Picture to Burn: Burning Byzantium

Taylor Swift's music shines forth with an unbearable intensity. This intensity is the intensity of unfiltered and unadulterated TRUTH. As the moon is a thousand-fold brighter than the brightest of stars, so to are her songs compared to the very best of all other music. If one can listen to a Taylor Swift song without recognizing the fundamental truths contained within, he has not yet attained a state of spiritual wellness. This spiritual state can indeed be difficult to reach and is impossible without guidance. One must rely on the knowledge and expertise of those with greater authority and wisdom to unlock the truth. This process is indeed difficult. Only the greatest of minds can see the true content within a Taylor Swift song.

 The song I have chosen is "Picture to Burn" from Taylor's album "Taylor Swift". The worldly interpretation of the song is that of a girl breaking up with her boyfriend. The boyfriend had undoubtedly done something wrong and he was being punished. Setting this interpretation aside, it is clear to me that this song is written from the perspective of Pope Gregory the Third. Pope Gregory the Third was pontiff of the Catholic Church during the time of the iconoclasm heresy in the Byzantine Empire. This song perfectly captures the personal frustration that the Pope undoubtedly felt when dealing with this heresy and the Byzantine people in general. Now, it is important to note that this song merely represents the emotions that Pope Gregory may have felt in a moment of deep frustration. The song does not have anything to do with how he actually acted or truly felt.

The song opens with the Pope declaring how his hope for reconciliation with the Byzantine Church has been undone, "State the obvious, I didn't get my perfect fantasy". He mentions how it is the Byzantine Church's tendency to honor(love) the emperor over the pope " I realize you love yourself, More than you could ever love me" that causes this tension. He refers to the deep cultural differences that exist between the West and the East in the line "You're a redneck". He goes on to despair of ever obtaining reconciliation "So watch me strike a match, On all my wasted time". Next in a moment of playfulness, he states how he considers the Byzantines merely "just another picture to burn". Here is a backhanded reference to the iconoclasm heresy and the Byzantine's desire to burn all religious items/pictures. Pope Gregory goes on to foretell of the eventual weakening of the Byzantine empire at the hands of the West(Franks) in the verse, " And if you're missing me, You better keep it to yourself, Cause coming back around here, Would be bad for your health". Here he refers to the sacking of Byzantium at the hands of the Western Franks. The Franks were called upon by the Byzantines to protect them from an impending Muslim invasion, however, the Franks did little protecting and lots of looting.

Through this song Taylor demonstrates her extreme capacity for creativity. She not only uses her song as a medium for a historical event but also uses this event as an opportunity to impart wisdom. She aptly expresses the emotions that Pope Gregory may have felt, but also teaches us that one must not be controlled by emotion alone. Emotion that is not guided by right reason can only lead to "Burn, burn, burn, baby burn".        

Taylor Swift: " Picture to Burn"

State the obvious
I didn't get my perfect fantasy
I realize you love yourself
More than you could ever love me

So go and tell your friends
That I'm obsessive and crazy
That's fine, you won't mind
If I say, by the way

I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You're a redneck, heartbreak
Who's really bad at lying

So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I'm concerned
You're just another picture to burn

There's no time for tears
I'm just sitting here planning my revenge
There's nothing stopping me
From going out with all of your best friends

And if you come around
Saying sorry to me
My daddy's going to show you
How sorry you'll be

'Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You're a redneck, heartbreak
Who's really bad at lying

So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I'm concerned
You're just another picture to burn

And if you're missing me
You better keep it to yourself
'Cause coming back around here
Would be bad for your health

'Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You're a redneck, heartbreak
Who's really bad at lying

So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
In case you haven't heard
I really, really hate that

Stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You're a redneck, heartbreak
Who's really bad at lying

So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I'm concerned
You're just another picture to burn

Burn, burn, burn, baby burn
Just another picture to burn
Baby burn

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/taylor-swift/picture-to-burn-lyrics/#mRMbOP9Eo0SRrZ8O.99