"Red" Series: This Slope is "Treacherous"

Hey Everybody!

  

     So to continue with my journey through Taylor Swift's latest album, I thought I would do "Treacherous". "Treacherous" is the third song on the album and one of the most beautiful songs on it in my opinion. And I cannot wait to dive into it!
     First I want to talk about this particular track's sound. The vocals specifically are just beautiful and the harmonies in the song build to an almost threatening power. It's really amazing to listen to. As for the style, it's classified as country pop. On this song, and you will understand why when you listen to it) the background vocals are one of my favorite parts. They just really build the song into something powerful.
     Taylor Swift says on the origins and background for this song:

"Treacherous is a song I wrote with Dan Wilson, and I brought him this idea because I wanted to explore the idea that something could be dangerous and enticing at the same time, you know, put the positive side of that, like I believe this can work, you know. It's got this big bridge at the end of it that kinda sounds like a second chorus. It's got all these vocals in the background and it says "Nothing safe is worth the drive". And to me, that says so much about this album because I really do feel that if even if something really hurt you, if it made you feel something, it was worth it."

     Now for the typical lyric analysis. Click here as usual. I love this part because the lyrics are really what make a song- give the song meaning and depth. Don't get me wrong, beautiful music can occur where no lyrics are present. But I personally think that words add things that a song is sometimes otherwise...lacking. This first stanza is really gorgeous and sets the mood for the whole song. It's saying that she knows if they kiss that it's all over because there is a connection between them that cannot be denied. But I think there's also a really strong sexual attraction between the two of them with the line "I'll do anything you say if you say it with your hands". And for whatever reason, she knows that being with this person will not be good for her, but she can't seem to help herself. Maybe it's about being with someone who is already taken, or just a person with qualities that aren't good for her. Either way it's something she knows she shouldn't be doing but it's like she just can't resist but she likes the feeling. It definitely is an adrenaline rush that you get when you know you're doing something you shouldn't be. It can be an enjoyable experience- if you choose to see it that way.

The second verse mainly talks about her attraction to this person. How she feels so connected to this person that she can't even tell if it's a choice- whether or not she gets "swept away" into this relationship that she knows isn't good for her. How she doesn't want to let him go. How she sees him as so different from all the other people she is around or all of the other people she's been with.
     This bridge part is my favorite part of the whole song. I like to picture this as a scene in a movie. A night where she knows that because of seeing him, she won't be able to sleep. She watches as he drives away and gets in her car to follow him, knowing it isn't safe but knowing she has to be with him. She just knows that she can't stop thinking about him. And she'll follow him home because he has become her home. It's a beautiful thing- this moment of realization and recklessness. Knowing it isn't good, but not caring. Because what she says is true; Nothing safe is worth the drive. Sometimes we have to be reckless and crazy and take risks because that is what will pay off. It reminds me of a quote about the three C's of life.

And this is why we must take chances: to cause change. But you first have to make a choice. And maybe the better choice is to follow that person home. But you'll never know if you don't start the car.

Love to you all,
-Autumn the Music Girl