Therapist Reacts To: Illicit Affairs by Taylor Swift

[@servicedogkyzanna1761]

Love her or hate her, one has to admit that Taylor Swift is the Shakespeare of our generation.

[@mendwithmere]

Truth!!

[@foxmulder2845]

Hate her is no Option imo. ❤

[@servicedogkyzanna1761]

@@foxmulder2845 Absolutely!!!

[@Cheri94]

Lyrical genius

[@thotbot7407]

Are you being ironic?

[@luciihornsby]

i know you're a therapist, but you'd also make a great english teacher! i'm a literature student and your analyses are always so insightful, i could never hahah

[@mendwithmere]

Aww thank you! My true love is writing and I’m hoping to get a book published. I didn’t realize how much I love words and meanings associated with them until I started doing these reactions! Never intended to have this channel be mainly reactions. So wild.

[@luciihornsby]

@@mendwithmere wow that would be amazing- i'll be first in line to read your book! haha, you should come to my college classes.. we look at lots of words and the meanings associated with them😅i really want to write my third year dissertation about folklore and evermore, but i have a feeling my supervisor won't approve it🥲

[@emmalay1962]

I was in an affair with an older man for years, it was really toxic and he'd even call me "kid", so this song hits particularly hard! Love your analysis of the lyrics and a new perspective. :)

[@luciihornsby]

i love this interpretation! this is one of my absolute favorite taylor songs; the bridge is the literally the best bridge to ever exist ahhh it's so good

[@mendwithmere]

It really is amazing!

[@crystalkadletc1944]

This is one of my favorite tracks and I always thought of it as the general love affair long, but addiction gives it a new meaning for me.

[@virginialiriano8001]

You really give a different meaning toTaylor´s songs that´s something i love about you and what you do, bc this song may seem so basic like an affair, but look what kind of gem you gave us with this video. A whole new perspective

[@mendwithmere]

Wow. Thank you for that beautiful compliment. That’s means so much to me.

[@davidpacheco268]

I had never thought about this song in the perspective of addiction, thank you for broadening my horizons! If I may suggest something, not that I don't love your Taylor Swift videos, I'd say you should check out J. Maya. She's an amazing lyricist and her songs are super rich. Maybe Machine Learning would be the most interesting one for you to analyze

[@mendwithmere]

Oooh I’ll check it out!

[@agathasophie4890]

I am crying!!! I never thought I could love this song more. Thank you for this analysis ☺ love from the Philippines ♥

[@mendwithmere]

You are so welcome and thank you for watching! Sending love to you!!

[@TheDelicateAntiHero]

The very first thing I thought after hearing this was addiction. It hit too close to home and then she belts out the performance of a lifetime during the Eras Tour. The poetry of the lyrics evokes imagery and truths that addicts go through. It’s genius and it actually helps me heal. Thank you for also hearing what I heard. It’s great not to be alone.

[@screllin]

This song breaks my heart even though I havent been through the subjects of the song 💔

[@mendwithmere]

🤍

[@leeschroeder3960]

I absolutely love listening to your take on Taylor’s songs for sure gives a whole new light to her songs…would love you to do Long Live older song but absolutely amazing …a very loved classic !!! Either way keep making videos we love them

[@mendwithmere]

I’ve actually never heard that song!! I’ll do it!

[@leeschroeder3960]

@@mendwithmere oh wow !! It’s a classic it’s one she says is always written for her fans….please do it it’s a well known classic would be fun to see your first reaction and your spin on it!!! I can’t wait and again thanks for doing these videos for us!!

[@poojaahuja3934]

She is such a amazing storyteller ...

[@JenniferAnneGastelum]

I love this. You honestly are so insightful and real. This song is absolutely heartbreaking. love it so much.

[@sallytownsendart]

Came straight to watch this after the Dealer video.. When you said "love doesn't hide you" that snapped me out of something I've been trying for so long to convince myself was a relationship that could someday work. If I'm honest with myself, I knew it wouldn't, and being hidden made me feel so terrible, but the rush of the crumbs of attention made me feel so great in those brief moments. That high whether from a person or a substance is so powerful. Thank you for describing this so eloquently, and helping me to continue the process of knowing what I'm worth. I just discovered your channel a few months ago and love your insights.

[@thepurpz]

There can be a ritualistic aspect to drug use, making your surroundings and settings feel comfortable and cozy. A huge contrast to something like a back alley in the cold "what started in beautiful rooms..." Sometimes the preparations - those rituals - are a part of the high. The anticipation is a major rush.

[@sofiasada1815]

Well this just made my night! Week! Starting my late night drive back home and I look to see if you have new videos always and to my surprise it’s Illicit Affairs and I get a shout out? You’re just a cool person, smart and always on point. Your analysis is exactly what I had thought, but I love your extensive vocabulary, I always love that I learn new words listening and watching your videos. Thank you so much for this, I know how much work it must be to record these videos, so thank you for doing them, creating content is hard, and it’s much appreciated. There’s a lot of TS classics from old albums that I think would shake you, “Last Kiss”, “You are in Love”, “New Years Day”, “Cornelia Street”, “Daylight”, oh, “Ivy”!! Through the Queer Lense, did you watch “Dickinson”?? What a series, and that song had Emily & Sue all over, I mean, the lyrics are just out of this world, TS is the Emily Dickinson poet of our generation so many things to analyze, which I’m sure you would nail. Thank you for these videos, they really make me happy :) ❤❤❤❤

[@Spookymama08]

I love her song Dear John. All that would have to change would be the name, and it’s almost like she read my diary from a mirror image relationship I had at 19 years old.

[@zzz-cb3xe]

You perspective is so interesting.

[@Lose2Love]

your analysis was quite good Meredith, love the channel name too. It's sad when you give and the other person doesn't give back. and that's what most of us have lost. Also I like the way your explain complicated words simply.

[@marinadawnhamilton-songste5554]

Thank you for this review. It is spot on and was so hard to get out of. It felt like a relationship but it was an affair. I’m relieved it is finally over. The tears 😭 are not grief any longer now that he has moved out but I do still love him.

[@J-B-P]

Interesting take! I’ve never thought of it this way but the double meaning definitely works. Cool perspective

[@LUISFELIPEVALENCADEALBUQUERQUE]

I simply love your channel. You dissect the hidden meanings so interestingly... It's just insane. This song in particular resonates with me differently. When you are experiencing a romantic relationship with someone of the same sex, it's quite close to how the scene is designed in this music. No support from your family, yourself, and even the partner in question. We both know it's illicit, and how damaging it could be if somebody finds out... but you have no choice at the end, 'cause we are entangled. You try to set boundaries, meanwhile at the core if you could choose... you would do it all over again. It's more than living for the thrill of the rush. You know it's doomed, but there's no way out but to move forward until the car crashes and everything goes down. I simply love your channel. You dissect the hidden meanings so interestingly... It's just insane. This song in particular resonates with me differently. When you are experiencing a romantic relationship with someone of the same sex, it's quite close to how the scene is designed in this music. No support from your family, yourself, and even the partner in question. We both know it's illicit, and how damaging it could be if somebody finds out... but you have no choice at the end, 'cause we are entangled. You try to set boundaries, meanwhile at the core if you could choose... you would do it all over again. It's more than living for the thrill of the rush. You know it's doomed, but there's no way out but to move forward until the car crashes and everything goes down. Thank you so much for your videos, and please do not stop!! 😆

[@lena.mmarie]

Amazing analysis! I would love you react to Gracie Abrams as well, especially to the song “Camden”. Her songwriting really does have parallels with Taylor’s and I think you’d enjoy her music a lot!

[@mendwithmere]

Yes, I have Gracie Abrams on the list. I promise it’s coming :)

[@NeverGoodbye09]

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it on the day the album came out. I think I listened to it the most out of any of the other songs on the album. Now I know it's my most played song out of every other song in my music library. I felt connected to it from the very first listen. I think you are 100% right about an affair being a cover story in this song. This song is totally about addiction to me. I'm actually a recovering addict myself. I'm nine months and 1 day clean of absolutely everything today, my drug of choice was pain medication and I haven't had anything in nine months and one day. This song though. This song perfectly describes my relationship to the pain pills I took and how I felt about everything that was going on. Thank you for bringing the deeper meaning to the surface.

[@alainhenrique]

As someone with addiction problems i always heard this song from that perspective! I relapsed last month after 3 years sober and this song breaks my heart! Thank You for this analysis!

[@megurquhart3685]

Thank you for your analysis. I confess that in the several hundred times I’ve heard this incredible song I took it at face value…likely because many years ago, as a 16 year old child I was preyed upon by a trusted, decades older, man in my life. Every word in this song describes the beginning, middle and end…of his role in it…it took decades to fully recover. The desperation, confusion, and utter betrayal of the last portion of the song made me feel like she had read my journals from that time and used them as her lyrics… But, back to my point, your analysis has opened my eyes. And I owe you my sincerest thanks because I now understand my sister. She struggles with addiction and I’ve been struggling to know how to relate so that I can support her. Because of you I now understand that we have, although caused by different things, base emotions I common. It’s all so clear now and suddenly I know what I’m going to do and how I’m going to support her on her own journey. Bless you.

[@ethanhall9965]

This song reminds me of the Max show called Love And Death

[@nonamesgangsister]

Make sure nobody sees you leave Hood over your head, keep your eyes down Tell your friends you're out for a run You'll be flushed when you return Take the road less traveled by Tell yourself you can always stop What started in beautiful rooms Ends with meetings in parking lots And that's the thing about illicit affairs And clandestine meetings and longing stares It's born from just one single glance But it dies, and it dies, and it dies A million little times Leave the perfume on the shelf That you picked out just for him So you leave no trace behind Like you don't even exist Take the words for what they are A dwindling, mercurial high A drug that only worked The first few hundred times And that's the thing about illicit affairs And clandestine meetings and stolen stares They show their truth one single time But they lie, and they lie, and they lie A million little times And you wanna scream Don't call me "kid" Don't call me "baby" Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me You showed me colors You know I can't see with anyone else Don't call me "kid" Don't call me "baby" Look at this idiotic fool that you made me You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else And you know damn well For you, I would ruin myself A million little times

[@mikeywebb9598]

Your editing is seriously so funny I love it

[@paigehelling7973]

I love your interpretation of the song and you made me think of the “perfume on the shelf” part in a way I hadn’t before. I’d thought that maybe she had bought the perfume excitedly with him in mind because it reminded her of him/them or something, but then she realized that she won’t be able to actually wear it because his partner might smell it on him and get suspicious, so she just has to go without and still remain a secret. It’s one of the moments in the song that gets to me, though it’s all sad. Do you think you could do a dual analysis of Taylor’s champagne problems in one video and then the other video being Zoe Levert’s champagne problems where she rewrote the song but from the man’s perspective? I think Zoe’s version is just as amazing as Taylor’s and is at least worth the listen if you’re not sure about doing an analysis video on it. Zoe also did a small rewrite of cardigan from August/Augustine’s POV that is just so beautiful and heartbreaking, I love it so much. Although if you do look for it on here or her tiktok which is just her name, you should watch the one where her hair is blonde and is put up. Loved this video! 🫶🫶🫶

[@mendwithmere]

Thank you so much for this info! I’d love to do a dual analysis! Champagne problems is one of the songs at the top of my list!! I’m sure Taylor would love that people expand on her work bc they love it. Also, I feel the same about the perfume. It’s really sad.

[@MichaelScarn-z2g]

You're so smart and articulate.

[@mendwithmere]

Really?!? thank you☺️ I doubt myself so that feels so good. Thank you

[@LittleSongBirdTales]

I love SATC. Its my favorite show of all time. Carrie is one of my style icons!

[@pepeoctam.8327]

You're so smart 👏

[@tabassummostafa3093]

Sometimes you’re the sucker who thinks they’re the exception, it is what it is, sometimes you trust the wrong dude. But it’s refreshing to have a song from their angle, cause like the song highlights, they’re a victim too.

[@jeannejatico]

Please do Daylight and Call me what you want please ❤

[@mendwithmere]

Oooo great ones

[@jasminesubba1621]

Your hair, makeup and voice just like Taylor

[@mendwithmere]

??? Really?! I know the bangs are def similar

[@nicvntinee]

need the full karma cover

[@Moonsong_]

I lvoe the way you interpretate lyrics, it makes me look at them from a whole other prespective. You should react to these 3 songs if you haven't yet: Hoax (Taylor Swift), Garden song (Phoebe Bridgers) and I know the end (Phoebe Bridgers)

[@hikuztiagoo]

Hi Mere! You talk a lot about addiction and the problems with being with some with one and having one, and that reminded me of a song called "Powder" by Melanie Martinez. I think you would like a lot the lyrics of the song and would be interesting to see your reaction and point of view of the lyrics.

[@kakeen1977]

Omg, it's 5:40am and I'm laughing so hard bc of the Karaoke clip... you should do karaoke for all of Taylor Swifts songs and add them to every video 😂😂😂😂

[@cristinejoymaranon7257]

New subscriber here :)

[@jasmynyim]

I’m experiencing this kind of situation now. I broke up with this guy who’d been gaslighting and neglecting my feelings, a month ago. And we hadn’t been talking to each other since then. I went through a lot during this period of time, I can’t sleep at nights, heartbreaking, crying, struggling, self-doubting…..I hate to admit that I still can’t let him go till now. Last week he texted me saying he’s still sexually attracted to me and asking me if I wanna be ‘friends’ with him. I…said yes. Yeah, even though I knew exactly what he did to me when we’re together. I knew he only wanted physical act and he’s been using me. I knew we want different things. I knew it was toxic. But I still can’t say no to him. I guess it’s just bc I don’t wanna lose contact with him. Stupid and pathetic me.

[@uzimanify]

Search Matthew Hussey and see what he says. Just once may be.

[@RebekahKroezen]

I think this video is wrong about the perfume. I think the idea was that they picked out a perfume just for him and then couldn’t even wear it because the smell might linger and out him for cheating. She can’t leave a mark on him or his home, even a smell, because she is the other woman.

[@poisonivy-1241]

I think that the first verse is about a guy and the second one is about a girl

[@tayftayf3594]

This is so crazy Just last week, i had re-watched sex and the city And literally a few minutes ago, i was listening to this song, and when she said the phrase "don't call me kid, don't call me baby" and then it hit me IT'S A LOT LIKE CARRIE AND BIG OMG

[@taylorlester3495]

I love your videos! Could you do kelsea ballerini’s new EP?

[@mendwithmere]

Doing it tonight!!

[@PaigeRohloff-xb6ub]

I wonder if she is speaking about her eating disorder as the "addiction"?

[@babyjane534]

I want your actual reactions 😭

[@mendwithmere]

Hi! What do you mean? I heard the song before so it wasn’t 100% fresh

[@babyjane534]

@@mendwithmere like I love watching your first reactions ❤️ like you did on some songs of midnights, btw I love your content

[@mendwithmere]

@@babyjane534 I’ll do more for you ♥️❤️ thank you for the love!

[@babyjane534]

@@mendwithmere omg thank you so much 🥺🙏 I'm so excited!

[@TransDragon]

"People that keep you secret don't care about you" I think that's very heteronormative and generalised. What about gay people who are in the closet and can't come out?

[@09jay495]

That is a stretch- perfume, stolen stares- are these figurative?

[@hysteric4u]

the karaoke clips are everythingggggg i love it haha. karaoke addict here!!

[@TheGrottoGirl]

If we look at this song through a queer lens, the whole thing becomes similar to the queer interpretation of Betty. The person can't risk leaving behind the scent (that she picked out just for * him * -- not unlike the * him * that James saw Betty dancing with) because it might be recognized (the perfume equivalent to lipstick on the collar). Instead, her relationship with this woman must remain invisible, like she doesn't even exist. "You've shown me colors I can't see with anyone else" "A secret language I can't speak with anyone else" "you know damn well for you I would ruin myself" -- I don't think it's too much of a stretch to interpret these as referencing a queer love affair. The narrator is incredibly torn and confused and doesn't know what to do. She feels like she would be willing to ruin herself and her future and her career for this woman, and she's not sure if this woman understands how deep her feelings are. (I'm also a therapist 💕)

[@Juliomoura-pb3ep]

entendi

[@Juliomoura-pb3ep]

Zeta Reticullianos

[@Daffie02]

I thought this song was about her affair with Karlie Kloss.

[@KoriJaiden]

They were never together

[@adrianapichardo9727]

Is there a false god explanation?

[@mendwithmere]

No but I’ll do it!

[@roseelliott2728]

Really great analysis, I always thought this was about a sexual affair with a married man. I like how you tied it to drug addiction. Both soul crushing predicaments to find yourself in. ❤️‍🩹

[@mendwithmere]

Absolutely 🤍