Peak
39
Weeks
1
Score
209
Chart Year
2023
Swift wrote “Mean” in response to music critic Bob Lefsetz, who gave her a cruel review after a February 2010 performance with Stevie Nicks. Lefsetz claimed that Swift “can’t sing” and that the performance “shortened her career,” but she ultimately proved him wrong. Swift released the song as a single in March 2011, and its accompanying music video was directed by Declan Whitebloom, who also directed the music video for “Ours.” The video includes cameos from actress Joey King and singer-songwriter Presley Cash, who both play people experiencing bullying. The song received positive reviews from outlets like Entertainment Weekly, and won two Grammy awards — Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.
[Verse 1] You, with your words like knives And swords and weapons that you use against me You have knocked me off my feet again Got me feeling like I'm nothing You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard Calling me out when I'm wounded You, pickin' on the weaker man [Pre-Chorus] Well, you can take me down With just one single blow But you don't know what you don't know [Chorus] Someday, I'll be livin' in a big ole city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? [Verse 2] You, with your switching sides And your wildfire lies and your humiliation You have pointed out my flaws again As if I don't already see them I walk with my head down, trying to block you out 'Cause I'll never impress you I just wanna feel okay again See Taylor Swift Live Get tickets as low as $125 You might also like Dear John Taylor Swift Speak Now Taylor Swift Seven (Clean Ver.) Jung Kook (정국) [Pre-Chorus] I bet you got pushed around Somebody made you cold But the cycle ends right now 'Cause you can't lead me down that road And you don't know what you don't know [Chorus] Someday, I'll be livin' in a big ole city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? [Bridge] And I can see you years from now in a bar Talking over a football game With that same big, loud opinion But nobody's listening Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things Drunk and grumblin' on about how I can't sing But all you are is mean [Buildup] All you are is mean And a liar, and pathetic And alone in life, and mean And mean, and mean, and mean [Chorus] But someday, I'll be livin' in a big ole city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Yeah, someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean? Someday, I'll be livin' in a big ole city (Why you gotta be so mean?) And all you're ever gonna be is mean (Why you gotta be so mean?) Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (Why you gotta be so mean?) And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean?
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 22, 2023 | 39 | 87 |