Big Red Machine premiere their song “Renegade,” featuring Taylor Swift. This is one of the two songs they collaborated with Swift for their upcoming album, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?
Instagram / Taylor Swift
A few days ago, Big Red Machine announced their second album together. The band consists of The National‘s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon.
The two have collaborated with Taylor for her albums folklore and evermore. Justin sang with Taylor for folklore’s “exile” and evermore’s “Coney Island.”
Now it’s her time to feature on their album, and they have collaborated for two songs.
Taylor herself shared the song and wrote about the experience: “I can’t believe I get to work with Aaron Dessner. “
When Aaron came into my life, I was ushered into his world of free-flowing creativity where you don’t overthink, you just make music. His generosity of spirit and humility bleeds into every part of his life, and that’s why so many artists have jumped at the chance to be a part of his collaborative project, Big Red Machine. A song we wrote (which also features 
Justin Vernon
) is out today! It’s called Renegade.
Thanks Aaron for asking me to show up at your party.”
Swifties think Big Red Machine’s “Renegade” with Taylor Swift sounds like a combination of the singer’s “Long Story Short” and “The Last American Dynasty.”
The lyric video bears a resemblance to “Long Story Short’s” official lyric video, and the rhythm melody has the same feel like “The Last American Dynasty.”
“Renegade” deals with loving someone who won’t allow himself/ herself to open up and love you back.
The song features incredibly strong lyrics that sounds like a therapeutic experience. “Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything? Or do you just not want to?” signals the struggle of being with someone who can’t give you what you want, due to past trauma, or just resilience.
“Is it insensitive for me to say “Get your shit together so I can love you?”” shows some of Taylor’s own character growth. From the teenager who wanted to save someone, now she writes stuff like “You don’t need to save me,” because she’s gotten there herself. (From reputation’s “Call It What You Want”)
The song, although on Big Red Machine’s album, sounds more like it’s Taylor’s song, both vocally and lyrically. Which might be why they fit together so well as singer-songwriters.
Here are the official lyrics:
[Verse 1: Taylor Swift]
I tapped on your window on your darkest night
The shape of you was jagged and weak
There was nowhere for me to stay, but I stayed anyway
And if I would’ve known how many pieces you had crumbled into
I might have let them lay
[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon]
Are you really gonna talk about timing in times like these?
And let all your damage damage me
And carry your baggage up my street
And make me your future history, it’s time
You’ve come a long way, open the blinds, let me see your face
You wouldn’t be the first renegade to need somebody
Is it insensitive for me to say “Get your shit together so I can love you?”
Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything?
Or do you just not want to?
[Verse 2: Taylor Swift]
I tapped on your window on your darkest night
The shape of you was jagged and weak
There was nowhere for me to stay, but I stayed anyway
You fire off missiles ’cause you hate yourself
But do you know you’re demolishing me?
And then you squeeze my hand as I’m about to leave
[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon]
Are you really gonna talk about timing in times like these?
And let all your damage damage me
And carry your baggage up my street
And make me your future history, it’s time
You’ve come a long way, open the blinds, let me see your face
You wouldn’t be the first renegade to need somebody
Is it insensitive for me to say “Get your shit together so I can love you?”
Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything?
Or do you just not want to?
[Bridge: Taylor Swift]
And if I would’ve known
How sharp the pieces were you’d crumbled into
I might’ve let them lay
[Chorus: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon]
Are you really gonna talk about timing in times like these?
And let all your damage damage me
And carry your baggage up my street
And make me your future history, it’s time
You’ve come a long way, open the blinds, let me see your face
You wouldn’t be the first renegade to need somebody
[Outro: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon]
To need somebody, to need somebody, to need somebody, to need
Are you really gonna talk about timing in times like these?
And let all your damage damage me
And carry your baggage up my street
And make me your future history, it’s time
Is it insensitive for me to say “Get your shit together so I can love you?”
You come a long way, open the blinds, let me see your face
You wouldn’t be the first renegade to need somebody
Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything?
Or do you just not want to?
