Continuing the tracklist of my version of Taylor Swift’s latest album…
Taylor Swift’s Asylum
Track #8: ‘So High School’
I’m closing out the relationship songs with this sweet track about Swift’s current flame, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Granted, these lyrics don’t exactly paint Kelce as Swift’s intellectual equal (“you know how to ball, I know Aristotle” suggests to me not that Swift is an expert on the philosopher, but that unlike her beau, she has actually heard of him). But as a rebound to a rebound, she could do a lot worse.
If the Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy relationships were angsty and dramatic, this one seems breezy and fun. And the resulting music, based on this small sample, is delightful. I don’t know how long the Travis Kelce thing will last, but it strikes me as very good for Swift both personally and musically.
I feel so high school every time I look at you
I wanna find you in a crowd just to hide from you
[Chorus]
And in a blink of a crinklin’ eye
I’m sinkin’, our fingers entwined
Cheeks pink in the twinklin’ lights
Tell me ’bout the first time you saw me
I’ll drink what you think and I’m high
From smokin’ your jokes all damn night
The brink of a wrinkle in time
Bittersweet sixteen suddenly
[Post-Chorus]
I’m watchin’ American Pie with you on a Saturday night
Your friends are around, so be quiet
I’m tryin’ to stifle my sighs
‘Cause I feel so high school every time I look at you
But look at you
[Interlude]
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah
[Verse 1]
Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me? (Kill me)
It’s just a game, but really (Really)
I’m bettin’ on all three (All three) for us two
Get my car door, isn’t that sweet? (That sweet)
Then pull me to thе backseat (The backseat)
No onе’s ever had me (Had me), not like you
[Bridge]
Truth, dare, spin bottles
You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
Brand-new, full throttle
Touch me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto
It’s true, swear, scout’s honor
You knew what you wanted and, boy, you got her
Brand-new, full throttle
You already know, babe
[Verse 2]
I feel like laughin’ in the middle of practice
Do that impression you did of your dad again
I’m hearing voices like a madman
[Chorus]
And in a blink of a crinklin’ eye
I’m sinkin’, our fingers entwined
Cheeks pink in the twinklin’ lights
Tell me ’bout the first time you saw me
I’ll drink what you think, and I’m high
From smokin’ your jokes all damn night
The brink of a wrinkle in time
Bittersweet sixteen suddenly
[Post-Chorus]
I’m watchin’ American Pie with you on a Saturday night
Your friends are around, so be quiet
I’m tryin’ to stifle my sighs
‘Cause I feel so high school (Feel so high school) every time I look at you
But look at you
[Outro]
Truth, dare, spin bottles
You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
Brand-new, full throttle
Touch me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto
It’s true, swear, scout’s honor (Yeah)
You knew what you wanted and, boy, you got her
Brand-new, full throttle (Yeah)
You already know, babe
You already know, babe
Meet Me In Montauk 
See my comment from yesterday…
Also, clever throwback to an earlier carefree song, “Twenty-Two” with the “ah huh, ah huh”
As a “Begin Again” (a top tier Taylor) and “Stay, Stay, Stay” (a silly personal fave) fan, this choice and song makes me happy. Joe Alwyn leaving his professional job as muse is a tough blow, but this song and “The Alchemy” give me faith that we’re going to continue getting some fun and impressive work from Swift.
What I love about this song is that she’s clearly far away enough from high school that she can now write/sing a song like this from a place of nostalgia for all those songs she wrote while in high school that put her on the path to superstardom.
Only now she doesn’t have to convince him that he belongs with her because this HS baller knows that she’s the one he wants.