Peak
28
Weeks
1
Score
231
Chart Year
2023
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This is one of Taylor's vengeance songs in the tradition of "Picture To Burn," but this time it's aimed at a woman. It is rumored that the song is directed at the young actress Joe Jonas pursued after he and Swift broke up. The first line of this song goes: "The story starts when it was hot and it was summer." Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas dated in the summer of 2008, then Joe met 10,000 BC actress Camilla Belle on the set of the Jonas Brothers' "Lovebug" video, where Taylor was nowhere to be found. This song appears to be the Queen of Tween's melodic stab at Belle for stealing her boyfriend: She came along, got him alone, and let's hear the applause She took him faster than you could say sabotage The line, "Come on, show me how much better you are," provides further evidence that Taylor is addressing Belle in this song. The lyric is most likely a reference to the Jonas Brothers' 2009 number "Much Better." That tune was felt by many to be an unkind remark at how superior Belle was in comparison to Swift: Now I'm done with superstars And all the teardrops on her guitar I'm not bitter Now I see everything I need Is the girl in front of me She's much better Taylor Swift redid "Better Than Revenge" in 2023 for Speak Now (Taylor's Version), her re-recording of the original album. Swift decided to revise the opening of the chorus, as it came across as "slut-shaming" to many listeners. The lyric previously read: She's an actress, woah But she's better known for the things that she does On the mattress The tweaked lyric goes: She's an actress, whoa He was a moth to the flame She was holding the matches
Now go stand in the corner and think about what you did Ha, time for a little revenge The story starts when it was hot and it was summer And, I had it all I had him right there where I wanted him She came along, got him alone, and let's hear the applause She took him faster than you could say sabotage I never saw it coming, nor would I have suspected it I underestimated just who I was dealing with She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum She underestimated just who she was stealing from She's not a saint and she's not what you think She's an actress, whoa She's better known for the things that she does On the mattress, whoa Soon she's gonna find Stealing other people's toys on the playground Won't make you many friends She should keep in mind She should keep in mind There is nothing I do better than revenge, ha She looks at life like it's a party and she's on the list She looks at me like I'm a trend and she's so over it I think her ever present frown is a little troubling And, she thinks I'm psycho 'Cause I like to rhyme her name with things, but Sophistication isn't what you wear, or who you know Or pushing people down to get you where you wanna go Oh they didn't teach you that in prep school So it's up to me But no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity (Think about what you did) She's not a saint and she's not what you think She's an actress, whoa She's better known for the things that she does On the mattress, whoa Soon she's gonna find Stealing other people's toys on the playground Won't make you many friends She should keep in mind She should keep in mind There is nothing I do better than revenge, ha I'm just another thing for you to roll your eyes at honey You might have him, but haven't you heard I'm just another thing for you to roll your eyes at honey You might have him, but I'll always get the last word Whoa She's not a saint and she's not what you think She's an actress, whoa She's better known for the things that she does On the mattress, whoa Soon she's gonna find Stealing other people's toys on the playground Won't make you many friends She should keep in mind She should keep in mind There is nothing I do better than revenge, ha And do you still feel like you know what you're doing 'Cause I don't think you do, oh Do you still feel like you know what you're doing I don't think you do, I don't think you do Let's hear the applause C'mon show me how much better you are See you deserve some applause 'Cause you're so much better She took him faster than you could say sabotage
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 22, 2023 | 28 | 98 |