Continuing the tracklist of my version of Taylor Swift’s latest album…
Taylor Swift’s Asylum
Track #11: ‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart’
As we near the close of my Taylor Swift album, I wanted to include something lacking from most of The Tortured Poets Department — a bop.
‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart’ is at once the saddest and most upbeat song on the album. Swift confesses to living through the most triumphant span of her career — the Eras Tour — while suffering personal turmoil.
She smartly turns this song into a metaphor for that surreal experience, delivering lyrics about depression through an ear candy chorus. This song also achieves the seemingly impossible by making us feel genuinely sorry for Taylor Swift.
I can read your mind
“She’s having the time of her life”
There in her glittering prime
The lights refract sequin stars off her silhouette every night
I can show you lies
(One, two, three, four)
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause I’m a real tough kid
I can handle my shit
They said, “Babe, you gotta fake it ’til you make it” and I did
Lights, camera, bitch, smile
Even when you wanna die
He said he’d love me all his life
But that life was too short
Breaking down, I hit the floor
All the piеces of me shatterеd as the crowd was chanting, “More”
I was grinnin’ like I’m winnin’
I was hittin’ my marks
‘Cause I can do it with a broken heart
(One, two, three, four)
[Chorus]
I’m so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday every day
I’m so obsessed with him, but he avoids me like the plague
I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it’s an art
You know you’re good when you can even do it with a broken heart
[Verse 2]
I can hold my breath
I’ve been doin’ it since he left
I keep finding his things in drawers
Crucial evidence I didn’t imagine the whole thing
I’m sure I can pass this test
(One, two, three, four)
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause I’m a real tough kid
I can handle my shit
They said, “Babe, you gotta fake it ’til you make it” and I did
Lights, camera, bitch, smile
In stilettos for miles
He said he’d love me for all time
But that time was quite short
Breaking down, I hit the floor
All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting, “More”
I was grinnin’ like I’m winnin’
I was hittin’ my marks
‘Cause I can do it with a broken heart
(One, two, three, four)
[Chorus]
I’m so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday every day
I’m so obsessed with him, but he avoids me (He avoids me), like the plague
I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it’s an art
You know you’re good when you can even do it with a broken heart
[Outro]
You know you’re good when you can even do it with a broken heart
You know you’re good
And I’m good
‘Cause I’m miserable (Haha)
And nobody even knows
Ah, try and come for my job
Meet Me In Montauk 
um!! Absolutely love this song but I strongly stand by the many bops on TTPD. It would honestly take too long to list them all out. But this one’s great, of course.
Maybe we have different definitions of bop?
possibly haha I think a bop can be any song that makes you want to dance.
I would add “Down Bad,” “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” and “Guilty as Sin” to that list for sure. They’re not as bejewled/shiny in the ironic way this song is, but all have driving beats that are earworms and make ya wanna move.
OK, it seems like our definitions are in line 🙂 You threw me with the “too long to list them all out” comment!
I think the three you named are in the bop ballpark, but are all a bit more mid-tempo than today’s song. And i’m not a big fan of any of them (though ‘Guilty as Sin’ is my fave of the three).
I love the last lines of this song, with the laugh.
I adore the chorus and laugh every time singing along with “I’m so depressed I act like it’s my birthday” and “I cry a lot but I am so productive, it’s an art,” words most people (perhaps especially women) can relate to despite not having to do it on a stage quite as large as Taylor’s.