Ruin The Friendship – English Lyrics

• By: Taylor Swift
• Album: The Life of a Showgirl

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the bittersweet regret of Taylor Swift’s "Ruin The Friendship," a mid-tempo pop song that offers a powerful lesson in taking risks over living with 'what-ifs.' You'll learn essential English vocabulary for nostalgia, romantic tension, and grief, following the singer’s vivid storytelling of a high school crush and the devastating truth she realized too late. The song's final advice—'always ruin the friendship'—is a compelling, conversation-starting English phrase perfect for discussing emotional dilemmas.

[English]

Glistening grass from September rain

Gray overpass full of neon names

You drive 85

Gallatin Road and the lakeside beach

Watching the game from your brother's Jeep

Your smile, miles wide

...

And it was not an invitation

Should've kissed you anyway

Should've kissed you anyway

And it was not convenient, no

But your girlfriend was away

Should've kissed you anyway, hey

...

Shiny wood floors underneath my feet

Disco ball makes everything look cheap

Have fun, it's prom

Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist

Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse

And see you looking at me

...

And it was not an invitation

But as the 50 Cent song played (Song played)

Should've kissed you anyway (Anyway)

And it was not convenient, no (It was not convenient)

Would've been the best mistake

Should've kissed you anyway, hey

...

Don't make it awkward in second period

Might piss your ex off, lately we've been good

Staying friends is safe, doesn't mean you should

Don't make it awkward in second period

Might piss your ex off, lately we've been good

Staying friends is safe, doesn't mean you should

...

When I left school, I lost track of you

Abigail called me with the bad news

Goodbye, and we'll never know why

...

It was not an invitation

But I flew home anyway

With so much left to say

It was not convenient, no

But I whispered at the grave

"Should've kissed you anyway"

...

Oh, and it was not an invitation (It was not an invitation)

Should've kissed you anyway (Anyway)

Should've kissed you anyway, anyway (Anyway)

And it was not—

...

My advice is always ruin the friendship

Better that than regret it for all time

Should've kissed you anyway

And my advice is always answer the question

Better that than to ask it all your life

Should've kissed you anyway

Should've kissed you anyway

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
kiss /kɪs/ A2	verb - to touch with the lips noun - a touch with the lips
friendship /ˈfrɛndʃɪp/ B1	noun - the state of being friends
advice /ədˈvaɪs/ B2	noun - guidance or recommendations
regret /rɪˈɡrɛt/ B2	verb - to feel sorry about something noun - a feeling of sadness or disappointment
ruin /ruːɪn/ B2	verb - to damage or destroy noun - a state of decay or destruction
grave /ɡreɪv/ B1	noun - a place for burying the dead adjective - serious or solemn
whisper /ˈwɪspər/ B1	verb - to speak very softly noun - a soft spoken sound
period /ˈpɪəriəd/ A2	noun - a length of time
awkward /ˈɔːkwərd/ B2	adjective - causing difficulty; uneasy
safe /seɪf/ A2	adjective - protected from danger
invite /ɪnˈvaɪt/ A2	verb - to ask someone to go somewhere
convenient /kənˈviːniənt/ B2	adjective - suitable or easy to use
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ B1	noun - an error
piss /pɪs/ C1	verb - to annoy or irritate
track /træk/ B1	verb - to follow or find noun - a path or course
left /left/ A1	verb - past tense of leave