Lyrical Analyst. Currently chasing shadows in the grocery line, lost in the labyrinth of my mind. 28, She/Her.
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1. As always, let's begin with the title.
1) As always, let's begin with the title. And strap in, because this happens to be one of the most fascinating decisions on the entire album.
1) The first ingredient to the Taylor Swift signature is what I like to call "meaningful specificity," which is perfectly encapsulated in the title of this very track. Let me explain.
1) Before we begin, I think it's crucial to reflect on how each of us interacts with Taylor's music. She is the queen of confessional songwriting, and with every new release, we have all come to expect--perhaps demand?--not only a work of art, but also entry into her inner world.
1) Before we begin: a caveat!
1) Let's begin with the title. A prophecy is, on a basic level, a prediction for the future. But in order to fully understand "the prophecy" as a metaphor for Taylor's seemingly unstoppable destiny, we have to dive into the diverse religious and cultural connotations of the idea.
1) I usually begin with the title, but this time, I want to highlight the musical decisions that set the stage for the story. Specifically, the haunting layering vocal introduction opening the track--a repetitive chorus of "So" ("so") "Long" ("long") "Lon" ("lon") "Don" ("don").
1) Let's start with the title, which references both the original children's song (Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?) and the play (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf). The implicit connections she draws to both spins of this concept add many thematic layers to our interpretation.
1) First, Taylor briefs us on the framework of the Poets Department. “At this hearing, I stand before my fellow members of the Tortured Poets Department, with a summary of my findings, a debrief, a detailed rewinding.” She stands before us—her audience—to defend her own conduct.
1) Before I begin, THANK YOU to @contrarianshit for your thread. It is linked below! 
1) Let's start with a history lesson on the title. Coney Island is a neighborhood in Brooklyn which is particularly famous for its beaches and sea-side amusement parks. Such is its strong grip on American culture that it was colloquially known as "The Playground of the World." 
1) Let's start with the title. What makes a "false" God? In many religions, a false God is a term used to describe an entity to which sacred meaning or importance is tied, but which is not recognized by the religion itself. Worshipping a false God is thus harshly criticized.
1) FIRST OFF. LET. US. BEGIN. WITH. THE. TITLE.
1) I usually begin with an analysis of the title, but this once, I will leave that for its first appearance in the chorus.
1) As always, let's begin with the title. What is a "Renegade?"
1) Let's start with the title. Of course physically, to be clean is to be pure--to be free from marks or stains, to be made new again. But what does it mean to be clean on an emotional level? There are several intersecting definitions, all of which shape the meaning of the song.
1) As always, we begin with the title, which will become the song's central thesis: "This is me trying." The very phrase itself feels weighed down by exhaustion. It's a tired, plaintive appeal to be understood, to be recognized for the endless invisible work of simply persisting.
1) As Taylor herself has described, Midnights been an album of the highest of highs and lowest of lows. She has forced herself to stare directly in the mirror, using the reflections of her past thoughts, feelings and actions to cast light upon her current self and circumstances.
1) As always, let's begin with the title. My Tears Ricochet. Now what does it mean to ricochet? An object is described as "ricocheting" when it is aimed in one direction, but with such force that upon impact with its target, it rebounds and instead launches in another direction. 
1) The song is framed as a duet between two lovers (who we will refer to as Matt and Taylor for simplicity). We begin with Matt's perspective: "I get myself twisted into threads to meet you at The Alcott." So what is The Alcott, and what is the relevance to their relationship?
1) Let's begin with the title. The word "tolerate" sets up the emotional landscape of the song. The primary definition is to "allow the existence...of something that one does not necessarily like or agree with without interference." The love in this story is empty and unfeeling.