If you have been following my writing over the past four years, you know that I have done album reviews (reputation, Lover) and album rankings, but taking on Taylor’s 117 song discography is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. So here it goes, every Taylor Swift song ranked (from her 7 studio albums), from my least favorite to my favorite and the reasons to match. Some of the factors taken into consideration were overall sound, lyrical complexity, placement on albums, amount of times skipped, musical composition, and tone. Since this list is clearly extensive, I’ve taken the time to split it up into multiple different articles linked below so you are not scrolling forever.
70.) “Forever & Always”—Fearless
“Forever & Always” is full of energy. If they won’t call you, write a song and put them on blast publically. I know I’m joking about it, but when you are Taylor Swift, you can absolutely get away with it. I love this song, but again, it isn’t to the caliber of some of her other songs. @ / JoeJonas—did you call her back yet?
Favorite Line: “Once upon a time, // I believe it was a Tuesday when I caught your eye // And we caught onto something // I hold onto the night, // You looked me in the eye // And told me you loved me”
69.) “The Outside”—Taylor Swift
This song is a great representation of what it feels like to always feel like you are being left out, and I think that if more people listened to this song, people might be nicer to their peers. Just a hunch. It is really not fun to be left on the outside and feel like no matter what you do, no one will ever want to include you, and I think this song does a good job of conveying those feelings in a way that is more digestible than the way most people seem to think it is good to communicate these ideas.
Favorite Line: “You could’ve helped if you had wanted to // But no one notices until it’s too late to do anything”
68.) “I’m Only Me When I’m With You”—Taylor Swift
This song has a really great beat, especially for Taylor’s earlier works. I think this song is really cute and really captures the innocence of young love. This song is adorable, but just not as good as some of Taylor’s other songs.
Favorite Line: “And I don’t try to hide my tears, // The secrets or my deepest fears. // Through it all nobody gets me like you do.”
67.) “Teardrops on My Guitar”—Taylor Swift
Also one of the first Taylor songs I listened to, this song is a certifiable classic. Obviously, not one of her best songs, but for the start of her career, Taylor came out of the gate strong. I’ll always have a special spot in my heart for this song, as should you, since it was one of her first singles that took off on mainstream radio, it is safe to say that this song helped convince producers to release subsequent albums from Miss Swift. And for that, it deserves a fairly moderate, definitely respectable ranking.
Favorite Line: “He says he’s so in love, he’s finally got it right // I wonder if he knows he’s all I think about at night”
66.) “The Way I Loved You”—Fearless
This song is almost the polar opposite of some of Taylor’s later songs, specifically those on Lover. As much as I like this song, I think that it shows how our feelings in love can develop when we are young to believe that love needs to be about fights because fights mean you’re passionate. I’m glad to see Taylor’s sense of love has shifted, but this song will always have a nostalgic place in my heart for those kinds of feelings during your first or early love.
Favorite Line: “Breakin’ down and coming undone // It’s a roller coaster kinda rush // And I never knew I could feel that much // And that’s the way I loved you”
65.) “Mine”—Speak Now
The first time I heard this song I fell in love with it, however, like most of Taylor’s singles, it has slowly moved down the list of my favorite songs. As if you couldn’t already guess, this song is a cute love story that makes me smile, and it deserves this moderate ranking for being both cute and mildly overplayed.
Favorite Line: “You said, “I remember how we felt sitting by the water. // And every time I look at you, it’s like the first time. // I fell in love with a careless man’s careful daughter. // She is the best thing that’s ever been mine.”
64.) “Fearless”—Fearless
If there was ever a song to make you want to dance in a storm in your best dress, it is obviously this one. This song captures that free feeling of love that makes you want to celebrate like some of Taylor’s other songs, and it is completely fearless. I love this song, and it will always make me feel nostalgic for that freeing feeling of new romance.
Favorite Line: “And I don’t know how it gets better than this // You take my hand and drag me headfirst // Fearless // And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress // Fearless”
63.) “Never Grow Up”—Speak Now
This song falls in a very specific category, as does the next one, called “songs that are way too good but too sad to listen to all the time.” This song has always made me feel sad, because it talks about the importance of childhood innocence and how you shouldn’t rush to grow up. I think we can all relate to the feeling of wanting to rush into adulthood, but realistically, when we all finally get here, we don’t really want to be here anymore. This song is a reminder to not rush away the present, no matter how excited you are for the future, because once the present is gone, you won’t be able to go back.
Favorite Line: “So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light // To you everything’s funny, you got nothing to regret // I’d give all I have, honey // If you could stay like that”
62.) “The Best Day”—Fearless
This song is one of my favorites since it highlights Taylor’s relationship with her mother. This is also the song that makes “Soon You’ll Get Better” hit even harder than it would by itself. Taylor, like me, has always been close to her mom, and if there is one thing I can attest to, it’s that even when I’m wrong, my mom is always on my side, just like mamma Swift. So this song makes me realize how lucky I am to have the mom I have, because she is incredible and she is my best friend. (I love you, mom!)
Favorite Line: “I don’t know why all the trees change in the fall // I know you’re not scared of anything at all // Don’t know if Snow White’s house is near or far away // But I know I had the best day // With you today”
61.) “It’s Nice To Have A Friend”—Lover
This song is SO cute, and I think that it is highly underrated. While not one of the best songs by Taylor, this song is given a lot of hate that it really doesn’t deserve. This is a cute little love story about two people falling in love. But, more importantly, talking about the importance of being friends as you fall in love, and how friendship can turn into love. This is definitely the sister of “Mary’s Song” and if you know, you know.
Favorite Line: “Church bells ring, carry me home // Rice on the ground looks like snow // Call my bluff, call you “Babe” // Have my back, yeah, every day // Feels like home, stay in bed // The whole weekend”
Tune in again soon for the next article in this series: Songs 60-51!