Name: Rheanne L.

Pasco Date of Submission: March 5, 2024

Year & Section: BALCS 3 Course: ELECT 2 - Metaphors in Mass Media

COURSEWORK 1: METAPHORS IN SONGS

BLANK SPACE BY TAYLOR SWIFT

Line:

“Ain't it funny? Rumors fly”

Explanation: We’ve already heard this metaphor multiple times that it either gets old or

considered common knowledge since most of the time we use “rumors fly” indirectly saying

that rumor gets spread over time as if it has wings that could fly anywhere or everywhere

despite of the distance between the source of the rumor and the receiver. Taylor Swift used

this metaphor in her song, indicating that the news about her new relationship was already

spreading like wildfire, contrary to her intention that it should be intimate or exclusive.

Line:

“Love's a game, wanna play?”

Explanation: In this line, it is obvious how Taylor used the concept of game when it comes to

love. As we all know, love can be very complicated at times, and just like a game, we either

win or lose, despite the gamble you’ve taken even before the relationship began officially. In

addition, some people take love for granted and treat their relationship with someone as if

they’re in a game, wanting to complete or achieve something from the other party. Once they

get bored or after they obtain a particular thing owned by the other, they’ll leave them

completely as if quitting a game, not minding the aftermath.

Line:

“Screaming, crying, perfect storms

I can make all the tables turn

Rose garden filled with thorns”

Explanation: The overall line means that even beautiful things have flaws within them and

carry dark secrets that few people only know, those who accept them fully, whoever or

whatever they are. Taylor Swift included the phrase “I can make all the tables turn” as a

metaphor that indicates a sudden change or shift of the flow of events because they know

they have the upper hand since they haven’t revealed their true nature yet. The other party

only knows the mask that was beautifully crafted from the societal norms or the factors that

the other person wants to see on their partner and used it during their honeymoon phase.

Line:

“'Cause you know I love the players

And you love the game”

Explanation: This is the line where Taylor Swift indirectly says that she truly loved her

significant other, who only took her for granted and treated their relationship as if it was all

just a simple game, whereas he could leave easily without paying attention to the possible

collateral damage that he has done towards the other person.

Line:

“Boys only want love if it's torture”

Explanation: I have two takes on this line. First, the metaphor wants to imply that boys only

get interested in girls who they think are feisty and take them as a challenge, to entertain them

or prove something to themselves. Secondly, the metaphorical line could also mean that boys
will only realize the value of their significant other once they experience the feeling of pain

and heartache as if he’s under torture, a unique way of punishment caused by love.

Line:

“So hey, let's be friends

I'm dying to see how this one ends”

Explanation: This line somehow implies the multiple possibilities of the opposite sex being

friends because there are various debates that men and women cannot stay friends. Their

assumptions are either they will fall in love with one another, or the other will end up in

unrequited love, which can create a barricade in their friendship. Somehow, the speaker is

also looking forward to their ending.