"Better Than Revenge" Song Meaning

Today's Taylor Swift song is the meaning of "Better Than Revenge" from her "Speak Now" album.

Taylor Swift, courtesy of taylorswift.com

This is a great revenge song.  What is worse than your boyfriend breaking up with you?  Your boyfriend breaking up with you because he's dating another girl!

Who is this song about?

Taylor tells the story in the song. "The story starts when it was hot and it was summer and.../I had it all, I had him right where I wanted him/She came along, got him alone and let's hear the applause/She took him faster than you could say 'sabotage' ".  Taylor started dating Joe Jonas in July 2008, but was in for a surprise   Camilla Belle unexpectedly pulled Joe Jonas out from under Taylor Swift's nose. They met when he was filming his music video for "Lovebug".  She "never saw it coming, wouldn't have suspected it/I underestimated just who I was dealing with". He broke up with her in October 2008 and started dating Camilla.  Joe broke it off with Taylor and she was confused and heartbroken, see the song "Forever and Always".

Joe Jonas and Camilla Belle

But Taylor has something to say to Ms Camilla Belle, "go stand in the corner and think about what you did". And to everyone else, "She's not a saint/And she's not what you think/She's an actress, whoa", "Stealing other people's toys/On the playground won't/Make you many friends", "Or pushing people down it gets you where you wanna go."  She is letting her know (and the whole world, ie the revenge part) she did not appreciate her for stealing him and is helping her learn her lesson.  "They wouldn't teach you that in prep school so it's up to me...There is nothing I do better than revenge"

It didn't last for Camilla and Joe, what does when you start it like that?  They broke up in July 2009.

Click here for lyrics to the song, "Better Than Revenge".

Better Than Revenge Lyrics

Better Than Revenge Lyrics (Speak Now Album)

Written by Taylor Swift

"Now go stand in the corner and think about what you did"

Ha!

Time for a little revenge

The story starts when it was hot and it was summer and...

I had it all, I had him right where I wanted him

She came along, got him alone and let's hear the applause

She took him faster than you could say "sabotage"

I never saw it coming, wouldn't have suspected it

I underestimated just who I was dealing with

She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum

She underestimated just who she was stealing from

She's not a saint

And she's not what you think

She's an actress, whoa

She's better known

For the things that she does

On the mattress, whoa

Soon she's gonna find

Stealing other people's toys

On the playground won't

Make you many friends

She should keep in mind

She should keep in mind

There is nothing I do better than revenge

She looks at life like it's a party and she's on the list

She looks at me like I'm a trend and she's so over it

I think her ever-present frown is a little troubling

And she thinks I'm psycho 'cause I like to rhyme her name with things

But sophistication isn't what you wear or who you know

Or pushing people down it gets you where you wanna go

They wouldn't teach you that in prep school so it's up to me

But no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity

She's not a saint

And she's not what you think

She's an actress, whoa

She's better known

For the things that she does

On the mattress, whoa

Soon she's gonna find

Stealing other people's toys

On the playground won't

Make you many friends

She should keep in mind

She should keep in mind

There is nothing I do better than revenge

I'm just another thing for you

To roll your eyes at, honey

You might have him but haven't you heard

I'm just another thing for you

To roll your eyes at, honey

You might have him but I always get the last word

Whoa

She's not a saint

And she's not what you think

She's an actress, whoa

She's better known

For the things that she does

On the mattress, whoa

Soon she's gonna find

Stealing other people's toys

On the playground won't

Make you many friends

She should keep in mind

She should keep in mind

There is nothing I do better than revenge

Do you still feel like you know what you're doing?

'Cause I don't think you do. Oh.

Do you still feel like you know what you're doing?

I don't think you do

I don't think you do

Let's hear the applause

Come on show me how much better you are (so much better, yeah)

So you deserve some applause 'cause you're so much better

She took him faster than you could say "sabotage"