Introduction
“Tolerate It” is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, featured on her severely praised album “Evermore,” released in December 2020. The track, written by Swift and Aaron Dessner of The National, investigate themes of unreciprocated love, emotional space, and the feeling of being taken for accepted in a relationship.
In the song, Swift acutely expresses the pain of feeling unappreciated and invisible by someone she greatly cares about. She describe the internal struggle of having to tolerate indifference and leave alone while yearning for extending far down connection and acknowledgment.
The lyrics of “Tolerate It” showcase Swift’s reflective songwriting style, as she explore into complex emotions with poetic exactitude. The haunting melody, paired with Swift’s emotive vocals, creates a touching atmosphere that resonates with listeners.
Upon its release, “Tolerate It” received widespread applause from critics and fans alike, who blessed its lyrical depth, emotional resounding, and atmospheric production. The song further solidified Swift’s character as one of the most talented and reflective songwriters of her generation.
Lyrics
I sit and watch you reading with your
Head low
I wake and watch you breathing with your
Eyes closed
I sit and watch you
And notice everything you do or don’t do
You’re so much older and wiser and I
I wait by the door like I’m just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it
If it’s all in my head tell me now
Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
I greet you with a battle hero’s welcome
I take your indiscretions all in good fun
I sit and listen
I polish plates until they gleam and glisten
You’re so much older and wiser and I
I wait by the door like I’m just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it
If it’s all in my head tell me now
Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
While you were out building other worlds, where was I?
Where’s that man who’d throw blankets over my barbed wire?
I made you my temple, my mural, my sky
Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life
Drawing hearts in the byline
Always taking up too much space or time
You assume I’m fine
But what would you do if I, I
Break free and leave us in ruins
Took this dagger in me and removed it
Gain the weight of you then lose it
Believe me, I could do it
If it’s all in my head tell me now
Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
I sit and watch you