#“You hung me on your wall. Stabbed me with your push pins ” from Smallest Man who ever Lived

[sunshine-and-her-ikevil-stuff]

At almost every route's emotional low point, I have a song come to mind that matches my emotions/the situation. I wonder what song it'll be for Alfons's route

Two potential options are "All 2 U" from Helluva Boss if the MC hasn't figured out his motivation yet. Or "sry ily" by Elliot Lee

[lipslikethegardensofbabylon]

#ttpd analysis day fourteen - The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

i'm gonna be honest with you this was the hardest song to dissect because every time i listen to it the bridge makes me lose my mind. it has the same addictive pull as the bridge of Would've, Could've, Should've, Cruel Summer, Getaway Car. it's SO good, imo one of her best bridges ever written.

i first want to comment on in your Jehovah's Witness suit which is again another lol-lyric moment, but in a big brain connection i saw that @thisisctrying pointed out that he was essentially selling her a religion. i love this bc it continues the religious imagery of Guilty As Sin?

you hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins makes me think of a couple of different things - image wise, it makes me think of pinning a map up on a wall, marking places that you’ve been (also a hint of carve your name into my bedpost ≠ i'm just a notch in your bedpost, but you're just a line in a song (from FOB)). it also makes me think of pierced through the heart but never killed. the other connection that comes up is to “put a pin in it” means to save something for later, typically to postpone something useful but not for immediate use. this meaning feels more likely given the subsequent were you a sleeper cell spy? in fifty years, will all this be declassified?

the bridge just goes so hard, I’m obsessed. there are a few callbacks to previous work but to me this bridge is on mtr echelon:

the betrayal in did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed? is so good. esp given how she historically describes her bed/room as a safe space - turned my bed into a sacred oasis/drew a map on your bedroom ceiling/the warmest bed I’ve ever known

the gun weapon of choice is also interesting to me considering she’s also discussed daggers and poison, and a gun specifically has to be loaded. it makes me think of memories feel like weapons/we gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean, some to throw, some to make a diamond ring

the line were you writing a book? IMMEDIATELTY made me think of so I'll go back to L.A. and the so-called friends who'll write books about me, if I ever make it which is especially painful i think for the narrator. they’ve historically said “I struggle a lot with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized,” she continued. “Not to sound too dark, but I just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person.” and this lyric does exactly that - it reduces the person to a product, a story to be sold for a profit.

to end, the lyric and in plain sight you hid but you are what you did and I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive gives me such chills. i saw someone share that they had a history of abuse and that lyric made them feel so validated. there’s just something so haunting and angry but beautiful about it.

[hellohopesims]

"You hung me on your wall, Stabbed me with your push pins"

stabbed me with push pins taylor swift posters made by me :)

i'm a huge swiftie and i wanted some taylor posters in my game so i made some inspired by the lyrics in the smallest man who ever lived from tortured poets.

4 versions 13 swatches bgc recolors downloads are always free tag me if you use <3

download v1: sfs

download v2: sfs

download v3: sfs

download v4: sfs

[midnightjewel]

Taylor Swift Songs For Your Relationship With The BNHA Boys <3

Simple description like the title says! I can do a part two with more characters if you don’t see your favorites! Keep in mind I might use a song more than once for different characters! 

(Also includes some sad songs for if you’re feeling angsty)

I hope you enjoy! :)

Part 2

Characters included: Bakugo, Kirishima, Denki, and Sero

Bakugo

The Other Side of The Door (Fearless TV)

I said leave but all I really want is you, to stand outside my window throwing pebbles screamin’ “I’m in love with you!”

Sparks Fly (Speak Now TV)

The way you move is like a full on rainstorm, and I’m a house of cards

This Love (1989 TV)

In losing grip on sinking ships, you showed up just in time

EndGame (Reputation)

Big reputation, big reputation oh you and me would be a big conversation

Dress (Reputation)

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

Cowboy Like Me (Evermore)

And the skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up

The Alchemy (TTPD)

So when I touch down, call the amateurs and cut ‘em from the team. Ditch the clowns, get the crown baby, I’m the one to beat

Angst

Story of Us (Speak Now TV)

And I’m dying to know, is it killing you like it’s killing me?!

But you held your pride like you should’ve held me!

I’d tell you “I miss you” but I don’t know how!

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived (TTPD)

You hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins

I Knew You Were Trouble (Red TV)

I guess you didn’t care, and I guess I liked that

And when I fell hard, you took a step back

Better Man (Red TV)

And it was always on your terms. I waited on every careless word, hoping they might turn sweet again, like it was in the beginning

The Moment I Knew (Red TV) (I feel like he would not show up to your birthday party)

As I say hopelessly “he said he’d be here”

Say Don’t Go (1989 TV)

I said “I love you!” You say nothing back…

Tolerate It (Evermore)

I know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it

Kirishima

Enchanted (Speak Now TV)

Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you

Begin Again (Red TV)

And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid. I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny cause, he never did

You’re in Love (1989 TV)

You two are dancing in a snow globe round and round. And he keeps a picture of you in his office downtown

“Slut!” (1989 TV)

And I break down then he’s pulling me in, in a world of boys he’s a gentleman

So it Goes… (Reputation)

You know I’m not a bad girl but I do bad things with you

So High School (TTPD)

Truth, dare, spin bottles. You know how to ball I know Aristotle.

Brand new full throttle, touch me while your bros play grand theft auto

Guilty as Sin? (TTPD)

We’ve already done it in my head

Angst

Last Kiss (Speak Now TV)

I’m not much for dancing, but for you I did

Red (Red TV)

And that’s why he’s spinning round in my head comes back to me, burning red

Is It Over Now? (1989 TV)

Was it over, when she laid down on your couch?

Was it over, when he unbuttoned my blouse?

illicit affairs (Folklore)

Don’t call me kid, don’t call me baby look at this idiotic fool that you’ve made me

Maroon (Midnights)

And I, lost you. The one I was dancing with in New York

Hits Different (Midnights)

I heard your key turn in the door down the hallway. Is that your key? Is it okay? Is it you? Or have they come to take me away?

loml (TTPD)

“I’ll never leave” … “Never mind”

Denki

Our Song (Taylor Swift)

He’s got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel the other on my heart

Fearless (Fearless TV)

You take my hand and drag me head first, fearless

I Can See You (Speak Now TV)

I can see you waiting down the hall for me and I can see you up against the wall with me

Stay, Stay, Stay (Red TV)

But you carry my groceries and now I’m always laughing and I love you because you’ve given me no choice but to stay, stay, stay

Starlight (Red TV)

We were seventeen and crazy running wild

Gorgeous (Reputation)

You make me so happy it turns back to sad there’s nothing I hate more then what I can’t have you are so gorgeous it makes me so mad

I Think He Knows (Lover)

He’s so obsessed with me and boy I understand, boy I understand

Angst

Back to December (Speak Now TV)

This is me swallowing my pride standing in front of you saying I’m sorry for that night

Out Of The Woods (1989 TV)

Looking at it now, last December. We were built to fall apart, and fall back together

cardigan (Folklore)

I knew you, leaving like a father, running like water

And when you are young they assume you know nothing

gold rush (Evermore)

I can’t dare to dream about you anymore

Midnight Rain (Midnights)

And he never thinks of me, except for when I’m in TV. I guess sometimes we all get some kind of haunted (some kind of haunted) and I never think of him, except on midnights like this…

Fortnight (TTPD)

All my mornings are Monday’s stuck in an endless February

Thought of calling ya, but you won’t pick up…

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys (TTPD)

I felt more when we played pretend then with all the Ken’s cause he took me out of my box, stole my tortured heart, left all these broken parts

Sero

You Belong With Me (Fearless TV)

If you could see that I’m the one who understands you been here all along so why can’t you see? You belong with me!

22 (Red TV)

You look like bad news. I’ve gotta have you!

Call It What You Want (Reputation)

I want to wear his initial on a chain around my neck (chain around my neck) not because he owns me, but cause he really knows me

Lover (Lover)

Can I go… where you go. Can we always be this close forever and ever?

The Lakes (Folklore)

I don’t belong, and my beloved neither do you

Lavender Haze (Midnights)

Staring at the ceiling with you, oh you don’t ever say too much

And you don’t really read into my melancholia

The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD)

You smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate

Angst

You’re Not Sorry (Fearless TV)

And you’re asking me to listen cause it’s worked each time before but you don’t have to call anymore, I won’t pick up the phone.

Babe (Red TV)

Since you admitted it, I keep picturing her lips on your neck, I can’t unsee it!

All you had to do was stay (1989 TV)

Had me in one palm of your hand and why’d you have to go and lock me out when I let you in?

Suburban Legends (1989 TV)

You had people who called you on unmarked numbers in my peripheral vision. I let it slide like a hoax on a slippery plastic summer, all was quickly forgiven

And you kiss me in a way that’s gonna screw me up forever…

august (Folklore)

Cause you weren’t mine to lose…

my tears ricochet (Folklore)

And now you’re tossing out blame, drunk on this pain crossing out the good years

The Black Dog (TTPD)

And it hits me…. I just don’t understand how you don’t miss me in the black dog

[swanandstar]

marauders as TTPD songs pt 2

okay so i’m not really doing this in any particular order but to me the smallest man who ever lived is very Jegulus breakup.

the first verse is from James pov. “Was any of it true?/ Gazing at me starry-eyed/ In your Jehovah's Witness suit/ Who the fuck was that guy?/ You tried to buy some pills/ From a friend of friends of mine/ They just ghosted you/ Now you know what it feels like” James is questioning their relationship after their breakup. Regulus was finicky in their relationship and not very communicative.

The chorus is both of them “And I don't even want you back, I just want to know/ If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal/ And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give/ A message to the smallest man who ever lived?” kind of self explanatory.

the next verse is from regulus’s perspective. “You hung me on your wall/ Stabbed me with your push pins/ In public, showed me off/ Then sank in stoned oblivion/ 'Cause once your queen had come/ You treat her like an also-ran/ You didn't measure up/ In any measure of a man” I feel like at the beginning of Jegulus relationship it would be a honeymoon phase but towards the end James would be less attentive. regulus would also through in some random insults because I said so.

finally the bridge, this part will be a little confusing so bear with me. basically the bold is who is talking to the other.

Regulus: Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?

James: Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed?

Regulus: Were you writing a book?

James: Were you a sleeper cell spy?

Both: In fifty years, will all this be declassified?

James: And you'll confess why you did it

Regulus: And I'll say, "Good riddance"

Regulus: 'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden

James: I would've died for your sins

Regulus: Instead, I just died inside

James: And you deserve prison, but you won't get time

Regulus: You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars

James: You crashed my party and your rental car

Regulus: You said normal girls were boring

James: But you were gone by the morning

Regulus: You kicked out the stage lights

James: But you're still performing

James: And in plain sight you hid

Regulus: But you are what you did

James: And I'll forget you,

Regulus: but I'll never forgive

Both: The smallest man who ever lived

[tyyjaimiee]

“You hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins”

— Taylor Alison Swift, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024)

And with that quote, I say: welcome to my new blog! I hope you’re having a good day, and I hope you’ll have a nice stay here <33

My name is Jaimiee! You can give me nicknames, I don’t mind at all ^-^

I am a teen under the age of 18, so be aware of that when you interact, please! 🙏

You can use the pronouns 💙she/they💙 for me, but I prefer🩵she/her🩵! This might change over time, I will make sure to update any followers I might have in that case :3

I am a demigirl <3 I’m also a polyamorous bi-lesbian + a lot of other stuff that aren’t as important to know!

. • Things I will post about:

— Taylor Swift

— Sexuality, identity and questioning (sometimes positively and happily, sometimes I’ll scream from the top of my lungs because wtaf I’m so exhausted)

— WOLFSTARRR 🌌💫🐾

— Prongsfoot, Sunrose, Sunkiller, Sunrosekiller, occasional Partivan, Pandalily, Narlily and other minor ships in the Marauders fandom

— Ships with Hermione, Cho, Ginny and Pansy x each other (lol)

— Gaylor (especially Kaylor and Florence Welch x Taylor)

— Lunarry, Ronarry

— I’ll reblog lots and lots of Drarry fanart, sometimes sapphic!

— Shitposting

— Chappell Roannn

— Sabrina Carpenter

— Girlblogging core 🎀🤙

— Music in general

— Random memes and stuff

This is a safe place for everyone! As long as you’re not a shitty person.

. • Shitty person list:

— Queerphobes/Exclusionists

— Pedophiles (“MAPs”)

— Zoophiles

— Trump supporters

— Rapists

— Cheaters

— Alpha males, like wtf

— Racists

— Zionists

— Jkr

— etc.

Be kind, always be kind! People of all ages and genders are welcome to follow me, but be a decent person. Respect me and others :))

[drugstore-love]

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

so many people, including those who say they are fans dislike TTPD and refer to it as lazy but I find it to be some of Taylor's best work. I appreciate the metaphors and how vulnerable she is with the narrative. She's not hiding; it's poetry. It's about emotion and the musicality really does come second.

Here's my song by song break down of things that I enjoy (and don't like) about the album for my own future reference so that I do not cave into peer pressure and start to hate the album on principle. Here are my personal interpretations and what the songs mean for me.

In no particular order The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived:

I think people keep calling this album lazy because it's really about the ending of relationships and the changes that you go through personally when a relationship end. They may be different relationships but I think people wanted a narrative change and that's not really what most albums are about?? Like unless they are complete capitalist ploys (which.......I digress) and Taylor now has the fanbase and the freedom to write whatever she wants, so this album, to me, was therapy.

Anyway, this song is when you see a completely different perspective of a person and your relationship once said relationship is over. I hate the production on this song and I'm usually an Aaron girly but the drums and strings feel forced and while I appreciate them for production value within the Eras tour they felt jarring and misplaced during the album listen. I think that they were went to convey emotion and raise the listeners blood pressure so they also felt agitated with the subject but the way they fade out with the song leaves a lot to be desired and kind of feels like the author is fizzling out during what, lyrically, can be argued as the most empowering part of the song. They succeed in capturing the audience's attention after the lullaby nature of the rest of the song but honestly are a distraction from the lyrics. However, I love the piano, especially at the beginning where it's almost a staccato, until the notes are played rhythmically together, it truly feels like poetry set to music. Lyrically, I find this song to be one of the most honest and telling. It feels like a letter one would write to their former partner with no intention of ever actually giving to them.

Was any of it true?

Gazing at me starry-eyed

In your Jehovah's Witness suit

Who the fuck was that guy?

You tried to buy some pills

From a friend of friends of mine

They just ghosted you

Now you know what it feels like

It feels like you were playing me this whole time. All the shit you said, the way you looked at me, fuck even the way you dressed. I thought that I got to see the real you, I trusted you, I believed you and the way you left reinforced what everyone else told me about you that I wrote off as untrue. (Insert vampire by Olivia Rodrigo)

Also appreciate the dig about this person being addicted to drugs because I interpret that line as "Oh you got ignored when it came to something important that you love? Karma, because I loved you and you ignored me"

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

All the effort that was put into wooing the author and winning them over and learning them and "loving" them. It feels like everything was a game, a joke, a plot in a rom-com that the protagonist was too dumb to figure out at the time.

I could never go back to what we were and if I thought you'd listen openly and respond honestly I'd ask questions, but mostly I'd ask why

You hung me on your wall

Stabbed me with your push pins

In public, showed me off

Then sank in stoned oblivion

'Cause once your queen had come

You treat her like an also-ran

You didn't measure up

In any measure of a man

You made me feel like the prize but once you had me you treated me like shit behind closed doors. You made me feel like your insecurities were my fault but it was your choice to stop considering me once you had me. You promised me better than my ex and then didn't fulfill that promise and made it my fault.

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

This bridge is pure poetry.

Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?

Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed?

What was real? Were you just waiting for me to let my guard down?

Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?

What were your motivations? This is almost begging for clarification

In fifty years, will all this be declassified?

And you'll confess why you did it

And I'll say, "Good riddance"

'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden

The only rationale I can think of is you got bored and I know I'll be better off without this but even 50 years from now, even when I don't care anymore I'll still read your reasons. Once again reiterating that I only wanted what you promised before we were actually together and once I was yours, it wasn't worth it to you

I would've died for your sins

Instead, I just died inside

I would've done anything for you, and you're the one who stabbed me

And you deserve prison, but you won't get time

You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars

The way you made me feel should be illegal but instead you'll continue on as you did before

(really driving in the feeling of inadequacy one can make you feel, especially when you're a person who people idolize and then are disappointed in when they meet the real you. this is exactly what happened here, taking out speculation what's discussed in the song is: before we got together you praised and complimented and lusted after me and once I gave my actual self to you and opened up it wasn't what you wanted and that is detrimental to one's self esteem)

You crashed my party and your rental car

Never having to take accountability for your actions, you ruined good things for both of us

You said normal girls were boring

But you were gone by the morning

You said I was what you wanted, that I was different and as soon as I gave in, you left (giving into the discord:this is exactly how H describes Matty so..)

You kicked out the stage lights

But you're still performing

You ended this, you wrecked us and yet you're still lying you're still placating and manipulating me trying to save your own skin

And in plain sight you hid

But you are what you did

You never disagreed with the rumors but you really had me fooled about who you were. However, at the end of the day actions speak louder and when a person shows you who they are you should believe them. I always should have known who you are

And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive

The smallest man who ever lived

I'm gonna move on, I'm gonna grow, I'm going to be happy but it's for me and I'll never forget the way you treated me.

[calamitoustide]

i have nightmares each week about that friday in may one phone call from you and my entire world was changed trust that you betrayed confusion that still lingers took everything i loved and crushed it in between your fingers and i doubt you ever think about the damage that you did but i hold onto every detail like my life depends on it my undying love now i hold it like a grudge and i hear your voice every time that i think I'm not enough and i try to be tough but i wanna scream how could anybody do the things you did so easily and i say i don't care i say that I'm fine but you know i can't let it go I've tried I've tried I've tired for so long it takes strength to forgive but i don't feel strong the arguments that I've won against you in my head in the shower in the car and in the mirror before bed yeah I'm so tough when I'm alone and i make you feel so guilty and i fantasize about a time you're a little fucking sorry and i try to understand why you would do this all to me you must be insecure you must be so unhappy and i know in my heart hurt people hurt people and we both drew blood but man those cuts were never equal and i try to be tough but i wanna scream how could anybody do the things you did so easily!! and i say i don't care i say that I'm fine but you know i can't let it go I've tried I've tired I've tried for so long it takes strength to forgive but i don't feel strong do you think i deserved it all..? was any of it true? gazing at me starry-eyed in your jehovah's witness suit who the fuck was that guy? you tried to buy some pills from a friend of friends of mine they just ghosted you now you know what it feels like and i don't even want you back i just want to know if rusting my sparkling summer was the goal and i don't miss what we had but could someone give a message to the smallest man who ever lived you hung me on your wall stabbed me with your push pins in public showed me off then sank in stoned oblivion cause once your queen had come you treat her like an also-ran you didn't measure up in any measure of a man and i don't even want you back i just want to know if rusting my sparkling summer was the goal and i don't miss what we had but could someone give a message to the smallest man who ever lived were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?? did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed???? were writing a book??? were you a sleeper cell spy?? in fifty years will all this be declassified?? and you'll confess why you did it and I'll say good riddance! cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden i would've died for your sins instead i just died inside and you deserve prison but you wont get time you'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars you crashed my party and your rental car you said normal girls are boring but you were gone by the morning you kicked out the stage lights but you're still performing and in plain sight you hid but you are what you did and I'll forget you but I'll never forgive the smallest man who ever lived your flowers filled with vitriol you build me up to watch me fall you have everything and you still want more and i try to be tough i try to be mean but even after everything you're still everything to me and i know that you don't care i guess that that's fine but you know i can't let it go I've tried I've tired for so long it takes strength to forgive but I'm not quite sure I'm there yet it takes strength to forgive but

[theyseerightthrough]

TSMWEL (from Gaylors view)

(Taylor is TSMWEL

TS and ME are in TSMWEL)

Was any of it true?

Gazing at me starry-eyed

In your Jehovah's Witness suit

Who the fuck was that guy?

You tried to buy some pills

From a friend of friends of mine

They just ghosted you

Now you know what it feels like

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

You hung me on your wall

Stabbed me with your push pins

In public, showed me off

Then sank in stoned oblivion

'Cause once your queen had come

You treat her like an also-ran

You didn't measure up

In any measure of a man

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?

Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed?

Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?

In fifty years, will all this be declassified?

And you'll confess why you did it

And I'll say, "Good riddance"

'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden

I would've died for your sins

Instead, I just died inside

And you deserve prison, but you won't get time

You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars

You crashed my party and your rental car

You said normal girls were boring

But you were gone by the morning

You kicked out the stage lights

But you're still performing

And in plain sight you hid

But you are what you did

And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive

The smallest man who ever lived

(reminder that this is just speculation/interpretation, I’m not saying any of this is how she meant it)

[tayfabe75]

It is clear that most of the songs were written before May 2023, but I am sure that after too. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived was obviously written after, so what's your take on it? This is the angriest she's ever been. Where does this lead us?

Anon, I'll preface this by admitting that I don't think any songs on TTPD are reflective of the past year (though, they have been cleverly disguised to appear as though they're about current events) - I personally believe they are songs about things from Taylor and Matty's past that she dared not share until now for a couple reasons: 1) They wanted to keep their relationship secret 2) She wouldn't dare "out" Matty for his drug use (it was not yet hers to share)

Meaning, I don't believe Taylor would make such direct references to drug use without Matty's blessing.

Now, I get that almost the entire internet would disagree with me on this, I'm well aware that fans are out there right now giving their "diagnoses" about how "unhinged" and "manic" Taylor is on this album…

I vehemently disagree.

I've been studying the woman the past year and I'm continually impressed by her character. Sure, she's aware she's on camera and knows how to turn on the charm. But too much consistent wisdom comes out of her mouth in a way that never falters and isn't easily fabricated or replicated. Also, I don't think that a lot of the public perception of her matches up with how she actually comports herself. For instance, I often hear that she's a "petty queen" for writing about her exes, yet she rarely ever confirms any of them as muses, herself - yet somehow, the fans run wild with speculation and parrot it back like it's written in stone when the actual foundation of some of these myths consists of one or two paparazzi photos. It has been one of the most fascinating aspects of studying this "story".

Of course, I do my fair share of speculating, too… however, I mostly do this based on their discographies or statements made in interviews, things they've actually said or written, etc, rather than fan lore.

Let me just lastly say that the collective take from the "tayfabe" crowd is that TSMWEL is about Kanye, Scott Borchetta, or Scooter.

But… as the resident clown of the group, the one thing I can offer you is maybe a different perspective, which is what you must want if you came here at all, right??

TSMWEL, in my opinion, has romantic undertones ("our bed", "it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden", "you'll slide into inboxes") that I doubt she would use for someone like Scott Borchetta. Aside from references to substance use, there's being "gone by the morning", themes we see in songs like 'Cardigan' and 'Question…?' and even in the music video for 'Me' by The 1975, and a reference to a car crash, something else that pops up thematically on The 1975's debut album - most of which seemed to also be reflective of an earlier time (and, lines like "slide into inboxes" and "hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins" seem only to bolster my suspicion that this song likely predates even 2014...)

"Where does this lead us?"

I guess that depends on your perception! Do you believe a person is able to repair or maintain a meaningful relationship with someone who once wronged them? Can someone write a heartfelt song about a betrayal that they've forgiven and moved past? Or must it always be perceived as "petty"? Can a song like this be purely reflective, or must it be fresh, scathing, or indicative of current feelings? We can safely extrapolate Matty didn't leave Taylor because he didn't care - he seems to have genuinely thought she was better off without him. If someone did that to you, would you maybe understand how anxiety lies to people and... ultimately forgive them? (As someone with a similar "cyclonic" anxiety... I'm genuinely curious!)

I personally believe that TTPD, like all of Taylor's albums, tells a story. Taylor does not sugar-coat things, and neither does Matty. And they're so beloved because they are willing to share their most vulnerable thoughts and feelings, right? If, indeed, TSMWEL is about our boy, well, I'm sure Matty also understands that "the good and bad end up in the song".

Now, read this quote again, but without all that pesky catastrophizing everyone seems to love doing:

"This period of the author's life is now over."

If, truly, this is a reflective album about the past (say, 2014), then maybe it means she wanted to document this period as part of her self-mythologizing confessional songwriting repertoire, but no longer dwells in the pain of it. It's probably just me, but as a fellow woman in her thirties, I just don't buy Taylor processing trauma this way! So publicly, I mean. She learned her lesson in 2016. And this album seems to be more about teaching lessons, herself, now…

But truly, your guess is as good as mine, anon. Thanks for the ask!

[themotherofmattschildren]

Was any of it true?

Gazing at me starry-eyed

In your Jehovah's Witness suit

Who the fuck was that guy?

You tried to buy some pills

From a friend of friends of mine

They just ghosted you

Now you know what it feels like

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

You hung me on your wall

Stabbed me with your push pins

In public, showed me off

Then sank in stoned oblivion

'Cause once your queen had come

You treat her like an also-ran

You didn't measure up

In any measure of a man

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?

Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed?

Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?

In fifty years, will all this be declassified?

And you'll confess why you did it

And I'll say, "Good riddance"

'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden

I would've died for your sins

Instead, I just died inside

And you deserve prison, but you won't get time

You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars

You crashed my party and your rental car

You said normal girls were boring

But you were gone by the morning

You kicked out the stage lights

But you're still performing

And in plain sight you hid

But you are what you did

And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive

The smallest man who ever lived

i love taylor swift

[lightofraye]

Taylor Swift - The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

Was any of it true? Gazing at me starry-eyed In your Jehovah's Witness suit Who the fuck was that guy? You tried to buy some pills From a friend of friends of mine They just ghosted you Now you know what it feels like

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

You hung me on your wall Stabbed me with your push pins In public, showed me off Then sank in stoned oblivion 'Cause once your queen had come You treat her like an also-ran You didn't measure up In any measure of a man

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead? Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed? Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy? In fifty years, will all this be declassified? And you'll confess why you did it And I'll say, "Good riddance" 'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden I would've died for your sins Instead, I just died inside And you deserve prison, but you won't get time You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars You crashed my party and your rental car You said normal girls were boring But you were gone by the morning You kicked out the stage lights But you're still performing

And in plain sight you hid But you are what you did And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive The smallest man who ever lived

[thepeoplesflagisburningred]

The take that TTPD is full of songs not about any one person, that there’s a blending of muses, is so on point. And I can’t stop thinking about how well done this is in The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.

You start on with some very obvious matty references. This is a song about an asshole who ruined her summer. An asshole who wears a Jehovah’s Witness suit and looks for people to buy pills from. She might as well use his name.

Then you get into the recurring theme of anxiety that people are only in her life for clout. There’s this escalating exploitativeness:

1. “You tried to buy some pills from a friend of friends of mine”: concerns about hard drugs and addiction aside, working your connections to get drugs is just kind of a thing people do and not really frowned upon as exploitative in and of itself.

2. “You hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins, in public showed me off, then sank in stoned oblivion”: now she’s clearly being used but it’s about to get worse.

3. “Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead? Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed? Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?”: now it’s gone beyond just spending time with someone to get drugs and feel cool. It’s suspicion of active betrayal and very clearly not just about Matty anymore.

“You are what you did” could be about anyone I guess and is in a certain way directed at Matty here, but on another level that line can’t not be about Kanye. We started to see a bit of the influence of the re-recordings on Midnights, and the influence of re-recording reputation specifically is screaming at us throughout TTPD.

We start with clear references to a specific person and by the end it could be about everyone who’s ever betrayed her and left her in this state of fearing betrayal. Anger at a one person to a generalized paranoia that many people contributed to.

[oh-my-damn]

Was any of it true?

Gazing at me starry-eyed, in your Jehovah's Witness suit.

Who the fuck was that guy?

You tried to buy some pills from a friend of friends of mine, they just ghosted you.

Now you know what it feels like.

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know if rusting my sparkling summer was the goal?

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give a message to the smallest man who ever lived?

You hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins.

In public, showed me off, then sank in stoned oblivion.

'Cause once your queen had come, you'd treat her like an also-ran.

You didn't measure up - in any measure of a man.

[someonewickedthiswaycomes]

Was any of it true?

Gazing at me starry-eyed

In your Jehovah's Witness suit

Who the fuck was that guy?

You tried to buy some pills

From a friend of friends of mine

They just ghosted you

Now you know what it feels like

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

You hung me on your wall

Stabbed me with your push pins

In public, showed me off

Then sank in stoned oblivion

'Cause once your queen had come

You treat her like an also-ran

You didn't measure up

In any measure of a man

And I don't even want you back, I just want to know

If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal

And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give

A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?

Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed?

Were you writing a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy?

In fifty years, will all this be declassified?

And you'll confess why you did it

And I'll say, "Good riddance"

'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden

I would've died for your sins

Instead, I just died inside

And you deserve prison, but you won't get time

You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars

You crashed my party and your rental car

You said normal girls were boring

But you were gone by the morning

You kicked out the stage lights

But you're still performing

And in plain sight you hid

But you are what you did

And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive

The smallest man who ever lived