What is "Tolerate It" by Taylor Swift About? A Deep Dive into the Song's Meaning

Song meaning and themes

• Central theme: The pain and emotional toll of feeling tolerated rather than loved in a relationship
• Inspiration: Based on the book "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier, reflecting a character's experience of being undervalued by her husband
• Relationship dynamics: Portrays a strained relationship with an imbalanced power dynamic
• Protagonist's perspective: Depicts someone desperately seeking love and acknowledgment from an indifferent partner
• Emotional state: Explores feelings of insignificance, desperation, and unrequited love

Lyrical content

• Key phrase: "I know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it" - encapsulates the song's core message
• Protagonist's actions:
  • Waits by the door like a child
  • Uses their best colors for the partner's portrait
  • Lays the table with fancy things
  • Greets the partner with a hero's welcome
• Partner's response: Tolerates the protagonist's love instead of celebrating it
• Metaphorical imagery: Describes the protagonist as a mural, temple, and sky, emphasizing their vulnerability

Musical and production elements

• Genre: Slow piano ballad with an odd time signature
• Instrumentation: Features bass guitar, cello, violin, synth beats, and recurring keyboard chord patterns
• Vocal performance: Swift employs her upper register as the protagonist realizes their power to leave the relationship

Critical reception

• Praise: Critics lauded the song for its vulnerable songwriting and engaging production
• Comparisons:
  • Likened to a "disenchanted wife" character in The Smiths' song "Asleep" (1985)
  • Compared to 1970s Carole King songs

Album context

• Track placement: Fifth track on Swift's ninth studio album "Evermore", released on December 11, 2020
• Significance: Chosen as track 5 due to its emotional depth and specific kind of hurt it conveys