So Iâve had a lot thoughts on hoax. It was haunting me because it feels starkly different, but it also has these little trails of familiarity. So I started to really dig into it, and hereâs how I interpret hoax:
This song is written as a what-if response to Cornelia Street. She loses him, it ends, and she never walks Cornelia Street again. I think itâs Taylor pondering what would life look like if the story in Cornelia Street ended differently.
There are multiple references to songs from Lover and reputation, but she spins a sweet beautiful line about love into a new lyrics that reflects loss and sadness:
âmy heartâs been borrowed and yours has been blue, allâs well that ends well to end up with youâ / âdonât want no other shade of blue but you, no other sadness in the world would doâ
Lover: His heart is described as blue, but itâs okay because that pain has lead to happiness. In hoax, his love is blue but that sadness never heals.
âback when we were card sharks, playing games, I thought you were leading me on, I packed my bags, left Cornelia Street before you even knew I was gone, then you called, showed your hand, I turned around before I hit the tunnelâ / âmy best laid plans, your sleight of hand, my barren land, I am ash from your fireâ
Cornelia Street: dating is like a card game, withholding your strategy until the last moment to make sure you win. In Cornelia Street, showing his hand was being vulnerable, and that lead to their relationship growing. In hoax, she references a card game again, but this time it refers to withholding information and ends in pain.
âstaring out the window like Iâm not your favorite town, Iâm New York City, I still do it for you, babeâ / âyou know I left a part of me back in New Yorkâ
False God: Taylor IS New York City and itâs a part of her. In hoax she lost a piece of herself.
âand all is my heroes die all alone, let me hold on to youâ / âyou knew the hero died so whatâs the movie forâ
The Archer: this song is so much about anxiety in friendships and relationships; will this person still love me once they know more about me? Why would anyone stay? And she ends the song with âyou could stayâ which represents that feeling of vulnerability and the relief of it being met with acceptance. hoax represents that same vulnerability ending in let down and pain.
âand all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for king of my heartâ / âmy only one, my kingdom come undoneâ
King of My Heart: a beautiful representation of finding that one person who makes your world feel like a kingdom that you rule together, a true partnership, real love. And in hoax, that kingdom has fallen.
So in theory, hoax represents what would have gone wrong if the events in Cornelia Street ended differently. âI hope I never lose you, I hope it never ends, Iâd never walk Cornelia Street again.â And the song is all a HOAX because the events in Cornelia Street were the pivotal moment that could have changed the story, but we know allâs well that ended well.
Thanks for coming to my ted talk ⨠𤥠â¨
kianamaiart
jimmyeatworldofficial
titsay
