Taylor Swift released the revamped version of her 2014 blockbuster album, 1989, earlier this month. Among the track list were five stellar “Vault Tracks” that will soon be staples in the Swiftie circuit. A standout among the pack is “Is It Over Now?”
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The up-tempo tune adds more color to the story told throughout the original 16 tracks. Swift flexes her ability to be candid in this tune, seething about past grievances and posing unanswered questions. Uncover the song’s meaning, below.
[RELATED: Taylor Swift Breaks Her Own Spotify Record with ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’]
Behind the Meaning
We could name names. The Swifties are up to snuff on all of her relationships. Many of the newly shared 1989 tracks seem to point to Harry Styles, whom Swift dated around the time of the album’s release. Nevertheless, the song is an interesting one to dissect even without the Styles factor.
Swift opens up the song with a very Swiftian metaphor. Once the flight had flown / With the wilt of the rose, she sings. Swift previously explained she categorizes her lyrics in three ways: Quill, fountain pen, and glitter gel pen. This song makes use of a couple of those categories. The opening verse is certainly written with a fountain pen, but the pre-chorus adds something glittery to the mix.
Let’s fast forward to three hundred takeout coffees later
I see your profile and your smile on unsuspecting waiters
You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor
You search in every maiden’s bed for somethin’ greater, baby
Was it over when she laid down on your couch?
Was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?
“Come here,” I whispered in your ear
In your dream as you passеd out, baby
Was it over then? And is it over now?
Swift pretty much tells it how it is throughout the rest of the song: no metaphor required. She is in the anger stage of her breakup. She accuses her partner of cheating, though she explains she has been unfaithful at times herself. Their on-again-off-again relationship has left lines blurred. Is it over now, she asks.
Those interested in the allusions to Swift’s public life will find some gems in the second verse. Around the time Swift was writing 1989, she and Styles reportedly got into a snowmobile accident. She references the event several times throughout the album, including the line Whеn you lost control / Red blood, white snow in this track.
She also references another iconic moment in the Swiftian sphere: Blue dress on a boat. It was rumored that a picture of Swift alone on a boat marked the moment she and Styles broke up. Of course, that’s conjecture, but it’s worth noting when uncovering the meaning behind this track.
She follows up that section of the song by making more references to a famous relationship, infidelity, and heartbreak. Swift has many songs that capture the same sentiment. However, we welcome this interesting addition to the already fleshed-out story.
And did you think I didn’t see you?
There were flashin’ lights
At least I had the decency
To keep my nights out of sight
Only rumors ’bout my hips and thighs
And my whispered sighs
Oh, Lord, I think about jumpin’
Off of very tall somethings
Just to see you come runnin’
And say the one thing I’ve been wanting, but no
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