E92: Revenge Narratives in Taylor Swift’s Songwriting

2025-06-18

"I haven't decided yet, but I'mgonnagetyouback." From ancient Greek epics to Mean Girls, revenge has evolved dramatically in literature, and Taylor Swift's discography is no exception. This week on AP Taylor Swift, we explore how Taylor serves revenge with a smile, examining the sweet saccharine fantasy of "Speak Now," the cutting indifference of "I Forgot That You Existed," and the delicious ambiguity of "I'm Gonna Get You Back." Whether it's ruining a wedding or simply moving on, we dive into how revenge fantasies reveal character, power dynamics, and the satisfying evolution from teenage...

"I haven't decided yet, but I'mgonnagetyouback." From ancient Greek epics to Mean Girls, revenge has evolved dramatically in literature, and Taylor Swift's discography is no exception. This week on AP Taylor Swift, we explore how Taylor serves revenge with a smile, examining the sweet saccharine fantasy of "Speak Now," the cutting indifference of "I Forgot That You Existed," and the delicious ambiguity of "I'm Gonna Get You Back." Whether it's ruining a wedding or simply moving on, we dive into how revenge fantasies reveal character, power dynamics, and the satisfying evolution from teenage retaliation to adult agency. Because sometimes the best revenge is living well; and sometimes it's writing a song about forgetting someone exists.

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Iliad, Homer

The Princess Bride

The Odyssey, Homer

Hamlet, Shakespeare

Count of Monte Cristo

Wuthering Heights

Mean Girls

Mad Men

John Tucker Must Die

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Episode Highlights:

[00:46] All about revenge

[07:48] “Speak Now,” Speak Now

[20:34] “I Forgot That You Existed,” Lover

[29:44] “imgonnagetyouback,” The Tortured Poets Department

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This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

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