Released: 2022
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” is a deep dive into self-reflection and self-criticism. The song explores themes of personal flaws, insecurities, and the feeling of being an outsider. Swift candidly addresses her internal struggles and the impact they have on her relationships and self-image.
In the opening lines, Swift talks about getting older but not necessarily wiser, hinting at a cycle of repeating mistakes. The line “Midnights become my afternoons” suggests a life turned upside down, where night becomes day, possibly due to insomnia or a nocturnal lifestyle. The mention of depression working the “graveyard shift” paints a picture of her mental health struggles haunting her at night, bringing back memories of people she’s “ghosted” or cut off.
The verse “I should not be left to my own devices” highlights her awareness of her self-destructive tendencies. The “prices and vices” that come with these tendencies lead her into “crisis,” a “tale as old as time,” suggesting a familiar pattern of behavior. The chorus, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me,” is a blunt admission of self-blame, acknowledging her role in her own issues.
The line “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror” speaks to her avoidance of self-reflection, preferring to face external challenges rather than confront her inner self. This avoidance is “exhausting,” especially for those who “root for the anti-hero,” or the flawed protagonist who struggles to be the hero of their own story.
Swift uses the metaphor of feeling like “everybody is a sexy baby” while she is a “monster on the hill” to express her feelings of inadequacy and being out of place. The “covert narcissism” disguised as “altruism” is a sharp critique of her own behavior, likening it to a “congressman,” suggesting insincerity and hidden motives.
In a dream sequence, she imagines her daughter-in-law killing her for money, with the family reading her will and accusing her of “laughing up at us from hell.” This dark humor underscores her fear of being misunderstood and resented by those close to her. The repetition of “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me” throughout the song reinforces her self-awareness and acceptance of her flaws.
