Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down

Written By: Joel Little & Taylor Swift

Produced By: Taylor Swift & Joel Little

“You Need To Calm Down” finds Taylor Swift addressing various detractors who post hurtful comments online, following themes of self-love and being true to one’s identity which previously appeared on “ME!” from April 2019. Her second collaboration with producer Joel Little, it’s also the second single from her seventh studio album, Lover.

In the second verse, Swift continues to show her support for the LGBTQ+ community, following a June 2019 letter to Senator Lamar Alexander, as well as a petition she created to fight for legal equality among all people, regardless of sexuality or gender. It’s also significant to note that Swift released the song in June, which is recognized as Pride Month.

A music video for the song was released on June 17, 2019 after its official premiere on Good Morning America. It features cameos from several LGBT celebrities, including Hayley Kiyoko, Laverne Cox, the cast of Queer Eye, and Todrick Hall, who co-executive produced the video. At the end of the video, Katy Perry appears in the midst of a food fight, signifying the end of her “feud” with Swift.

Swift teased the lyric and title “You Need To Calm Down” in the April 2019 music video for “ME!.” In the beginning of the video, Swift argues with featured artist Brendon Urie, and he tells her that she needs to calm down.

[Verse 1]

You are somebody that I don't know

But you're takin' shots at me like it's Patrón

And I'm just like, damn, it's 7 AM

Say it in the street, that's a knock-out

But you say it in a Tweet, that's a cop-out

And I'm just like, "Hey, are you okay?"

[Pre-Chorus]

And I ain't tryna mess with your self-expression

But I've learned a lesson that stressin' and obsessin' 'bout somebody else is no fun

And snakes and stones never broke my bones

[Chorus]

So oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

You need to calm down, you're being too loud

And I'm just like oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh (Oh)

You need to just stop, like can you just not step on my gown?

You need to calm down

[Verse 2]

You are somebody that we don't know

But you're comin' at my friends like a missile

Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD? (You could be GLAAD)

Sunshine on the street at the parade

But you would rather be in the dark ages

Makin' that sign must've taken all night

[Pre-Chorus]

You just need to take several seats and then try to restore the peace

And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate

'Cause shade never made anybody less gay

[Chorus]

So oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

You need to calm down, you're being too loud

And I'm just like oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh (Oh)

You need to just stop, like can you just not step on his gown?

You need to calm down

[Bridge]

And we see you over there on the internet

Comparing all the girls who are killing it

But we figured you out

We all know now we all got crowns

You need to calm down

[Chorus]

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

You need to calm down (You need to calm down)

You're being too loud (You're being too loud)

And I'm just like oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh (Oh)

You need to just stop (Can you stop?)

Like can you just not step on our gowns?

You need to calm down

"It’s about how I’ve observed a lot of different people in our society who just put so much energy and effort into negativity, and it just made me feel like, “You need to just calm down, like you’re stressing yourself out. This seems like it’s more about you than what you’re going off about. Like, just calm down.”

Taylor Swift

After accusations of queerbaiting and disappoinment expressed by conservative fans, Swift told The Scottish Sun:

I pretty much know that anything I do is going to have some people who just hate it. I’m trying to make things that will make my fans happy, that will make my fans feel accepted, supported and loved. If people want to criticize me and be constructive, I’m always open to learning. I don’t think you are ever doing things perfectly, I think you always have room to improve and learn. I want to constantly learn how I can be a better ally. If criticism is constructive then I am all ears.