illicit affairs
Written By Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Produced By Taylor Swift, Joe Alwyn & Jack Antonoff
About
From Genius, the ultimate source of music knowledge
Track 10 on "folklore".
"illicit affairs" tackles the idea of infidelity, which she first discussed on 2006's "Should've Said No." In the decade since she released "Should've Said No," Swift's conception of infidelity has changed from one of blanket condemnation to a significantly more nuanced and sympathetic take recognizing both "the dwindling, mercurial high" that infidelity can bring but also the heartbreak that it inevitably results in.
Additionally, there is an alternate version of this song: the version that she played on The Eras Tour, it has changed lyrics in the bridge. IT'S AMAZING!
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Make sure nobody sees you leave
Hood over your head, keep your eyes down
Tell your friends you're out for a run
You'll be flushed when you return
Take the road less traveled by
Tell yourself you can always stop
What started in beautiful rooms
Ends with meetings in parking lots
[Chorus]
And that's the thing about illicit affairs
And clandestine meetings and longing stares
It's born from just one single glance
But it dies and it dies and it dies
A million little times
[Verse 2]
Leave the perfume on the shelf
That you picked out just for him
So you leave no trace behind
Like you don't even exist
Take the words for what they are
A dwindling, mercurial high
A drug that only worked
The first few hundred times
[Chorus]
And that's the thing about illicit affairs
And clandestine meetings and stolen stares
They show their truth one single time
But they lie and they lie and they lie
A million little times
[Bridge]
And you wanna scream
Don't call me "kid," don't call me "baby"
Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me
You showed me colors you know I can't see with anyone else
Don't call me "kid," don't call me "baby"
Look at this idiotic fool that you made me
You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else
[Outro]
And you know damn well
For you, I would ruin myself
A million little times