Taylor Swift - Clean Lyrics (Taylor's Version)

1989

Lyrics

[Verse]

The drought was the very worst, ah-ah, ah-ah

When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst

It was months and months of back and forth, ah-ah, ah-ah

You're still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore

[Pre-Chorus]

Hung my head as I lost the war

And the sky turned black like a perfect storm

[Chorus]

The rain came pouring down

When I was drownin', that's when I could finally breathe

And by mornin', gone was any trace of you

I think I am finally clean

[Verse]

There was nothin' left to do, ah-ah, ah-ah

When the butterflies turnеd to dust that covered my whole room

So I punchеd a hole in the roof, ah-ah, ah-ah

Let the flood carry away all my pictures of you

[Pre-Chorus]

The water filled my lungs

I screamed so loud, but no one heard a thing

[Chorus]

The rain came pourin' down

When I was drownin', that's when I could finally breathe

And by mornin', gone was any trace of you

I think I am finally clean

[Post-Chorus]

I think I am finally clean

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Said I think I am finally clean

Ah-ah-ah

[Bridge]

Ten months sober, I must admit

Just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it

Ten months older, I won't give in

Now that I'm clean, I'm never gonna risk it

[Break]

The drought was the very worst, ah-ah, ah-ah

When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst

[Chorus]

The rain came pourin' down

When I was drownin', that's when I could finally breathe

And by mornin', gone was any trace of you

I think I am finally clean

The rain came pourin' down

When I was drownin', that's when I could finally breathe

And by mornin', gone was any trace of you

I think I am finally clean

[Outro]

Finally clean

Think I'm finally clean

Ah-ah-ah-ah

Think I'm finally clean

About

"Clean" is the closing track of the standard edition of Taylor Swift's album 1989 (Taylor's Version). Co-written with Imogen Heap, the song serves as a therapeutic resolution to the album's themes of heartbreak.

Meaning & Themes

The lyrics use the metaphor of a rainstorm to represent emotional clarity and the washing away of a past relationship. Swift draws parallels between recovering from a breakup and recovering from addiction ("Ten months sober"), illustrating the painful withdrawal process followed by the eventual feeling of being "finally clean." It is celebrated for its atmospheric production and message of self-renewal.

Q&A

What is the meaning behind Taylor Swift's 'Clean'?

'Clean' uses the metaphor of addiction recovery to describe moving on from a relationship. It describes the painful withdrawal process ('drought', 'shaking') and the eventual moment of clarity ('rain came pouring down') when she realizes she no longer needs that person.

Who collaborated with Taylor Swift on 'Clean'?

The song was co-written and produced by English singer-songwriter Imogen Heap. It features Heap's signature 'mbira' sounds and layered vocal production.

What does '10 months sober' mean in the lyrics?

The lyric 'Ten months sober, I must admit' is a metaphor for the time passed since the breakup or the last contact with the ex-partner. It treats the relationship like an addiction that she has successfully abstained from.

Is 'Clean' the last song on 1989?

Yes, 'Clean' is the final track on the standard edition of the original '1989' album, serving as a thematic resolution to the heartbreak explored in earlier tracks.

How does 'Clean' relate to the 'Rain' motif in Taylor Swift's songs?

While rain often signifies sadness or kissing in the rain in her earlier work (Fearless), in 'Clean', the rain represents a baptism or washing away of the past, signifying renewal and emotional clarity.

Clean (Taylor's Version)

Lyrics

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