"Getaway Car" is the ninth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's sixth studio album, reputation, released on November 10, 2017, through Big Machine Records. The song became the seventh single from the album on September 6, 2018.[2]
Background[]
Along with the release of reputation, Swift released a DIRECTV series titled Taylor Swift NOW, detailing the development of the song.
The song is suspected to be about Tom Hiddleston, and how she used their short-lived relationship to be able to leave her boyfriend of two years at the time, Calvin Harris.
Footage of the song's development and writing process is shown in Swift's 2020 documentary, Miss Americana.
Critical reception[]
The song was praised by critics. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone ranked "Getaway Car" as Swift's sixth best song.[3] Zack Schonfeld of Newsweek called the song as an "excellent, radiant song" and claimed that the hook is "massive, in both catchiness and energy".[4]
Chart performance[]
The song debut at number 9 on New Zealand Hot Single, and number 33 on Australian Digital Track.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
[Verse 1]
It was the best of times, the worst of crimes
I struck a match and blew your mind
But I didn't mean it and you didn’t see it
The ties were black, the lies were white
In shades of gray in candlelight
I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason
[Pre-Chorus 1]
"X" marks the spot where we fell apart
He poisoned the well, I was lying to myself
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
We never had a shotgun shot in the dark (Oh!)
[Chorus]
You were driving the getaway car
We were flying, but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
Riding in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
In a getaway car, oh-oh-oh
No, they never get far, oh-oh-ah
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
[Verse 2]
It was the great escape, the prison break
The light of freedom on my face
But you weren't thinking and I was just drinking
While he was running after us, I was screaming, "Go, go, go!"
But with three of us, honey, it's a sideshow
And a circus ain't a love story
And now we're both sorry (We’re both sorry)
[Pre-Chorus 2]
"X" marks the spot where we fell apart
He poisoned the well, every man for himself
I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed
It hit you like a shotgun shot to the heart (Oh!)
[Chorus]
You were driving the getaway car
We were flying, but we'd never get far
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
Riding in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
In a getaway car, oh-oh-oh
No, they never get far, oh-oh-ah
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
[Bridge]
We were jet-set, Bonnie and Clyde (Oh-oh)
Until I switched to the other side, to the other side
It's no surprise I turned you in (Oh-oh)
'Cause us traitors never win
[Breakdown]
I'm in a getaway car
I left you in a motel bar
Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys
That was the last time you ever saw me (Oh!)
[Chorus]
Driving the getaway car
We were flying, but we'd never get far (Don't pretend)
Don't pretend it's such a mystery
Think about the place where you first met me
Riding in a getaway car
There were sirens in the beat of your heart (Should've known)
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
In a getaway car, oh-oh-oh
No, they never get far, oh-oh-ah
No, nothing good starts in a getaway car
[Outro]
I was riding in a getaway car
I was crying in a getaway car
I was dying in a getaway car
Said, "Goodbye" in a getaway car
Riding in a getaway car
I was crying in a getaway car
I was dying in a getaway car
Said, "Goodbye" in a getaway car
Live performances[]
Swift performed "Getaway Car" from May 8, 2018, in Glendale, Arizona, to November 21, 2018, in Tokyo, Japan, at The Reputation Stadium Tour, as the eighteenth song on the setlist.[5] The song was also performed as a surprise song on May 26, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. with Jack Antonoff at The Eras Tour. The song was performed four times after that at the Eras Tour as a surprise song - on February 2, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia, mashed up with "august" and "The Other Side Of The Door" - on June 28, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K, mashed up with "The Bolter" - on July 14, 2024, in Milan, Italy, mashed up with "Out Of The Woods", and finally, on August 20, 2024, in London, England, U.K., mashed up with "Death By A Thousand Cuts".
References[]
- ↑ Taylor Swift 'Reputation' Is the Most Intimate LP of Taylor Swift's Carrer
- ↑ New Single Alert! Taylor Swift's "Getaway Car" out today in Australia and New Zealand only. Reputation Stadium Tour coming to OZ on October 19th.
- ↑ Taylor Swift's Songs: All Ranked by Rob Sheffield
- ↑ Taylor Swift's "reputation" album Review
- ↑ Here Are All the Songs Taylor Swift Played on the Opening Night of the Reputation Tour
| reputation |
|---|
| "...Ready For It?" • "End Game" • "I Did Something Bad" • "Don't Blame Me" • "Delicate" • "Look What You Made Me Do" • "So It Goes..." • "Gorgeous" • "Getaway Car" • "King Of My Heart" • "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" • "Dress" • "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" • "Call It What You Want" • "New Year's Day" |