How to write literally vs. figuratively | Right Where You Left Me Taylor Swift lyrics breakdown

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Thanks to ‪@psychoswift2655‬ for recommending this one!! It was so great. Today, we're looking at Right Where You Left Me for our Taylor Swift lyrics analysis so we can see how she crafted this song.
This one was a great picture of how to write literally vs. figuratively because Taylor starts figuratively and gets more literal as she moves into the narrative later on. The fun part of this Taylor Swift lyrics breakdown, though, is that we don't know how literal she's really being. Are we getting into the realm of a ghost story? Or is it just meant to be hyperbolic?
This is what's fun about breaking down Taylor Swift lyrics - there are always a couple of ways to read them. Love it!
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writing figuratively vs. literally | first time taylor swift reaction | taylor swift reaction first time | on writing | #writerreacts | #learningfromlyrics

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Опубликовано:

6 мар 2024

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Комментарии : 99

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

This one was so fun!! What's your favorite line from RWYLM? ✍🤔

@susruthasam7657 4 месяца назад

If you ever think you got it wrong, I'm right where you left me.... First verse makes it sound like she's unable to move on while the second one makes it sound like she doesn't want to. Telling him she'll wait however long meaning she CHOSE to stay😭😭

@abyach62 4 месяца назад

Does the whole song count as a favourite line ? 🥹

@katiebarchi 4 месяца назад

The hair pin drop, hair pinned lines. So good! Plus the mascara run line always makes me sad 😢

@NateLacsamana 4 месяца назад

The line "I could feel the mascara run" that ryhmes with "you told me that you met someone" is perfection!

@shewhowatchesalot 4 месяца назад

Rumours fly to new skies but I'm right where you left me, and then later on she talks about the rumour about her of the girl that's still 23. I mean the whole song is incredible

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

ALSO - another connection I loved: hair pin drop + pinned up hair to reflect that she's falling apart, coming undone (like the pins are falling out of her hair). C'mon!

@dougpettepier2818 4 месяца назад

"Coming undone" is interesting phrasing. Taylor used that phrase often in songs on her first album.

@musicfangirl7403 4 месяца назад

Yes! I also like the connotation of her “pinned up hair” as if she were dressed up and they were there for a celebratory occasion. Maybe it’s a birthday or an anniversary and things fell apart.

@sebastianhelgeson3559 4 месяца назад

A “hairpin drop” (specifically a hairpin, as opposed to pin drop) is old timey slang for homosexuality. You could make the connection that the lover in this song left the protagonist for a man

@sebastianhelgeson3559 4 месяца назад

I realize she says “you’ve got a wife out there”, but I like to think that the protagonist doesn’t know that’s why she was left at the restaurant, but the “hairpin” is a hint to the reader

@lancorssei 4 месяца назад

i always loved how she repeats "you left me no" bc even though it has more words to come it gives a sense of denial at first

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Yesss!

@narbuka 4 месяца назад

Taylor should write more songs about being a ghost and haunting places. It's my favorite imagery to read about/listen to because I love tragic ghost stories lol.

@dwohtied 4 месяца назад

You must love my tears ricochet? 😂

@narbuka 4 месяца назад

@@dwohtied I love the lyrics but ironically it's not a favorite of mine lol. Probably controversial but I find the melody boring.

@cassandras430 4 месяца назад

I also loveeee the line “Pages turn and stick to each other” in terms of how a story progresses by turning the page, but if the pages are sticking to each other then the story isn’t progressing, it’s being quite literally stuck to the past

@hiversoul6726 4 месяца назад

if you haven't listened to cowboy like me you definitely should!!! it's my absolute favorite song from evermore and i think you would love it!!!

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

It's coming sooooon!!

@hiversoul6726 4 месяца назад

@@OnWriting. omg yes!!! i'm so excited!! 🥰

@ivaa3122 4 месяца назад

yesss

@ohifonlyx33 4 месяца назад

As someone who is almost 30 and has never had anything even close to a romantic relationship to actually have the experience of a break up... i weep at this song from the perspective of a girl who watches all her best friends leave to get married and have families.... like I exist in a frozen state while all of the world moves on and has those experiences. Devastating, even if I'm happy for them.

@OnWriting. Месяц назад

Omggggg T.T breaking my heart over here. Our world does not handle singleness well at all!

@ohifonlyx33 Месяц назад

@@OnWriting. well... people are not made to be alone. We were designed to be with each other and create families. Its just some of us have a harder time with that. That doesn't mean we change a fact of human nature.

@jepros 4 месяца назад

A neat idea I got about the "dust collected" line is it could also represent hair turning grey. I saw an edit on tik tok using this song and they showed the character getting older. It seemed to match well, alongside the "literal" dust of the narrator being stuck there, it could also be how they're getting older but still haven't moved on.

@ShaeferGriffin-it9nx 3 месяца назад

Folklore and Evermore are both brilliant albums. She's channeling Springsteen and George Strait with both of those albums, and they're both inspirations of hers who also appreciate her. Such amazing stuff.

@mayaly4 4 месяца назад

One of my favorite details about the lyrics is where she repeats the line "you left me, no" in the chorus and how each time it means something different " 'cause im right where you left me" - saying she's stuck "Oh, you left me no" repeating it as if she's still in shock and denial about him leaving "You left me no choice but to stay here forever" - she was put into this situation that she cannot bear to move on from resulting in her being stuck.

@nephibasco8570 4 месяца назад

Great interpretation! I love it! Very refreshing as well. Please react to The Lakes! Pretty please!

@WaltMossberg 4 месяца назад

Loved your interpretation and literary explanation of this excellent and underrated song. It’s one of my faves because the imagery is so vivid (and the melody is so good.)

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Thank you Walt!! It was so good! ^.^

@giovannarodrigues2647 3 месяца назад

I love this song and the concept! Kinda reminds me of the song “the man who can’t be moved” by the script

@katiebarchi 4 месяца назад

Love this, 😊 I always pictured her in new york or French fancy restaurant. Interesting, you picture a diner! Suggestion for another TS reaction would be The Lakes. So poetic, I'd love to get your thoughts.

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Oh that's super interesting! Too funny. I totally pictured a grungy diner haha. I like that you got something completely different from it, though. And yessss, I have the Lakes on my short list - can't wait to check it out ^.^

@g30rgias 4 месяца назад

You need to do 'it's time to go' from evermore!!

@boyinvintage 21 день назад

And the fact she released this masterpiece as a bonus track!

@OnWriting. 17 дней назад

That's wild, tbh

@nuubi_ 4 месяца назад

Amazing interpretation, I always love hearing your opinions about her songs! If you liked this one I recommend listening to "It's Time to Go", it's the perfect opposite to this one. Also from Evermore is "Cowboy Like Me", which I think you'd love!

@vitnersantos 4 месяца назад

this is a masterpiece of a song

@Tayblink 4 месяца назад

Hey Megan, just want to sincerely thank you for doing an analysis of TSwift’s songs. Your insights really made me realize some things I had missed before and deepened my appreciation for these songs. It's incredible how your interpretation sheds new light on the writing and makes me truly recognize the genius behind it. Thanks for sharing your perspective-it's truly enlightening! Ps. If you have time, hope you can do coney island or tolerate it from evermore or peace from folklore. Thanks again!

@comosedice6104 4 месяца назад

you should react “the last great american dynasty” from folklore its so good both lyrically and sonically.

@khadijanedhal4735 4 месяца назад

I love this, do its time to go

@oriyanbarnes 4 месяца назад

I'm so glad you reacted to this song! It's so visual, one of my favs 😊❤

@kennedymontoya9962 4 месяца назад

This is one of my favorite songs off Evermore. Its very underrated!

@rightwhereyouleftme__ 4 месяца назад

I love this song because it makes me imagine a frozen, Taylor stuck so long in one spot that it's almost like she became a mannequin. And the monotone vibe to her voice in the verse is because she's literally frozen and needs help moving. It's such a creepy, sad song with haunting imagery, but at the same time, it's got this driving beat and melody that you can't help but get stuck in your head. She's such a freaking talented songwriter, and this song perfectly encapsulates it.

@emmabrilleslyper5448 4 месяца назад

So glad you got to this one!! It’s one of my very favorites! I love the switch between figurative and literal. Her bonus tracks are often some of the best gems! The Lakes from folklore is similarly wonderful.

@enixontejeda6142 4 месяца назад

You should do “Dear reader” off the midnight album it basically Taylor addressing the fans and giving them advice in away like “ Dear reader If it feels like a trap, you're already in one”

@erikafriberg 4 месяца назад

Another interesting thing about this song that is a bit meta, is the line about being frozen at 23, because Taylor once talked about celebs becoming frozen at the age they became famous, which you could argue for Taylor 23ish is the age she became mega-famous and more mainstream thanks to Red and 1989. I do wonder why she chose that age in particular, if she took it from her own life or if she had another reason.

@camryn5709 4 месяца назад

I don’t think it’s in relation to fame, rather than the age she was when she met the person the song is about.

@nilssjoberg.3303 4 месяца назад

you should definitely react to the other bonus track from Evermore "it's time to go"

@VioletEmerald 4 месяца назад

This was so fun to watch! Thank you for your analysis. We love to watch you having fun. :)

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Aw thanks Violet!

@palomarissa 4 месяца назад

Here I'm again to express my love for this song and for your videos. Among all TS' songs, this is the one that shows how I feel everyday, in my personal life. That's the beauty of being TS' fan, there is always a song to express how we feel.

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

You are so sweet! And yeah, she really does have a song for every mood and occasion haha ^.^ Also, I'm sorry to hear this one resonates so much, though :(

@shewhowatchesalot 4 месяца назад

Ahhh this song... It breaks my heart EVERY TIME I listen to it when it gets to the end realizing she's STILL WAITING and believing that the guy at some point will come back and they can just continue where he left her. Noooooo!!! 💔

@simplymatt13 3 месяца назад

FINALLY

@OnWriting. 3 месяца назад

🤣🤣🤣

@pictures_by_leaha 2 месяца назад

I have always looked at this song like she’s singing about how she was newly in love with this person at 23. This being written months or years after the relationship ended. When this other person has married and stopped dropping hairpins. Also glass shattered on the white cloth reminds me of a jewish wedding tradition. To drop (one’s) hairpins is to give clues (easter eggs if you will) of one’s queerness just putting it out there.

@lena4097 4 месяца назад

my favourite song of evermore is cowboy like me. it´s one of my favourite songs, it´s like a poem and it has the most beautiful lyrics. some people say it's a love story but some think it´s a tragic break-up song so I´m curious to see what you think of it.

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Sooooon..... :D

@madelinewise8692 4 месяца назад

I thought I understood the song but you added a lot with your excellent analysis

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Aw thank you! I'm so glad

@bunnybuckette 4 месяца назад

I listened to this song last night and was thinking that I'd like to see you break it down! Great video. I love your interpretation. Two other songs that I think would be interesting to see are Peace and The Lakes from the Folklore album.

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Wow, that's good timing! Sweet that you thought of me :') And yesss I'm excited to finally look at the Lakes! Adding Peace to the list too ^.^

@thisismetrying17 4 месяца назад

One of my favourite songs ever thanks for the amazing reaction❤ Waiting for 'happiness' too

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

I've done Happiness!! ^.^

@thisismetrying17 4 месяца назад

@@OnWriting. Oh no,I've got such a bad memory 😭 Guess I'll just binge watch your videos again

@leticiags6395 4 месяца назад

this song reminds me of the book “before the coffee gets cold”

@heevean1206 4 месяца назад

ANTI HERO NEXT PLSSSSSS😭😍😍😍❤❤❤

@vamppooni 4 месяца назад

you really should listen to youre on your own kid!! its a great song with some banging lyrics so i think you'd like it a lot

@sam_sa09 4 месяца назад

Yaaaay

@erikafriberg 4 месяца назад

One of my favorite things about this song is the parts she sings "You left me no! You left me no choice but to say here forever". "No" kinda becomes a connecting word between the two parts, like first its a cry of pain, but then it changes function.

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Yesss I love this too!!

@snowwhite902 Месяц назад

8:51 " if you think that you got it WRONG, I'm RIGHT where you left me" heyyyy have we noticed thattt ?!!

@OnWriting. Месяц назад

Ooooh nice catch! ^.^

@clarrencejakepalermo946 4 месяца назад

Please do Marjorie from evermore next!!😊

@marlataylor 4 месяца назад

Reminds me of madame bijoux in Titanic 🥺

@annakareninaramosdelima879 4 месяца назад

I don't know if you've heard/reacted to "no body, no crime", but I love the theory that this song is from the perspective of the character "Este" from that song as a ghost after she gets killed by her husband

@m.h.c.r_ 27 дней назад

could you analyze Would've, Could've, Should've, My Tears Ricochet, The Lakes? (Taylor Swift)

@knowitnone 9 дней назад

dust collecting on her hair can mean she’s going grey from how long it’s been

@franzjoyalpapara9856 2 месяца назад

how about no body no crime?

@Reema-tz9ek 4 месяца назад

So many ppl are still at the restaurant

@erikafriberg 4 месяца назад

The line "If our love died young, I can't bear witness" got me thinking. Like personifying the "love" and that the love died like a person could, meaning that the love was murdered but the narrator refuse to testify in court, like as a witness. The narrator saying "don't ask me to testify about how our love died, because I refuse/can't understand that it happened". In a more literal sense, it might mean that her friends and family tries to help her move on but she doesn't wanna accept that it's over. Or that in a potential run-in with the ex, it would hurt too much to talk about their relationship in a past tense.

@pariamtzv 4 месяца назад

Please react to “The Lakes” as well , i just Love how you breakdown lyrics

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Thank you! The Lakes is on my short list :)

@Someone-123M2 4 месяца назад

Hey megan I think a song that you would love that is so good is “This is me trying” by Taylor Swift.

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

I looked at this one! It's on Patreon though. It was really good!

@safetypin127 4 месяца назад

I relate to this song on so many levels it's not even funny 💀

@user-us6kf3vu9l 4 месяца назад

Cowboy like me next pls 🙏 loveeee your videos btw 🫶

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Thank you :') and yes, Cowboy Like Me is next!

@rafaelfigueoa2457 4 месяца назад

The flashback when she said "you know who you are"😶😶😶

@BrentDeJong 4 месяца назад

"Thanks for suggesting that... you know who you are" I absolutely would not know if you chose a song I suggested because I wouldn't remember suggesting it 😅

@OnWriting. 4 месяца назад

Hahaha, well this person will likely remember! :P

@camryn5709 4 месяца назад

I really think the glass on the white cloth is an obvious reference to a Jewish wedding tradition.

@chiaramuller7201 4 месяца назад

you should do Billie!!!!

@OnWriting. Месяц назад

I have GOT to do more Billie. She has been neglected!

@pauldhoff 4 месяца назад

Please listen to Darkness Keeps Chasing Me, by Grace VanderWaal. She is a singer song writer and won AGT when she was 12 with her own original songs. She wrote this song when she was 13, She is now 20.