Continuing the tracklist of my version of Taylor Swift’s latest album…
Taylor Swift’s Asylum
Track #3: ‘Cassandra’
Much of The Tortured Poets Department sounds like the malformed child of folklore and Midnights. ‘Cassandra,’ produced by Aaron Dessner, is a gorgeous exception — this one is pure folklore, with a haunting piano playing under a spooky tale of betrayal and anger.
I try not to go too far down the rabbit hole of references to Swift’s personal life, but this song feels to me very much about the Reputation period, when she was painted by many as a villain only to be exonerated later.
It’s with that in mind that I chose to follow this song with tomorrow’s SOTD, though initially I considered it as both an album closer and a title track. I like this one a whole lot.
I was in my new house placing daydreams
Patching up the crack along the wall
I pass it and lose track of what I’m saying
‘Cause that’s where I was when I got the call
[Pre-Chorus]
When the first stone’s thrown, there’s screamin’
In the streets, there’s a raging riot
When it’s “Burn the bitch,” they’re shrieking
When the truth comes out, it’s quiet
[Chorus]
So, they killed Cassandra first ’cause she feared the worst
And tried to tell the town
So they filled my cell with snakes, I regret to say
Do you believe me now?
[Verse 2]
I was in my tower weaving nightmares
Twisting all my smiles into snarls
They say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you aware”
What happens if it becomes who you are?
[Chorus]
So, they killed Cassandra first ’cause she feared the worst
And tried to tell the town
So they set my life in flames, I regret to say
Do you believe me now?
[Bridge]
They knew, they knew, they knew the whole time
That I was onto somethin’
The family, the pure greed, the Christian chorus line
They all said nothin’
Blood’s thick, but nothin’ like a payroll
Bet they never spared a prayer for my soul
You can mark my words that I said it first
In a mourning warning, no one heard
[Verse 3]
I patched up the crack along the wall
I pass it and lose track of what I’m saying
‘Cause that’s where I was when I lost it all
[Chorus]
So, they killed Cassandra first ’cause she feared the worst
And tried to tell the town
So they filled my cell with snakes, I regret to say
Do you believe me now?
[Bridge]
Ah, ah-ah-ah, ah
I was onto somethin’
Ah-ah-ah, ah
They all said nothin’
Blood’s thick but nothin’ like a payroll
Bet they never spared a prayer for my soul
You can mark my words that I said it first
In a mourning warning, no one heard
No one heard, not a single word was heard
[Outro]
When the first stone’s thrown, there’s screamin’
In the streets, there’s a raging riot
When it’s “Burn the bitch,” they’re shrieking
When the truth comes out, it’s quiet
It’s so quiet
Meet Me In Montauk 
This is a beautiful song with great lyrics.
This makes me think of the common complaint that the initial scandal receives a headline on the front page of the newspaper, while the retraction is always in much smaller print buried inside.
I don’t recall paying much attention to these lyrics on my first two go rounds of this album, so thanks for highlighting it today.
Interesting
Another great choice – definitely found “Cassandra” compelling from the first listen-through.
”Blood’s thick, but nothin’ like a pay-roll” is such a biting line.