“Shake It Off” is a lively tune by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, serving as the flagship track from her fifth album, 1989. Swift collaborated with SZA on the lyrics and teamed up with producers Max Martin and Shellback for the melody.
The song reflects Swift’s response to intense media scrutiny, expressing her resilience against criticism and negativity. With its upbeat dance-pop style, “Shake It Off” incorporates catchy elements like a repeating drum beat, a saxophone riff, and a handclap-driven bridge.
In this article, we’ll explore the meaning behind the lyrics.
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“Shake It Off” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I stay out too late
Got nothin’ in my brain
That’s what people say, mm-mm
That’s what people say, mm-mm
I go on too many dates (Haha)
But I can’t make them stay
At least, that’s what people say, mm-mm
That’s what people say, mm-mm
Verse 1 talks about Taylor Swift’s response to criticism and gossip.
She acknowledges the negative things people say about her, such as staying out late and going on many dates.
However, she doesn’t let it bother her, choosing instead to focus on herself and her own happiness.
[Pre-Chorus]
But I keep cruisin’
Can’t stop, won’t stop movin’
It’s like I got this music in my mind
Sayin’, “It’s gonna be alright”
The Pre-Chorus emphasizes Taylor Swift’s resilience and determination to keep moving forward despite criticism.
She compares her mindset to having music in her mind that reassures her everything will be alright, singing “But I keep cruisin’, can’t stop, won’t stop movin’.”
[Chorus]
‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
The Chorus talks about shaking off negativity through dancing, symbolizing Swift’s resilience and determination to stay positive despite the criticism she faces.
She acknowledges that people will always find fault (“players gonna play, play, play”) and express hatred (“haters gonna hate, hate, hate”).
“Heartbreakers gonna break” refers to people who may cause emotional pain or disappointment in relationships.
Similarly, “And the fakers gonna fake” refers to people who pretend to be something they’re not, often for personal gain or to manipulate others.
Again, the repetition of “break, break, break” and “fake, fake, fake” underscores the consistent nature of their actions.
However, Swift decides to ignore their negativity and focus on herself (“Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake”).
[Verse 2]
I never miss a beat
I’m lightnin’ on my feet
And that’s what they don’t see, mm-mm
That’s what they don’t see, mm-mm
I’m dancin’ on my own (Dancin’ on my own)
I make the moves up as I go (Moves up as I go)
And that’s what they don’t know, mm-mm
That’s what they don’t know, mm-mm
Taylor Swift asserts that she never falter or lose momentum in her life. She compares herself to lightning, suggesting that she moves swiftly and gracefully through life. She sings, “I never miss a beat, I’m lightnin’ on my feet.”
Despite her outward appearance of confidence and composure, Swift implies that there’s more to her than meets the eye, as she sings, “And that’s what they don’t see, mm-mm.”
Swift declares that she’s comfortable dancing alone, metaphorically representing her ability to navigate life independently and confidently. She sings, “I’m dancin’ on my own (Dancin’ on my own).”
In the line “I make the moves up as I go (Moves up as I go),” she suggests that she creates her path as she moves forward, rather than conforming to others’ expectations or norms.
In the end, Swift reiterates that others may not fully grasp her approach to life. She expresses the idea that there’s more to her than meets the eye, and others may underestimate her capabilities or resilience.
[Post-Chorus]
I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
In the Post-Chorus section, Taylor Swift repeats “I shake it off” multiple times in a rhythmic manner, reinforcing the idea of dismissing negative energy and moving forward with confidence.
[Interlude]
Hey, hey, hey
Just think, while you’ve been gettin’ down and out about the liars
And the dirty, dirty cheats of the world
You could’ve been gettin’ down
To this sick beat
The interlude is a brief pause in the song where Taylor Swift addresses the listeners directly, singing, “Hey, hey, hey. Just think, while you’ve been gettin’ down and out about the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world.”
She encourages them to think about how, instead of dwelling on negativity and deceitful people, they could have been enjoying the upbeat rhythm and vibe of the song.
[Bridge]
My ex-man brought his new girlfriend
She’s like, “Oh my God,” but I’m just gonna shake
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won’t you come on over, baby?
We can shake, shake, shake
Yeah, oh-oh, oh
The bridge of “Shake It Off” shifts the focus to Taylor Swift’s personal experiences, mentioning her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. She describes the reaction to seeing them together and then decides to shake off any negative feelings.
This section also includes an invitation to someone with attractive qualities, suggesting they join her in shaking off any worries and just enjoy the moment.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Shake It Off”
“Shake It Off” is an anthem for self-confidence and resilience, urging people to embrace their uniqueness, ignore the doubters, and keep dancing to their own beat.
The lyrics of “Shake It Off” were inspired by Taylor Swift’s experiences with media scrutiny during her rise to fame. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Swift explained:
“I’ve had every part of my life dissected … When you live your life under that kind of scrutiny, you can either let it break you, or you can get really good at dodging punches. And when one lands, you know how to deal with it. And I guess the way that I deal with it is to shake it off.”
In another video, Taylor Swift said the song was born out of her own difficulties:
“Shake It Off” is a song that I wrote about having to deal with, on a every day basis, just kind of human beings treat each other. It’s not just me who has to deal with it, it’s everybody out there living their lives.
The feeling of humiliation is the same when a girl has a rumour spread about her at school that isn’t true, it’s the same feeling I feel when I am checking out of the grocery store and I read some crazy headline about me. And I think that the way we have to deal with those issues is the same. You have to learn to have a sense of humour about things after a while, or else you’ll just live in an endless sea of resentment and bitterness and “Why are people doing this to me?”
And rather than writing a song that was victmized in nature, I wanted to write a song that was joyful and gives people a way to cope with whatever ridiculousness life dulling out to them, but also makes you want to dance.
In the first verse of the song, Swift references her perceived image as a flirtatious woman with numerous romantic attachments: “I go on too many dates / But I can’t make ’em stay / At least that’s what people say.”
Despite facing relentless scrutiny and criticism from the media and detractors, she adopts a defiant attitude, refusing to let it define her.
The catchy chorus, with its repetition of “players gonna play” and “haters gonna hate,” emphasizes the inevitability of encountering criticism and negativity, but also underscores the importance of not letting it affect one’s self-esteem.
The song’s upbeat tempo and infectious rhythm serve as a metaphor for shaking off negativity and moving forward with positivity and confidence.
Swift’s declaration to “shake it off” resonates as a call to action, encouraging listeners to shrug off the negativity and embrace their true selves without apology.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.