After a year of relative quiet, Taylor Swift made a resounding return with her album Reputation, immediately sending the internet into a frenzy of lyrical analysis. Among the tracks dissected, “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things song” quickly emerged as a focal point, with fans and media alike poring over its lyrics for hidden meanings. Many listeners honed in on the song as a potential commentary on her tumultuous relationship with Kanye West, and some even speculated about references to Katy Perry.
Indeed, track thirteen from Reputation hasn’t disappointed in delivering layers of subtext. Let’s delve into six potential references that suggest Taylor Swift might be addressing her history with Kanye West, and possibly even Katy Perry, in this pointed track.
Setting the Scene: Recalling the “Gatsby” Era and the Fall from Grace
The song opens with nostalgic imagery: “it was so nice throwing big parties/jump in the pool from the balcony,” followed by the line “feeling so Gatsby for that whole year.” This evocative language likely points back to 2014-2015, a period following the monumental success of her 1989 album. This era was characterized by Taylor’s ascent to pop culture royalty, marked by her highly publicized “squad,” lavish parties, and the now-iconic annual Fourth of July celebrations. Her 25th birthday party, attended by power couples like Jay Z and Beyoncé, further cemented this peak of “nice things.” This opening paints a picture of a blissful time before the narrative shifted.
The Year of Silence: “Locking the Gates” and Retreating from the Limelight
Juxtaposed with the Gatsby-esque memories, the lyrics hint at a stark change. Taylor sings, “I’m shaking my head, I’m locking the gates.” This line resonates with her noticeable retreat from public life in the year leading up to Reputation. Known for her active social media presence, she significantly scaled back her online engagement and even broke with tradition by not hosting her usual large Fourth of July gathering in Rhode Island. “Locking the gates” could symbolize this withdrawal, a shutting down of the very public life she once embraced, prompted by the conflicts alluded to in the song.
Re-examining the Kanye Clash: From VMAs to Betrayal
To fully grasp the depth of “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” it’s crucial to revisit the history between Taylor Swift and Kanye West. Their initial clash at the VMAs, when Kanye famously interrupted Taylor’s acceptance speech, is well-documented. While they seemed to reconcile publicly, even sharing friendly moments at award shows like the Grammys and the 2015 VMAs—where Taylor presented Kanye with the Video Vanguard Award—the truce proved fragile. This history sets the stage for the biting lyrics: “It was so nice being friends again, there I was giving you a second chance, but you stabbed me in the back without shaking my hand.” This suggests a deep sense of betrayal after a period of perceived reconciliation.
The Infamous Phone Call: “Friends Don’t Try to Trick You”
One of the most direct interpretations of the song points to the infamous phone call concerning Kanye’s song “Famous.” Kim Kardashian West released snippets of this call on Snapchat, sparking a major controversy. Taylor’s lyrics, “And therein lies the issues, friends don’t try to trick you, get you on the phone and mind twist you,” appear to directly address this incident. The lines powerfully convey a sense of manipulation and deception, emphasizing the breach of trust she felt during this highly publicized episode.
Clever Wordplay: “Real Friends” and Shady Behavior
Taylor subtly plays with words that could be another jab at Kanye. Singing, “but I’m not the only friend you’ve lost lately/if only you weren’t so shady,” she delivers a personal critique that resonates with Kanye’s 2016 song “Real Friends.” In his track, Kanye reflects on the challenges of maintaining genuine friendships amidst fame and life changes. Furthermore, Kanye’s public falling out with Jay-Z adds another layer to this interpretation. Taylor’s follow-up line, “Here’s a toast to my real friends – they don’t care about that he said, she said,” could be a direct response to Kanye’s song and the broader drama surrounding their fractured relationship.
A Toast to Forgiveness (or Not): The Katy Perry Question
Finally, the song’s narrative might extend beyond Kanye to include Katy Perry. During the promotion of her album Witness, Katy Perry publicly addressed her issues with Taylor, stating her readiness to “forgive” and let go of past grievances. Taylor, however, remained publicly silent on the matter. The lyrics “here’s to you because forgiveness is a nice thing to do,” followed by sarcastic laughter and the spoken line “I can’t even say it with a straight face,” strongly suggests a less-than-genuine sentiment. Whether directed at Perry, West, or both, this ending underscores a refusal to offer easy forgiveness, concluding the song with a defiant and unapologetic tone.
“This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” is more than just a catchy track; it’s a meticulously crafted lyrical narrative. Through pointed references and clever wordplay, Taylor Swift dissects broken trust and public feuds, solidifying the song as a key piece in the Reputation puzzle and a fascinating case study in celebrity songwriting.
