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Written by Swift, who produced the song alongside Nathan Chapman. The song was aired to country radio in US on March 13, 2011, as the third single from Speak Now.
Mean” received mixed to positive reviews from critics for its lyrical detail and profound country sound. The song received commercial success in the United States and Canada, debuting at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number ten on the Canadian Hot 100. The song also appeared on the Australian Singles Chart at number 45.
Taylor Swift wrote this song in response to scathing reviews by infamous blogger Bob Lefsetz who wrote poorly of Swift in the Lefsetz Letter.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
You, with your words like knives And swords and weapons that you use against me You have knocked me off my feet again Got me feeling like I'm nothing You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard Calling me out when I'm wounded You, picking on the weaker man
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, you can take me down With just one single blow But you don't know what you don't know
[Chorus]
Someday, I'll be living in a big old city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean?
[Verse 2]
You, with your switching sides And your wildfire lies and your humiliation You have pointed out my flaws again As if I don't already see them I walk with my head down, trying to block you out 'Cause I'll never impress you I just wanna feel okay again
[Pre-Chorus]
I bet you got pushed around Somebody made you cold But the cycle ends right now 'Cause you can't lead me down that road And you don't know what you don't know
[Chorus]
Someday, I'll be living in a big old city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean?
[Bridge]
And I can see you years from now in a bar Talking over a football game With that same big loud opinion But nobody's listening Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing But all you are is mean All you are is mean And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean
[Breakdown]
But someday, I'll be living in a big old city And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
[Chorus]
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? Someday, I'll be living in a big old city (Why you gotta be so mean?) And all you're ever gonna be is mean (Why you gotta be so mean?) Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (Why you gotta be so mean?) And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean?
