Delicate

“Delicate” is track five on Taylor’s sixth studio album, reputation (2017). Her goal was to use the vocoder to create an emotional and vulnerable sound. The song was the biggest radio hit off of reputation as well as the longest-charting solo female song of the 2010s decade on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 54 weeks.

Taylor described “Delicate” as one of the songs about vulnerability on reputation, contrary to the album’s recurring themes of vengeance and feigned disinterest in her perceived image. The lyrics are about her insecurity in whether her new love interest would be bothered by her blemished reputation.

Background

Taylor released her fifth studio album, 1989, in October 2014. Its synth-pop production transformed her sound and image from country-oriented to mainstream pop. The album was a massive commercial success, selling over five million copies in the U.S. within one year, and spawning three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles. The BBC asserted that the success of 1989 solidified Taylor’s status as a global pop star.

In 2016, when Taylor was at the peak of overexposure, some of her rivals in the industry (including Scooter Braun, Kanye West and Justin Bieber) succeded in launching a worldwide hate campaign against her. As a result, Taylor disappeared from public view for an entire year and thought about quitting music for good. She became increasingly reticent on social media, having previously maintained an active presence with a large following, and avoided interactions with the press. She conceived her sixth studio album, reputation, as an answer to the media commotion surrounding her celebrity.

Lyrics

[Intro]
This ain’t for the best
My reputation’s never been worse, so
You must like me for me
We can’t make any promises
Now can we, babe?
But you can make me a drink

[Verse 1]
Dive bar on the east side
Where you at?
Phone lights up my nightstand
In the black
Come here, you can meet me
In the back
Dark jeans and your Nikes
Look at you
Oh damn, never seen that color blue
Just think of the fun things we could do…
‘Cause I like you…

[Pre-Chorus]
This ain’t for the best
My reputation’s never been worse, so
You must like me for me
Yeah, I want you…
We can’t make any promises
Now can we, babe?
But you can make me a drink

[Chorus]
Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it chill that you’re in my head?
‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (Delicate)
Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it too soon to do this yet?
‘Cause I know that it’s delicate
Isn’t it? Isn’t it? Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it? Isn’t it? Isn’t it?
Isn’t it delicate?

[Verse 2]
Third floor on the west side
Me and you
Handsome, you’re a mansion with a view
Do the girls back home touch you
Like I do?
Long night, with your hands
Up in my hair
Echoes of your footsteps on the stairs
Stay here, honey
I don’t wanna share
‘Cause I like you…

[Pre-Chorus]
This ain’t for the best
My reputation’s never been worse, so
You must like me for me
Yeah, I want you…
We can’t make any promises
Now can we, babe?
But you can make me a drink

[Bridge]
Sometimes I wonder
When you sleep
Are you ever dreaming of me?
Sometimes when I look into your eyes
I pretend you’re mine
All the damn time
‘Cause I like you

[Chorus Variation]
Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it chill that you’re in my head?
‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (Delicate)
Yeah, I want you…
Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it too soon to do this yet?
‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (Delicate)

[Final Chorus]
‘Cause I like you
Is it cool that I said all that? (Isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it?)
Is it chill that you’re in my head? (Isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it?)
‘Cause I know that it’s delicate (Isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it?)
Yeah, I want you…

[Outro]
Is it cool that I said all that? (Isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it?)
Is it too soon to do this yet? (Isn’t it? Isn’t it?)
‘Cause I know that it’s delicate
Isn’t it delicate?

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