Taylor Swift - I Did Something Bad (Lyrics Meaning and Song Review)

“I Did Something Bad” is the third song off of ‘Reputation’ album by Taylor Swift. This song is a prime example of the new and dark Taylor Swift, as she says doing something bad actually felt good.

The track is extreme Pop in music and has some electric-synth vibes with some deep electric-music. Shellback and Max Martin’s influence can be heavily seen on this song.

Lyrics to “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift

Read “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift on Genius

Buy ‘Reputation’ Album on iTunes and Amazon

The song is simple in lyrics and meaning, but some verses and lines are worth exploring in to.

I never trust a narcissist, but they love me
So I play ’em like a violin

A lot of people call Taylor Swift a narcissist, which means someone who is overly obsessed about themselves. Her actions to trademark some verses and symbols from ‘1989’ era mostly fueled these hate comments. Taylor Swift here says that she is not a fan of being narcissist, but they are the ones who made her that. So she can manipulate them very easily. This is, I’m assuming, one of the bad things she does which she loves.

If a man talks shit, then I owe him nothing
I don’t regret it one bit, ’cause he had it coming

Taylor is talking about Kanye West again in “I Did Something Bad” song. Kanye West rapped in his song “Famous” saying he made the “bitch” famous after the infamous VMAs incident. Taylor says he is full of sh*t and she owes no part of her success to him.

In the chorus of the song, we can see Taylor Swift trying to be controversial. She is clearly saying that she felt good doing what others called “bad.” She is questioning why did it feel so good and the most fun she had, if it was something bad?

I never trust a playboy, but they love me
So I fly ’em all around the world
And I let them think they saved me
They never see it comin’, what I do next

Taylor Swift talks back on the remark made about “long list of ex-lovers” she is known to have in the second verse of “I Did Something Bad.” She explicitly says she would not trust a playboy, but since they love her innocent and good girl looks, they hit her up. She travels them all around the world, which was the case with her exes such as Tom Hiddleston (both were spotted in Paris) and Calvin Harris (spotted in beach in England).

Taylor Swift makes them think they helped this poor and innocent girl up, but in fact she was playing there game. Taylor very clearly says she is the one who broke up the relationships with these playboys-whoever they are…

The second pre-chorus of “I Did Something Bad” is about Calvin Harris…

I can feel the flames on my skin
He says, “Don’t throw away a good thing”
But if he drops my name, then I owe him nothin’
And if he spends my change, then he had it comin’

We can take Calvin Harris for a person who would actually mutter the line “Don’t throw away a good thing…” when he learned that the Tayvin is coming to an end.

Calvin Harris did a song with Taylor Swift named “This is What You Came For” for which Taylor co-wrote the song under a pseudonym-Nils Sjoberg. After the breakup, he released the song and denied any involvement of Taylor Swift on the song. The song became huge around the world and Taylor Swift feels like he abused the reputation and income (“change”) she should have gotten for copyrights.

“I Did Something Bad” is a song about speaking at people who has used her for her looks, traits and talents. Taylor says she wasn’t one to be played with. If Kanye can call her a “bi*ch” in open, Taylor can righfully call him “full of sh*t” which is what happened here.

Again, a catchy song from ‘Reputation’ album and a dark one that goes along with the ‘snake-themed album.’

Do you have different interpretations of the song? Let us know in the comments below and share this article with other Swifties.