Skipping Throwback Weekends this week to continue the tracklist of my version of Taylor Swift’s latest album…
Taylor Swift’s Asylum
Track #6: ‘Florida!!!’
Swift’s first tour stop following her split with Joe Alwyn was in Tampa, Florida, which is apparently the genesis of this track. She has also said that Florida is the state to which criminals flee, an action she compares to her own mindset after a breakup.
Given all that, I felt it appropriate to slot this song after my track five tearjerker, allowing listeners to escape along with Taylor.
‘Florida!!!’ also provides a nice musical jolt, and a stellar guest turn by Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine. Hers is a voice I’m always happy to hear, and it’s a good fit for the snarling attitude of this song.
You can beat the heat if you beat the charges too
They said I was a cheat, I guess it must be true
And my friends all smell like weed or little babies
And this city reeks of driving myself crazy
[Pre-Chorus: Taylor Swift]
Little did you know your home’s really only
A town you’re just a guest in
So you work your life away just to pay
For a time-share down in Destin
[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Florence Welch]
Florida
Is one hell of a drug
Florida
Can I use you up?
[Verse 2: Florence Welch]
The hurricane with my name when it came
I got drunk and I dared it to wash me away
Barricaded in the bathroom with a bottle of wine
Well, me and my ghosts, wе had a hell of a time
Yes, I’m hauntеd, but I’m feeling just fine
All my girls got their lace and their crimes
And your cheating husband disappeared, well
No one asks any questions here
So I did my best to lay to rest
All of the bodies that have ever been on my body
And in my mind, they sink into the swamp
Is that a bad thing to say in a song?
[Pre-Chorus: Florence Welch]
Little did you know your home’s really only
The town you’ll get arrested
So you pack your life away just to wait out
The shitstorm back in Texas
[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Florence Welch]
Florida
Is one hell of a drug
Florida
Can I use you up?
[Bridge: Taylor Swift & Florence Welch]
I need to forget, so take me to Florida
I’ve got some regrets, I’ll bury them in Florida
Tell me I’m despicable, say it’s unforgivable
At least the dolls are beautiful, fuck me up, Florida
I need to forget, so take me to Florida
I’ve got some regrets, I’ll bury them in Florida
Tell me I’m despicable, say it’s unforgivable
What a crash, what a rush, fuck me up, Florida
It’s one hell of a drug
It’s one hell of a drug
Love left me like this and I don’t want to exist
So take me to Florida
[Pre-Chorus: Taylor Swift & Florence Welch]
Little did you know your home’s really only
A town you’re just a guest in (Florida)
So you work your life away just to pay
For a time-share down in Destin (Take me to Florida)
Little did you know your home’s really only
The town you’ll get arrested (Florida)
So you pack your life away just to wait out
The shitstorm back in Texas
[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Florence Welch]
Florida
Is one hell of a drug
(Take me to) Florida
Can I use you up?
Florida
Is one hell of a drug
Florida
Go on, fuck me up
Meet Me In Montauk 
I don’t know if I can abide by skipping throwback weekends! I look forward to those! But I guess a new Taylor album merits an exception.
I found “Florida” a bit jarring on first listen, though I appreciated the break from the musical sameness of the songs around it. On repeat listening, this song has grown on me, despite a visceral reaction to the FSU drums. This might also be the first song to name check Destin!
I saw that the Destin mayor or chamber of commerce (forget which) made an Instagram post using the song and urging people to come to Destin.
Agree with Dana that it’s grown on me, but still not my fave. I’d likely follow up loml with a different banger.
I love the way Taylor and Florence’s voices blend on this song – they sound great together. It’s nice that the Taylor features are getting to proper feature status without a song re-release needing to happen lol (oh lana).
I read that this one might have some Truman Show routes too which is intriguing. At least lots of paths that can be read into it. Anyway, bottom line is this one’s a bop and I’m glad it made the cut!