Taylor Swift has changed a controversial lyric from “Better Than Revenge” in her re-release of “Speak Now”.
Released in 2010, “Better Than Revenge” contained the lyrics, “She’s not a saint and she’s not what you think/ She’s an actress/ She’s better known for the things that she does/ On the mattress.” Now, the latter two lines have been changed to: “He was a moth to the flame/ She was holding the matches.”
At that time, the song was said to be about her ex Joe Jonas’ new girlfriend, actress Camilla Belle. While it was largely considered “fine” back then, it’s gone controversial over time.
In a 2014 interview withThe Guardian, Swift expressed her regret for the lyric.
“I was 18 when I wrote that,” she said. “That’s the age you are when you think someone can actually take your boyfriend. Then you grow up and realize no one [can] take someone from you if they don’t want to leave.”
On the 22-track album released Thursday evening, Swift took to social media to celebrate it. “It’s here. It’s yours, it’s mine, it’s ours. It’s an album I wrote alone about the whims, fantasies, heartaches, dramas, and tragedies I lived out as a young woman between 18 and 20″, she said.
“I remember making tracklist after tracklist, obsessing over the right way to tell the story,” she continued. “I had to be ruthless with my choices, and I left behind some songs I am still unfailingly proud of now.”
“Therefore, you have 6 From The Vault tracks! I recorded this album when I was 32 (and still growing up, now) and the memories it brought back filled me with nostalgia and appreciation. For life, for you, for the fact that I get to reclaim my work. Thank you a million times, for the memories that break our fall.”
“Better Than Revenge” is not the first song Taylor Swift will change its lyrics after its release.
In October 2022, the singeramended the videofor her track “Anti-Hero,” taking out the word “FAT” from a scene meant to depict one of Swift’s “nightmares.”
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)is also the next re-recorded album from Taylor Swift, followingFearless (Taylor’s Version)andRed (Taylor’s Version), both released in 2021. The singer and songwriter first confirmed in 2019 that she wouldrerecord her songbookto own her masters, with her albumsTaylor Swift(2006),1989(2014) and 2017’sReputationstill yet to be released.
