Musically, the song is a minimalist folk and indie rock track produced by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Joe Alwyn.
The Official Lyric Video on YouTube uses the cottagecore aesthetic of the folklore era, featuring a monochromatic, wooded visual that aligns with the album’s themes of isolation and introspection. Taylor Swift – illicit affairs (Official Lyric Video)
"Illicit Affairs," the tenth track on Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album, folklore (2020), is a haunting, acoustic guitar-led exploration of the psychological and emotional toll of infidelity. Released during the COVID-19 pandemic, the song represents a pivotal shift in Swift’s songwriting toward "mythopoeic" fictional narratives rather than strictly autobiographical accounts. Narrative and Lyricism Musically, the song is a minimalist folk and
The refrain "it dies and it dies and it dies a million little times" emphasizes that the relationship doesn't end all at once; rather, the participant's self-esteem and identity are eroded incrementally. Musical Composition and Bridge Released during the COVID-19 pandemic, the song represents
The emotional center of the song is its bridge, where the narrator finally unleashes her built-up resentment. The lines "Don't call me kid / Don't call me baby / Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me" highlight the power imbalance and the feeling of being "idiotic" and "ruined" by the partner. Visual and Live Interpretations