‘Bad Blood’ song lyrics meaning: Who is Taylor Swift singing about?

Taylor Swift is known for writing autobiographical lyrics about specific people that are or used to be in her orbit. In her song “Bad Blood,” she sends a vindictive message to an ex-friend who “made a really deep cut.”

The song originally debuted on Swift’s 2014 album, “1989.” In 2015, Swift released a version featuring Kendrick Lamar which accompanied the release of a music video that featured many notable names such as Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid and Zendaya. Nine years later, the song was re-released on “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” with Lamar’s feature on the album’s deluxe companion.

What is ‘Bad Blood’ about?

Swift starts the song with the chorus that immediately makes her distaste for the subject of the song clear.

“‘Cause, baby, now we got bad blood/ You know it used to be mad love/ So take a look what you’ve done.”

Whoever she is feuding with is a friend turned foe, and Swift is angry about it.

While the song was originally rumored to be about fellow pop star Katy Perry, the years-long feud between the two appears to have subsided. However, today, the song has become associated with a new docuseries, “Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood,” which debuted June 21 on HBO.

But Perry and Braun, a former record label executive, are not the only ones who Swift had tension with over the years. On her most recent album, “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology,” fans speculate Swift sings about her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, proving once again that “Bad Blood” is not the only song that can take aim and fire.

That being said, “Bad Blood” tells the story of a true friend who has become an enemy.

“Did you have to ruin/ What was shiny? Now it’s all rusted,” she sings.

At one point, this friendship was alive and well, but Swift invites listeners to its funeral.

“Oh, it’s so sad to/ Think about the good times/ You and I,” she sings.

In a 2015 interview with GQ, Swift confirms that the last thing she wanted was for anyone to think the song was about an ex-boyfriend.

“It was important to show that losing friendships can be just as damaging to a person as losing a romantic relationship,” she said.

“Still got scars on my back from your knife/ So don’t think it’s in the past/ These kind of wounds they last and they last,” Swift sings in the second verse.

Near the end of the song, the melody slows down for a harrowing bridge.

“Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes/ You say sorry just for show,” Swift sings.

This beef will not be mended with a simple fix or a quick apology. Swift makes it clear that the person on the other side of the feud has taken a shot, and she has no problem with firing back.

Read the lyrics to ‘Bad Blood’

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood

You know it used to be mad love

So take a look what you’ve done

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Now we got problems

And I don’t think we can solve ‘em

You made a really deep cut

And baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Did you have to do this?

I was thinking that you could be trusted

Did you have to ruin

What was shining? Now it’s all rusted

Did you have to hit me

Where I’m weak? Baby, I couldn’t breathe

And rub it in so deep

Salt in the wound like you’re laughing right at me

Oh, it’s so sad to think about the good times

You and I

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood

You know it used to be mad love

So take a look what you’ve done

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Now we got problems

And I don’t think we can solve ‘em

You made a really deep cut

And baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Did you think we’d be fine?

Still got scars on my back from your knife

So don’t think it’s in the past

These kind of wounds they last and they last

Now did you think it all through?

All these things will catch up to you

And time can heal, but this won’t

So if you come in my way, just don’t

Oh, it’s so sad to think about the good times

You and I

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood

You know it used to be mad love

So take a look what you’ve done

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Now we got problems

And I don’t think we can solve ‘em

You made a really deep cut

And baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes

You say sorry just for show

If you live like that, you live with ghosts (ghosts, ghosts)

Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes (hey!)

You say sorry just for show (hey!)

If you live like that, you live with ghosts (hey!)

Hm, if you love like that, blood runs cold

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood

You know it used to be mad love

So take a look what you’ve done

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Now we got problems

And I don’t think we can solve ‘em (think we can solve ‘em)

You made a really deep cut

And baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood

You know it used to be mad love

So take a look what you’ve done (look what you’ve done)

‘Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

Now we got problems

And I don’t think we can solve ‘em

You made a really deep cut

And baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)

This article was originally published on TODAY.com