Nice to meet you, where you been?
I could show you incredible things
Magic, madness, heaven, sin (1)
Saw you there and I thought
Oh, my God, look at that face (2)
You look like my next mistake
Love's a game, wanna play? (3)

New money, suit and tie
I can read you like a magazine (4)
Ain't it funny? Rumors fly
And I know you heard about me
So, hey, let's be friends
I'm dying to see how this one ends (5)
Grab your passport and my hand
I can make the bad guys good for a weekend

So, it's gonna be forever
Or it's gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it's over
If the high was worth the pain (6)
Got a long list of ex-lovers (7)
They'll tell you I'm insane
'Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game

'Cause we're young and we're reckless
We'll take this way too far
It'll leave you breathless
Or with a nasty scar
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
But I've got a blank space, baby
And I'll write your name (8)

Cherry lips, crystal skies
I could show you incredible things
Stolen kisses, pretty lies
You're the King, baby, I'm your Queen (9)
Find out what you want
Be that girl for a month
Wait, the worst is yet to come (Oh, no)

Screaming, crying, perfect storms
I can make all the tables turn
Rose garden filled with thorns (10)

Keep you second guessing, like
"Oh, my God, who is she?"
I get drunk on jealousy
But you'll come back each time you leave
'Cause, darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream (11)
So, it's gonna be forever
Or it's gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it's over
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
'Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game

'Cause we're young and we're reckless
We'll take this way too far
It'll leave you breathless
Or with a nasty scar
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
But I've got a blank space, baby
And I'll write your name

Boys only want love if it's torture
Don't say I didn't say, I didn't warn ya
Boys only want love if it's torture
Don't say I didn't say, I didn't warn ya 

So, it's gonna be forever
Or it's gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it's over
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
'Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game

'Cause we're young and we're reckless
We'll take this way too far
It'll leave you breathless
Or with a nasty scar
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane

But I've got a blank space, baby
And I'll write your name

***

1. In this line, an antithesis is created between "magic" and "madness" through the association Swift makes with "heaven" and "sin" to both words respectively. She observes the chemistry between her and "the other guy," who she does not name, and plays into the narrative that she had more boyfriends than people could keep up with created by the tabloids.

2. "Look at that face” is intentionally objectifying. Here, instead of women being the subject of objectification by the media, the man is being objectified by the lyrics.

3. Equating love to a "game" is a continuous theme throughout Taylor's songwriting and can be seen as a subtle nod to tabloids hinting that she likes to use and toy with men's emotions. In "New Romantics" from 1989 - "It's poked, he can't see it in my face but I'm about to play my ace" which returns on reputation’s "End Game" - "you've been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks" and finally Lover’s "Cornelia Street" where she uses cheating at a card game as a metaphor for being secretive about true feelings "Back when we were card sharks, playing games I thought you were leading me on."

4. Swift focuses on materialistic, surface-level things which emphasizes, once again, how there is nothing true, deep, or genuine about the relationship Swift describes – another direct hit to Hollywood media. The use of "magazine" directly calls attention to the media who automatically judge her character without wanting to understand who she actually is. She also ridicules the media in "I can read you like a magazine" like she knows her new relationship will get reported in yet another magazine.

5. Swift plays into the reports that she dates just to break up and write hit songs about it (something she discusses in her "Woman of the Decade" speech).

6. Swift equates relationships to drugs, another satirical jab to the public's perception of her love life. She has often been ridiculed that she quickly jumps from one to another without time in between; like she's addicted.

7. The media has often slut-shamed Taylor for her highly-publicized romantic life which is ironic because they are the ones who actively publicize it.

8. Swift plays into her satirical commentary with this line by mocking the media that consistently reports on Swift's past relationships and obsesses over the meaning of her lyrics.

9. In this line Swift mocks the media's view of her as a vapid artist who is nothing but a pretty face ("cherry lips," "pretty lies"). The idea of the "blank space" could literally represent more space for Swift to have another relationship. Alternatively, the line could also be interpreted as how the media portrays her: unintelligent with nothing in her brain, except for the name of the next guy she wants to date. Additionally, "King & Queen" is often associated with fairytales or storybooks that are very childish in nature and perhaps acts as Swift's response to how the media often portrays her as childish.

10. Her partner’s perception of their control in their relationship with Swift occurs because of how she is portrayed by the media. As a result, both the media and her partner believe that Swift will change who she is in order to conform to the needs of her partner. Conversely, Swift, in this line, reminds them that her naïve persona only disguises her ability to be able to turn a situation around.

11. These lines are meant to be viewed as ironic. Swift illustrates herself in the way the media often portrays her as. She takes on the same characteristics as someone who lures men in with their looks, but once they enter into a relationship she becomes crazy and obsessive. These lines may also be commentary on how her relationships have come back to haunt her later. Daydreams are often pleasant, but short while nightmares are recurring and much longer. Though her relationships are short, they are pleasant while they last. However, even years after parting ways the media will continue to talk about the relationship.