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Midnights Lyric Booklet (Mahogany)
Midnights Lyric Booklet (Mahogany)
Contents
Vol 1
Prologue 6
Lavender Haze 7
Maroon 9
Anti-Hero 11
Snow on the Beach 13
You’re on Your Own, Kid 15
Midnight Rain 17
Question...? 19
Vigilante Shit 21
Bejeweled 23
Labyrinth 25
Karma 27
Sweet Nothing 29
Mastermind 31
Hits Different 33
Vol 2
The Great War 37
Bigger Than the Whole Sky 39
Paris 41
High Infidelity 43
Glitch 45
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve 47
Dear Reader 49
Vol 3
You’re Losing Me 53
Snow on the Beach 55
Karma 57
Anti-Hero 59
Page 2
Page 3
Volume I
The Planets
Page 4
Page 5
Prologue
It’s a momentary glimmer of distraction. The tiniest notion of reminiscent thought that wanders off into
wondering, the spark that lights a tinderbox of fixation. And now is irreversible. The flame has caught.
You’re wide awake.
Maybe it’s that one urgent question you meant to ask someone years ago but didn’t. Someone that slipped
through the cracks in your history, and they’re are too far gone now anyway. All the ghost ships that have
sailed and sailed away, but at this hour, they’ve anchored in your harbor. They sit with flags waving, bright
and beautiful. And it’s almost like it’s real.
Sometimes sleep is as evasive as happiness. Isn’t it mystifying how quickly we vacillate between self love
and loathing at this hour? One moment, your life looks like a night sky of gleaming stars. The next, the fog
has descended. Suddenly you’re in the rope indentations of your old tire swing still on the branch. All the
phone numbers you still know by heart but never call anymore. The boy’s devastated face as he peeled
out of your driveway. The family man he is now. What must they all think of you?
Why can’t you sleep? Maybe you lie awake in the aftershock of falling headlong into a connection that
feels like some surreal cataclysmic event. Like spontaneous combustion, or seeing snow falling on a
tropical beach. A lavender haze crush that feels like the crash of wave.
Or was tonight the night you realized how solitary, how alone you really are, no matter how high you climb.
The elevation just makes it colder.
Some midnights, you’re out and you’re buzzing with electric current — an adventurer in pursuit of
rapturous thrill. Music blaring from speakers and the reckless intimacy of dancing with strangers.
Something in this shadowy room to make you feel shiny again. On these nights, you know that there are
facets of you that only glow in the dark.
Why are you still up at this hour? Because you’re cosplaying vengeance fantasies, where the bad bad man
is hauled away in handcuffs and you get to watch it happen. You laugh into the mirror with a red wine
snarl. You look positively deranged.
Maybe you were trying to mastermind matters of the heart again. You’ve gotten lost in the labyrinth of your
head, where the fear wraps its claws around the fragile throat of true love. Will you be able to save it in
time? Save it from who? Well, it obvious. From you.
We lie awake in love and in fear and in turmoll and in tears. We stare at walls and drink until they speak
back. We twist in our self-made cages and pray that we aren’t — right this minute — about to make some
fateful life-altering mistake. This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through
terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and
turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching. Hoping that just maybe, when the clock
strikes twelve… we’ll meet ourselves.
Page 6
Lavender Haze
written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Zoe Kravitz, Mark Spears, Jahaan Sweet & Sam Dew
Meet me at midnight
Ooh ooh ooh whoa
Track 1 // Page 7
Lavender Haze
(continued)
“I happened upon the phrase “lavender haze” when I was watching Mad Men, and I looked it up,
because I thought it sounded cool, and it turns out that it’s a common phrase used in the 50s
where they would just describe being in love. Like, if you were in a lavender haze, that meant that
you were in that all-encompassing love glow, and I thought that was really beautiful. And I guess
theoretically when you’re in the lavender haze, you’ll do anything to stay there, and not let people
bring you down off of that cloud.”
Track 1 // Page 8
Maroon
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Track 2 // Page 9
Maroon
(continued)
It was maroon
It was maroon
Track 2 // Page 10
Anti-Hero
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
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
It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me (I'm the problem, it's me)
At teatime, everybody agrees
I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero
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
It's me, hi (Hi), I'm the problem, it's me (I'm the problem, it's me)
At teatime (Teatime), 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
Track 3 // Page 11
“I really don't think I've delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before. You know, I struggle
a lot with the idea that, you know, my life has become unmanageable. Not to sound too dark, but I
just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person. Like, don't feel bad for me. You don't need
to. But this song really is a guided tour throughout all the things I tend to hate about myself.”
Track 3 // Page 12
Snow On The Beach
written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey
Track 4 // Page 13
Snow On The Beach
(continued)
“The song is about falling in love with someone at the same time as they're falling in love with you,
in this sort of cataclysmic, faded moment where you realize someone feels exactly the same way
that you feel, at the same moment. And you're kind of looking around going like, wait, is this real?
Is this a dream? Is this for real? Is this happening? Is it really happening? Kind of like it would be if
you were to see snow falling on a beach.”
Track 4 // Page 14
You’re On Your Own, Kid
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Track 5 // Page 15
You’re On Your Own, Kid
(continued)
Track 5 // Page 16
Midnight Rain
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain
He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame
He stayed the same
All of me changed
Like midnight
He was sunshine
I was midnight rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain
He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame
He stayed the same
All of me changed
Like midnight
Track 6 // Page 17
Midnight Rain
(continued)
Rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain
He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame
He stayed the same
All of me changed
Like midnight
Track 6 // Page 18
Question...?
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
(I remember)
Track 7 // Page 19
Question...?
(continued)
Does it feel like everything's just like second best after that meteor strike?
And what's that that I heard, that you're still with her?
That's nice, I'm sure that's what's suitable
And right
But tonight
Track 7 // Page 20
Vigilante Shit
written by Taylor Swift
She don't start shit, but she can tell you how it ends
Don't get sad, get even
So on the weekends
She don't dress for friends
Lately she's been dressing for revenge
Track 8 // Page 21
Track 8 // Page 22
Bejeweled
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Track 9 // Page 23
Bejeweled
(continued)
"Bejeweled is a song that I think is really about finding confidence when you feel that it’s been
taken away, for whatever reason. You know, you’re feeling insecure, you’re feeling taken for
granted. One of the things we love to do at night is we love to go dancing. We love to put on an
outfit that makes us feel good, and we love to feel like we’re still bejeweled. I think that there are
tiny inflections of me hyping myself up to return to pop music after spending these glorious years
writing folk songs and being in this metaphorical forest that I've created, which I've loved so much.
But there was a bit of pumping myself back up to be like, "You can do it, you're still bejeweled."
Track 9 // Page 24
Labyrinth
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Track 10 // Page 25
Track 10 // Page 26
Karma
written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Mark Anthony Spears, Keanu Torres & Jahaan Akil Sweet
Track 11 // Page 27
Karma
(continued)
Karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a god (Ah)
Uh-huh, mm
Karma's a relaxing thought
“One of the themes about "Midnights" is how you're feeling in the middle of the night, and that can
be intense self-hatred or intense self-love. You go through these very polarizing emotions when
you're up late at night and your brain just spirals. You can spiral downward, or you can spiral way
up and you can just be really feeling yourself and 'Karma' is written from a perspective of feeling
like really happy, really proud of the way your life is, feeling like this must be a reward for doing
stuff right. It's a song that I really love because I think we all need some of those moments. We
can't just be beating ourselves up all the time; you have to have these moments where you're like,
"You know what, karma is my boyfriend."
Track 11 // Page 28
Sweet Nothing
written by Taylor Swift & William Bowery
Track 12 // Page 29
Sweet Nothing
(continued)
They said the end is coming (They said the end is coming)
Everyone's up to something (Everyone's up to something)
I find myself running home to your
Sweet nothings
Outside, they're push and shoving (Outside, they're push and shoving)
You're in the kitchen humming (You're in the kitchen humming)
All that you ever wanted from me was
Sweet nothing
Track 12 // Page 30
Mastermind
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned
You and I ended up in the same room at the same time
And the touch of a hand lit the fuse
Of a chain reaction of countermoves
To assess the equation of you
Checkmate, I couldn't lose
Track 13 // Page 31
"Mastermind is a song that I put last on the album because I'm really proud of it. I love that when
we were making the song, we wanted the verse to sound like romance or hero's type of
soundtrack, and then we wanted the chorus to sound like a villain has just entered the room. The
idea that you're flipping this narrative, and you have been planning and plotting things, and making
them look like an accident. I think that's sort of an inside joke between me and my fans, that I tend
to do that, and so this song is the romantic version of that."
Track 13 // Page 32
Hits Different
written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff & Aaron Dessner
Track 14 // Page 33
Hits Different
(continued)
Track 15 // Page 34
Page 35
Volume 2
The Fates
Page 36
The Great War
written by Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner
Page 37
The Great War
(continued)
Page 38
Bigger Than The Whole Sky
written by Taylor Swift
Page 39
Page 40
Paris
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Page 41
Paris
(continued)
Page 42
High Infidelity
written by Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner
Lock broken
Slur spoken
Wound open
Game token
I didn't know you were keeping count
Rain soaking
Blind hoping
You said I was freeloading
I didn't know you were keeping count
High infidelity
Put on your records and regret me
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around, dancing around it
High infidelity
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
I was dancing around, dancing around it
Storm coming
Good husband
Bad omen
Dragged my feet right down the aisle
At the house lonely
Good money
I'd pay, if you'd just know me
Seemed like the right thing at the time
You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
The slowest way is never loving them enough
Do you really want to know where I was April 29th?
Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life?
High infidelity
Put on your records and regret me
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around, dancing around it
High infidelity
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
I was dancing around, dancing around it
Page 43
High Infidelity
(continued)
You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
The slowest way is never loving them enough
High infidelity
Put on your records and regret meeting me
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around, dancing around it
High infidelity
Put on your headphones and burn my city
Your picket fence is sharp as knives
I was dancing around, dancing around it
Oh, there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
And it's never enough, it's never enough
Lock broken
Slur spoken
Wound open
Game token
I didn't know you were keeping count
Rain soaking
Blind hoping
You said I was freeloading
I didn't know you were keeping count
But, oh, you were keeping count
Page 44
Glitch
written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Sam Dew & Mark Anthony Spears
A brief interruption
A slight malfunction
I'd go back to wanting
Dudes who give nothing
I thought we had no chance
And that's romance
Let's dance
Glitch, ah-yeah
Five seconds later I'm fastening myself to you with a stitch, ah-yeah
And I'm not even sorry
Nights are so starry
Blood moonlit
It must be counterfeit
I think there's been a glitch
Page 45
Page 46
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
written by Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner
Page 47
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
(continued)
Page 48
Dear Reader
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
Page 49
Page 50
Page 51
Volume 3
All The Stars
Page 52
You’re Losing Me
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
You say, "I don't understand," and I say, "I know you don't"
We thought a cure would come through in time, now, I fear it won't
Remember lookin' at this room? We loved it 'cause of the light
Now, I just sit in the dark and wonder if it's time
Page 53
You’re Losing Me
(continued)
You're losin' me
Stop (Stop, stop), you're losin' me
Stop (Stop, stop), you're losin' me
I can't find a pulse
My heart won't start anymore
Page 54
Snow On The Beach featuring more Lana Del Rey
written by Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey & Jack Antonoff
Page 55
Snow On The Beach featuring more Lana Del Rey
(continued)
Page 56
Karma featuring Ice Spice
written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Isis Gaston, Mark Anthony Spears, Keanu Torres &Jahaan Akil Sweet
Page 57
Karma featuring Ice Spice
(continued)
Karma is a cat
Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me
Flexing like a goddamn acrobat
Me and karma vibe like that (Grah)
Karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a God
Karma is my bestie
Karma's a relaxing thought...
Karma's gonna hold you down
Page 58
Anti-Hero featuring Bleachers
written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff
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
It's me, hi
I'm the problem, it's me
At teatime, everybody agrees
I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero
Page 59
Anti-Hero featuring Bleachers
(continued)
Page 60