To The Fella Over There With The Hella Good Hair

Jim Adams, aka Newepicauthor, the creator of A Unique Title For Me, is hosting SONG-LYRIC-SUNDAY and this week he has chosen the theme: HEAD/HAT/HAIR/SCARF

I have picked a song that is a huge confidence booster in stressful situations, and also has a special connection to a dear friend of mine who sadly passed away a couple of months ago.

I can still see it like it was yesterday. It was at the height of the stress that was being slandered and trolled because of Jack. Jack and I were not on speaking terms, we were just on hostile glance terms. One of my friends send a round robin text message saying she had decided to book out one of the function suites and throw an impromptu karaoke party. I replied to her immediately to say I had an appointment that evening, but I would come straight afterwards.

So, I went along more than an hour after the party had started and boy was I in the mood for singing. I sang and sang. But then a song came on which I sort of vaguely knew, but not very well. It was called “Shake It Off” and somehow the words just seemed perfect for my situation. I sang at the top of my voice and I shimmied and swayed as if I had no care in the world. But there was one person who jumped up and shared the moment with me. I had seen her before, but we had never spoken. But there we were, two young women, singing into the microphone, dancing like there was no tomorrow.

That was the start of what became a wonderful friendship. She was obsessed with Taylor Swift! But she was also a truly lovable friend, an amazing dancer, and someone very dear to me.

I miss her very much. But I love to recall the memories I have of all the laughter, music, and secrets we shared. This sing makes me think of her so much. Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” – fantastic stress-buster of a song.

One day when I was at work, a colleague said to me that she disliked (she actually used a stronger word) Taylor Swift because….and came out with all sorts of silly things that I expect she has read online – social media nonsense. Although I know little of Taylor Swift’s music and even less about her as a person, one thing I massively empathise with is when other people who do not know you decided to judge you, actively dislike you and say horrible things about you in the public domain – I own that T-shirt! – so I turned around and said to my colleague. You do realize that whatever you or anyone else may think of Taylor Swift – she gave the most perfect response in her “Shake It Off” song.

This song is fun, it is a lot of fun, but it is also a fantastic reaction to online bullying, and other situations in which people who do not know you decide to judge and vilify based on false rumours they have heard about you. It still energies me every time I come across people who say unkind things and are cruel about others. I certainly do think that Taylor Swift deserves a massive well done for capturing the defiant “I will not be broken” spirit and doing it in such a triumphant way! I love this track for that alone – plus it makes me want to jump up and start dancing around like there is no shame!

I stay out too late
Got nothing in my brain
That's what people say, mmm-mmm
That's what people say, mmm-mmm

I go on too many dates
But I can't make them stay
At least that's what people say, mmm-mmm
That's what people say, mmm-mmm

But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind
Saying, "It's gonna be alright."

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

I never miss a beat
I'm lightning on my feet
And that's what they don't see, mmm-mmm
That's what they don't see, mmm-mmm

I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own)
I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)
And that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm
That's what they don't know, mmm-mmm

But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop grooving
It's like I got this music
In my mind
Saying, "It's gonna be alright."

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Hey, hey, hey
Just think while you've been getting down and out about the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world,
You could've been getting down to this sick beat.

My ex-man brought his new girlfriend
She's like "Oh, my God!" but I'm just gonna shake.
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won't you come on over, baby? We can shake, shake, shake

Yeah ohhh

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate (haters gonna hate)
I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break (mmmm)
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake (and fake, and fake, and fake)
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off (you've got to),
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Written by: Max Martin, Taylor Swift, and Karl Johan Schuster