☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the loss of a loved one, the immense sadness, and the resulting suffering that Taylor Swift goes through.
- The words 'Every single thing I touch becomes sick with sadness' address the pervasive sadness and the impact the loss has on every aspect of her life.
- The lines 'You were more than just a short time / And I've got a lot to pine about / I've got a lot to live without' reveal the duration and depth of the relationship with the deceased person as well as the void left behind.
- With the questions 'Did some bird flap its wings over in Asia / Did some force take you because I didn't pray' she seeks answers and explanations for the death.
- The repeated 'Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye' and 'What could've been, would've been / What should've been you' convey her pain and regret of having to say goodbye and never knowing what could have been if that person were still alive.
Interpretation
In "Bigger Than The Whole Sky",
Taylor Swift processes the loss of a loved one and the grief and sorrow that come with it. The words "No words appear before me in the aftermath" represent the speechlessness and confusion she feels in her mourning.
The statement "Every single thing I touch becomes sick with sadness" describes how the loss of this person has affected every aspect of her life and everything is filled with sadness. "You were bigger than the whole sky" means that the person she lost played a very significant role in her life, larger than anything else.
The lines "You were more than just a short time / And I've got a lot to pine about / I′ve got a lot to live without" show that the relationship with the deceased person was not just fleeting, and their absence leaves a great void in her life.
The words "Did some bird flap its wings over in Asia / Did some force take you because I didn't pray" reflect her search for answers and reasons for the death of this person. She asks questions and seeks logical explanations to alleviate her pain.
The repeated "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye" is her way of saying goodbye, although it is obviously difficult for her. With "What could've been, would've been / What should've been you", she expresses her sadness and regret that she will never see what could have been if this person were still alive.