Taylor Swift Calls Out Slut Shaming Amid a New Relationship on "Slut!"

Once Swifties cracked the code and discovered that one of Taylor Swift's 1989 vault tracks was titled "Slut!," it quickly became the most anticipated track on the album's re-release. Throughout her career, Taylor has received cruel criticism and has been on the end of relentless slut shaming for *checks notes* dating in her 20s. Now in her ~flirty 30s~, Tay revisited that time in her life in her lengthy prologue and on the dreamy synth-pop track, "Slut!"

"It became clear to me that for me, there was no such thing as casual dating, or even having a male friend who you platonically hang out with. If I was seen with him, it was assumed I was sleeping with him, and so I swore off hanging out with guys," she wrote in her album's prologue. "Dating, flirting, or anything that could be weaponized against me by a culture that claimed to believe in liberating women but consistently treated me with the harsh moral codes of the Victorian era."

On her latest vault track—which was co-written by Jack Antonoff and Patrik Berger—Taylor addresses the slut shamers and lets go of her inhibitions in a new relationship because no matter what she does, she knows she's going to be criticized anyway. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Without further ado, find the full "Slut!" lyrics meaning with some ~receipts~ ahead.

Lyrics provided by Genius

[Verse 1]
Flamingo pink, Sunrise Boulevard
Clink, clink, being this young is art
Aquamarine, moonlit swimmin' pool
What if all I need is you?

From the jump, Tay provides us with vivid imagery with different colors—which she teased as Easter eggs with her 1989 (Taylor's Version) deluxe CD drop. 👀

"Clink, clink, being this young is art" also calls back to her "New Romantics" lyrics:

"We're so young, but we're on the road to ruin."

[Pre-Chorus]
Got love-struck, went straight to my head
Got lovesick all over my bed
Love to think you’ll never forget
Handprints in wet cement
Adorned with smoke on my clothes
Lovelorn and nobody knows
Love thorns all over this rose
I'll pay the price, you won't

In the pre-chorus, Taylor describes the rush of falling in love with someone and how discomfort can sometimes feel exhilarating. She also notes that she'll "pay the price," or be on the receiving end of endless criticism and slut shaming while her partner will remain unscathed.

[Chorus]
But if I’m all dressed up
They might as well be lookin' at us
And if they call me a slut
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love

This chorus just hits different (heh). She expresses that in this new 'ship, she lets go of presenting herself a certain way because she's going to be criticized no matter what she does. Also, because she has *taste*, there may be an ode to Beyoncé as "Drunk In Love" was probably released around the same time Taylor wrote this track.

[Verse 2]
Send the code, he's waitin' there
The sticks and stones they throw froze mid-air
Everyone wants him, that was my crime
The wrong place at the right time
And I break down, then he's pullin' me in
In a world of boys, he's a gentleman

Since "Slut!" dropped, fans have speculated that it ties back to Tay's whirlwind romance with Harry Styles. In 2012 and 2013, One Direction stans reportedly sent hate to Taylor when dating rumors circulated, hence the line "Everyone wants him, that was my crime /
The wrong place at the right time."

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
Half asleep, takin’ your time
In the tangerine, neon light, this is luxury
You're not sayin' you're in love with me
But you're going to
Half awake, takin' your chances
It's a big mistake, I said, "It might blow up in your pretty face"
I'm not saying, "Do it anyway" (Do it anyway)
But you're going to

A recurring theme in Taylor's songs ties back to protecting her partner's peace (or lack thereof). In the bridge, she expresses that falling in love with her could be a mistake as the person will receive the same backlash she's faced throughout her career.

These lyrics also parallel folklore's "Peace":

"The devil's in the details, but you got a friend in me / Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?"

[Outro]
(Up)
And if they call me a (Slut)
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be (Drunk)
I might as well be drunk in love

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