Current:Home > reviewsThe most Taylor Swift song ever: 'I Can Do it With a Broken Heart' (track 13 on 'TTPD') -InfiniteWealth
The most Taylor Swift song ever: 'I Can Do it With a Broken Heart' (track 13 on 'TTPD')
View
Date:2025-04-22 03:55:33
Taylor Swift, the new poet laureate of pop, released her 11th album and with it a song that is so quintessentially Taylor.
Swift is an expert at Trojan horse songs: Lyrics that cut hidden beneath an innocuous, upbeat melody.
Enter “I Can Do it With a Broken Heart,” the 13th track of “The Tortured Poets Department.”
With fluttering synths and an electro-pop beat, it’s structured as one of Swift’s trademark glistening pop gems. But in the lyrics, Swift travels through the most potent psychological exploration of “the show must go on” since Smokey Robinson and The Miracles described “The Tears of a Clown” in 1967.
Swift unfurls the anguish she hid while remaining very visible the past year during her historic, world-spanning Eras Tour: “I’m a real tough kid,” Swift sings, defiant as ever. “They said baby, gotta fake it til you make it … and I did.”
But the song achieves liftoff with the dichotomy of Swift’s honeyed voice and her chant-singing, “I’m so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday every day.”
It’s a clever entry into the complexity of mental health, and Swift, she of limitless ambition, flips her sorrow into something constructive, a Superwoman unbowed by pesky things like misery.
More:Taylor Swift name-drops Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas on new song. Here’s why
“I cry a lot but I am so productive,” she chirps, tongue firmly in cheek. “It’s an art … you know you’re good when you can do it with a broken heart.”
Read on for the full lyrics in what’s sure to be Swift's next signature song.
'I Can Do it With a Broken Heart' lyrics
I can read your mind
She’s having the time of her life
There in her glittering prime
The lights refract sequin stars
Off her silhouette every night
I can show you lies
'Cause I’m a real tough kid
I can handle my shit
They said, “Babe you gotta fake it til you make it”
And I did
Lights, camera, bitch smile
Even when you want to die
He said he’d love me all his life
But that life was too short
Breaking down I hit the floor
All the pieces of me shattered
As the crowd was chanting, “MORE!”
I was grinning like I’m winning
I was hitting my marks
‘Cause I can do it with a broken heart
I’m so depressed I act like it’s my birthday
Every day
I’m so obsessed with him but he avoids me
Like the plague
I cry a lot but I am so productive
It’s an art
You know you’re good when you even can do it
With a broken heart
I can hold my breath
I’ve been doing it since he left
I keep finding his things in drawers
Crucial evidence I didn’t imagine the whole thing
I’m sure I can pass this test
Cause I’m a real tough kid
I can handle my shit
They said, “babe you gotta fake it til you make it”
And I did
Lights, camera, bitch smile
In stilettos for miles
He said he’d love me for all time
But that time was quite short
Breaking down I hit the floor
All the pieces of me shattered
As the crowd was chanting, “MORE!”
I was grinning like I’m winning
I was hitting my marks
‘cause I can do it with a broken heart
I’m so depressed I act like it’s my birthday
Every day
I’m so obsessed with him but he avoids me
Like the plague
I cry a lot but I am so productive
It’s an art
You know you’re good when you can even do it
With a broken heart
You know you’re good when you can even do it
With a broken heart
You know you’re good
And I’m good
‘Cause I’m miserable
And nobody even knows
Try and come for my job
veryGood! (7981)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Marlins rally in 9th inning to take 2-1 lead over Mets before rain causes suspension
- Peruvian man arrested for allegedly sending bomb threats when minors refused to send him child pornography
- They hired her to train their dog. He starved in her care. Now she's facing felony charges
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- 9 years after mine spill in northern Mexico, new report gives locals hope for long-awaited cleanup
- Soldier dad disguised as school mascot surprises son in class
- Georgia Republicans suspend state senator who wants to impeach DA for indicting Trump
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Reese Witherspoon's 'Love in Fairhope' follows Alabama singles in new take on reality TV
Ranking
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Have a complaint about CVS? So do pharmacists: Many just walked out
- 5 takeaways ahead of Trump's $250 million civil fraud trial
- Florida high-speed train headed to Orlando fatally strikes pedestrian
- Small twin
- 3 arrested, including 2 minors, after ghost guns found in New York City day care
- ‘It’s hell out here’: Why one teacher’s bold admission opened a floodgate
- British Museum asks public to help recover stolen gems and jewelry
Recommendation
Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
Seattle police officer heard joking about woman's death reassigned to 'non-operational position'
Sweating cools us down, but does it burn calories?
Meet the woman who runs Mexico's only female-owned and operated tequila distillery
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Yelp sues Texas to keep crisis pregnancy center description labels
Here are the top 10 creators on the internet, according to Forbes
McCarthy vows to move forward with House bill to avert shutdown despite GOP holdouts