Anti Hero (Lyrics)

Anti Hero is a track featured on Taylor Swift’s album “Red (Taylor’s Version),” released in November 2021 as part of her determined project to re-record her earlier works. In this song, Swift delves into self-examination, entertainingly allowing herself to the root of her problems.

Among the backdrop of a casual tea time, she smartly thinks about her faults, playfully admitting to avoiding self-reflection by staring at the sun instead of challenging her image in the mirror. This comparison of lightheartedness and self-awareness creates a compelling narrative that resonates with listeners.

The lyrics of Anti Hero showcase Swift’s adeptness at crafting witty and relatable storytelling. She honestly explores themes of self-acceptance and personal growth, presenting herself as imperfect yet appealing.

The song’s catchy tune and clever wordplay add depth to Swift’s collection, highlighting her ability to blend pop feelings with thoughtful lyrics. Through Anti Hero, Swift demonstrates her knack for infusing depth and authenticity into her music while maintaining her symbolic charm.

(Lyrics) Anti Hero

I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser
Midnights become my afternoons
When my depression works the graveyard shift
All of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room

(Summary)

{The lyrics you provided convey a sense of meditation and struggle with personal growth and mental health issues. The speaker reflects on their disposition to age without gaining wisdom, indicating a recurring cycle of middle age without true understanding.

However, unlike Cruel Summer, which explores the complexities of romantic relationships and the intense emotions experienced during the warmer months, the lyrics you’ve shared focus more on internal conflict and self-awareness.

The mention of “midnights become my afternoons” suggests an alteration of time, possibly indicating the speaker’s experience of depression moving their perception of reality. The line “When my depression works the graveyard shift” highlights the universal nature of their depression, as it seems to intensify during the night.

Lastly, the imagery of “all of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room” suggests feelings of fault or shame for cutting off relationships, as if those they’ve left behind continue to haunt them.

Overall, the lyrics show an emotional exploration of personal struggles with mental health and emotional cases.}

(Lyrics)

I should not be left to my own devices
They come with prices and vices
I end up in crisis (tale as old as time)
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving
‘Cause you got tired of my scheming
(For the last time)

(Summary)

{The lyrics express a sense of self-awareness and self-destruction. The speaker allows their disposition to make poor choices when left to their own devices, which often leads to negative values and emergencies.

The phrase “tale as old as time” suggests that this pattern is familiar and frequent. The speaker also reflects on the fear of being unrestricted by someone they care about because of their actions and scheming behavior, indicating a sense of regret and longing for change.}

(Lyrics)

It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me
At tea time, everybody agrees
I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti hero

(Summary)

{The speaker symbolically states their readiness to face difficult challenges, like staring at the sun, but avoids confronting their reflection, suggesting a fear of escaping self-awareness, much like a flower turning away from sunlight.

The mention of rooting for the anti-hero suggests a pattern of behavior where the speaker may understand or support flawed or morally unclear characters, possibly reflecting their internal struggles. Anti Hero. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of self-examination and self-awareness regarding personal faults and patterns of behavior.}

(Lyrics)

Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby
And I’m a monster on the hill
Too big to hang out, slowly lurching toward your favorite city
Pierced through the heart, but never killed

(Summary)

{The lyrics you provided seem to convey a sense of disaffection or feeling out of place. The speaker compares themselves to a monster on a hill, feeling too big and difficult to fit in with others whom they observe as “sexy babies.”

Despite this feeling of being different, they continue to move towards the city, maybe seeking connection or belonging. Anti Hero. The line “pierced through the heart, but never killed” suggests resilience in the face of difficulty or rejection. Overall, the lyrics touch upon themes of self-awareness, separation, and flexibility.}

(Lyrics)

Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism
Like some kind of congressman? (Tale as old as time)
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving
And life will lose all its meaning
(For the last time)

(Summary)

{The lyrics convey a sense of self-awareness and inner disorder, suggesting a hidden vain inclination that the person disguises as humanity, maybe drawing a parallel to a representative’s deceiving behavior.

The mention of waking up screaming from dreams and anticipating a future leaving indicates a fear of losing someone important. Anti Hero. The phrase “life will lose all its meaning” suggests a deep emotional impact, possibly indicating that this departure will be mostly significant, possibly for the last time.

Overall, the lyrics explore themes of self-reflection, inner conflict, and the fear of losing meaningful connections.}

(Lyrics)

It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me (I’m the problem, it’s me)
At tea time, everybody agrees
I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti hero

(Summary)

{The lyrics express meditation and self-awareness, with the speaker allowing themselves as the source of their problems. Anti Hero. They describe a situation where everyone around them allows their faults, yet the speaker remains unaware or uncaring of their reflection in the mirror.

The line about staring directly at the sun symbolically suggests facing challenges head-on but avoiding self-reflection. Anti Hero. The mention of rooting for the anti hero suggests a predisposition to identify with damaged or rebellious characters.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of self-critique and complexity in the speaker’s identity and behavior.}

(Lyrics)

I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money
She thinks I left them in the will
The family gathers ’round and reads it and then someone screams out
“She’s laughing up at us from hell”

(Summary)

{The lyrics show a dark and creepy situation where the storyteller has a dream in which their daughter-in-law murders them for legacy money she believes she’s permitted to.

The family then gathers to read the will, only to discover that the narrator didn’t leave anything to them, causing shock and distress.

The mention of the narrator laughing from hell adds a haunting element to the dream, suggesting an evil and unsettling atmosphere.}

(Lyrics)

It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me
It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me
It’s me, hi, everybody agrees, everybody agrees

(Summary)

{The lyrics express self-awareness and self-disapproval, as the speaker recognizes themselves as the source of a problem. Anti Hero. The repetition of “It’s me, hi” emphasizes this recognition.

The phrase “everybody agrees” suggests that others also see the speaker as the problem, reinforcing their self-awareness.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of personal responsibility and acceptance of one’s errors.}

(Lyrics)

It’s me, hi (hi), I’m the problem, it’s me (I’m the problem, it’s me)
At tea (tea) time (time), everybody agrees (everybody agrees)
I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti hero

(Summary)

{The lyrics suggest a self-awareness of being the source of problems. The speaker recognizes their faults, entertainingly referring to themselves as “the problem.” Anti Hero. They mention how during tea time, everyone seems to agree on this fact.

The line about staring directly at the sun but never in the mirror implies a reluctance to confront their own reflection or inner issues. Anti Hero. Finally, there’s a hint of exhaustion in always supporting the anti hero, suggesting a weariness with self-critical predispositions or unusual choices.

Overall, the lyrics convey a blend of self-awareness, comedy, and a hint of meditation.}

Overall, Anti Hero stands out as a notable addition to Taylor Swift’s discography, illustrating her evolution as an artist.

It’s evidence of her ability to captivate audiences with her thoughtful storytelling and catchy melodies, earning praise for her clever lyrics and relatable themes.

Swift’s disposition to embrace her errors and weaknesses in her music continues to resonate with fans, making Anti Hero a memorable and engaging track in her body of work.