Taylor Swift - Tell Me Why (Taylor's Version)

Taylor wrote this song with her frequent colaborator at the time, Liz Rose, when opening up about her frustration concerning someone she was developing feelings for, but who didn’t know what they wanted.

[Verse 1]

I took a chance, I took a shot

And you might think I'm bulletproof, but I'm not

You took a swing, I took it hard

And down here from the ground, I see who you are

[Chorus]

I'm sick and tired of your attitude

I'm feelin' like I don't know you

You tell me that you love me, then cut me down

And I need you like a heartbeat

But you know you got a mean streak

Makes me run for cover when you're around

Here's to you and your temper

Yes, I remember what you said last night

And I know that you see what you're doing to me

Tell me why

[Verse 2]

Well, you could write a book on

How to ruin someone's perfеct day

Well, I get so confused and frustratеd

Forget what I'm trying to say, oh-oh

[Chorus]

I'm sick and tired of your reasons

I got no one to believe in

You tell me that you want me, then push me around

And I need you like a heartbeat

But you know you got a mean streak

Makes me run for cover when you're around

Here's to you and your temper

Yes, I remember what you said last night

And I know that you see what you're doing to me

Tell me why

[Bridge]

Why do you have to make me feel small

So you can feel whole inside?

Why do you have to put down my dreams

So you're the only thing on my mind?

[Chorus]

Well, I'm sick and tired of your attitude

Feelin' like I don't know you

You tell me that you want me and cut me down

I'm sick and tired of your reasons

I've got no one to believe in

You ask me for my love, then you push me around

Here's to you and your temper

Yes, I remember what you said last night

And I know that you see what you're doing to me

Tell me why

[Post-Chorus]

Why

Tell me why, oh

[Outro]

I take a step back, I let you go

I told you I'm not bulletproof, now you know

Written By: Taylor Swift & Liz Rose

Produced By: Christopher Rowe & Taylor Swift

[Verse 1]

I took a chance, I took a shot

And you might think I'm bulletproof, but I'm not

You took a swing, I took it hard

And down here from the ground, I see who you are

[Chorus]

I'm sick and tired of your attitude

I'm feeling like I don't know you

You tell me that you love me, then cut me down

And I need you like a heartbeat

But you know you got a mean streak

That makes me run for cover when you're around

And here's to you and your temper

Yes, I remember what you said last night

And I know that you see what you're doing to me

Tell me why

[Verse 2]

You could write a book on how to ruin someone's perfect day

Well, I get so confused and frustrated

Forget what I'm trying to say, oh

[Chorus]

I'm sick and tired of your reasons

I got no one to believe in

You tell me that you want me, then push me around

And I need you like a heartbeat

But you know you got a mean streak

That makes me run for cover when you're around

Here's to you and your temper

Yes, I remember what you said last night

And I know that you see what you're doing to me

Tell me why

[Bridge]

Why do you have to make me feel small

So you can feel whole inside?

Why do you have to put down my dreams

So you're the only thing on my mind?

[Chorus]

I'm sick and tired of your attitude

I'm feeling like I don't know you

You tell me that you want me, then cut me down

I'm sick and tired of your reasons

I've got no one to believe in

You ask me for my love, then you push me around

Here's to you and your temper

Yes, I remember what you said last night

And I know that you see what you're doing to me

Tell me why (Why)

[Outro]

I take a step back, let you go

I told you I'm not bulletproof

Now you know

Written By: Taylor Swift & Liz Rose

Produced By: Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift

The Real Meaning Behind Taylor Swift's 'Tell Me Why' (Taylor's Version) - Nicki SwiftTaylor Swift described Fearless as a "coming-of-age" album. How does 'Tell Me Why' fit into that?

"Tell Me Why" by Taylor SwiftThe lyrics of "Tell Me Why" are based on a real-life experience of Taylor Swift being caught up in an unjustifiably toxic relationship.

Meaning of "Tell Me Why" by Taylor Swift

Tell Me Why Breaking Up is Sometimes Better Than the Alternative Swift addresses all six dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, occupational, intellectual, spiritual and social) in Tell Me Why.

Swift said that this song was inspired by her frustration at a boy that she liked acting up. She explained:

I walked into Liz’s house, and I said, ‘I can’t believe what’s going on right now, I’ve gotta tell you about this.’ I told her all about it. She goes, ‘If you could say everything you were thinking to him right now, what would you start with?’

Swift began venting:

I would say to him, ‘I’m sick and tired of your attitude, I feel like I don’t even know you’ … and I just started rambling, and she was writing down everything that I was saying, and so, we turned it into a song.

Back in 2010, in a note released on her old label’s website, Swift explained:

I’d been talking to a guy I’ve never “officially” dated. Sometimes it’s the hardest thing when you have all these dreams of dating them, and you’re getting close, but it doesn’t work out. He would say things that would make me go, “Did you just say that?” It bothered me so much because he would say one thing and do another, do one thing and say another. Because he didn’t know what he wanted, he would just play all these mind games.

So I went over to write with Liz and was just ranting and raving about how this guy is such a flake and such a jerk sometimes, and so cool other times. I was like, “Liz, I don’t know what’s up with this guy!” So I just started playing the beginning, “I took a chance, I took a shot. And you might think I’m bulletproof, but I’m not.”