| I suppose the title of this post is a bit misleading, because -- based on breaking news this week -- Emily Dickinson is not Taylor Swift's great-great-great-great "Aunt Emily." No, as stated in this Rolling Stone article, HERE, "The two Tortured Poets are sixth cousins, three times removed." Emmett Lee Dickinson, of course, is Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed (at her request) -- so I think this news makes Taylor Swift the ninth cousin, safely and distantly removed. |  |
I'm not completely surprised, though, because I have noticed that Swift has, in fact, been inspired by Emmett Lee Dickinson's poetry to write her songs. For example, she borrowed considerably from Dickinson's poem "He used to hurt me, though so slow" to write her mega-hit "I Knew You Were Trouble." Also, she borrowed heavily from Dickinson's poem "I’m filled with doubt — it hurts me so" to write "Shake It Off."
Not only did Dickinson's poems inspire Taylor Swift -- but they also inspired his third cousin Emily to pen two of her poems, "It ceased to hurt me, though so slow" and "Why make it doubt - it hurts it so."
I have posted the poems below -- Emmett Lee's poems on the left, and Emily's poems on the right -- and I have also posted links to Taylor Swift's lyrics too.
Not only did Dickinson's poems inspire Taylor Swift -- but they also inspired his third cousin Emily to pen two of her poems, "It ceased to hurt me, though so slow" and "Why make it doubt - it hurts it so."
I have posted the poems below -- Emmett Lee's poems on the left, and Emily's poems on the right -- and I have also posted links to Taylor Swift's lyrics too.
| By Emmett Lee Dickinson: He used to hurt me, though so slow Was glad to see that Trouble go -- And now I know by looking back -- A few mistakes – benumbed the Track -- I knew you were trouble when you walked in – trouble, trouble, trouble! Once upon a time, I could say, I was in your sights, every day, And I was in my Childish frock -- You hung it on the Peg, at night. I knew you were trouble when you walked in – trouble, trouble, trouble! And how the Grief — that nestles Close As Notches — in your leather belt For now the Joke’s -- On me, you see -- I knew you were trouble when you walked in – trouble, trouble, trouble! Now what’s unfolded, I embrace -- Accept there was a Wilderness -- It's better — almost Peace -- | By Emily Dickinson: It ceased to hurt me, though so slow I could not feel the Anguish go -- But only knew by looking back -- That something — had benumbed the Track -- Nor when it altered, I could say, For I had worn it, every day, As constant as the Childish frock -- I hung upon the Peg, at night. But not the Grief — that nestled close As needles — ladies softly press To Cushions Cheeks -- To keep their place -- Nor what consoled it, I could trace -- Except, whereas 'twas Wilderness -- It's better — almost Peace -- |
To compare the lyrics in Taylor Swift's song "I knew you were trouble," click HERE.
| By Emmett Lee Dickinson: I’m filled with doubt — it hurts me so -- I’m sick — I guess -- I’m weak — You know -- I’m frail — upon my little Bed To tell all that’s what People said Unto myself — I’ll smile — And shake -- I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake Shake it off, Shake it off For my dear — distant — dangerous — Sake -- I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake Shake it off, Shake it off So — the Instead — the Pinching fear That Something — I did do — or dare -- Transformed my Vision — and the beat -- And They no more aggravate me -- Nor ever more to wonder why -- Oh, Mastered, This is Victory -- | By Emily Dickinson: Why make it doubt — it hurts it so -- So sick — to guess -- So strong — to know -- So brave — upon its little Bed To tell the very last They said Unto Itself — and smile — And shake -- For that dear — distant — dangerous —Sake -- But — the Instead — the Pinching fear That Something — it did do — or dare -- Offend the Vision — and it flee -- And They no more remember me -- Nor ever turn to tell me why -- Oh, Master, This is Misery -- |
To compare the lyrics in Taylor Swift's song "Shake it off," click HERE.
ADDITIONAL NEWS: Where did Taylor Swift gain her appreciation of Emmett Lee Dickinson? It turns out that as a youth, Swift attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School of Fine Arts in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, pictured below on the left. Pictured below on the right, Taylor Swift's music teachers at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School of Fine Arts. Her vocal teacher, Cadenza Andantino, is shown in the center of the group.
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