Dress
Written By Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Produced By Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
About
From Genius, the ultimate source of music knowledge
Track 12 on "reputation".
"Dress" is one of Taylor's most sexually charged songs on the album, and a sonically slow steamy ballad. The song details Taylor's wants and lusts over another lover. As the name implies, many of the sexual references throughout the song pertain to dresses. Taylor has a history of fascination with dresses dating back to her country music roots from when she first stepped foot in the music industry.
There have been many rumors as to who "Dress" is about from Karlie Kloss, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Tom Hiddleston, to Joe Alwyn. Contrary to the public rumors that this song is about Ed Sheeran, Swift and Ed Sheeran have both stated that this song is not about Ed. However, during her secret sessions, Taylor told her fans that all positive songs on reputation are about Joe Alwyn. References that fit this sentiment are seen all throughout the song.
Flashback when you met me, your buzzcut and my hair bleached
At the 2016 Met Gala Taylor met both Hiddleston and Alywn on the same night. Both her future boyfriends; one currently an ex, Hiddleston, and the other her current beau, Joe Alwyn. This line being in reference to meeting Joe that night with his buzzcut and Taylor's bleached hair.
I don't want you like a best friend […]
My rebounds, my earthquakes
Even in my worst light, you saw the truth in me
Alwyn was likely a friend to Taylor throughout her rebounding with Hiddleston (the basis of the song "Getaway Car"), as they all met at the 2016 Met Gala at the same time, tying in with the controversial lyric "I don't want you like a best friend." "Dress" likely chronicles around the time of the start of Taylor's relationship with Joe when they were moving past the friendship stage to a more sexual stage after Taylor and Tom Hiddleston's brief romance. The latter part of the lyric, "even in my worst light, you saw the truth in me", is a reference to Alwyn being there for Taylor and not being bothered by the way the media was portraying her at the time surrounding the Kim/Kanye feud. References to this are seen in "Call It What You Want", "Delicate", and "King of My Heart."
In addition to all this, Taylor has told fans that reputation follows a somewhat chronological order. With "Dress" also appearing towards the latter end of the album, it's safe to say this song details the sexual relationship between Taylor and Joe Alwyn.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Our secret moments in a crowded room
They got no idea about me and you
There is an indentation in the shape of you
Made your mark on me, a golden tattoo
[Pre-Chorus]
All of this silence and patience, pining and anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you
Ha, ah, ah
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from all this
Ah, ha, ha, ha-ah
[Chorus]
Say my name and everything just stops
I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off, ha, ha, ha-ah
Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off, ha, ha, ha-ah
[Verse 2]
Inescapable, I'm not even gonna try
And if I get burned, at least we were electrified
I'm spilling wine in the bathtub
You kiss my face and we're both drunk
Everyone thinks that they know us
But they know nothin' about
[Pre-Chorus]
All of this silence and patience, pining and anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you
Ha, ah, ah
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from all this
Ah, ha, ha, ha-ah
[Chorus]
Say my name and everything just stops
I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off, ha, ha, ha-ah
Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off, ha, ha
[Post-Chorus]
Ha-ah-ah, ha-ah-ah, ha-ah-ah-ah
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Ha-ah-ah, ha-ah-ah, ha-ah-ah-ah
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
[Bridge]
Flashback when you met me, your buzzcut and my hair bleached
Even in my worst times, you could see the best in me
Flashback to my mistakes, my rebounds, my earthquakes
Even in my worst lies, you saw the truth in me
And I woke up just in time, now I wake up by your side
My one and only, my lifeline
I woke up just in time, now I wake up by your side
My hands shake, I can't explain this
Ah, ha, ha, ha-ah
[Chorus]
Say my name and everything just stops
I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off, ha, ha, ha-ah
Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off, ha, ha, ha-ah
[Outro]
There is an indentation in the shape of you
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
You made your mark on me, golden tattoo
Only bought this dress so you could take it off