cardigan

Taylor Swift

Vintage tee, brand new phone
High heels on cobblestones
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
Sequin smile, black lipstick
Sensual politics
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
But I knew you
Dancin’ in your Levi’s
Drunk under a streetlight, I
I knew you
Hand under my sweatshirt
Baby, kiss it better, I
And when I felt like I was an old cardigan
Under someone’s bed
You put me on and said I was your favourite
A friend to all is a friend to none
Chase two girls, lose the one
When you are young, they assume you know nothin’
But I knew you
Playing hide-and-seek and
Giving me your weekends, I
I knew you
Your heartbeat on the High Line
Once in 20 lifetimes, I
And when I felt like I was an old cardigan
Under someone’s bed
You put me on and said I was your favourite

To kiss in cars and downtown bars
Was all we needed
You drew stars around my scars
But now I’m bleedin’
‘Cause I knew you
Steppin’ on the last train
Marked me like a bloodstain, I
I knew you
Tried to change the ending
Peter losing Wendy, I
I knew you
Leavin’ like a father
Running like water, I
And when you are young, they assume you know nothing
But I knew you’d linger like a tattoo kiss
I knew you’d haunt all of my what-ifs
The smell of smoke would hang around this long
‘Cause I knew everything when I was young
I knew I’d curse you for the longest time
Chasin’ shadows in the grocery line
I knew you’d miss me once the thrill expired
And you’d be standin’ in my front porch light
And I knew you’d come back to me
You’d come back to me
And you’d come back to me
And you’d come back
And when I felt like I was an old cardigan
Under someone’s bed
You put me on and said I was your favourite

“

This song is about nostalgia and longing for a past love. Taylor is singing about when you find an old cardigan in your closet and it brings back memories of a time when everything felt warm and familiar. The lyrics paint a picture of someone reflecting on a relationship that had its ups and downs, but ultimately left a lasting impression. It’s about cherishing the good moments while acknowledging the pain of letting go.

The young woman in “cardigan” is a person called Betty and she is haunted by the memory of her first love’s infidelity. “cardigan” is one of three songs, part of what Taylor calls the “teenage love triangle” trilogy. “cardigan” is the first, written from the perspective of the girlfriend who is cheated on. “august” is the second, and follows the other girl who James (the boyfriend) cheats with. “betty” is the conclusion and tells the story through the eyes of James.