Guilty as Sin? Lyrics – Taylor Swift

[Verse 1]
Drowning in the Blue Nile
He sent me “Downtown Lights”
I hadn’t heard it in a while
My boredom’s bone-deep
This cage was once just fine
Am I allowed to cry?
I dream of cracking locks
Throwing my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks
Crashing into him tonight, he’s a paradox
I’m seeing visions
Am I bad or mad or wise?

[Chorus]
What if he’s written “mine” on my upper thigh only in my mind?
One slip and falling back into the hedge maze
Oh, what a way to die
I keep recalling things we never did
Messy top-lip kiss, how I long for our trysts
Without ever touching his skin
How can I be guilty as sin?

[Verse 2]
I keep these longings locked
In lowercase, inside a vault
Someone told me, “There’s no such thing as bad thoughts
Only your actions talk”
These fatal fantasies
Giving way to labored breath, taking all of me
We’ve already done it in my head
If it’s make-believe
Why does it feel like a vow we’ll both uphold somehow?

[Chorus]
What if he’s written “mine” on my upper thigh only in my mind?
One slip and falling back into the hedge maze
Oh, what a way to die
My bed sheets are ablaze
I’ve screamed his name
Building up like waves crashing over my grave
Without ever touching his skin
How can I be guilty as sin?

[Bridge]
What if I roll the stone away?
They’re gonna crucify me anyway
What if the way you hold me is actually what’s holy?
If long-suffering propriety is what they want from me
They don’t know how you’ve haunted me so stunningly
I choose you and me religiously

[Chorus]
What if he’s written “mine” on my upper thigh only in my mind?
One slip and falling back into the hedge maze
Oh, what a way to die
I keep recalling things we never did
Messy top-lip kiss, how I long for our trysts
Without ever touching his skin
How can I be guilty as sin?

[Outro]
He sent me “Downtown Lights”
I hadn’t heard it in a while
Am I allowed to cry?

[Verse 1]
The verse portrays a sense of suffocation and monotony (“boredom’s bone-deep”) in the narrator’s life, symbolized by the “cage” they once found acceptable. They question their emotions, pondering if it’s acceptable to express vulnerability (“Am I allowed to cry?”). The imagery of “cracking locks” and wanting to break free suggests a desire for liberation and excitement, even if it means risking everything.

[Chorus]
The chorus reflects on the tension between fantasy and reality, wondering if the intense desires and fantasies the narrator harbors can be considered sinful if they remain unfulfilled. The fear of slipping into a dangerous situation (“falling back into the hedge maze”) and longing for experiences never realized evoke a sense of longing and internal conflict.

[Verse 2]
In this verse, the narrator grapples with the idea that while thoughts may not be inherently harmful, the consequences of acting on them can be significant (“Only your actions talk”). Despite being aware that their fantasies are mere illusions, they struggle with the intensity of their desires and the emotional toll it takes on them.

[Chorus]
Similar to the previous chorus, this repetition emphasizes the recurring theme of longing and guilt associated with unfulfilled desires. The imagery of “bed sheets ablaze” and “waves crashing over my grave” conveys the overwhelming intensity of the narrator’s emotions, despite never physically experiencing what they long for.

[Bridge]
The bridge introduces a moment of reflection and defiance. The narrator questions societal expectations (“What if the way you hold me is actually what’s holy?”) and asserts their commitment to their desires, even if it means facing judgment or condemnation. They choose to prioritize their emotional connection over societal norms, embracing their love unapologetically.

[Chorus]
The final chorus echoes the earlier sentiments of longing and guilt, emphasizing the internal struggle of the narrator as they grapple with desires that may never be fulfilled. Despite the intense yearning for physical intimacy, they question the morality of their feelings when the reality remains unfulfilled.

[Outro]
The outro revisits the nostalgia and vulnerability expressed in the beginning, as the narrator reflects on a past moment of connection (“Downtown Lights”) and contemplates the permissibility of expressing their emotions. The uncertainty of whether it’s acceptable to cry hints at the ongoing internal conflict and longing for connection.