Breakups are rarely ever clean, and Taylor Swift embraces the mess in an understated bonus track from her newly released 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.
In “imgonnagetyouback,” Swift sings about winning over an old flame following their split—though she’s unsure whether or not such a reunion will lead to a rekindled romance or another falling-out. As she sings in the chorus, “Whether I’m gonna be your wife or / Gonna smash up your bike, I haven’t decided yet / But I’m gonna get you back / Whether I’m gonna curse you out or / Take you back to my house, I haven’t decidеd yet / But I’m gonna get you back.”
Fans have speculated that much of The Tortured Poets Department references her six-year relationship with actor Joe Alwyn, and her subsequent dalliance with the 1975 frontman Matty Healy. It’s possible that “imgonnagetyouback” refers to either or both of these exes.
One line in particular can easily be interpreted as an allusion to Alwyn: “Bygones will be bygone, eras fadin’ into gray.” Swift is known for using colors to describe her relationship to Alwyn in songs, and has previously mentioned gray on the Midnights bonus song “You’re Losing Me” and the title track of her 2020 album Evermore.
Below, listen to the song and read the full lyrics.
Lilac short skirt, the one that fits me like skin
Did your research, you knew the price goin’ in
And I’ll tell you one thing, honey
I can tell when somebody still wants me, come clean
Standin’ at the bar like something’s funny, bubbly
Once you fix your face, I’m goin’ in (Yeah)
Whether I’m gonna be your wife or
Gonna smash up your bike, I haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
Whether I’m gonna curse you out or
Take you back to my house, I haven’t decidеd yet
But I’m gonna get you back
I, I hear thе whispers in your e-e-eyes
I’ll make you wanna think twice
You’ll find that you were never not mine
(You’re mine)
Small talk, big walk, act like I don’t care what you did
I’m an Aston Martin that you steered straight into the ditch
Then ran and hid
And I’ll tell you one thing, honey
I can take the upper hand and touch your body
Flip the script and leave you like a dumb house party
Or I might just love you ’til the end (Ah)
Whether I’m gonna be your wife or
Gonna smash up your bike, I haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
Whether I’m gonna flip you off or
Pull you into the closet, I haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
I, I hear the whispers in your e-e-eyes
I’ll make you wanna think twice
You’ll find that you were never not mine
(You’re mine)
I can feel it comin’, honey, in the way you move
Push the reset button, we’re becomin’ something new
Say you got somebody else, say, “I got someone too”
Even if it’s handcuffed, I’m leavin’ here with you
Bygones will be bygone, eras fadin’ into gray (Fading into gray)
Rebuild all the pieces, but still wanna play the game (Oh)
Told my friends I hate you, but I love you just the same
Pick your poison, babe, I’m poison either way (Ha)
Whether I’m gonna be your wife or
Gonna smash up your bike, I haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
Whether I’m gonna curse you out or
Take you back to my house, I haven’t decided yet
But I’m gonna get you back
I, I hear the whispers in your e-e-eyes
I’ll make you wanna think twice
You’ll find that you were never not mine
I’m gonna get you back
As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset.
