Taylor Swift is known for her storytelling skills and emotional vulnerability in her songs. One of the most heartbreaking examples of this is "Tolerate It", the fifth track on her ninth studio album, Evermore.
The song explores the theme of unrequited love and resentment, as the narrator describes how she tries to please her partner who only tolerates her presence and never reciprocates her feelings.
Let's dive into the lyrics, and then provide an analysis of the song!
I. tolerate it Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I sit and watch you readin' with your head low
I wake and watch you breathin' with your eyes closed
I sit and watch you
I notice everything you do or don't do
You're so much older and wiser, and I
[Chorus]
I wait by the door like I'm just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it
If it's all in my head, tell me now
Tell me I've got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
[Verse 2]
I greet you with a battle hero's welcome
I take your indiscretions all in good fun
I sit and listen
I polish plates until they gleam and glisten
You're so much older and wiser, and I
[Chorus]
I wait by the door like I'm just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it
If it's all in my head, tell me now
Tell me I've got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
[Bridge]
While you were out building other worlds, where was I?
Where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?
I made you my temple, my mural, my sky
Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life
Drawing hearts in the byline
Always takin' up too much space or time
You assume I'm fine, but what would you do if I (I)
[Chorus]
Break free and leave us in ruins?
Took this dagger in me and removed it
Gain the weight of you, then lose it
Believe me, I could do it
If it's all in my head, tell me now
Tell me I've got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
[Outro]
I sit and watch you
II. tolerate it Analysis
American singer songwriter Taylor Swift is known for her storytelling skills and emotional vulnerability in her songs. The song "tolerate it" is written from the perspective of a woman who is in a one-sided relationship with a man who does not appreciate her. Taylor Swift compares herself to a child who brings him drawings, a book that he never reads, and a magpie who builds him a nest.
Taylor Swift sings, "I wait by the door like I'm just a kid / Use my best colors for your portrait / Lay the table with the fancy shit / And watch you tolerate it". She expresses her frustration and sadness at being ignored and taken for granted, while still hoping for a change. Taylor wonders, "What would you do if I break free and leave us in ruins?".
The song is a piano ballad with a minimal production that highlights Swift's vocals and lyrics. The melody is haunting and melancholic, creating a contrast with the more upbeat and optimistic songs on the album. The song also features backing vocals from Aaron Dessner, one of the co-producers and co-writers of the song, along with Swift and William Bowery (a pseudonym for Joe Alwyn, Swift's boyfriend).
"Tolerate It" is one of the fan favorites from Evermore, and has received critical acclaim for its lyrical depth and emotional impact. The song debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it Swift's 29th top 10 hit in the US. The song also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Swift's 43rd Grammy nomination in her career.
"Tolerate It" is a song that showcases Swift's ability to craft poignant and powerful stories through music. Like her other songs, "tolerate it" is one that resonates with many listeners who have experienced unrequited love or felt undervalued in their relationships. It is a song that reminds us to not settle for less than we deserve, and to not tolerate being tolerated.
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