Taylor Swift

Lyrics

[Intro]
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car

[Verse 1]
It was the best of times, the worst of crimes
I struck a match and blew your mind
But I didn't mean it and you didn’t see it
The ties were black, the lies were white
In shades of gray in candlelight
I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason

[Pre-Chorus]
"X" marks the spot where we fell apart
He poisoned the well, I was lyin' to myself
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
We never had a shotgun shot in the dark (Oh!)

[Chorus]
You were drivin' the getaway car
We were flyin’, but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
Ridin' in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
[Post-Chorus]
In a getaway car (Oh-oh-oh)
No, they never get far (Oh-oh-ah)
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car

[Verse 2]
It was the great escape, the prison break
The light of freedom on my face
But you weren't thinkin’ and I was just drinkin’
While he was runnin' after us, I was screamin’, "Go, go, go!"
But with three of us, honey, it's a sideshow
And a circus ain't a love story and now we're both sorry
(We’re both sorry)

[Pre-Chorus]
"X" marks the spot where we fell apart
He poisoned the well, every man for himself
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
It hit you like a shotgun shot to the heart (Oh!)

[Chorus]
You were drivin' the getaway car
We were flyin', but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
Ridin' in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
[Post-Chorus]
In a getaway car (Oh-oh-oh)
No, they never get far (Oh-oh-ah)
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car

[Bridge]
We were jet-set, Bonnie and Clyde (Oh-oh)
Until I switched to the other side, to the other side
It's no surprise I turned you in (Oh-oh)
'Cause us traitors never win

[Breakdown]
I'm in a getaway car
I left you in a motel bar
Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys
That was the last time you ever saw me (Oh!)

[Chorus]
Drivin' the getaway car
We were flyin', but we'd never get far (Don't pretend)
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
Ridin' in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart (Should've known)
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
[Post-Chorus]
In a getaway car (Oh-oh-oh)
No, they never get far, oh-oh-ah
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car

[Outro]
I was ridin' in a getaway car
I was cryin' in a getaway car
I was dyin' in a getaway car
Said goodbye in a getaway car
Ridin' in a getaway car
I was cryin' in a getaway car
I was dyin' in a getaway car
Said goodbye in a getaway car

Getaway Car by Taylor Swift is a metaphorical song about a complicated love story with failed relationships. In this song, Taylor Swift compares her failed romance with her ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris and rebound relationship with Tom Hiddleston to a getaway car ride to escape a crime scene, portraying a doomed love story. Taylor Swift also references another song by Jack Antonoff called “Rollercoaster,” which contains similar melodies and symbolism related to a shotgun metaphor.

About Getaway Car

The song Getaway Car was released as a part of Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album, Reputation, in 2017. The song was co-written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, and the Swedish songwriter Max Martin. On the album, the song was listed as the eighth track and was considered one of the standout tracks. The song has a length of three minutes and fifty-three seconds, and it features a catchy and upbeat melody combined with meaningful lyrics.

Taylor Swift employs a metaphorical language technique by likening her relationships to a getaway car, which is commonly associated with criminals who need to evade the police after a robbery. She uses this metaphor to represent her failed relationship with Calvin Harris, whom she dated for over a year and the rebound relationship she later had with Tom Hiddleston. Taylor Swift's relationships were scrutinized by the public, and her break-up with Harris was followed by sightings of her and Hiddleston together, which fueled media speculations that their relationship was a "publicity stunt".

In the first verse of the song, Taylor Swift sings about her doomed relationship with Calvin Harris, who seems to have lost interest in their romance, “It was the best of times, the worst of crimes, I struck a match, and blew your mind. But I didn't mean it, and you didn't see it, the ties were black, the lies were white.” In the pre-chorus, she talks about her attraction towards Hiddleston, “I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason.”

In the chorus, Taylor Swift sings, “I was riding shotgun with my hair undone, in the front seat of his car, he's got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel, the other on my heart.” In the second verse, she compares her relationship with Hiddleston to a getaway car ride, “Well, they are the best of times, the worst of crimes, I struck a match and burned your down. But I'm not the only, friend you've lost lately, if only, if only you knew everything I do, it's the getaway car, the getaway car.”

The song’s symbolism and lyrics showcase that Taylor Swift felt trapped in a love triangle, where she was trying to escape her previous failed relationship with Harris but ended up in another doomed relationship with Hiddleston. The melody of the song features a synthesizer and an upbeat pop vibe, which makes it a perfect song to dance to.

Like on her 2014 track “Wonderland,” Taylor Swift employs pop-culture references to connect her experiences to something that listeners are familiar with, adding another level of meaning to the story. In this song, she references Jack Antonoff's song, “Rollercoaster,” which has similar melodies and uses the symbol of a shotgun metaphor and escape imagery. Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff have collaborated on multiple projects, and their shared influence can be seen in their music.

Conclusion

Getaway Car by Taylor Swift is a metaphorical, meaningful song that showcases her talent as a songwriter. The metaphors and lyrics in the song are relatable to anyone who has gone through a complicated love story, and the melody of the song is catchy. The song is a standout track from Taylor Swift's album, Reputation, and showcases her musical versatility. The song's connection to Rollercoaster by Jack Antonoff adds another layer of meaning to the song and demonstrates the shared influence of these two great artists.

• Release Date: November 10, 2017
• Artist: Taylor Swift