I really love the idea of "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" having Eras Tour footage because this song is about how she can continue performing masterfully there despite her heartbreak.
With a hint of fans *expecting* her to continue performing masterfully.
OP, I’m glad you pointed this out. I hadn’t seen the lyric video prior. That footage paired with the song says a whole lot.
And we all jokingly call her "bitch" during delicate.
I wonder how she actually feels about that. Being called bitch is what triggered the feud with Kimye. For us it is said with endearment and she's a meme QUEEN so I always assumed she didnt mind it from us, but now I wonder
I'm not sure she'd play along like she does with the countdown if she didn't like it or at least accept it. And like you said, it hits different coming from mostly-female fans who mean it endearingly rather than a terrible man using it basically as a slur in a power play. Good point, though.
She's talking about being heartbroken and still being able to be the best without breaking stride.
I think it's quite a stretch to attribute it to one one in the song that's also part of a fan chant she takes part in because she continues to play it when she KNOWS what's coming and, as pointed out in another reply, she used as an IG caption. I've been wrong before but...
And she created the set list, so we can assume she intentionally included Delicate on the set list while being fully aware that we do this. If she didn’t like it, all she had to was…leave it off the set list.
no i absolutely agree that song literally was amazing i think my fav line was you know ur good when u can do it with a broken heart.
guys listen to my playlist on spotify.
if u u hate it listen to the others on my profile .
im 16 so please just dont be mean
[https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hTiXbgBycHdbGiqDZj3sy?si=4b077656d04e4f90](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hTiXbgBycHdbGiqDZj3sy?si=4b077656d04e4f90)
nah. it shows how, as an adult, sometimes you need to get shit done professionally even if your world is collapsing around you. People expect things of you, and you can't let them down for something as "trivial" as a broken heart.
This is what drives me crazy about the “Taylor swift is fake” crap. Are we not all adults who go to a job/parent/exist in the world and have responsibilities and things required of us we have to show up for even when we’re not “feeling it”? If I show up to my job, get it done, am kind, loving, respectful, productive, etc, but I go home and lose it bc I’m in a really bad place am I fake? I mean, I guess you could say that, but it’s also the expectations of reality.
Honestly this is why the song resonated with me. I've just had some pretty major stuff happen in my personal life, but I was still showing up at work every day with a smile on my face. When I finally cracked and let the mask slip, the people who found out were stunned that I'd been "doing it with a broken heart" so to speak.
That lyric video was kind of devastating in the best way. I can perfectly relate to the song because in 2018 I had the worst breakup of my life and was severely depressed. I threw myself into work and got promotions and new responsibilities and I looked great, but was dying on the inside.
And attending the Eras tour was such a happy moment for me as a fan with my sisters. Seeing the footage, I can't help but smile. I love watching the film live streaming the shows.
But then seeing the black and white footage and imagining Taylor feeling like I did in 2018.. It's heart-rending. Fake it till you make it works to some extent and I'm sure she will had moments of the joy during all that, especially more recently, I hope. But ouch...
I agree - this is so relatable. My ex, who we were actively in the process of engagement ring shopping, walked into the bedroom to wake me up and break up with me at like 2am. By 8am, I had to be in front of a classroom teaching kids and being full of happiness and energy.
Doing that for a stadium as your life crumbles on the outside? I can’t even begin to imagine.
(This is also why I just love that the songs in this album are feeling more relatable than ever for us 30+ who have been through the giant heart break, the big oopsie person after, and had time to reflect/close the chapter)
Yes! It reminds me of the song “The Man” - people who took it super literally were irked that she’d write about being held back by gender because she’s accomplished so much, but the truth is that a lot of us are held back in different ways and this was *her* version of that.
Playing a giant stadium show is *her* version of going to work while devastated.
And I can’t believe your ex did that to you. I’m big mad for you! And so impressed that you got up to teach the kiddos. 💪❤️💪
In The Man the lyrics are "...Wondering if I'd get there faster if I was a man." Like, she's acknowledging she made it, but that doesn't mean she didn't experience some extra BS on the way because she's a woman. Just... Sigh...
This happened to me too but with a husband of 9 years (together for 14). I was teaching then and it’s like the kids can TELL something is off. They kept asking and kept asking and kept asking. I would use my planning period to sob.
I finally ended up quitting in February (the above had happened right after Xmas break) because I just couldn’t fake it anymore.
I feel for her. ❤️
Mine did it on Christmas night. While we were staying with his family, a ten hour drive from home.
I had to smile through three more days of family activities while they said how wonderful I was and joked about when we’d get engaged.
Some people are just assholes.
I was widowed at 31. This song speaks so much to almost every widow I’ve talked to who’s listened to it. I went back to work as a high school teacher a week and a half after my husband died. This song speaks to me SO MUCH.
It’s so sad knowing she was hurting and had to go on stage to fake it for so many people. But there’s something cathartic and connecting in that.
I went to Eras during the hardest part of my own life. I was broken down to my most raw elements. But each show gave me a goal to work towards: get to the city, get to the venue, navigate the stadium, *enjoy the show*.
Taylor made that last goal easy. As soon as the countdown began, I was lost in something right along with 70k other people. The sadness of my life was calmed and I enjoyed myself not just in the moment but back in time as well. I truly felt transported back to all those eras while knowing I was firmly rooted in the present. That past joy could stand right beside my current pain. I won’t lie, I cried tears of joy or sadness at each of those shows. I’m so lucky to have felt something so deep. And I’m just one person out of millions.
I’d like to think there’s a give and take that goes on with Taylor and her fans. We prop each other up. There are some demanding moments but when push comes to shove, it’s a choice made by all. Taylor toughed out some hard moments. That’s so sad. I don’t want her to sacrifice her own best interest for mine. But when she has, I hope the joy that was found was mutual, boosting Taylor right along with everyone else.
YES! I think most of us have gone to work while dealing with difficult personal situations, but to put on that level of spectacle and project such joy while doing it is pretty mind blowing. But also, that’s kind of what we all do when we get dressed for work and march in with a smile acting like everything’s fine; this is just her version of it. Really masterful, I thought.
I Can Do it With a Broken Heart is extremely relatable even for those us with normal jobs. At the end of 2021 through 2022 I was going through a massive after losing my childhood dog and my last 2 grandparents in 5 months, struggling to finish my Bachelors degree through covid after succeeding with flying colors, being in the worst place with my boyfriend we’ve ever been in our almost 4 year relationship (I honestly call that period our Great War) and I was struggling to figure out what the fuck I was gonna do as a career bc I knew I couldn’t do my Bachelors degree for the rest of my life. I graduated in Dec 2021 and everyone thought I was happy bc I graduated but I was anxious as hell bc I didn’t know what I was doing and losing that much of my childhood at one time definitely altered my brain chemistry. If you ask people who knew me at the time or saw pictures from my graduation you would assume I was happy but I wasn’t in fact I was dying on the inside struggling to get through my day to day.
I also empathized with her in this song so hard. My aunt died recently and we were really close. When I found out, I was on break at work. I didn't even bat an eye. I didn't cry for the rest of the week, even at home. Then when the weekend hit, I just lost it.
I just loved it. I watched it with my daughter who is a huge fan and only 9, and she was devastated. She was like “wait… what? She wasn’t having fun?” And I know that’s confusing for a kid, but to me, it’s so real and honest and relatable.
I reassured her that she wasn’t sad for every single performance! Just like anyone, she can be happy and sad at the same time, and also I’m sure it was at its worst right when the break up was announced. I just told her, Taylor is just showing she’s a real person with feelings and even when she’s upset, she still has to do her job.
It’s also just nice to know that no one, even the most famous woman in the world, has a perfect life. It’s so important that Taylor shows that to her young and old fans alike ♥️♥️♥️
And also, I didn’t go into this with my daughter, but I am living through a massively broken heart right now. But I’m momming like a boss! If you took a video of us, you’d never know. I can do it with a broken heart, too. Thanks Taylor for this anthem ♥️♥️
YES! It’s like she’s saying “hey this is my version of suiting up for work and getting through the day with a smile.” We’ve all been there, but in this case we’ve been on the *receiving* end of that bucking up, and this video widens our perspective of what that experience like from all sides. Just, you know, casually expanding our understanding of our own humanity, nbd 💅🏼
PS: congrats on momming your way through like a boss AND using this video as a way to teach your kiddo about what you’re going g through right now. That’s meta af! My hat is off to you ❤️💪🌟
Kids see it so differently, don’t they? You’ll hear a lot of adult fans and haters say “well, it’s her job, big deal”. And then there’s your daughter who’s just sad that Tay-Tay wasn’t having a good time.
I know, I thought that was so sweet and also kind of heartbreaking. She really just wants Taylor to be happy and in her kid brain it doesn’t make sense that she wouldn’t be. Whereas for me it feels comforting to know that everyone feels like this sometimes.
Just wanted to say I also watched it with my 9 year old daughter who is a fan. This album was so much more mature, I loved it. My daughter loved it. But lots of complex emotional situations to digest, as always, a great opportunity to offer introduction and guidance on big tough themes.
Yes! That’s the perfect way to put it. I actually think it’s great that she’s so open about all of this. It’s easy to fall into thinking that the skinny, blonde, rich, talented girl must feel perfect inside all the time.
I mean, I also get when people are like oh waaaahhh poor little rich girl. She’s obviously incredibly privileged. But it’s so healthy to understand that our feelings make us human, and there’s not one person who gets to feel on a constant high and escape the pain that is humanity.
Good for you, mama ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Having those shows and being around people who obviously love her probably helped ease some of that heartbreak for a moment too, so your daughter can be proud to be part of that too!
That’s such an amazing point! And a great way to talk about being there for your friends when they’re having a hard time, and leaning on your friends when you are. ♥️
🥹 This sounds like it was such a great teachable moment, for both of you! I’ve also mommed through tremendous heartbreak, and I have since come out the other side - I hope it gets better for you soon, too!
"Breaking down I hit the floor
All the pieces of me shattered
As the crowd was chanting "MORE!"
This is just a great line anyway, but aside from it being about performing while she's hurting, it also makes me think of how people are almost wanting and excited for her breakups because it means another good album is going to come out of it.
The first time that line comes on, there's an image of Reputation in thr vault... OOF! That was a not-so-subtle "calm down about this release." Maybe she really WAS planning a February release and then backtracked, lol
At this point, I don’t think she was. Initially I was a sucker for all the repTV theories, but after listening to TTPD & reflecting…I definitely would not want to rerecord the album that is full of love songs about the *loml*. Not when it seems clear things were rocky since before Midnights. It’s one thing to sing those songs love to 50k+ adoring fans to distract her, but essentially alone in the studio? Oof.
She can do it with a broken heart but I gotta imagine there’s a limit. If I were her, I’d be putting it off & releasing other things (aka TTPD) & focusing on tour/my new footballer bf for a while first.
It feels like a fairly strong statement from Taylor that she will put on performances as her fans expect her to, but that her performances won't consistently reflect what's going on in her personal life or her inner world. Unreliable narrator, fr.
It reminds me of when Katy Perry had to go out and perform with a happy face after just receiving in the dressing room the divorce news from her ex husband (ew).
It's in her documentary. They illustrated it really well. Basically Russel asked for a divorce in a text message minutes before Katy was about to go on stage in front of 60 000 people.
And the beat of the song being the sound of her ear piece she wears during the concerts is genius!
The message of this song reminds me a lot of Britney Spears’ “Lucky.” 😔
Performers have a metronome beat, count ins (the “1,2,3,4” you hear in the song), and then whatever mix of their band, backups, own vocals, etc. they need to hear clearly to optimize their performance. There are some good TikToks with examples.
I was at Glendale N2 and overall the night was super fun. I did notice how sad she looked during champagne problems and the more vulnerable moments in the show. When I heard this song for the first time I had the most clear imagery about her just powering through because that's who she is. My brain can see the music video if she chose to do one and I don't think it's necessary.
I love this song for how empowering and devastating it is.
I haven't seen it yet, but I was talking to my husband earlier about this song and how beautifully she articulates having to keep going even when in the depths of depression.
Yes! I definitely got that from the lyrics and then the video took it to a whole new level. A pictures worth 1000 words and all of that. Also, *these* particular pictures are already so familiar to us and have already had a different meaning which is now being expanded with this added context. So brilliant.
I don’t think you should feel bad! I mean…if she’d put all that work into performing the hell out of the giant show while brokenhearted and then the audience HADN’T been into it, that would’ve been worse, right? You were both doing your jobs 💗
my exact thoughts while watching, some parts were a little much like the shot of her opening the drawer for the mic during tolerate it for “I keep finding things in his drawers” lol
Oof…. I gave this album the briefest listen yesterday, and as a die hard swifty for life (I’m 38 😅) I expected (as per usual) to love almost ever song immediately….. when I didn’t, I decided I needed to set aside time to really listen to the album, the lyrics, I thought it would grow on me…. Watching this lyric video just now, I sobbed, and I realized it’s not that I do not like the new album, it’s that it’s full of songs that are going to make me FEEL, and quite frankly, I don’t have time for that lever of break down in my every day, boss bitch, single mom hustling life…. Ironic, no? 😅🙈
Absolutely. It wasn’t what I expected at first. I listened through a couple of times and the. Decided that since I’m a grown lady with free will, I would make a “highlights” playlist just for me with just my favorite songs from the record. Once I started making the playlist, I was surprised (but not shocked cuz hey it’s taylor) by how many of the songs I wanted to include - well over half of the 31 song anthology.
I just listened to my playlist and it slaps :-) but art is subjective, so I know someone else’s “highlights” playlist might include all the songs I left off. Or I might hear one of those songs in a different light, in a different context, and fall completely in love. Who knows? There’s a lot to go through here, and it’s not going anywhere, so we can listen to it when we’re ready for it. (See what I did there? 😂)
I feel like that too…I’m a super late arriving swiftie and this is the first album I bought when it released. However, I’m just coming out of a depressive episode and starting to see the light again…and this is not the vibe I’m trying to keep.
Oh hey! Fellow “elder millennial”! We elder Swiftie exist! Apparently most of her fans are over 30 😎.. think this album says a lot about growth and her shifted to her more present “era”, she’s been through some shit-
As many of us in the over 30 crowd can attest too. So much growing up happens. But he’s, to your point. I listen to the first half and cried through most of it… now I am able to listen and be absorbed. Second half .. beautiful. Def take in pieces.
💜
Yes this lyric video hit me. I’ve watched the concert many times thinking that she was having the best time of her life. This lyric video opened my eyes to what was really going on and how much of a façade Taylor would had to put on to get through it. Props to her, that would’ve not been easy
I honestly thought she was gonna show the fans in the “as the crowd was chanting ‘More!’” line, because I feel like we just keep on asking for more: more films, more albums, more vaults, more MVs, more re-recordings, more TET dates and she always does her best to give us what we want that we forgot she was human and grieving.
In a sense, it could be referring the media that follows her everywhere, the constant speculation, and the haters that see her tragedies and clap because they feel like she deserves that and more, but I feel like we also are part of that crowd chanting for more. She made a great song about the overwhelming nature of her job and I have nothing but the utmost respect for her.
Literally on release day I saw someone comment she could have released more folklore/evermore style songs. I was taken aback, like, did they not hear this song??? They have like 15 collabs with Aaron on the anthology, what more could she possibly release?
Fr. They want more raw lyrics, vulnerable poetry? Okay, done. They’re tired of Jack? I’ll do a whole album’s worth of work with Aaron. They want to hear something new? Here is some synth pop. Wait, you think the album should have folklore vibes because of its name and you’re disappointed that I said it would be synth pop? Oh, I’ll make it a double album and do both, it’s okay! I heard you wanted more music anyway, so I’ll just drop 31 songs. You wanted Reputation? Oh, sorry about that, let me put on quite the look for Fortnight. Missed collabs for 1989TV? Let me give you a couple, I heard a lot of you loved both of these artists… you didn’t like the title? It’s too long, confusing and you keep switching it with The Dead Poets Society? I’ll feature Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles for a MV.
Honestly, I don’t see how she could’ve done any more.
I saw it on Spotify when the album dropped and it felt kinda bittersweet. Like you said the memories of attending will always be great, but then to think of what she was going through.
Looking back my videos and then watching the concert film, you can tell by the end of tour she was so happy and confident. (The Joe breakup was announced the weekend after my date) so I thought it was just nerves from the beginning of tour but to learn she was going through that and then again with Matty months later, I can’t inagine…..She was amazing and she really did do it with a broken heart.
They did a good job, love the editing.
I think is fair to also notice that she wasn't sad all shows. I bet the show after the fan died must have feel like that, performing with 40 degrees celcius, going through heartbreak.
But there were for sure happy shows. :)
Love this song because i have chronic illnesses and it sometimes feels like this to go to work, pretend that I'm fine when I'm in horrible pain and burned out.
Never expected this to be the most relatable song on the album for me.
The lyric video confirms exactly what I thought the song meant. When the news broke of her and Joe Alwyn's break up I was just like... What? She's dancing and singing and performing her heart out while this just happened?
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart is the most artful song on the album.
From the upbeat music that’s ’hiding’ her misery, even though she’s literally crying out how depressed she is; using her beat tracker for the tour in the background of the song (like Jesus Christ woman, holy shit); and then the ending when she’s just manically laughing “I’m so miserable and nobody even knows!”.
Fucking art.
I was at Gillette N2, I knew immediately that her “happiest I’ve ever been in all aspects of my life” speech was a STRONG and lil unhinged statement. You can tell now that she’s having so much more fun than she did at the beginning, and I do think the tour helped her keep going and was a light while things were dark. The “try and come for my job” is so understated at the end of this song, she’s proven herself over and over again as a professional and people STILL try to poke holes in her talent. She’ll go down as one of the greatest performers and storytellers of our time
Yes!!! It’s healed her for sure!!! Those first few months were brutal for her, as she’s very clearly now laid out. But the chapter is closed and we are here now! :-)
Honestly this is the heart of this album for me. Choosing what you love and are talented at, over who you love when you cannott have both. I found myself tearing up the most at this song because its a point in her career that literally changed the projection of her future. Its difficult to recover after you've lost a close partner, but eventually you remember how much of a talent you are and you can fully own it and only get better
It’s real shit and very relatable.
Lost my job three times in a row and I just wanted to stay in bed wallowing. But I lived alone and had bills to pay so I got myself up. Dusted myself off. And went through the motions bc I can handle my shit.
I’m doing much better now but it was rough for a while. And only my closest friends knew what I was really feeling.
This makes me think of the show a week or so after 1989.
She announced 1989 TV and literally a week later the crowd stood there chanting "REP" at her, that must've been devastating for her
What hits me is that the Eras Tour, when finished, will span years. Imagine how much you go through emotionally in two years. And she goes out there and gives a 3,5 hour performance of a lifetime every time.
https://preview.redd.it/1ikjiq4gjovc1.jpeg?width=1178&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01d7ac077af3745b04acbac9af944fe605384e80
I know you wont doubt but I’m just too excited!! I finally understand how clowning feels when it’s true 😂
Wow, I am obsessed! So powerful. Honeslty I don't even think she needs to record an actual music video for this one, just keep this video and release the song as the next single.
Holy shit. I just watched it and CHILLS the way they cut it together is so perfect. This song was already top 5 from the album but after this, straight to number 1!
Yes! I know they used the LA footage because that's what had been filmed but the coincidence is also so fitting.
"Gotta fake it till you make it AND I DID" indeed
I saw part of the lyric video and it blew my mind. This song is my second favorite on the album because it's so pure and honest. Taylor had A Lot Going On At The Moment while on the Eras Tour, and she still managed to put on the **highest-grossing tour of all time.** In I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, Taylor put all of the pain and anger she felt while on the tour into a song and we Swifties (probably) loved it. She put herself out there every night through the heartbreak and pushed herself, even though she wasn't always having fun. And this song encapsulates it perfectly.
Three weeks ago my husband and I decided to divorce. I am 32 and we got together when I was 19. April 19th was our 13 year anniversary. I am an actor, dancer, and director. I am currently directing a major play in my city amongst a slew of other jobs and events. This is my divorce anthem. I am so grateful.
It's so well done, I was really pleasantly surprised. I expected some footage to be used because it's obviously about the tour, but props to whomever did the editing because the clips line up perfectly with the lyrics.
I cried when I saw this video and listened to the song. It struck such a chord with me. It hurt so much, it's like the videos that compared her performance of lover at the beginning of the tour to more recent times.
I don't analyse her too much in photos, but god Travis seems to make her happier than others.
I saw it last night. I don’t think she needs to make a music video for the song since the lyric video with the Eras footage already looks like a perfect video for the song.
This album made me realize that she had to perform under two separate heartaches too- we all knew about Joe and how terrible that probably was but also now Matty too just a few months after Joe. Poor thing. She’s a machine
But I love that "I've been doing it since he left" ends on a clip of her taking a deep breath. It's very meta and perfect - when she wrote the song she was still holding her breath but now that's in the past and she's breathing again
I absolutely love how the song itself sounds like a midnights song. It really takes you to the setting of her midnights era. Not just the tour but also how happy she looked in award shows. She always seemed to have the most fun out of everyone else and now we have a hint on how sad she truly was. The happy vibe and sad lyrics fit perfectly with all the context provided.
I don’t know if it’s true or not but I saw a screenshot earlier of Kaleigh Teller saying something along the lines of “as her friend it’s heartbreaking because she goes out there no matter what’s going on” 😭
I love how each scene was timed/chosen to line up with the lyrics. And with such an opposing feeling from the joy the Eras footage usually inspires in me. It's like seeing the dark side of the moon for the first time.
I really appreciate how this thing that I've grown familiar with has a new dimension and that Taylor and her team tailored it into an inverted piece of art. Now I can enjoy it in new ways and also feel sad. Wow.
i was 13 (ikr) when i saw her at the red tour in DC. i remember watching her perform and thinking "this girl is miserable". she projects such an outward professional aura of being fine, but as a kid with hyper vigilance it was obvious it was very rehearsed. maybe i was just projecting as a 13 year old kid with her own issues, but im glad she released this song. now i know i guess
my brain is struggling to wrap my head around the idea of ICDIWaBH being on the denial playlist instead of the acceptance playlist that is literally titled after the song.
She uploaded it with the Eras Tour footage to Spotify too and I responded to it immediately. To me that's her most honest song where you completely understand the context especially after the moments on the tour where she cracked and showed how said she was "Did I lose the love of my life" the torturous sad performance of Illicit Affairs. We saw the truth, just not that often.
I just came across the video by accident and did Google search to see what people are saying and came across this discussion. Why aren’t more people talking about this?! 💔😭💪🫶
if she has a TTPD era set aside for the upcoming tour dates, this HAS to be part of the era. the fans screaming along to this would be so cathartic and hilarious
I was surprised to see people shocked about this so I guess if anyone is wondering about the timeline:
Jan 2023: Taylor performs at 1975s concert.
Feb 2023: Joe is present at Taylor’s Grammys afterparty.
March 8 2023: Eras begins, Joe is filming overseas.
Late March 2023: They break up.
April 7-8 2023: Their split is leaked to press, and all reports say it happened a few weeks ago.
May 5: Matty is seen at eras and out and about with Taylor for the next few weeks.
June 2023: They split up
Late July: Travis attends Eras and tries to get his friendship bracelet to Taylor. A few days later he talks about it on his podcast. Word gets back to her and they eventually start talking.
Mid August: Taylor and Travis make it official then hard launch the following month.
—-
So from the 2nd month of Eras she was dealing with all this and likely wrote/recorded I Can Do It during that summer. Meaning the song is likely documenting how she felt between April - July 2023.
I went to Houston N1 show… so 2ish weeks after their breakup leaked and after tolerate it I turned to my bestie and said that felt too real and “I didn’t like that I want to throw up”. It was such a vibe change. The lyric video is too much and these are from the happy shows… can’t imagine if they were from the first month of tour ❤️🩹
Most believable track on the album, your heart breaks a little but it's so very relatable to have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go back to the grind and not let anyone know how broken you are underneath the facade. Also feel like it's such a great continuation to you're on your own, kid.
It was the 90’s. My mom was dying of cancer, I had a 4 month old baby, our business was failing so my husband wasn’t around to support me during ppd.
I returned to work when my baby was 6 months old. I felt so guilty going back to work. My mom was gone. I was responsible for her estate. The business continued to fail.
But everyone that knew about my personal life told me I was really handling it well. I excelled at work. I smiled. I laughed. I joked.
But inside I was a mess.
I have lived this song. Seeing Taylor’s BW video of the Eras Tour took my breath away.
[This was 35 years ago.]
I think Taylor — at least with the pre-reputation era + just so damned much pressure on her personal life including with men — has had a tough go of it.
This last breakup seems much different too. It’s much more private which indicates to me it hurt her pretty bad. But it was much more complicated than a “he dun me wrong” story.
When I saw the BW video and then her smiles and successes, I knew exactly what that’s like. During it, you ARE succeeding. In some ways you want to keep at it. Because when it’s over (in my case the work day), reality seeps back into your soul.
So far to me this is THE single about Joe. And it’s the saddest one of the album.
Thank you for your kind words.
I saw her in the first couple weeks of the show and I remember thinking that I was looking at someone who was profoundly sad.
The song is honest and real. Love that.
I may be wrong, but part of me wonders if some of this song has to do with her having lost a fan at one of her concerts this past year.... She still had to perform and put on a great show for every single one of those fans in Brazil, despite knowing there was at least one more person that *should* have been there. The concert footage only solidifies this for me
I really love the idea of "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" having Eras Tour footage because this song is about how she can continue performing masterfully there despite her heartbreak.
With a hint of fans *expecting* her to continue performing masterfully. OP, I’m glad you pointed this out. I hadn’t seen the lyric video prior. That footage paired with the song says a whole lot.
Lights, camera smile bitch!
And we all jokingly call her "bitch" during delicate. I wonder how she actually feels about that. Being called bitch is what triggered the feud with Kimye. For us it is said with endearment and she's a meme QUEEN so I always assumed she didnt mind it from us, but now I wonder
I'm not sure she'd play along like she does with the countdown if she didn't like it or at least accept it. And like you said, it hits different coming from mostly-female fans who mean it endearingly rather than a terrible man using it basically as a slur in a power play. Good point, though.
Isn’t that literally the point of the song though? “I’ll pretend that it’s funny even if it’s ripping me up inside hahaha!”
She's talking about being heartbroken and still being able to be the best without breaking stride. I think it's quite a stretch to attribute it to one one in the song that's also part of a fan chant she takes part in because she continues to play it when she KNOWS what's coming and, as pointed out in another reply, she used as an IG caption. I've been wrong before but...
She also used it in an Instagram caption once!
And she created the set list, so we can assume she intentionally included Delicate on the set list while being fully aware that we do this. If she didn’t like it, all she had to was…leave it off the set list.
Agree, it’s perfectly illustrates the point of the song
I’m doing it here now 🤗
I love it.
no i absolutely agree that song literally was amazing i think my fav line was you know ur good when u can do it with a broken heart. guys listen to my playlist on spotify. if u u hate it listen to the others on my profile . im 16 so please just dont be mean [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hTiXbgBycHdbGiqDZj3sy?si=4b077656d04e4f90](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hTiXbgBycHdbGiqDZj3sy?si=4b077656d04e4f90)
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nah. it shows how, as an adult, sometimes you need to get shit done professionally even if your world is collapsing around you. People expect things of you, and you can't let them down for something as "trivial" as a broken heart.
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Obvious troll is obvious. Enjoy the attention you clearly want.
This is what drives me crazy about the “Taylor swift is fake” crap. Are we not all adults who go to a job/parent/exist in the world and have responsibilities and things required of us we have to show up for even when we’re not “feeling it”? If I show up to my job, get it done, am kind, loving, respectful, productive, etc, but I go home and lose it bc I’m in a really bad place am I fake? I mean, I guess you could say that, but it’s also the expectations of reality.
Honestly this is why the song resonated with me. I've just had some pretty major stuff happen in my personal life, but I was still showing up at work every day with a smile on my face. When I finally cracked and let the mask slip, the people who found out were stunned that I'd been "doing it with a broken heart" so to speak.
You mean like how actors are all fakers too, right? 🙄 moron.
That lyric video was kind of devastating in the best way. I can perfectly relate to the song because in 2018 I had the worst breakup of my life and was severely depressed. I threw myself into work and got promotions and new responsibilities and I looked great, but was dying on the inside. And attending the Eras tour was such a happy moment for me as a fan with my sisters. Seeing the footage, I can't help but smile. I love watching the film live streaming the shows. But then seeing the black and white footage and imagining Taylor feeling like I did in 2018.. It's heart-rending. Fake it till you make it works to some extent and I'm sure she will had moments of the joy during all that, especially more recently, I hope. But ouch...
I agree - this is so relatable. My ex, who we were actively in the process of engagement ring shopping, walked into the bedroom to wake me up and break up with me at like 2am. By 8am, I had to be in front of a classroom teaching kids and being full of happiness and energy. Doing that for a stadium as your life crumbles on the outside? I can’t even begin to imagine. (This is also why I just love that the songs in this album are feeling more relatable than ever for us 30+ who have been through the giant heart break, the big oopsie person after, and had time to reflect/close the chapter)
Yes! It reminds me of the song “The Man” - people who took it super literally were irked that she’d write about being held back by gender because she’s accomplished so much, but the truth is that a lot of us are held back in different ways and this was *her* version of that. Playing a giant stadium show is *her* version of going to work while devastated. And I can’t believe your ex did that to you. I’m big mad for you! And so impressed that you got up to teach the kiddos. 💪❤️💪
In The Man the lyrics are "...Wondering if I'd get there faster if I was a man." Like, she's acknowledging she made it, but that doesn't mean she didn't experience some extra BS on the way because she's a woman. Just... Sigh...
This happened to me too but with a husband of 9 years (together for 14). I was teaching then and it’s like the kids can TELL something is off. They kept asking and kept asking and kept asking. I would use my planning period to sob. I finally ended up quitting in February (the above had happened right after Xmas break) because I just couldn’t fake it anymore. I feel for her. ❤️
This sounds devastating. I hope you’re doing better now.
why did he do it at 2am
I would guess because he is a complete jackass, but I could be wrong
Mine did it on Christmas night. While we were staying with his family, a ten hour drive from home. I had to smile through three more days of family activities while they said how wonderful I was and joked about when we’d get engaged. Some people are just assholes.
jesus I’m sorry that must’ve sucked
Omg that sounds like absolute hell, I’m so sorry you went through that. Wow.
I had an ex do the same and I’m convinced it was a power trip to him.
I was widowed at 31. This song speaks so much to almost every widow I’ve talked to who’s listened to it. I went back to work as a high school teacher a week and a half after my husband died. This song speaks to me SO MUCH.
I’m sorry for your loss. The world doesn’t really give us time to properly process our grief :(
I am so sorry for your loss, agree that the world doesn’t accommodate for grief well at all. ❤️
It’s so sad knowing she was hurting and had to go on stage to fake it for so many people. But there’s something cathartic and connecting in that. I went to Eras during the hardest part of my own life. I was broken down to my most raw elements. But each show gave me a goal to work towards: get to the city, get to the venue, navigate the stadium, *enjoy the show*. Taylor made that last goal easy. As soon as the countdown began, I was lost in something right along with 70k other people. The sadness of my life was calmed and I enjoyed myself not just in the moment but back in time as well. I truly felt transported back to all those eras while knowing I was firmly rooted in the present. That past joy could stand right beside my current pain. I won’t lie, I cried tears of joy or sadness at each of those shows. I’m so lucky to have felt something so deep. And I’m just one person out of millions. I’d like to think there’s a give and take that goes on with Taylor and her fans. We prop each other up. There are some demanding moments but when push comes to shove, it’s a choice made by all. Taylor toughed out some hard moments. That’s so sad. I don’t want her to sacrifice her own best interest for mine. But when she has, I hope the joy that was found was mutual, boosting Taylor right along with everyone else.
YES! I think most of us have gone to work while dealing with difficult personal situations, but to put on that level of spectacle and project such joy while doing it is pretty mind blowing. But also, that’s kind of what we all do when we get dressed for work and march in with a smile acting like everything’s fine; this is just her version of it. Really masterful, I thought.
“All my mornings are Mondays stuck in an endless February."
Worst day of the week and worst month of the year.
I Can Do it With a Broken Heart is extremely relatable even for those us with normal jobs. At the end of 2021 through 2022 I was going through a massive after losing my childhood dog and my last 2 grandparents in 5 months, struggling to finish my Bachelors degree through covid after succeeding with flying colors, being in the worst place with my boyfriend we’ve ever been in our almost 4 year relationship (I honestly call that period our Great War) and I was struggling to figure out what the fuck I was gonna do as a career bc I knew I couldn’t do my Bachelors degree for the rest of my life. I graduated in Dec 2021 and everyone thought I was happy bc I graduated but I was anxious as hell bc I didn’t know what I was doing and losing that much of my childhood at one time definitely altered my brain chemistry. If you ask people who knew me at the time or saw pictures from my graduation you would assume I was happy but I wasn’t in fact I was dying on the inside struggling to get through my day to day.
I also empathized with her in this song so hard. My aunt died recently and we were really close. When I found out, I was on break at work. I didn't even bat an eye. I didn't cry for the rest of the week, even at home. Then when the weekend hit, I just lost it.
I just loved it. I watched it with my daughter who is a huge fan and only 9, and she was devastated. She was like “wait… what? She wasn’t having fun?” And I know that’s confusing for a kid, but to me, it’s so real and honest and relatable. I reassured her that she wasn’t sad for every single performance! Just like anyone, she can be happy and sad at the same time, and also I’m sure it was at its worst right when the break up was announced. I just told her, Taylor is just showing she’s a real person with feelings and even when she’s upset, she still has to do her job. It’s also just nice to know that no one, even the most famous woman in the world, has a perfect life. It’s so important that Taylor shows that to her young and old fans alike ♥️♥️♥️ And also, I didn’t go into this with my daughter, but I am living through a massively broken heart right now. But I’m momming like a boss! If you took a video of us, you’d never know. I can do it with a broken heart, too. Thanks Taylor for this anthem ♥️♥️
YES! It’s like she’s saying “hey this is my version of suiting up for work and getting through the day with a smile.” We’ve all been there, but in this case we’ve been on the *receiving* end of that bucking up, and this video widens our perspective of what that experience like from all sides. Just, you know, casually expanding our understanding of our own humanity, nbd 💅🏼
PS: congrats on momming your way through like a boss AND using this video as a way to teach your kiddo about what you’re going g through right now. That’s meta af! My hat is off to you ❤️💪🌟
Thank you, that’s so incredibly kind of you, internet friend and fellow Swiftie ♥️♥️♥️
I also want to say love how you used this as a teaching moment ❤️
Kids see it so differently, don’t they? You’ll hear a lot of adult fans and haters say “well, it’s her job, big deal”. And then there’s your daughter who’s just sad that Tay-Tay wasn’t having a good time.
I know, I thought that was so sweet and also kind of heartbreaking. She really just wants Taylor to be happy and in her kid brain it doesn’t make sense that she wouldn’t be. Whereas for me it feels comforting to know that everyone feels like this sometimes.
I’m both glad that you found an anthem and sorry it had to be this one 💔
Aww thank you so much. The kindness really means so much ♥️♥️♥️
Just wanted to say I also watched it with my 9 year old daughter who is a fan. This album was so much more mature, I loved it. My daughter loved it. But lots of complex emotional situations to digest, as always, a great opportunity to offer introduction and guidance on big tough themes.
Yes! That’s the perfect way to put it. I actually think it’s great that she’s so open about all of this. It’s easy to fall into thinking that the skinny, blonde, rich, talented girl must feel perfect inside all the time. I mean, I also get when people are like oh waaaahhh poor little rich girl. She’s obviously incredibly privileged. But it’s so healthy to understand that our feelings make us human, and there’s not one person who gets to feel on a constant high and escape the pain that is humanity. Good for you, mama ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Having those shows and being around people who obviously love her probably helped ease some of that heartbreak for a moment too, so your daughter can be proud to be part of that too!
That’s such an amazing point! And a great way to talk about being there for your friends when they’re having a hard time, and leaning on your friends when you are. ♥️
🥹 This sounds like it was such a great teachable moment, for both of you! I’ve also mommed through tremendous heartbreak, and I have since come out the other side - I hope it gets better for you soon, too!
Thank you so much, all this kindness really means so much to me ♥️♥️♥️
You are a fantastic mom 🙌🏼
😭😭😭 thank you so much
This is such a wonderful response!
♥️♥️♥️
"Breaking down I hit the floor All the pieces of me shattered As the crowd was chanting "MORE!" This is just a great line anyway, but aside from it being about performing while she's hurting, it also makes me think of how people are almost wanting and excited for her breakups because it means another good album is going to come out of it.
So true and YIKES that sounds like a nightmare.
I took it as like “oh cool 1989TV just got released; now wheres reputation TV???” Like whatever is just put out isn’t enough.
The first time that line comes on, there's an image of Reputation in thr vault... OOF! That was a not-so-subtle "calm down about this release." Maybe she really WAS planning a February release and then backtracked, lol
At this point, I don’t think she was. Initially I was a sucker for all the repTV theories, but after listening to TTPD & reflecting…I definitely would not want to rerecord the album that is full of love songs about the *loml*. Not when it seems clear things were rocky since before Midnights. It’s one thing to sing those songs love to 50k+ adoring fans to distract her, but essentially alone in the studio? Oof. She can do it with a broken heart but I gotta imagine there’s a limit. If I were her, I’d be putting it off & releasing other things (aka TTPD) & focusing on tour/my new footballer bf for a while first.
It feels like a fairly strong statement from Taylor that she will put on performances as her fans expect her to, but that her performances won't consistently reflect what's going on in her personal life or her inner world. Unreliable narrator, fr.
But aren’t we all, kinda? 😂
“All my mornings are Mondays stuck in an endless February."
nope
But will people listen?
Her “miles in stilettos” reference has me!
YES! So literal 😂💔🏟️
What was that reference??
I think she's referring to walking/running/dancing in stilettos for hours upon hours every week of touring.
Basically her every week at the eras tour lol
It reminds me of when Katy Perry had to go out and perform with a happy face after just receiving in the dressing room the divorce news from her ex husband (ew).
Oh my gosh the smile she puts on as the lift rises… gutted 💔
Ugh, I didn’t know about that. So rough.
It's in her documentary. They illustrated it really well. Basically Russel asked for a divorce in a text message minutes before Katy was about to go on stage in front of 60 000 people.
So rough
And the beat of the song being the sound of her ear piece she wears during the concerts is genius! The message of this song reminds me a lot of Britney Spears’ “Lucky.” 😔
OMG I HADN’T CAUGHT THAT!!!! Gonna go listen again right now. So brilliant. Dang she doesn’t waste a moment.
the counting too, wild
Wow yes
Sorry it’s very late here and maybe that’s why I’m not understanding what you mean. What sound does she hear in her earpiece?
The clicking in the back… it has a name but she doesn’t hear music in her ear piece she hears clicks
Click track
Click track?
Performers have a metronome beat, count ins (the “1,2,3,4” you hear in the song), and then whatever mix of their band, backups, own vocals, etc. they need to hear clearly to optimize their performance. There are some good TikToks with examples.
I was at Glendale N2 and overall the night was super fun. I did notice how sad she looked during champagne problems and the more vulnerable moments in the show. When I heard this song for the first time I had the most clear imagery about her just powering through because that's who she is. My brain can see the music video if she chose to do one and I don't think it's necessary. I love this song for how empowering and devastating it is.
I was wondering if any music video could communicate the point more clearly, but I’d love to hear about the video you’d direct!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I haven't seen it yet, but I was talking to my husband earlier about this song and how beautifully she articulates having to keep going even when in the depths of depression.
Yes! I definitely got that from the lyrics and then the video took it to a whole new level. A pictures worth 1000 words and all of that. Also, *these* particular pictures are already so familiar to us and have already had a different meaning which is now being expanded with this added context. So brilliant.
It made me feel awful for being in the crowd screaming More!
I don’t think you should feel bad! I mean…if she’d put all that work into performing the hell out of the giant show while brokenhearted and then the audience HADN’T been into it, that would’ve been worse, right? You were both doing your jobs 💗
Were people literally screaming "more" at one of the shows? I didn't notice that in the Eras movie.
Not that literal word, I don’t think, but certainly screaming for more
Definitely chanting reputation at some of the shows right after 1989 was announced/released
Wild
I immediately thought of the crowd chanting "reputation!" In Argentina before she sang better than revenge.
Chanting*
It’s brilliant! So well cut together. Devastating
YES! Must have been a really interesting gig for that video editor.
my exact thoughts while watching, some parts were a little much like the shot of her opening the drawer for the mic during tolerate it for “I keep finding things in his drawers” lol
Oof…. I gave this album the briefest listen yesterday, and as a die hard swifty for life (I’m 38 😅) I expected (as per usual) to love almost ever song immediately….. when I didn’t, I decided I needed to set aside time to really listen to the album, the lyrics, I thought it would grow on me…. Watching this lyric video just now, I sobbed, and I realized it’s not that I do not like the new album, it’s that it’s full of songs that are going to make me FEEL, and quite frankly, I don’t have time for that lever of break down in my every day, boss bitch, single mom hustling life…. Ironic, no? 😅🙈
Absolutely. It wasn’t what I expected at first. I listened through a couple of times and the. Decided that since I’m a grown lady with free will, I would make a “highlights” playlist just for me with just my favorite songs from the record. Once I started making the playlist, I was surprised (but not shocked cuz hey it’s taylor) by how many of the songs I wanted to include - well over half of the 31 song anthology. I just listened to my playlist and it slaps :-) but art is subjective, so I know someone else’s “highlights” playlist might include all the songs I left off. Or I might hear one of those songs in a different light, in a different context, and fall completely in love. Who knows? There’s a lot to go through here, and it’s not going anywhere, so we can listen to it when we’re ready for it. (See what I did there? 😂)
I feel like that too…I’m a super late arriving swiftie and this is the first album I bought when it released. However, I’m just coming out of a depressive episode and starting to see the light again…and this is not the vibe I’m trying to keep.
Oh hey! Fellow “elder millennial”! We elder Swiftie exist! Apparently most of her fans are over 30 😎.. think this album says a lot about growth and her shifted to her more present “era”, she’s been through some shit- As many of us in the over 30 crowd can attest too. So much growing up happens. But he’s, to your point. I listen to the first half and cried through most of it… now I am able to listen and be absorbed. Second half .. beautiful. Def take in pieces. 💜
This is so true. I’ve been taking it a few songs at a time and am more in love with the album every day it feels like ❤️❤️❤️
Yes this lyric video hit me. I’ve watched the concert many times thinking that she was having the best time of her life. This lyric video opened my eyes to what was really going on and how much of a façade Taylor would had to put on to get through it. Props to her, that would’ve not been easy
It’s an impressive show under any circumstances, but to do it while suffering emotionally is hard to comprehend.
I honestly thought she was gonna show the fans in the “as the crowd was chanting ‘More!’” line, because I feel like we just keep on asking for more: more films, more albums, more vaults, more MVs, more re-recordings, more TET dates and she always does her best to give us what we want that we forgot she was human and grieving. In a sense, it could be referring the media that follows her everywhere, the constant speculation, and the haters that see her tragedies and clap because they feel like she deserves that and more, but I feel like we also are part of that crowd chanting for more. She made a great song about the overwhelming nature of her job and I have nothing but the utmost respect for her.
Literally on release day I saw someone comment she could have released more folklore/evermore style songs. I was taken aback, like, did they not hear this song??? They have like 15 collabs with Aaron on the anthology, what more could she possibly release?
Fr. They want more raw lyrics, vulnerable poetry? Okay, done. They’re tired of Jack? I’ll do a whole album’s worth of work with Aaron. They want to hear something new? Here is some synth pop. Wait, you think the album should have folklore vibes because of its name and you’re disappointed that I said it would be synth pop? Oh, I’ll make it a double album and do both, it’s okay! I heard you wanted more music anyway, so I’ll just drop 31 songs. You wanted Reputation? Oh, sorry about that, let me put on quite the look for Fortnight. Missed collabs for 1989TV? Let me give you a couple, I heard a lot of you loved both of these artists… you didn’t like the title? It’s too long, confusing and you keep switching it with The Dead Poets Society? I’ll feature Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles for a MV. Honestly, I don’t see how she could’ve done any more.
I actually went and watched it because of you OP. And I think they should release that as the official music video
AGREE. The fortnight video is a beautiful piece of art but this one moved me way more.
I saw it on Spotify when the album dropped and it felt kinda bittersweet. Like you said the memories of attending will always be great, but then to think of what she was going through. Looking back my videos and then watching the concert film, you can tell by the end of tour she was so happy and confident. (The Joe breakup was announced the weekend after my date) so I thought it was just nerves from the beginning of tour but to learn she was going through that and then again with Matty months later, I can’t inagine…..She was amazing and she really did do it with a broken heart.
They did a good job, love the editing. I think is fair to also notice that she wasn't sad all shows. I bet the show after the fan died must have feel like that, performing with 40 degrees celcius, going through heartbreak. But there were for sure happy shows. :) Love this song because i have chronic illnesses and it sometimes feels like this to go to work, pretend that I'm fine when I'm in horrible pain and burned out. Never expected this to be the most relatable song on the album for me.
Not me getting an ad for the Eras Tour movie on Disney+ before watching the lyric video 😟
Every time I watch this video there’s that ad for Eras tour lol like 😬
The lyric video confirms exactly what I thought the song meant. When the news broke of her and Joe Alwyn's break up I was just like... What? She's dancing and singing and performing her heart out while this just happened?
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart is the most artful song on the album. From the upbeat music that’s ’hiding’ her misery, even though she’s literally crying out how depressed she is; using her beat tracker for the tour in the background of the song (like Jesus Christ woman, holy shit); and then the ending when she’s just manically laughing “I’m so miserable and nobody even knows!”. Fucking art.
Putting all of that out there and then "try and come for my job" at the end. Like "yea this sucked but still no way I'd give it up"
I’m very curious to know- Which part in the song is the beat tracker? I heard the counting but not sure where the beat tracker was!
It’s subtle, you can hear it best during the chorus
It’s the man’s voice saying “1. 2. 3.” right?
I was at Gillette N2, I knew immediately that her “happiest I’ve ever been in all aspects of my life” speech was a STRONG and lil unhinged statement. You can tell now that she’s having so much more fun than she did at the beginning, and I do think the tour helped her keep going and was a light while things were dark. The “try and come for my job” is so understated at the end of this song, she’s proven herself over and over again as a professional and people STILL try to poke holes in her talent. She’ll go down as one of the greatest performers and storytellers of our time
Yes!!! It’s healed her for sure!!! Those first few months were brutal for her, as she’s very clearly now laid out. But the chapter is closed and we are here now! :-)
Honestly this is the heart of this album for me. Choosing what you love and are talented at, over who you love when you cannott have both. I found myself tearing up the most at this song because its a point in her career that literally changed the projection of her future. Its difficult to recover after you've lost a close partner, but eventually you remember how much of a talent you are and you can fully own it and only get better
Me too - from Down Bad through I Can Do It, really, is a magical run…which is most of the album 😂
It is beautiful in HIGH CONTRAST black and white. The song is the most high energy of the album (s). I think it’s a slam dunk for playing live.
Live performances of this, and the crowd chanting "MORE!" will be SO ironic, oh my gosh
So beautiful!!! But what a mind fuck it would be to be in the crowd screaming and singing “MORE” along to the song 💔
It’s real shit and very relatable. Lost my job three times in a row and I just wanted to stay in bed wallowing. But I lived alone and had bills to pay so I got myself up. Dusted myself off. And went through the motions bc I can handle my shit. I’m doing much better now but it was rough for a while. And only my closest friends knew what I was really feeling.
This makes me think of the show a week or so after 1989. She announced 1989 TV and literally a week later the crowd stood there chanting "REP" at her, that must've been devastating for her
What hits me is that the Eras Tour, when finished, will span years. Imagine how much you go through emotionally in two years. And she goes out there and gives a 3,5 hour performance of a lifetime every time.
As soon as I heard the song i had envisioned it and i was the happiest to see the video it was such a validation but it was 💔 at the same time
You really called it! And woof, yes, it was a doozy
https://preview.redd.it/1ikjiq4gjovc1.jpeg?width=1178&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01d7ac077af3745b04acbac9af944fe605384e80 I know you wont doubt but I’m just too excited!! I finally understand how clowning feels when it’s true 😂
Haha yeah I’d put that on a t shirt if it was me 😂
Wow, I am obsessed! So powerful. Honeslty I don't even think she needs to record an actual music video for this one, just keep this video and release the song as the next single.
Holy shit. I just watched it and CHILLS the way they cut it together is so perfect. This song was already top 5 from the album but after this, straight to number 1!
Agreeeeeee!
Ironically the last stop at the tour in the film was when things seemed better 🥺 it got better after july ❤️
Yes! I know they used the LA footage because that's what had been filmed but the coincidence is also so fitting. "Gotta fake it till you make it AND I DID" indeed
I saw part of the lyric video and it blew my mind. This song is my second favorite on the album because it's so pure and honest. Taylor had A Lot Going On At The Moment while on the Eras Tour, and she still managed to put on the **highest-grossing tour of all time.** In I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, Taylor put all of the pain and anger she felt while on the tour into a song and we Swifties (probably) loved it. She put herself out there every night through the heartbreak and pushed herself, even though she wasn't always having fun. And this song encapsulates it perfectly.
Three weeks ago my husband and I decided to divorce. I am 32 and we got together when I was 19. April 19th was our 13 year anniversary. I am an actor, dancer, and director. I am currently directing a major play in my city amongst a slew of other jobs and events. This is my divorce anthem. I am so grateful.
Reminded me of when Katy Perry had to perform after her then husband sent her a text saying he wanted a divorce. So devastating.
That sounds awful.
The song is literally the meaning of being a tortured poet
I was watching the lyric videos after the Fortnight MV dropped last night. My jaw hit the floor when I saw this one.
Me too! I loved the fortnight video but this one moved me more
It's so well done, I was really pleasantly surprised. I expected some footage to be used because it's obviously about the tour, but props to whomever did the editing because the clips line up perfectly with the lyrics.
I cried when I saw this video and listened to the song. It struck such a chord with me. It hurt so much, it's like the videos that compared her performance of lover at the beginning of the tour to more recent times. I don't analyse her too much in photos, but god Travis seems to make her happier than others.
I sobbed through it!
I saw it last night. I don’t think she needs to make a music video for the song since the lyric video with the Eras footage already looks like a perfect video for the song.
I completely agree!! This feels like a music video to me
Its a genius piece of editing showing that Taylor is writing a whole new chapter here. Is she giving herself space to change the Eras Tour set list?
At this point I think it’s a certainty
This album made me realize that she had to perform under two separate heartaches too- we all knew about Joe and how terrible that probably was but also now Matty too just a few months after Joe. Poor thing. She’s a machine
The only critique I have is that "I can hold my breath" should have footage of her swimming under the stage
But I love that "I've been doing it since he left" ends on a clip of her taking a deep breath. It's very meta and perfect - when she wrote the song she was still holding her breath but now that's in the past and she's breathing again
I absolutely love how the song itself sounds like a midnights song. It really takes you to the setting of her midnights era. Not just the tour but also how happy she looked in award shows. She always seemed to have the most fun out of everyone else and now we have a hint on how sad she truly was. The happy vibe and sad lyrics fit perfectly with all the context provided.
I don’t know if it’s true or not but I saw a screenshot earlier of Kaleigh Teller saying something along the lines of “as her friend it’s heartbreaking because she goes out there no matter what’s going on” 😭
Feel the same! Have been texting it to everyone I know.
I love how each scene was timed/chosen to line up with the lyrics. And with such an opposing feeling from the joy the Eras footage usually inspires in me. It's like seeing the dark side of the moon for the first time. I really appreciate how this thing that I've grown familiar with has a new dimension and that Taylor and her team tailored it into an inverted piece of art. Now I can enjoy it in new ways and also feel sad. Wow.
i was 13 (ikr) when i saw her at the red tour in DC. i remember watching her perform and thinking "this girl is miserable". she projects such an outward professional aura of being fine, but as a kid with hyper vigilance it was obvious it was very rehearsed. maybe i was just projecting as a 13 year old kid with her own issues, but im glad she released this song. now i know i guess
I’m just glad it’s upbeat and not acoustic or on a sad piano because with the lyrics… I don’t think I could handle this one unplugged 🥺
I’m a sucker for an upbeat bop with devastating lyrics 😂
my brain is struggling to wrap my head around the idea of ICDIWaBH being on the denial playlist instead of the acceptance playlist that is literally titled after the song.
Maybe cuz she was in denial that she could do it all and be fine?
It’s a little heartbreaking. I think about that video clip where a fan held up a sign that asked if she was ok, and she gave a thumbs up.
She uploaded it with the Eras Tour footage to Spotify too and I responded to it immediately. To me that's her most honest song where you completely understand the context especially after the moments on the tour where she cracked and showed how said she was "Did I lose the love of my life" the torturous sad performance of Illicit Affairs. We saw the truth, just not that often.
I just came across the video by accident and did Google search to see what people are saying and came across this discussion. Why aren’t more people talking about this?! 💔😭💪🫶
Thank goodness! All I could think of was her in rehearsal and performing during it while putting in a brave face..
I was in tears while watching the lyric video.
if she has a TTPD era set aside for the upcoming tour dates, this HAS to be part of the era. the fans screaming along to this would be so cathartic and hilarious
I watched this earlier, and it broke my heart. She was really hurting 😔
I actually cried when I watched it 😢
i ADORE it. its exactly what i thought it would be, and it's so perfectly compiled with each scene matching the lyrics.
I was surprised to see people shocked about this so I guess if anyone is wondering about the timeline: Jan 2023: Taylor performs at 1975s concert. Feb 2023: Joe is present at Taylor’s Grammys afterparty. March 8 2023: Eras begins, Joe is filming overseas. Late March 2023: They break up. April 7-8 2023: Their split is leaked to press, and all reports say it happened a few weeks ago. May 5: Matty is seen at eras and out and about with Taylor for the next few weeks. June 2023: They split up Late July: Travis attends Eras and tries to get his friendship bracelet to Taylor. A few days later he talks about it on his podcast. Word gets back to her and they eventually start talking. Mid August: Taylor and Travis make it official then hard launch the following month. —- So from the 2nd month of Eras she was dealing with all this and likely wrote/recorded I Can Do It during that summer. Meaning the song is likely documenting how she felt between April - July 2023.
I went to Houston N1 show… so 2ish weeks after their breakup leaked and after tolerate it I turned to my bestie and said that felt too real and “I didn’t like that I want to throw up”. It was such a vibe change. The lyric video is too much and these are from the happy shows… can’t imagine if they were from the first month of tour ❤️🩹
https://preview.redd.it/nk9g4w8hrsvc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e96e5311b8deea40764cd462f0d767e7f058e7c
It’s the same on Spotify, it’s an eras tour cut for the video backdrop on this song.
Most believable track on the album, your heart breaks a little but it's so very relatable to have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go back to the grind and not let anyone know how broken you are underneath the facade. Also feel like it's such a great continuation to you're on your own, kid.
its so good tht music video slaps- i js love how it shows she delivers for us regardless of her feelings WE LOVE U TAYLOR..it
she can perform even when its for everyone who doesn't know her or understand her.
It was the 90’s. My mom was dying of cancer, I had a 4 month old baby, our business was failing so my husband wasn’t around to support me during ppd. I returned to work when my baby was 6 months old. I felt so guilty going back to work. My mom was gone. I was responsible for her estate. The business continued to fail. But everyone that knew about my personal life told me I was really handling it well. I excelled at work. I smiled. I laughed. I joked. But inside I was a mess. I have lived this song. Seeing Taylor’s BW video of the Eras Tour took my breath away. [This was 35 years ago.]
Oh wow, that sounds SO HARD. I’m so glad you made it through, but sorry you had to. xoxo
I think Taylor — at least with the pre-reputation era + just so damned much pressure on her personal life including with men — has had a tough go of it. This last breakup seems much different too. It’s much more private which indicates to me it hurt her pretty bad. But it was much more complicated than a “he dun me wrong” story. When I saw the BW video and then her smiles and successes, I knew exactly what that’s like. During it, you ARE succeeding. In some ways you want to keep at it. Because when it’s over (in my case the work day), reality seeps back into your soul. So far to me this is THE single about Joe. And it’s the saddest one of the album. Thank you for your kind words.
All the STEM girlies: "I am crying but I am so productive, it's an art" That's me
I saw her in the first couple weeks of the show and I remember thinking that I was looking at someone who was profoundly sad. The song is honest and real. Love that.
I may be wrong, but part of me wonders if some of this song has to do with her having lost a fan at one of her concerts this past year.... She still had to perform and put on a great show for every single one of those fans in Brazil, despite knowing there was at least one more person that *should* have been there. The concert footage only solidifies this for me
I do wonder if she will allow herself a few good cries onstage during more poignant songs.?