The Real Meaning Behind Taylor Swift's Surprise Song, 'Mr. Perfectly Fine'

While the world waited for Taylor Swift to drop her Fearless (Taylor's Version) album on April 9, 2021, the star decided to surprise fans by doing something unexpected. And it was apparently something that was so tempting, she simply couldn't resist. "Me in 2020: life is chill, writing songs based in fiction to avoid drama, feeling pretty grown up," she tweeted on April 7, 2021. She then added, "My 2008 music from the vault, in a goblin voice: 'REELEEEEEEASE MR PERFECTLY FIIIIIIINE.'" And that's just what she did.

A song that she produced alongside Jack Antonoff, Pitchfork notes that he "also contributes acoustic and electric guitar, background vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion, and synthesizer" to the song. That's right, Antonoff played a large part when it comes to the tune's catchy music, however, Swift is usually the person who's responsible for writing the lyrics for songs like "You All Over Me" and "Love Story."

As for "Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor's Version)," the star used this song to open up about something (or rather, someone) seemingly from her past who sparked a seriously emotional situation.

In Taylor Swift's "Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor's Version)," she sings, "Mr. 'Perfect face' / Mr. 'Here to stay' / Mr. 'Looked me in the eye and told me you would never go away'" While that sounds like the start of a sweet love song, she then reveals, "But that was when I got to know Mr. 'Change of heart' / Mr. 'Leaves me all alone.'" Uh oh. When the lyrics take a turn, it's clear that this is not a happily-ever-after kind of love story after all.

In fact, the song "deals with the ... heartbreak and fallout from a seemingly perfect suitor," according to Variety. Genius contributor Matty Sievers agrees, claiming that the man mentioned in the song is "a player-type boy who makes all these wonderful promises to Taylor ..., only for him to turn around and run off once he's bored." That's backed up by lines like, "Hello Mr. 'Perfectly fine' / How's your heart after breaking mine?" 

Swift also seems to acknowledge that the two took the split very differently, singing, "I've been Miss. 'Misery' since your goodbye / And you're Mr. Perfectly fine.'/ ... 'Cause I hear he's got his arm 'round a brand new girl / I've been pickin' up my heart, he's been pickin' up her / And I never got past what you put me through / But it's wonderful to see that it never fazed you." Ouch!

The only question now is, who was Mr. Perfectly Fine?!