If the Universe could talk, I know for a fact that it would be shouting Taylor Swift's name. Taylor Swift, the WOMAN she is.
I was talking to one of my colleagues at work about her. I've been bugging him for a millionth time to listen to her music. Although he has mentioned that he's not a fan of pop songs, or her (like duh) but still does share updates with him about her because he's such an open-minded person.
I was passionately sharing with him about this song of hers entitled, "Tolerate It". Whenever I listen to this song, it feels and seems like I am the character of this romantic tragedy movie where the woman gives her all: mind, heart, body, and soul to that person but he takes it for granted.
One thing that I love about Taylor is how great a songwriter she is. I'm a lone woman yet the lyrics of the song resonate with me straight to the core.
And I NEEDED TO WRITE AND SHARE THIS with the world or I'll lose it!!! I have a lot to say about this song and my intrusive thoughts are telling me wherever I go to sit down on my chair and analyze this song and decode whatever the meaning I could decipher. And my weak heart has given in so yeah, I'm doing this.
"Tolerate It"
Verse 1:
"I sit and watch you reading with your head low
I wake and watch you breathing with your eyes closed
I sit and watch you, I notice everything you do or don't do
You're so much older and wiser and I"...
(so this is how the song started. As a woman, I imagine this verse is from a woman's pov. Notice how she started the song with the pronoun "I" and ended with the same pronoun. She is the subject of this story. And the person she is watching attentively is the subject of her affection.)
Chorus:
"I wait by the door like I'm just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it
If it's all in my head tell me now
Tell me I've got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it"
(since she notices everything that person does, she always tries her best to provide the best version of herself in everything. She wants that person to acknowledge her, and all her efforts. But in return, she receives the bare minimum treatment like giving candy to a kid for doing a good job.)
Verse 2:
"I greet you with a battle hero's welcome
I take your indiscretions all in good fun
I sit and listen, I polish plates until they gleam and glisten
You're so much older and wiser and I".
(although she's disappointed and unhappy, she still gives that person the benefit of the doubt. She neglected all that person's shortcomings and accepted that person with open arms without questions or inhibitions. Notice how this line, " you're so much older and wiser and I", has been reiterated twice. Her love made her inferior thinking that person is thinking wisely because of their age difference.)
Bridge:
"While you were out building other worlds, where was I?
Where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?
I made you my temple, my mural, my sky
Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life
Drawing hearts in the byline
Always taking up too much space or time
You assume I'm fine
But what would you do if I"...
( and then here comes the infamous bridge...as time goes by she begins to question if that person is truly in love with her. Her love has been tolerated for some time and it ruined her. Devoting your body and soul to someone only to be discarded in a corner like a book. She wanted to be part of that person's world but her heart was worn out and tired of begging for that person's affection.)
Chorus 2:
Break free and leave us in ruins
Took this dagger in me and removed it
Gain the weight of you then lose it
Believe me, I could do it
If it's all in my head tell me now
Tell me I've got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
I sit and watch you
(in chorus 2 she thought of what ifs and what not. What if she gives up and surrenders? What if she'll run and leave? Will it save her from the pain she's experiencing? But the person is clueless about what she cruelly feels because all this time, her love was just taken for granted.😭)
Well, that was a long and heavy ride but was a sweet one. I've learned a lot from this decoding experience. I've discovered something personally. Big or small, we should always show appreciation to our loved ones. We should not take for granted all the time, love, and effort that they give to us. Learn to acknowledge and give value to them.
Now look at that miss Taytay! You've awaken the wise woman in me! Until next time then...