"Mad Woman" (stylized as "mad woman") is the twelfth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's eighth studio album, folklore, released on July 24, 2020, through Republic Records.
Meaning and Background[]
Swift confirmed the existence of the song through social media on July 23, 2020.
When Aaron Dessner sent Taylor the piano part of the song, she immediately knew that it had to be about female rage. She thought of the most rage-provoking element of being a woman, the gaslighting when a woman responds to toxic male behaviour. Taylor mentioned that someone she had this experience with in her life tried to make her feel like she's the offender, but she has no right to respond or else she's crazy or out of line. This track is a way to explain why this kind of experience feels bad.[1]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
What did you think I'd say to that?
Does a scorpion sting when fighting back?
They strike to kill and you know I will
You know I will
What do you sing on your drive home?
Do you see my face in the neighbor's lawn?
Does she smile
Or does she mouth, "Fuck you forever"?
[Pre-Chorus]
Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy
What about that?
And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry
[Chorus]
And there's nothing like a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
No one likes a mad woman
You made her like that
And you'll poke that bear till her claws come out
And you find something to wrap your noose around
And there's nothing like a mad woman
[Verse 2]
Now, I breathe flames each time I talk
My cannons all firing at your yacht
They say, "Move on" but you know I won't
And women like hunting witches, too
Doing your dirtiest work for you
It's obvious that wanting me dead
Has really brought you two together
[Pre-Chorus]
Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy
What about that?
And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry
[Chorus]
And there's nothing like a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
No one likes a mad woman
You made her like that
And you'll poke that bear till her claws come out
And you find something to wrap your noose around
And there's nothing like a mad woman
[Bridge]
I'm taking my time, taking my time
'Cause you took everything from me
Watching you climb, watching you climb
Over people like me
The master of spin has a couple side flings
Good wives always know
She should be mad, should be scathing, like me, but
[Outro]
No one likes a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
You made her like that
[Verse 1]
What did you think I'd say to that?
Does a scorpion sting when fighting back?
They strike to kill and you know I will
You know I will
What do you sing on your drive home?
Do you see my face in the neighbor's lawn?
Does she smile
Or does she mouth, "I hate you forever"?
[Pre-Chorus]
Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy
What about that?
And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry
[Chorus]
And there's nothing like a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
No one likes a mad woman
You made her like that
And you'll poke that bear till her claws come out
And you find something to wrap your noose around
And there's nothing like a mad woman
[Verse 2]
Now, I breathe flames each time I talk
My cannons all firing at your yacht
They say, "Move on" but you know I won't
And women like hunting witches, too
Doing your dirtiest work for you
It's obvious that wanting me dead
Has really brought you two together
[Pre-Chorus]
Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy
What about that?
And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry
[Chorus]
And there's nothing like a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
No one likes a mad woman
You made her like that
And you'll poke that bear till her claws come out
And you find something to wrap your noose around
And there's nothing like a mad woman
[Bridge]
I'm taking my time, taking my time
'Cause you took everything from me
Watching you climb, watching you climb
Over people like me
The master of spin has a couple side flings
Good wives always know
She should be mad, should be scathing, like me, but
[Outro]
No one likes a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
You made her like that
Live performances[]
"mad woman" was performed as a surprise song on The Eras Tour in Tampa, Florida, on April 15, 2023, accompanied by Aaron Dessner, and on November 22, 2024 mashed-up with "Cassandra" and "I Did Something Bad".
Trivia[]
- "mad woman" is Swift's first song to include the F-word.
References[]
| folklore | ||
|---|---|---|
| "the 1" • "cardigan" • "the last great american dynasty" • "exile" • "my tears ricochet" • "mirrorball" • "seven" • "august" • "this is me trying" • "illicit affairs" • "invisible string" • "mad woman" • "epiphany" • "betty" • "peace" • "hoax" | ||
|