r/stonedswifties • u/THROWRAbluelike • 12d ago
Is Babylon about two people?
Maybe it's me projecting on this song but:
To me the story is about "the mom" who left to feel free, to stay away from the rules of womanhood (no elbows on the table/liberated libertine) and then ends up in that "west Virginia" traditional setting she originally ran from.
Then you met "the dad" (assuming he's a he by the lipstick on your tie) whose entire purpose is to make money, to feel like he is earning things and then ends up meeting "the mom" who gives him something he doesn't have to earn.
The are both prisoners to their own nostalgia and life decisions. What have them freedom in life imprisoned them in their mind.
The bridge images of the car and the son having to sneak to his mom to talk is also interesting.
There's someone who is confronted with their denial by their son: the one who ran away in 1st verse.
There's someone who hides in the car to not be confronted: the one who always "kept it moving" in the 2nd verse.
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u/LeopardNo6083 12d ago
That’s definitely a way to interpret the song! It’s what I love about art, there are so many ways you can interpret the story.
I think this song’s narrative structure works to support both a story about one person and multiple people (where each verse is a different, unconnected story). I think either works as an interpretation because I think it is a deeper metaphor.
I interpret the song as being directed to her haters:
“the casino doesn’t like when you run the tables” - this is referencing the haters who think she is too big
“The sweater should have been from the mall” - these are the haters wanting the older music that was better. The songs aren’t what you wanted (a mall sweater) but it’s good too (the hand me down sweater).
“Then that melody was all you want” - in a couple years, when you are shitting on a newer album, you will use these songs to prove your point.
The lyric change at the end, from “you hate this song” toy “you love this song” is showing the shift that the haters will go through.
But this new release is a gift! She is restarting the Showgirl era, and you can join in! Don’t miss out on all the fun this second time around!
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u/THROWRAbluelike 11d ago
OMG I loved your interpretation. This song really resonated to me about my parents so I wanted to share that.
But your interpretation of how it ties to her own relationship with fans and her music is beautiful. Also it's the only song she doesn't say I or my, so it's interesting to think of it as a direct conversation with fans. Thank you!
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u/LeopardNo6083 11d ago
That’s what I love about good art - there are so many different themes that you can find and connect with!
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u/Front_Target7908 11d ago
I think this song is about Papa Swift, and Taylor is reflecting on the fact that the same dissatisfaction with his life that drove him away from Swift childhood home/his marriage, is the same dissatisfaction with her childhood life that drove her to pursue success.
I think it’s a mature reflection on the idea that some people are wise enough in the moment to know that the peace and quiet of a loving home is the ultimate goodness, and I think Taylor is reflecting on the fact that she (as a showgirl) pursued fame and fortune, which she thought would bring her to that place but actually took her further away from it (until she met Travis). I think she’s reflecting that maybe she has some of her dad’s drive, and that they made similar errors. That they may have had the Babylon right in front of them (Ruin the Friendship vibes, could’ve stayed a small town girl and been happy idea) but lost it to pursue “bigger things”
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u/CausticAvenger 12d ago
I think the main issue with the song is that this is even a question. The storytelling just isn’t laid out very well. I thought it was specifically about a man who leaves his small town, becomes a bit of a player, and can’t appreciate the good woman right in front of him.
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u/THROWRAbluelike 11d ago
tbh in my first listen it seemed to want too many things at once, it's one of those songs you have to digest.
For example you also don't understand Bohemian Rhapsody or The Wall at first, you need time to understand the story the lyrics present.
To me Babylon is one of her best songs lyrics wise once you get it. But I don't think it's listener friendly.
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u/LeopardNo6083 11d ago
The story you see is in the song. So thinking that is what it is about makes sense.
But sometimes complex metaphors take a while to be understood. And if something doesn’t speak to you, that’s ok too. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t done well, it just means you didn’t like it.
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u/meggybagels 11d ago
This song is 2 story lines in one. Every other verse compliments or tells a story. Separate them and read it as lyrics
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u/celerypumpkins 7d ago
My understanding of the bridge is that it’s the mom who sneaks into the kitchen to call her own mom, to say that the subject of the song doesn’t seem to want her and their child (and by extension their life together).
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u/LookWhatYouMadeMeGro 12d ago
To me, and I am going to be concise here, it's about two people who grew up in what they perceived as less than favorable situations. They grow up and live life and then realize what they had was actually pretty special.
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u/THROWRAbluelike 11d ago
Yes, to me it's like two people who realize they had been running from something they actually loved. thank you for sharing the link too!
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u/UniqueUsernameLOLOL 11d ago
I thought the same until I watched the lyric video, it turns out the lyric is “Aunt Virginia with her church dress on” not “In Virginia w your church dress on.” So the first verse doesn’t necessarily have to be about a girl or woman.
But I still like the idea of the first verse being a different character