The casino doesn't like when you run the tables
And though the box is wrapped up nice, it's just a cage to you
Those electric fences buzz
The stallion flees the stable
And that small town's even smaller now in your rear view
You ran with all the wild things
A liberated libertine who then longed for home

'Cause it's where you're from
Aunt Virginia with a church dress on
No elbows on the table
And the neighbor's lawn always looked better
Your hand-me-down sweater should've been from the mall

And you hate this song
But you wake up on the train with your headphones gone
Then that melody is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
'Til it was gone

Give the people what they want, then you keep it movin'
Make your plans and friends, a stranger's makeup on your tie
Twenty watches in the safe 'cause your time is money
Love is ice upon the ladder that you need to climb
She captured your attention, so free of all pretension
It stopped you cold

Because she loved you so
Pretty as a picture that you didn't post
Looking at you like you're made of solid gold
Never official
You mention you're single to the girls at the bar

And you hate this song
But you wake up on the train with your headphones gone
And then that melody is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
'Til it was gone

You're using nostalgia as a weapon to hurt yourself
But darling, you end up hurting everybody else
The self-harm of never being where you are
It's bedtime, but you're sitting in your car
You're missing all the best parts

And they're all at home
She's hanging Christmas lights with your son
Sneak into the bathroom to call her mom
And say, "It's not working
It's just not worth it if we're not what he wants"

But you love this song
You wake up on the train with your headphones gone
Then that melody is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
And now, it's almost gone

Aunt Virginia with a church dress on
No elbows on the table
And the neighbor's lawn always looked better (it's almost gone)
Your hand-me-down sweater should've been from the mall

But you love this song
You wake up on the train and you're all alone
Then that memory is all you want
You never knew that it was Babylon
'Til it was gone Writer/s: Johan Karl Schuster, Max Martin, Taylor Swift
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind