my tears ricochet

"my tears ricochet" is a deeply metaphorical song about the painful and complex aftermath of a profound betrayal by someone deeply trusted. While on the surface it tells the story of a ghost attending her own funeral and confronting her 'murderer', the lyrics serve as a powerful allegory for the end of a significant relationship where the emotional devastation feels akin to death. Many fans and critics interpret the song as a reflection of Taylor Swift's feelings towards Scott Borchetta, the founder of her former record label, Big Machine Records, after he sold the master recordings of her first six albums to Scooter Braun. Swift herself stated that the song is about karma, greed, and how a trusted companion can become your worst enemy, one who knows exactly how to hurt you. The title itself, "my tears ricochet," symbolizes the idea that the pain and sadness caused by the betrayal will not just disappear but will bounce back and affect the person who inflicted it.

From the perspective of a ghost, the narrator observes their own funeral, attended by the very person who caused their demise. The room is filled with mourners, but the ghost's attention is fixed on this individual, noting the bitter irony of their presence. The narrator reflects on the immense pain and betrayal inflicted upon them, questioning if they deserved such cruelty even at their worst moments. Their love, once sworn until death, has been tragically severed.

The ghost admits they couldn't depart gracefully, their spirit now tethered to the world, haunting the one who wronged them. The song's central metaphor unfolds as the narrator watches their tormentor publicly saving face, while privately cursing the ghost's name and wishing they had stayed. This hypocrisy causes the ghost's tears of sorrow and anger to “ricochet,” implying that the pain inflicted will ultimately rebound onto the perpetrator.

The lyrics delve into the history of their relationship, recalling how actions and words, like collected stones, could be used for building love (a diamond ring) or for causing harm. The ghost points out the chilling detail of the mourner wearing jewels the ghost had given them, now used as they figuratively 'bury' them. There’s a poignant memory of being called “brave” by this person when they used to fight on the same side, a stark contrast to the present betrayal.

The ghost continues its spectral address, declaring that even if the tormentor aims for their heart, they will still be missed on a profound, skeletal level. The narrator’s continued existence is one of screaming at the sky and their memory manifests as “stolen lullabies” in the tormentor's sleepless nights. The bridge culminates in the devastating acknowledgment that the act of destroying the narrator also destroyed the perpetrator, who has now become their own worst fear. The cycle of blame and pain continues, crossing out all the good years they once shared. The song closes with the repeated, haunting image of the tears ricocheting, a final, powerful statement of karmic retribution and everlasting sorrow.

"my tears ricochet" was the very first song Taylor Swift wrote for her eighth studio album, Folklore, which was released as a surprise on July 24, 2020. Swift penned the song entirely by herself. The album was conceived and recorded in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was produced by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Joe Alwyn (under the pseudonym William Bowery). Swift revealed that she was inspired to write the song after watching the 2019 film Marriage Story and being "triggered" by narratives about divorce. She drew parallels between the catastrophic end of a marriage and the bitter dissolution of her professional relationship with her former record label, Big Machine Records, and its founder, Scott Borchetta. The album's co-producer, Aaron Dessner, referred to "my tears ricochet" as a "beacon" for the entire record, setting the tone for its introspective and narrative-driven nature.

The rhyme scheme in "my tears ricochet" is not strictly rigid, often favoring emotional impact over a perfect, predictable structure, which is characteristic of much of Swift's songwriting on Folklore. It employs a mix of perfect rhymes and slant rhymes (e.g., "grace" and "face" in the chorus). The rhythm of the song is set at a moderate tempo of approximately 130 beats per minute. The song's rhythmic structure contributes significantly to its atmosphere. It begins with a sparse, ethereal feel, with Swift's vocals floating over a more subdued instrumental. As the song progresses, the rhythm becomes more pronounced and powerful, with the introduction of "shuddering drums" that drive the song to its emotional peak in the bridge and final chorus. This crescendo in rhythm mirrors the escalation of the narrator's grief and anger. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm, which is conversational and narrative-driven, and the musical rhythm creates a compelling tension that underscores the song's themes of unresolved conflict and haunting memories.

"my tears ricochet" employs a range of literary and musical techniques to create its haunting and emotionally charged atmosphere. Musically, the song is characterized as an "arena-goth" and "gospel" ballad with a production that includes choir-inflected layered vocals, a twinkling music box sound, mellow synthesizers, and shuddering drums that build to a tumultuous climax. Swift's vocal delivery is ethereal and sorrowful, enhancing the ghostly narrative. Lyrically, the song is built on an extended metaphor of a ghost at her own funeral, which allows for rich, layered imagery and symbolism. Swift uses direct address ("you") to create an intimate and confrontational tone. Rhetorical questions are used to great effect, such as "Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe / All the hell you gave me?" to highlight the depth of the betrayal. There is also a strong use of irony, particularly in the line "And you're the hero flying around, saving face." The narrative voice shifts from vulnerability to a place of defiant power, creating a dynamic emotional arc throughout the song.

Upon its release, "my tears ricochet" was met with widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its lyrical depth, emotional vulnerability, and haunting production. The song debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charted in the top 15 in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore. As a fan-favorite and a standout track on the Grammy Award-winning album Folklore, it is often cited as a prime example of Swift's evolved songwriting and storytelling prowess. The song's themes of betrayal and grief have resonated deeply with listeners, who find its message applicable to various personal experiences of loss and conflict. "my tears ricochet" is a staple on the setlist for Swift's highly successful Eras Tour, where its live performance is noted for its emotional intensity and haunting visuals. The song was also featured in the trailer and soundtrack for the 2024 film It Ends with Us, further cementing its cultural presence.

• The Funeral Wake: The entire song is set at a funeral, which serves as a central metaphor for the death of a relationship or a former life. The narrator is a ghost, signifying how she feels dead to the person who betrayed her, yet her presence and pain linger. The question, "And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake?" highlights the tormentor's hypocrisy and inability to let go.
• Ricocheting Tears: This is the core metaphor of the song. The tears symbolize the narrator's pain and grief, and their ricocheting suggests that the hurt inflicted will ultimately bounce back and impact the perpetrator. It represents a form of emotional or karmic retribution.
• Fire and Ashes: The line "And if I'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes, too" is a powerful image of mutual destruction. It implies that in trying to destroy the narrator, the betrayer has also destroyed a part of themselves.
• Stones for Throwing or Diamond Rings: This metaphor represents the potential within a relationship. The "stones" are shared moments and words that can either be used to build something beautiful (a diamond ring) or to inflict harm (to throw).
• Battleships: The imagery of "battleships sinking" symbolizes the catastrophic and definitive end of the relationship. It conveys a sense of immense loss and the weight of the betrayal that led to the downfall.
• Stolen Lullabies: This phrase is widely interpreted as a direct reference to Swift's master recordings, her "lullabies" that she created, which were sold without her consent, hence "stolen."

Several lyrical phrases and motifs recur throughout "my tears ricochet," reinforcing its central themes. The title phrase, "Look at how my tears ricochet," is the most significant recurring line, appearing at the end of each chorus. Its repetition emphasizes the core concept of karmic pain and the inescapable consequences of betrayal. The phrase "I didn't have it in myself to go with grace" is also repeated, highlighting the narrator's refusal to silently accept the injustice done to her. Another key recurring line is "Cursing my name, wishing I stayed," which is often paired with the title phrase to underscore the tormentor's conflicted and hypocritical state. The imagery of death and haunting is a pervasive motif, with words like "dead," "wake," "ghostly," and "haunt" appearing throughout the song. Additionally, the metaphor of sinking ships or battleships appears as a powerful image of their relationship's demise. These recurring elements create a cohesive and deeply resonant narrative of heartbreak and retribution.