I'm not usually such a fan of poppy, generic songs with cheesy lyrics, but we all have our exceptions. "Mean" is one of mine.
It's no secret that I've always loved country music, whether or not I'm in a critical mood, so I suppose it's no surprise that one of my guilty pleasure faves would be Taylor Swift. But I just can't help it-- the lyrics to this song, while a little expectedly juvenile and bland, make me feel happy, in a very "take THAT, asshole!" sort of way.
I think I like it so much because I just know people like that. Mean people, that is. People who pick on other people for the sole purpose of just picking on them. Tearing people down, being overly critical. I fucking hate mean people. So I love this song, and it's stuck in my head all the time. Enjoy.
Bonus question: how do you feel about the implications of Taylor Swift's songwriting style and image, as it relates to gender-based stereotypes and equality?
Lyrics under the fold.
You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man
Well, you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know
Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
You, with your switching sides and your walk-by lies and your humiliation
You, have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again
I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know
Someday I'll be living in a big old city
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/taylor-swift-lyrics/mean-lyrics.html ]
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean
All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean
But someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
