Mean

by Taylor Swift

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Lyrics

(C#m)You, with your (B)words like knives and (Asus2)swords and weap ons that you use a gainst me.

(C#m)You

have (B)knocked me off my feet a gain, got me feel ing like a noth ing.

(C#m)You, with your (B)voice like nails on a (Asus2)chalk board call ing me out when I’m wound ed.

(C#m)You,

(B)pick ing on the weak er man.

Well, you can take me down with just one (A)sin gle blow.

But you don’t know what you don’t know.

(E)Some day (B)I’ll be (C#m)liv ing in a big ole (A)cit y, and (E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

(E)Some day (B)I’ll be (C#m)big e nough so you can’t (A)hit me, and (E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

Why (CN.C.)you got ta be so mean?

(C#m)You,

with your (B)switch ing sides and your (A)wild fire lies and your hu mil i a tion.

(C#m)You

have (B)point ed out my flaws a gain, as if I don’t (CN.C.)al read y see them.

I walk with my head down, try’n’ to (A)block you out ’cause I’ll nev er im press you.

(C#m)I

just (B)wan na feel o kay a gain.

I bet you got pushed a round.

Some bod y (A)made you cold.

But the cy cle ends right now ’cause you can’t lead me down that road, and you don’t know what you (CN.C.)don’t know.

And I can (B)see you years from now in a bar,

talk ing o ver a (A)foot ball game with that same big, loud o pin ion, but no bod y’s (A)lis ten ing.

Washed up and rant ing a bout the (C#m)same old (B)bit ter (A)things,

(B)drunk and grum bling on a bout how (C#m)I (B)can’t (A)sing.

But all you are is mean.

(A)All you are is (E)mean, and a (B)li ar, and pa (C#m)thet ic, and a (A)lone in life, and (E)mean and (B)mean and (C#m)mean and (A)mean.

But (E)some day (B)I’ll be (C#m)liv ing in a big ole (A)cit y, and (E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

Oh,

(E)some day (B)I’ll be (C#m)big e nough so you can’t (A)hit me, and (E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

Why you got ta be so...

(E)some day (B)I’ll be (C#m)liv ing in a big ole (A)cit y, and (E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

Oh,

(E)some day (B)I’ll be (C#m)big e nough so you can’t (A)hit me, and (E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

Why you got ta be so...

(E)all you’re (B)ev er gon na be is (A)mean.

Why you got ta be so mean?

Mean by Taylor Swift — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Mean by Taylor Swift in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of E at 150 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a great workout for your right hand's ability to hop between chord shapes quickly — at 150 BPM, transitions like E to C#m and B to Asus2 come up fast, so start hands-separate at around 100 BPM and build speed only once the shapes feel automatic. Your left hand plays an octave bass pattern throughout, which sounds simple but demands consistent reach and steady timing; keep your wrist relaxed and let your arm weight do the work instead of squeezing. Watch the jump to that C chord — it's outside the key of E and can catch you off guard if you're on autopilot, so flag those measures and loop them until the shift feels natural. The Asus2 to A change is just one finger lifting, but at tempo it's easy to rush; stay locked to the beat. Once this clicks, you'll have real confidence moving between natural and sharp-key chords, which opens up a huge chunk of the pop repertoire for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Mean" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Mean"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Mean" use?
Just 8 chords: A, Asus2, B, Bpow, C, C#m, D, E. Take it one section at a time.
What other Taylor Swift songs work for kids?
Try "GETAWAY CAR", "THE LAST TIME", "ENCHANTED". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.