In less than a month, we’ll finally be blessed with the first of Taylor Swift’s rerecorded albums. Fearless (Taylors Version) will be released on April 9, and we’re all freaking out. As I patiently wait for this album (and the rest of them), I couldn’t help but reflect on the power of Taylor Swift’s lyrics. She is the master of creating vivid imagery and expressing some of life’s most profound struggles through her writing. There’s nothing better than personally relating to lyrics in a song. So, here’s seven lyrics from Taylor’s old albums that offer the best advice.
1. “Yeah, we’re happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time. It’s miserable and magical, oh yeah”—”22“
Well, this basically sums up college and being a young adult in general. It’s this weird, in-between time in our lives. We can live independently and are considered “adults,” but we’re also so young and inexperienced. We’re flooded by a mixture of great times but also a lot of personal growth. This lyric validates experiencing these many emotions at once and captures precisely how that feels.
2. “I bury hatchets but I keep maps of where I put’em”—”End Game“
You can forgive, but you don’t have to forget. Period.
3. “Oh, I’m just a girl. Trying to find a place in this world”—”A Place In This World“
This song on her debut album is so simple yet so relatable. We’re all just trying to figure out what makes us happy and going where life leads us. I think it’s safe to say that Swift has found her place in this world.
4. “Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday. But I realized some bigger dreams of mine”—”Fifteen“
How could I write about Taylor Swift’s lyrics and not discuss this line from “Fifteen?” High school and college often feel like they’re the most important years of our lives. Ms. Swift reminds us all that there is a vast world out there beyond the school hallways.
5. “Remember when you hit the brakes too soon?”—”Out Of The Woods“
This lyric reminds me of someone ending a relationship too early to minimize the emotional damage. Ultimately, this choice only causes further pain. You hit the brakes to prevent crashing but sometimes hitting them too soon just creates more problems.
6. “I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone”—”Never Grow Up“
If you can listen to this song without sobbing, you deserve an award. This entire song reminds us to cherish our childhood and the people we love. Growing up is terrifying, but it’s a part of life.
7. “Time won’t fly, it’s like I’m paralyzed by it. I’d like to be my old self again. But I’m still trying to find it.”—”All Too Well“
If I could copy and paste this entire song here, I would. I say this will full confidence, “All Too Well” is easily one of her best songs. It is five minutes of pure heartbreak and contains the greatest lyrical bridge known to humanity. She describes this beautiful love story; we listen to it fall apart and feel every emotion along the way. I love how this specific line is so vivid; we’re told that time helps heal our wounds but what happens if time passes too slowly? When we experience heartbreak, it’s common to miss our old selves before it all happened, but it’s impossible to go back.
I honestly could go on and on analyzing every single song she’s written. Taylor Swift has given us a lyric for every possible situation. Whether you like her or not, you have to admit she gets it. There’s something special about relating to a lyric; you don’t feel alone in your emotions, which is why I think Swift’s music reaches so many people. I am looking forward to hearing all of these lyrics and more on her newly rerecorded albums!
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