“Afterglow” Lyrics & Meaning (Taylor Swift)

It’s no secret.

By now, everyone knows that Taylor Swift bases many of her lyrics on her own relationships.

Things are no different when it comes to the lyrics and meaning of Taylor Swift’s Afterglow.

The big question is: which relationship is she singing about here?

More importantly, Afterglow shows a lot of growth.

We see that Swift has matured, both as a songwriter as well as a romantic partner.

Keep reading to learn all about the Afterglow lyrics meaning. Taylor Swift continues to surprise and delight, despite “always singing about the same thing”, as some have criticized.

 

Afterglow By Taylor Swift Lyrics And Meaning

Afterglow is a song from Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album Lover, which was released in 2019. Swift wrote and produced the song together with Louis Bell and Frank Dukes.

Afterglow was never released as a single, but it still managed to get plenty of attention from Swifties and music critics alike. A big reason for that is the relatable theme of feeling bad for overreacting to something.

As usual, Swift does a great job of relating to her audience through her music. So what is it exactly that she sings about in this song? Let’s find out. We’re going to look at the lyrics in full, before diving into their meaning.

 

Afterglow Lyrics

Verse 1

I blew things out of proportion, now you’re blue
Put you in jail for something you didn’t do
I pinned your hands behind your back, oh
Thought I had reason to attack, but no

Fighting with a true love is boxing with no gloves
Chemistry ’til it blows up, ’til there’s no us
Why’d I have to break what I love so much?
It’s on your face, and I’m to blame, I need to say

Chorus

Hey, it’s all me, in my head
I’m the one who burned us down
But it’s not what I meant
Sorry that I hurt you
I don’t wanna do, I don’t wanna do this to you (Ooh)
I don’t wanna lose, I don’t wanna lose this with you (Ooh)
I need to say, hey, it’s all me, just don’t go
Meet me in the afterglow

Verse 2

It’s so excruciating to see you low
Just wanna lift you up and not let you go
This ultraviolet morning light below
Tells me this love is worth the fight, oh

I lived like an island, punished you with silence
Went off like sirens, just crying
Why’d I have to break what I love so much?
It’s on your face, don’t walk away, I need to say

Chorus

Hey, it’s all me, in my head
I’m the one who burned us down
But it’s not what I meant
I’m sorry that I hurt you
I don’t wanna do, I don’t wanna do this to you (Ooh)
I don’t wanna lose, I don’t wanna lose this with you (Ooh)
I need to say, hey, it’s all me, just don’t go
Meet me in the afterglow

Bridge

Tell me that you’re still mine
Tell me that we’ll be just fine
Even when I lose my mind
I need to say
Tell me that it’s not my fault
Tell me that I’m all you want
Even when I break your heart
I need to say

Chorus

Hey, it’s all me, in my head
I’m the one who burned us down
But it’s not what I meant
Sorry that I hurt you
I don’t wanna do, I don’t wanna do this to you (Ooh)
I don’t wanna lose, I don’t wanna lose this with you (Ooh)
I need to say, hey, it’s all me, just don’t go
Meet me in the afterglow

 

Afterglow Meaning

Afterglow touches on themes of personal shortcomings, relationship struggles, and forgiveness. Taylor Swift takes on a reflective tone, acknowledging her own mistakes and how the led to the demise of a romantic relationship.

The lyrics paint a picture of someone owning up to their actions and seeking forgiveness from their partner. They show Swift’s self-awareness and her hope for reconciliation and an “afterglow” in the aftermath of a heated argument that ended her relationship.

The “afterglow” here is symbolic of the warmth and happiness that follow a heartfelt reconciliation. It serves as a reminder that through communication and understanding, you can overcome challenges in your relationship and nurture the love you share.

Swift tries to do just that in this song, where the chorus sees her apologizing to her lover for overreacting to an incident in their relationship:

Hey, it’s all me, in my head
I’m the one who burned us down
But it’s not what I meant
Sorry that I hurt you

This vulnerability and self-reflection make Afterglow a relatable song for anyone who has similarly overreacted to something in a relationship, burned it all down as a result, and then come to regret it. In other words: most of us.

 

Real Life Connection

The big question, as with many of Swift’s songs, is: who is she singing about? It’s no secret that many of Taylor Swift’s songs are inspired by her real-life experiences and relationships. Which of her relationships is the topic of this particular song?

Most believe Afterglow to be about Swift’s relationship with Joe Alwyn. Although Taylor hasn’t explicitly confirmed this, considering this possible connection enhances your understanding of the lyrics.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn began dating since 2017. They always kept their relationship quite private. At the time of writing, they have broken up.

Of course, despite their (ok, mainly Alwin’s) desire for privacy, many fans were always been eager to dissect her lyrics and discover any possible hints asd to what wa sgoing on in their romance. 

One interesting detail some fans picked up on is the mention of a “scrabble board” in the lyrics. While it’s not a direct reference to Joe Alwyn, both Taylor and Joe have been known to enjoy playing Scrabble together. Fans saw this as a subtle nod to Swift’s and Alwin’s shared pastime.

 

Music Video

The music video for Afterglow gives us a visual representation of the emotions Taylor Swift explores in the lyrics. Throughout the video, there are striking visuals and color schemes, to reflect the emotional turmoil in the lyrics.

One standout scene involves a boxing ring, symbolizing the often knee-jerk emotional response we have to “fight” in a relationship, when we feel wronged.

Additionally, Taylor Swift effectively incorporates social media platforms like Instagram into the video’s narrative. You can observe her character’s relationship playing out across these platforms, providing a contemporary take on age-old relationship issues.

As you watch the music video for Afterglow, take note of how the visuals complement and enhance the song’s meaning. The expert use of imagery and storytelling, combined with the emotional resonance of the lyrics, creates a memorable and impactful visual experience that remains with you long after the video has ended.

 

Afterglow Lyrics Taylor Swift Meaning: Final Thoughts

Despite not being released as a single, Afterglow was well-received by fans and critics alike. The emotional depth and intimate nature of the song highlight Taylor Swift’s growth as a songwriter and her continued courage in exposing her personal life through her music.

The Afterglow lyrics meaning is obviously a romantic relationship. However, the themes of emotional turbulence, the power of love, and the hope for reconciliation can resonate beyond romantic relationships.

Whether you’re facing challenges with friends, family, or even at school or work, this song reminds us that any relationship worth fighting for can survive challenges, misunderstandings, and mistakes.

As you listen to Afterglow, remember that even the most genuine connections will face challenges. Being able to take responsibility for your actions, apologize, and seek forgiveness, just as Swift does in this song, is a necessary skill we all need in order to make our relationships work.

If you enjoyed this article, we have a similar discussion of the lyrics to Swift’s All Too Well and also an analysis of the Safe and Sound lyrics and their meaning. We also have one for the meaning of the Deja Vu lyrics, a song by Olivia Rodrigo, a possible Swift successor.

Finally, we included one of Swift’s songs in our list of songs about mean people and another one in our list of songs about abandonment. Can you guess which songs they are?