“dorothea” is the eighth track on Taylor Swift’s second 2020 album ‘evermore.’ The song is about a girl who left her small town chasing big dreams. The song is narrated from the POV of her small town ex-boyfriend.
Taylor Swift announced her 9th studio album ‘evermore‘ in quick succession to her previous studio album ‘folklore‘ which was released in July 2020. Both albums follow a similar theme and Taylor called them ‘sister-records.’ “To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music. We chose to wander deeper in,” said Taylor Swift announcing the album. The ‘evermore’ album releases on December 11, 2020.
“’tis the damn season” song on the album may narrate the opposite POV of “dorothea,” as both songs wind around a similar storyline. In the folklorian society, according to Taylor Swift, Betty, James, and Inez went to the same school as Dorothea.
Listen to “dorothea” by Taylor Swift
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“dorothea” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
Verse 1
Dorothea’s former lover sings about all things that remind him of her. He recalls having fun in the park at the dusk, and long walks in the lonely roads of their smalltown roads. However, she left for the big city to chase her dreams. She has new friends now–shiny ones with all their glittery and glamorous accessories, clothes, and makeup. Now he can only see her on the small television he has at home. But he wishes her well. She lost him and maybe herself too, but she found all the fame and success she was looking for.
On “’tis the damn season” we hear the POV of a girl in a similar premise. She, too, seems to admit the fact that she found all the success in the big city, but lost the only real friend she had in the world.
Pre-chorus
The guy sings that nothing has ever changed in his small hometown. But Dorothea wanted more–she wanted the blinding lights and stimulants. But, most people don’t realize the true value and peacefulness of ‘consistency.’ Change is not always good.
Chorus
In the chorus of the song, the guy tells Dorothea that it’s still not too late to come back to the warmth and compassion of their small hometown. He recalls seeing true life in her eyes when she was in Tupelo–a town in Mississippi with approximately 38,000 residents.
He continues to sing that if she ever gets tired of being the ‘face’ of popular media, she can always come back to their small town, where there are no bright lights.
Taylor Swift’s creativity shines here in the lyric “And if you’re ever tired of bеing known for who you know,” which alludes that being popular is mostly about who you know.
Post-chorus
Almost all celebrities venture into different avenues of revenue. Not all actors and actresses can keep up their appearances and performances forever, and singers might lose their spotlight over time. So, most celebrities develop their own product lines and businesses. Celebrities are also known to sell ‘dreams’ to others. They sell the Hollywood dream to average citizens who can only reach these dreams through their televisions. It is a successful ploy.
Verse 2
More flashbacks follow. The guy wonders if Dorothea remembers them skipping the prom just to make her mother angry. He also recalls a time when he met her under the bleachers. All these heighten the emotions of young and carefree love during their high school days. Now, she is a big superstar, and everybody wants to be like her.
The reference to bleachers might also be a reference to Taylor’s massive hit “You Belong with Me” from 2008.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics and further meaning breakdown on Genius.