Taylor Swift has proven that she can really do it all— country ballads, pop mega-hits, and, more recently, indie/folk. Her vocals are soft yet powerful and ripe with emotion. The production of her music is meticulous and nothing short of genius (looking at you, Jack Antonoff). Yet, none of these things are why Swift’s music continues to define the cultural zeitgeist. No, the durability of Taylor Swift’s music lies in her lyricism— in her ability to tell a story with her poetry and beautifully strung-together words.
Her latest project, Midnights, is no exception. Self-described as “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life,” Midnights is a real marriage of her pop mastery and her poetic capabilities. Read on for 25 beautiful, heart-wrenching, and inspiring lyrics from Midnights that prove once and for all— Taylor Swift is a lyrical genius.
On Self-Image
1) “I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say” — “Lavender Haze”
We saw Swift battling the public perception of her in her documentary Miss Americana, and her Reputation album really marked a shift in this realm. Rather than living for the approval of others, her lyrics showcase more self-assurance. In this song specifically, she is referencing her relationship, but this is a good motto for all aspects of life.
2) “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror / It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero” — “Anti-Hero”
A beautiful metaphor that captures the essence of self-loathing; many of us can probably relate to this lyric.
3) “The only kind of girl they see is a one night or a wife” — “Lavender Haze”
Sometimes simply existing as a woman in today’s world can feel very black and white. You’re either too fat or too thin; unsuccessful or bossy; a slut or a prude; a “one night” or a wife. Swift comments on this double-edged sword in “Lavender Haze.”
4) “Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby / And I’m a monster on the hill / Too big to hang out / Slowly lurching toward your favorite city / Pierced through the heart but never killed” — “Anti-Hero”
While the “sexy baby” lyric has gotten some flak (and inspired some pretty hilarious Halloween costumes), this lyric really does resonate, especially if you’ve ever dealt with body dysmorphia or the impossible beauty standards of today’s society. Some have speculated that the “sexy baby” lyric even references a classic 30 Rock episode, and in using it, Swift is commenting on the infantilization and hyper-sexualization of women and girls.
On life experiences
5) “You’re on your own, kid / You always have been” — “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
The hook of (the infamous) Track 5, this lyric is devastatingly relatable. Loneliness, isolation, unrequited love, and heartbreak are some of the most difficult things to go through— but they are part of the human experience. It’s true that everywhere we go, we take ourselves, and while relationships and friends come and go, we are eternally on our own.
6) “‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned / Everything you lose is a step you take / So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it / You’ve got no reason to be afraid” —”You’re On Your Own, Kid”
A more uplifting line towards the end of “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” Swift encourages listeners to look heartbreak, lost love, and past tragedies in the eye and move forward.
7) “From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes / I called a taxi to take me there / I search the party of better bodies / Just to learn that my dreams aren’t rare” — “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
This album is a real masterclass in poetic devices and rhythmic beauty. The imagery these few lines are able to elicit is wonderfully tragic, and the line “my dreams aren’t rare” is a stab wound to the heart we’ve all felt at some point in our lives.
8) “I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this / I hosted parties and starved my body / Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss” — “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
Growing up as women, we’re often conditioned to think that our goal in life is to find a partner— that if we do everything right, Prince Charming will take us away to our happily ever after. As Swift discusses, even if you do everything “right” (including conforming to social standards and beauty standards), most of us aren’t going to be saved by that perfect kiss, our one true love— because it doesn’t exist.
9) “You know how scared I am of elevators / Never trust it if it rises fast / It can’t last” — “Labyrinth”
If there’s anyone that can make an elevator a beautiful metaphor for a relationship, it’s Ms. Taylor Swift. Oftentimes, things in life burn bright and fast. A relationship that rises to the peak very quickly won’t stand the test of time. This lyric masterfully conveys this sentiment.
10) “It only feels this raw right now / Lost in the labyrinth of my mind” — “Labyrinth
Anyone who has dealt with mental illness or mental health struggles understands exactly what Swift means by the “labyrinth” of her mind. Our own minds can truly feel like inescapable mazes, especially in times of anxiety and hardship. By reminding listeners, “it only feels this raw right now,” Swift emphasizes the temporary nature of heartbreak and difficult times and encourages hope for the future.
11) “No one wanted to play with me as a little kid / So I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since / To make them love me and make it seem effortless” — “Mastermind”
The effort that goes into social relationships isn’t talked about enough. We grow up thinking that everyone else around us has it all figured out — they make friends and get everyone to love them without even trying. But making relationships isn’t easy, and something as simple as getting others to like you and spend time with you can feel like “scheming like a criminal.”
On Heartbreak and Love
12) “All that bloodshed / Crimson clover / Uh huh, sweet dream was over / My hand was the one you reached for / All throughout the Great War” — “The Great War”
“The Great War” has not gotten as much recognition as it deserves. Sometimes love can feel like a war, and this beautiful imagery really captures that sentiment. While the aesthetic of Midnights as a whole is shades of purple, “The Great War,” “Maroon,” and a few other songs do a great job of describing life and love as shades of red.
13) “You drew up some good faith treaties / I drew curtains closed / Drank my poison all alone / You said I have to trust more freely / But diesel is desire / You were playing with fire” — “The Great War”
Trust issues— we feel you Taylor. That’s all I’ve got to say.
14) “The burgundy on my t-shirt when you splashed your wine into me / And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet it was / The mark they saw on my collarbone / The rust that grew between telephones / The lips I used to call home / So scarlet it was maroon” — “Maroon”
Again, that color imagery— breathtaking! All of these maroon facets of life and love that no one really notices— that is, until Taylor Swift beautifully strings them together into a song.
15) “We can plant a memory garden / Say a solemn prayer / Place a poppy in my hair / There’s no morning glory / It was war, it wasn’t fair” — “The Great War”
“All’s fair in love and war” — not quite, according to Taylor. The alliteration, the rhyme sequence, the sentiment— these lyrics are perfection.
16) “Life is emotionally abusive / And time can’t stop me quite like you did” — “Snow On The Beach”
Yes, we all wanted more Lana in “Snow On The Beach,” but there’s no denying the song is beautiful. Life itself can be emotionally abusive, and time stops for no one.
17) “So I peered through a window / A deep portal, time travel / All the love we unravel / And the life I gave away” — “Midnight Rain”
The lyrics themselves are beautifully put together, but paired with the rhythm of this verse, they become elevated to some of her best work.
18) “You know there’s many different ways that you can kill the one you love / The slowest way is never loving them enough” — “High Infidelity”
19) “Familiarity breeds contempt / Don’t put me in the basement / When I want the penthouse of your heart” — “Bejeweled”
We’ve all heard “distance makes the heart grow fonder”; Swift evokes a sister phrase “familiarity breeds contempt,” expressing the fear of resenting those you become very close with. Furthermore, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re not put first, in a relationship or otherwise. Never settle for someone who puts you in the “basement.”
20) “No words appear before me in the aftermath / Salt streams out my eyes and into my ears / Every single thing I touch becomes sick with sadness” — “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”
21) “And the touch of a hand lit the fuse / Of a chain reaction of countermoves / To assess the equation of you / Checkmate, I couldn’t lose” — “Mastermind”
22) “And I’ve got a lot to pine about / I’ve got a lot to live without / I’m never gonna meet / What could’ve been, would’ve been / What should’ve been you” — “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”
“Bigger Than The Whole Sky” depicts loss in such a tragically authentic and heartbreaking manner. Whether it’s a breakup, an untimely death, or even a miscarriage (speculated by some fans), these touching lyrics feel like they reach straight into the heart of someone who has experienced a great loss.
23) “God rest my soul / I miss who I used to be / The tomb won’t close / Stained glass windows in my mind / I regret you all the time” — “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”
Moving on and forgiveness is not easy. It’s hard to look back at what “would’ve been” if things had worked out. Sometimes, we all miss who we used to be before trauma permanently altered us. Not to mention the incredible imagery of “stained glass windows in my mind.”
24) “And now that I’m grown / I’m scared of ghosts / Memories feel like weapons / And now that I know / I wish you’d left me wondering” — “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”
25) “Living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts / Give me back my girlhood / It was mine first” — “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”
“Girlhood” can be interpreted in many different ways, but as women coming of age in a patriarchal society, many can relate to feeling like we’ve been stripped of our girlhood. Whether it’s by a romantic partner or society as a whole, women are often forced to grow up and abandon their innocence before they’re ready. But girlhood belongs to the girl and it should be protected for younger generations at all costs.
It must be a groundbreaking album if it was challenging to pick the 25 best lyrics. The best part about Taylor Swift, though, is that she always hints at more to come. While we bask in the glorious lyricism that is Midnights, we can look forward to more of her storytelling in the near future.