tayloranalyst

[tayloranalyst]

My boy only breaks his favourite toys is about cheating (a theory)

I will preface this the same way I plan to preface all my posts. These are my personal opinions and how I view the song. I don’t like to think too much about what ex Taylor wrote this about because I think the meaning of her songs are deeper than that and I believe she writes them to mean different things to different people. Please don’t come for me I am sensitive 💃🏻 also I wrote this on my phone and am dyslexic SORRY

#MBOBHFT #taylorswift #taylor #swift #analysis #songmeaning #review #ttpd #torturedpoetsdepartment #swiftie

I see this song as a heartbreaking comparison of loosing someone you love to cheating and depression to a toy being broken and discarded on the shelf after their child has found a better one to play with. Taylor infantilises her ex partner while also describing herself as a broken plastic Barbie Toy.

“The voices in his head called the rain to end our days of wild”

The voices in her partners head called the rain, the same way negative thoughts bring depression. Taylor seems to reference a severely depressed partner throughout the album, linking song together. I will post about how each song links together (for me) soon.

“The sickest army doll purchased at the mall. Rivulets descend my plastic smile”

I don’t believe Taylor is describing herself here because if she were a toy being purchased from the mall why would she cry? I think this is referencing the partner bringing another “toy” or person home.

“My boy only breaks his favourite toys. I’m queen of sandcastles he destroys”

Obviously she is referencing herself being broken by what has just happened. I believe she talks about a sandcastle to convey her fragility. Perhaps the partner wasn’t even cheating but perhaps she was just so fragile, like a sand castle, that seeing her boy with another toy broke her.

“Cause it fit too right. Puzzle pieces in the dead of night”

It took me a while to come to a conclusion on this one. I believe the imagery describes the way that they both lay together at night, fitting perfectly together, but perhaps this was exclusive to the night. I wonder if she is trying to say things were only perfect when they were in bed together.

“Put me back on my shelf but first, pull my string. I’ll tell you he runs because he loves me. You should have seen him when he first saw me”

This described her toy being put back on the shelf, broken and bruised, but still adamant that she is his favourite toy.

This is obviously in line with denial.

“Just say when, I’d play again. He was my best friend down at the sandlot. I felt more when we played pretend than with all the Ken’s”

In the last line she talks about playing with the other Ken’s, which I think means she’s describing herself as being a feminine toy or a Barbie (I could be wrong this is biased to my experience).

We also see the theme of denial playing out again here. Her boy has gone off to play with a new toy but she still wants to play again. She breaks character implicitly with “he was my best friend” as if she’s now so angry she can’t keep the metaphor going.

“He took me out of my box. Stole my tortured heart. Left these broken parts.”

I believe this is referencing her loss of youth and innocence to the relationship which she discusses in other songs on the album. It’s as if she’s now trying to re-sell herself as a “used” toy.

Taylor if you ever read this you are always a genius! I hope - if anyone reads this - you found my perspective interesting. Post what you do or don’t agree with down below! I’d love to hear it!