Background and Release

1989 was inspired by 1980s synth-pop. The album’s electronic production using synthesizers, programmed drums, and processed backing vocals marked a departure from the country styles of Taylor’s previous releases. For the majority of 1989, she worked with Swedish producer Max Martin. Martin and his frequent collaborator Shellback produced seven out of thirteen songs on the album’s standard edition, including “Bad Blood”. The album was released in October 2014 to commercial success, selling over one million copies within a week.

Republic Records confirmed in April 2015 that a remix of “Bad Blood” would serve as the fourth single from 1989. The remix version featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar was released on May 17, 2015. The single release was supported by the premiere of its massive music video at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards which featured a lot of Taylor’s famous friends, becoming the first music video to gather a large group of celebrities. “Bad Blood” impacted US contemporary hit radio on May 19, 2015, under Big Machine and Republic Records imprint.

«For years, I was never sure if we were friends or not. She would come up to me at awards shows and say something and walk away, and I would think, ‘Are we friends, or did she just give me the harshest insult of my life?’ Then last year, the other star crossed a line. She did something so horrible. I was like, ‘Oh, we’re just straight-up enemies.’ And it wasn’t even about a guy! It had to do with business. She basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me. And I’m surprisingly non-confrontational – you would not believe how much I hate conflict. So now I have to avoid her. It’s awkward, and I don’t like it.»

Taylor Swift

Lyrics

[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know, it used to be mad love
So take a look what you’ve done
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)
Now we got problems
And I don’t think we can solve them
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)

[Verse 1]
Did you have to do this?
I was thinking that you could be trusted
Did you have to ruin what was shiny?
Now it’s all rusted
Did you have to hit me where I’m weak, baby?
I couldn’t breathe and
Rub it in so deep?
Salt in the wound
Like you’re laughing right at me

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, it’s so sad to
Think about the good times
You and I…

[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you’ve done
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)
Now we got problems
And I don’t think we can solve them
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)

[Verse 2]
Did you think we’d be fine?
Still got scars on my back from your knife, so
Don’t think it’s in the past
These kinda wounds
They last and they last now
Did you think it all through?
All these things will catch up to you
And time can heal, but this won’t
So if you’re coming my way, just don’t

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, it’s so sad to
Think about the good times
You and I…

[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you’ve done
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)
Now we got problems
And I don’t think we can solve them
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)

[Bridge]
Band-aids don’t fix bullet holes.
You say sorry just for show.
If you live like that you live with ghosts…
Band-aids don’t fix bullet holes.
You say sorry just for show.
If you live like that you live with ghosts… (Oh)
If you love like that, blood runs cold…

[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love (Mad love)
So take a look what you’ve done
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)
Now we got problems
And I don’t think we can solve them (Think we can solve them)
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood

[Final Chorus]
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love (Mad love)
So take a look what you’ve done (Look what you’ve done)
‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood
Now we got problems
And I don’t think we can solve them
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood (Hey!)