So It Goes...

"So It Goes..." explores the complexities of a new, intense, and deeply magnetic romantic connection. The song delves into themes of vulnerability, sexual attraction, and surrender within a relationship that feels both destined and slightly dangerous. The title itself is a literary allusion to Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five, where the phrase is used as a stoic acceptance of death. In the context of the song and the reputation album, it signifies an acceptance of the death of Taylor Swift's old public persona and an embrace of a new, more private and passionate reality.

The lyrics depict a love that is all-consuming, making everyone else 'disappear.' It’s a relationship where the narrator feels both captivated and powerless, described through metaphors like being a 'hostage' in a 'gold cage' of her own feelings. This suggests a love that is beautiful and perhaps envied from the outside, but internally feels like a willing confinement. The song portrays a balanced dynamic of intense mutual infatuation, where both partners have a profound effect on each other. It moves beyond simple romance to touch on a raw, physical chemistry, with lyrics like 'scratches down your back now' and 'lipstick on your face' painting a vivid picture of their intimacy. Ultimately, the phrase 'so it goes...' serves as a recurring motif of acceptance, shrugging off the complexities and potential for pain in favor of living in the powerful, intoxicating moment of the connection.

The narrative begins in a dimly lit setting, where the speaker's attention is entirely captivated by a romantic interest, whom she refers to as her 'magician.' This person has an enchanting effect, making the rest of the world and all its onlookers fade away. However, this enchantment comes with a sense of vulnerability, as she feels 'cut into pieces' and held 'hostage' by her own intense emotions, as if trapped in a beautiful but confining 'gold cage.' The feeling is one of both enthrallment and helplessness, especially when this person is not around, which leaves her feeling disoriented and unstable.

Despite moments of emotional breakdown ('we break down a little'), a profound sense of simplicity and clarity emerges when they are alone together. There's a mutual understanding and a palpable connection between them. The chorus captures the feeling of destiny and rightness in their physical and emotional connection. When they are together, everything seems to 'fall right into place.' They get lost in intimate moments, symbolized by 'lipstick on your face.' The recurring phrase 'so it goes...' acts as a sigh of resignation and acceptance of this powerful, perhaps tumultuous, cycle. The speaker willingly gives her partner the power over their relationship, stating, 'I'm yours to keep, and I'm yours to lose.' She acknowledges that this relationship brings out a different, more reckless side of her, admitting, 'You know I'm not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you.'

The second verse shifts the perspective. Now, the speaker is the 'illusionist,' and her partner is the one captivated. She brings light to his 'gray days' and becomes a cherished part of his life, something he wears 'like a necklace.' While she presents a calm exterior ('I'm so chill'), he has the power to make her jealous. She also knows she has a hold on him, making his 'heart skipping when I'm gone.' This verse highlights the reciprocal nature of their intense connection and the power dynamics at play.

The bridge reveals a history of emotional impact, with both individuals having 'done a number' on each other. Yet, there's a sense that keeping score is pointless in the face of their connection. The repeated question, 'honestly, baby, who's counting?' dismisses past hurts in favor of the present moment. The whispered 'one, two, three' adds a playful yet knowing touch, suggesting a private understanding between them. The song culminates in a final, repeated invitation: 'Come here, dressed in black now,' leading to intimate imagery of 'scratches down your back now.' It's a surrender to the magnetic, physical, and emotional pull that defines their relationship, accepted with a final, knowing 'so it goes...'.

"So It Goes..." was written by Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback, and Oscar Görres for Swift's sixth studio album, Reputation, released on November 10, 2017. The production was handled by Martin, Shellback, and Görres. The song's creation began when Swift was in a songwriting session in Los Angeles with Martin and Shellback. Shellback played an instrumental track that Oscar Görres had created, and Swift was immediately drawn to its unique sound, stating, 'That's special. I haven't done anything like that. Can we do that?'

Swift then wrote the lyrics and composed the melody with Martin and Shellback. They finalized the song through a FaceTime call with Görres, who recalled the session being somewhat strange as he had just gotten out of the shower. Görres, who had recently become a father, was not physically present for the initial writing of the melody and lyrics but had created the foundational instrumental track that inspired the song. The recording took place at MXM Studios in both Los Angeles, California, and Stockholm, Sweden. The song is track number seven on the album, a position that some fans theorize marks a narrative turning point in the album's structure.

The rhyme and rhythm of "So It Goes..." are meticulously crafted to support its hypnotic and moody atmosphere.

Rhyme Scheme: The song does not follow a strict, traditional rhyme scheme throughout, but it uses a combination of perfect and slant rhymes to create a sense of cohesion without feeling predictable. For instance, in the first verse, 'magician' doesn't have a direct rhyme, but the internal assonance and consonance ('All eyes on you, my magician / All eyes on us') create a musical flow. The pre-chorus uses a simple AABB-like structure with rhymes like 'little'/'simple' and 'alone'/'know,' which helps build anticipation for the chorus.

Rhythmic Structure: Musically, the song is built on a mid-tempo, trap-influenced beat that gives it a distinctive modern, dark-pop groove. The rhythm is steady and pulsating, creating a sense of being caught in a mesmerizing loop, which mirrors the lyrical theme of an inescapable cycle of attraction. Lyrically, Swift's phrasing plays against this steady beat. In the verses, her delivery is syncopated and almost conversational ('Trippin', trip-trippin' when you're gone'), adding to the intimate, slightly breathless feel. The chorus features a more straightforward, melodic rhythm that makes the key phrases ('fall right into place,' 'lipstick on your face') stand out. The bridge introduces a rhythmic shift with the repeated, staccato-like questioning of 'who's counting?' followed by the whispered '1, 2, 3,' which breaks the flow before returning to the final chorus, adding dynamic tension.

"So It Goes..." employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to create its dark, atmospheric, and sensual mood.

Musical Techniques:

• Genre Fusion: The song is a hybrid of trap-pop, synth-pop, and EDM, characterized by a moody, atmospheric sound. It features thick, heavy synths, trap-influenced beats, and a driving bassline that contribute to its 'chilly' and dark pop feel.
• Vocal Delivery: Swift's vocal performance shifts throughout the song. In the verses, her delivery is breathy and almost spoken, creating an intimate and conspiratorial tone. This contrasts with the more melodic and layered vocals in the chorus, which emphasize the feeling of being 'caught up in a moment.'
• Arrangement and Dynamics: The song builds in intensity. It starts with a more sparse, murky arrangement in the verses and opens up into a fuller, more powerful chorus. The bridge creates a moment of tension and release, with the repeated, questioning phrase 'who's counting?' building to the final, sweeping chorus. The whispered count '1, 2, 3' adds a distinct textural layer and a sense of playful secrecy.

Literary Techniques:

• Metaphor and Imagery: The lyrics are built on strong central metaphors, such as the lover as a 'magician' and the feeling of being a 'hostage' in a 'gold cage.' These create vivid mental pictures that convey the song's themes of enchantment and emotional captivity.
• Allusion: The title is a significant literary allusion to Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, which adds a layer of fatalistic and philosophical depth to the song's meaning.
• Repetition: The recurring phrase 'so it goes...' acts as a lyrical motif, reinforcing the central theme of acceptance and inevitability. The repetition of 'I'm yours to keep, and I'm yours to lose' emphasizes the narrator's surrender of control in the relationship.

"So It Goes..." was not released as a single from Reputation (2017) and thus did not have a significant chart performance compared to other tracks on the album. Its impact is more nuanced, existing primarily within the context of the album and the artist's discography. Upon the album's release, critical reception for the song was mixed. Some critics highlighted the mature, sexual nature of the lyrics, while others found the production to be less memorable than other tracks on the album. Over time, some have regarded it as an underrated gem within Reputation.

The song became a fan favorite, partly due to its initial exclusion from the setlist of the 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour. Fan demand on social media eventually led Swift to perform an acoustic version of "So It Goes..." as a surprise song on select tour dates, alternating it with "Dancing with Our Hands Tied." This live performance breathed new life into the song for many fans. Swift performed it again as a surprise song on piano during The Eras Tour in Rio de Janeiro on November 20, 2023. While it may not have had a broad commercial impact, "So It Goes..." holds a special place for many Swifties as a darker, more sensual, and lyrically complex piece that captures a key emotional turning point on the Reputation album. By early 2021, it was the final track from the album to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify, completing the album's milestone.

"So It Goes..." is rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the intoxicating and confining nature of an intense love affair.

• Magician and Illusionist: The lovers are referred to as a 'magician' and an 'illusionist.' This metaphor highlights their captivating effect on each other, making the outside world ('all eyes on us') disappear and creating a private, magical reality for just the two of them. It also hints at the potential for deception or things not being as they seem, a common theme in magic.
• 'Cut me into pieces': This phrase plays on the classic magic trick of sawing a person in half. Lyrically, it represents a deep emotional vulnerability and the feeling of being deconstructed or exposed by the lover's influence.
• 'Gold cage, hostage to my feelings': This is a powerful metaphor for feeling trapped by one's own intense emotions. The 'gold cage' suggests that from the outside, her situation (perhaps her fame or the relationship itself) appears glamorous and desirable, but internally she feels confined and powerless, a 'hostage' to her love.
• The Title 'So It Goes...': The phrase is a direct literary reference to Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, where it's repeated after every mention of death. In the song, it symbolizes a fatalistic acceptance. It can be interpreted as accepting the death of her old self or reputation, or simply accepting the inevitable, powerful, and potentially painful course of this all-consuming relationship.
• 'Wear you like a necklace': This simile suggests possession, pride, and intimacy. A necklace is worn close to the heart and is a visible adornment. It implies she wants to keep him close and show him off, yet it also subtly continues the theme of confinement or being bound to someone.

"So It Goes..." features several recurring phrases and motifs that are central to its structure and meaning.

• 'So it goes...': This is the most significant recurring phrase, appearing in the chorus and refrain. As the song's title and central hook, its repetition acts as a philosophical shrug, signifying a resigned acceptance of the powerful, perhaps tumultuous, nature of the relationship. It's a verbal tic that dismisses complexity in favor of the moment. Swift had previously used this phrase in the song "Style" from her album 1989, suggesting a thematic link or a continued exploration of fated, complex romances.
• 'All eyes on you' / 'All eyes on us' / 'All eyes on me': This motif shifts throughout the song, reflecting the changing dynamics and the pressures of being in the public eye. It begins with 'All eyes on you, my magician,' then expands to 'All eyes on us,' acknowledging their shared spotlight. Later, it shifts to 'All eyes on me, your illusionist,' reversing the focus. This highlights both the internal focus they have on each other and the external scrutiny they face as a couple.
• 'I'm yours to keep / And I'm yours to lose': This repeated line in the chorus underscores the theme of surrender and vulnerability. The narrator is willingly placing the fate of the relationship in her partner's hands, a declaration of both deep trust and significant risk.
• Magic and Illusion: The motif of magic, with references to a 'magician' and an 'illusionist,' runs through the song. It frames the relationship as something enchanting, reality-bending, and perhaps not entirely what it seems, contributing to the song's mysterious and captivating atmosphere.