Like millions of other fans across the globe, I anxiously awaited the release of Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights. While I knew that all of the songs would be great, I was most excited for track #5. Taylor Swift has notoriously made the fifth track of each of her albums the most heart-wrenching and raw of all the songs on the album. This trend can be found in every one of her albums. For example, In her album Red, the fifth track was the song ‘All Too Well’; in her album Folklore, the fifth track was ‘my tears ricochet’. This trend is even found in her earliest albums: in her debut album the fifth track was ‘Cold as You’. It was no surprise that her newest album would follow the same trend.
‘You’re on Your Own, Kid’ was the fifth track on Midnights. Even from the first verse, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite songs.
There are lots of interpretations and meanings that can be found within this song. Every listener has their own interpretation of Taylor Swift’s music because she writes songs in a way that makes them applicable to everyone in their own unique ways. ‘You’re on Your Own, Kid’ is a prime example of this trend. Its honest and raw lyrics can be applicable in many different chapters of one’s life and for people from all walks of life.
‘You’re on Your Own, Kid’ is an honest account of growing up and all the changes that come with it. In the song, Taylor refers to when she was younger and realized that she was just one of many artists trying to work in the music industry, and that her dream wasn’t unique (I searched the party of better bodies / just to learn that my dreams aren’t rare). Taylor Swift also describes how hard she’s worked to achieve her dreams and how far she has come (from sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes / I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this). She alludes to a past struggle with an eating disorder (I hosted parties and starved my body / Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss). Taylor, along with many young adults, struggle with body image and disordered eating, and this simple line can resonate with so many. All of these struggles tell the story of how she was molded into the woman she is now.
While this song references that pain and heartache can happen while coming into your own, it also serves as a reminder that it eventually gets better. Taylor flat out tells the listener how there’s no one else who can go through these struggles for you (You’re on your own, kid / You always have been). She also reminds the listeners that despite all the pain you go through, it all pushes you forward (‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned / Everything you lose is a step you take). While there’s a lot to navigate when you’re young (love, loss and pain) you should still take every opportunity that comes your way (Take the moment and taste it / You’ve got no reason to be afraid).
As a college student who still is navigating young adulthood and trying to figure out what happens next in life, this song speaks deeply to me. It’s a perfect mix of nostalgia while being honest of the struggles that come along with growing up. For a time, I struggled with the idea of being alone, and the idea of facing my problems alone seemed overwhelming. However, as I got older and more mature, I realized that I could face every struggle that came my way, by myself. This song gives a sense that I’m not alone in feeling this way and that everything will work out in the end, which we all need to hear sometimes.
Everytime I listen to Taylor Swift’s Midnights I gain a greater appreciation for a new song. However, ‘You’re on Your Own, Kid’ will always have a special place in my heart.