This is the key to all effective storytelling. Words mean nothing if there is no action behind them. But how can you avoid "telling" in an auditory medium? It's a valid question, and I think that getting to the bottom of it helps to illuminate what this phrase really means. It's not about the use of words, it's really about making the audience feel something. Humans are, by their nature, very empathetic. Human emotion isn't so much complicated as it is difficult to put to words, so the most effective media bridges the gap when more common language can't make it there alone.
Taylor is amazing at this. She has many talents as an artist but the strength of her songwriting has much more to do with the unique and relatable ways that she describes the world, and especially love. One of the best examples of this I can find is the song Dress in her newest album, Reputation. The song is mostly about sexual tension, and describes it without ever using a well-worn analogy like "cutting it with a knife" which seems like a pretty lame comparison next to these lyrics.
"All of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from holding back from all this"
Riverdale season 4 leak incoming
Even though my primary focus here is on the excellence of the lyrics, you really need to listen to the song to get a complete feel for how this song operates. When a song tries to make you feel a complex and specific feeling every aspect needs to work together towards the same goal, and it really comes together in this song. As Taylor sings about the anticipation building, the music and reverb are building towards the beat drop, although climax may be a better descriptor given the subject. 😫.
Gross. Anyways, I also think this next section does a great job at instilling a feeling infatuation.
"Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off "
Telling someone to carve their name into your bedpost is just so genius (as a metaphor. Do it in real life and you'd probably get some weird looks.). I evokes the playful troupe of carving initials into a tree, but it makes it more sexual and personal by making not just in your house, but in your bed (That's where the sex happens {usually}).
And there's the dress line.
Fuck! No, not that dress, which for the record is definitely white and gold. Anyone who buys that dress better take it off themselves; I sure ain't helping.
"Only bought this dress so you could take it off"
Wanting someone so badly and then getting them all to yourself is such a hard feeling to describe. There's passion, lust, satisfaction, but still plenty of longing. I could try to go on, but I won't because the song does a better job than me. Listen to it a couple times. The lyrics and their intonation are just seamless. There's really nothing else to say.
See you tomorrow,
-C
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