the last VMA's.
"Who you are is not what you did"
Basically saying that just because you do one stupid thing, it does not shape who you are or who you've become.
"Time turns flames to embers
You'll have new Septembers"
The first part of the first line is about how after the 09 VMA's, everyone way talking about the "Kanye-Taylor thing". The whole incident was burning hot (flames) and you saw it everywhere. The second part is about how with time, the 'flames' have died down to 'embers' and now people don't talk about it as much. The second line is about how there will be more VMA's (they happen in September)
Although, I think this song is about the Kanye West thing, I still really like it. I believe Taylor may have wrote it to finally achieve closure with the whole incident.
I really liked Taylor's VMA performance of this song, and although I believe it is about Kanye West, I still think it is a great song and could be interpreted however you like.
Here is my interpretation of the song (about Kanye):
"But some things you can't speak of But tonight you'll live it all again" These lines are talking about how most people don't talk that much about it anymore, however tonight he will have to re-live what he did last year.
"You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now If only you had seen what you know now then" The first line is about how people wouldn't say negative things about him (shattered on the floor) if he didn't do it and the second line is about how if he knew what it would have caused, he probably wouldn't have done it.
Like melodious10 mentioned about the line "32 is still growing up now", I think that is a reference to Kanye, since he was 32 at the last VMA's.
"Who you are is not what you did" Basically saying that just because you do one stupid thing, it does not shape who you are or who you've become.
"Time turns flames to embers You'll have new Septembers" The first part of the first line is about how after the 09 VMA's, everyone way talking about the "Kanye-Taylor thing". The whole incident was burning hot (flames) and you saw it everywhere. The second part is about how with time, the 'flames' have died down to 'embers' and now people don't talk about it as much. The second line is about how there will be more VMA's (they happen in September)
Although, I think this song is about the Kanye West thing, I still really like it. I believe Taylor may have wrote it to finally achieve closure with the whole incident.