Lyrics

Taylor Swift’s 1989 - Who are the songs about?

I’ve seen some debate about this matter so I’m posting some of the things I’ve noticed from Taylor’s interviews / Listening Sessions just to clarify this matter. Reposting from my old post with some added quotes.

GLAMOUR UK, NOV 2013 INTERVIEW

Interviewer: So “Harry Styles: The Truth” album is on its way? Taylor: “Well, an album is supposed to be a chapter in a musician’s life…And sometimes you have to wait for the book to be written.”

1. Blank Space:  

“I was on a boat once and I came up with the line ‘so its going to be forever, or its going to go down in flames’ and I didn’t use it for about a year until I was writing Blank Space and I was like ‘OH!” - She was talking about that time she broke up with Harry on a cruise in British Virgin Islands.

2. Wish You Would:

“There’s “I Wish You Would,” about an ex who bought a house two blocks from hers (whom she implies was Styles)” - Rolling Stones interview, 2014.

“Okay so this is an idea called “I Wish You Would”. It’s kind of about this guy who’s like, he’s driving down the street at the middle of the night and he passes his ex-girlfriend’s house and it’s like, he thinks she hate him, but she’s still in love with him, very dramatic. This track is sick, hope you like this.” - Taylor’s voice memo in the 1989 Deluxe album

“oh, some extra info on IWYW. cant remember if ive already shared this, if i have im sorry, if i havent then here. taylor wrote that after a couple of months after her and harry broke up, and they decided to become friends again, and she said this was the first time she had become friends with an ex to the point where they were comfortable enough to talk about why the relationship didnt work out. and he said how, after they broke up, he bought a house literally one road adjacent to hers. and every day he would drive home, and accidentally turn into her street, and told her how he just wanted to stop at her house and see her, but he never did. and she said this song is about while he was in the car making the decision to get out the car and see her, she was sitting in her bedroom, wishing he would make the move and go back to her and just pitch up at her house. she compared it to a classic movie where both parties want the same thing but neither has the guts to say anything. and that’s why the song has the lyrics of “driving straight ahead”, opposed to taking the left turn to see her.“ -  Taylor’s 1989 listening party

Harry bought an LA mansion in March 2014, which is near Taylor’s house (about 7 minutes away). However, he was already staying in LA in 2013 with Jeff Azoff.

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Taylor once said this about Style, a song she definitely wrote about Harry: “I talk about in another song on the record a crooked love, which is kind of like never quite synced up right.”

The other song that she meant was ‘I Wish You Would’ in which one part of the lyrics of the song says: “We’re a crooked love in a straight line down.”

Therefore both ‘Style’ and ‘I Wish You Would’ are about the same person, which is about Harry Styles.

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Harry has also referenced IWYW lyrics in his song ‘Perfect’, written about Taylor:

“And if you like midnight driving with the windows down” to Taylor’s “Windows down, you pass my street, the memories start”.

3. All You Have to Do Was Stay:  

She tweeted ‘Back In the studio’ days after she broke up with Harry. Taylor then later confirmed on tumblr that she wrote ‘All You Had To Do Was Stay’ at that studio session.

4. How You Get The Girl:

It is hinted that she wrote it when she was still with Harry.

“about how a guy broke up with his girlfriend because he is afraid of how in love he is and he wants to experience the world and date around but then he realizes what he lost and came back for it six months too late; also she said her friends’ boyfriends come and ask her from help when they do this kind of thing, and she says to follow the steps of this song” - Taylor’s 1989 secret sessions, hints at Harry.

“’How You Get The Girl’ is a song about how, you know, when we’re young, which most of my friends and most of my peers are, a lot of the time you’ll take for granted a really good relationship and let go of it and go out into the world and then realise you want it back, and this song is kind of an instruction manual for a guy who has broken up with his girlfriend and let six months go by and the lengths he’ll need to go to to get her back, and it’s not gonna be as simple as just sending a text message. It’s like, ‘S’up?’ ‘Miss you.’ That’s not gonna work (laughs). You need to do all the things in this song.” - GLAM interview, 2015, hints at Harry

5. This Love:

This song is the oldest song on the track, and the linear notes described the song with the words “Timing is a funny thing”.

Harry wrote a song about Taylor called ‘I Love You’ around the same time, where he also wrote “Maybe if I got my timing right, I wouldn’t end up alone”. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

“this is the oldest song on the record and is co-produced I believe with Nathan Chapman, and is about how she was kinda with someone who wasn’t ready so they split up but they ended up back together” - Taylor’s 1989 secret sessions, hints at Harry.

“’This Love’ is a song that I wrote fairly early on in this process, and it was the first time I started experimenting with different vocal recording styles. In this case I wanted it to sound kind of haunting, and so I sang this song differently than I’ve sung most of my other songs. I recorded it differently. You have multiple vocals going throughout the entire song. It’s about kind an experience I had where if you truly care about someone and you know they’re not ready to be in a relationship you will let them go, and it sucks to be the one has to let something go and cut someone loose when you don’t want to, but I think you have to be selfless in relationships when you know that it’s not the right time, and if you make that decision and that person is supposed to be in your life they’ll come back, and this was the way that I felt when that came back around.” - GLAM magazine, 2015. This is the only song she wrote alone and it also hints at Harry 

6. Clean:  

“Shake It Off” and “Clean” were the last two things we wrote for the record, so it shows you where I ended up mentally. “Clean” I wrote as I was walking out of Liberty in London. Someone I used to date—it hit me that I’d been in the same city as him for two weeks and I hadn’t thought about it. When it did hit me, it was like, Oh, I hope he’s doing well.” - Taylor in Elle magazine interview, 2015

“co-written with Imogen Heap (written when she was in London for the Red Tour and she went to her house which is two hours outside of London and is a single castle turret in the middle of this town with lots of horses and small town) and anyways it is about when she was in London and realized her ex was also there but she didn’t feel the usual sense of uneasiness and instead she felt fine and this is what this song is about” - Taylor’s 1989 secret sessions.

Harry is British, he lives in London.

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Harry has also referenced ‘Clean’ lyrics in ‘Olivia’, a song he wrote about Taylor: 

“This isn’t the stain of a red wine, I’m bleeding love” to Taylor’s “You’re all over me like a wine-stained dress I can’t wear anymore”

“The summertime and the butterflies all belong to your creation” to Taylor’s “When the flowers that we’d grown together died of thirst, when the butterflies turned to dust that covered my whole room.”

Keep reading

“Swift often sings of alienation and yearning. She has an unusual number of songs about being left behind. Not by the culture—though I think she worries about that, too—but by someone she cared about who couldn’t countenance the immensity of her life. In her world, love is conditional and frequently temporary. (‘You could call me ‘babe’ for the weekend,” she sings on ‘’tis the damn season,’ a line I’ve always found profoundly sad.) On the chorus of ‘The Archer,’ she sings, “Who could ever leave me, darling? / But who could stay?” Toward the end of the song, she adds a more hopeful line: “You could stay.”As she sang that “you” on Saturday, she raised an arm and pointed directly to the audience. Swift has written many songs that describe her devotion as a punishment to be endured. ‘I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?’ she bellows on ‘Cruel Summer.’ She believes that the force of her affection will push people away. But her fans have remained. They have buoyed her; in turn, she has given them everything.”

— The New Yorker on the Eras Tour (x)

Rebecca Fergusonas Chrissy Eriksson in Episode 09 of ‘Ocean Ave’ (2002)

Not justifying the dickhead guy in the slightest but this is also why calcium hated harry so much!!!! He knew about their hookups and was probably aware how much she loved harry. Also wondering if she threw herself in that relationship because that would mean she won't go backto h

oh yeah I know why calvin hated harry. and i do fully believe that a part of tayvin's publicness was aimed at harry. harry was SUPPOSED to be hurt at the bbmas. that's why she mentions it in question... cause she was trying to hurt him. showing up your ex who you have unfinished business with is a thing and taylor was playing the game. and yeah i think a part of it was to tell herself not to go back and a part of it was to tell harry it was over.

tayvin started about haylor, there is kind of no doubt in my mind. and that's why calvin hated harry so much... cause he knew that he was a tool, a means to an end. but then it got to the point where harry was no longer a threat and he had won and he was just being a dick. like blocking fans with harry icons or going through the haylor hashtag on twitter (or unfollowing people here, which i still think he was responsible for) was just being a dick. harry wasn't going to win taylor back at that point, and those fans were not pushing her to him. he was just throwing power around.

Columbus, 8/18

this makes me feel better

Anon besties—especially those of you sending me Twitter links to the HS-TR London stroll today and saying you’re devastated—it is ok. Promise.

Should I be more direct?

Blondie DID NOT WANT HIM THERE last night. At all. In fact, him being photographed and seen elsewhere is the *best case scenario* for her right now.

I am not sure H has ever said no to her requests - shall we listen to Fool’s Gold again, or Satellite? If she was open to his presence, he would have attended. Even as a friend; TR’s actual opening night (non press) is soon. He could have been at that instead.

The MH thing was a disaster for Taylor. I feel like she needed a restraining order to get out of that situation, and only days ago. You think she wants to introduce ANOTHER man into the dialogue now?

Let’s celebrate her career dominance! Her incredible music! Her overall awesomeness. No men need to be centred in this celebration. All Blondie!

Public Haylor is not an option open to Harry right now. And he is a hot, single guy whose most recent public relationship was tabloid fodder and caused a family break-up and feuding on the set of a movie. This is waaaaaay better for him.

I am certain that Haylor will be discussed as we get closer and closer to Oct. 27th. We know that they are supportive friends. Let’s wait and see.

Something something about Harry possibly realizing the gravity of their love and how it still affects her now to an extent…idk not to be a haylor haylor, but WAKE UP. The fact Taylor was willing to ridicule herself just to be together because she knew his perception of her trumped the medias’ is something so special to me

it really makes you wanna go put question on and like actually ask him the question.... did you regret it you fucking idiot?????? cause like!!!!!!! she was so in love with him and was willing to throw herself into a fire for him and he was just so oblivious to his impact!!! with red tv we heard her call his laughter a disaster... she was so taken by him immediately. this was falling in love in the cruelest way. and he had her so hard she missed him so much and then he came back and she got spooked and he just....... bowed out. he started fucking around and jerking her around and that just was how they went for 2 fucking years.

it's heartbreaking and infuriating and i'm SURE that, just like when he hear question the first time a year ago, he is kicking himself for being such a dumbass kid back then

I came across HS/TS synastry chart and found some interesting. Note that this is assuming TS' ascendant is really Scropio for the ones that include ascendant.

Venus conj mars: romantic and sexual attraction between you is almost irresistible.  The intensity of your feelings for one another is unlikely to fade over time, and you find much fulfillment in your love for each other. Even if you go your separate ways, it is likely that both of you will always remember each other for the passion you once enjoyed.

Asc square merc: This aspect creates confusion and misunderstandings. They may find it difficult to understand each other and cooperate.

Pluto square venus: Intense, and sometimes uncomfortable, attraction between these two can go either way fast. The expression “a fine line between love and hate” applies here. This connection is almost primal in nature. Sexual attraction is intense. These two will definitely need to deal with issues of possessiveness, jealousy, and volatile emotions. They arouse in one another some of their deepest insecurities, as there can be an intense fear of losing one another.

Mars conj pluto: The Mars conjunct Pluto synastry aspect can indicate burning down, destruction, and regeneration. The relationship is a very important influence in your life (for better or worse). The Plutonian obsession is very well present. It is impossible not to think of the other person, especially for the Mars person to exclude the Pluto person of their mind. 

Neptune square moon: There is a tendency to misunderstand or misread each other’s signals, so you will have to spend more time processing hurt feelings or perceived slights

Uranus square moon: This aspect can lead to a relationship that begins abruptly and is filled with exhilarating highs and unsettling lows. The intense attraction you feel towards each other may be fueled by the excitement and novelty your partner brings into your life. However, these moments of exhilaration can quickly turn into feelings of insecurity and uncertainty, as you struggle to find a balance between your need for emotional stability and the wild energy that Uranus represents.

Mars square mercury: Different points of view can turn into full-fledged arguments all too easily with this combination. Words may be sharp and destructive

Jupiter square moon:This aspect often leads to exaggerated emotions and intuitions, which stem from both individuals' own fears and insecurities.

Jupiter trine jupiter:You get on well with each other and encourage each other to improve yourself and your life

Moon trine saturn: Any Moon-Saturn aspect sign can be used for good, but it takes work. If both people are emotionally immature, then even the Moon trine Saturn synastry aspect will feel difficult and painful. If both partners are emotionally mature, then even the square aspect can feel easy. 

Pluto square sun:you have a deep and transformative effect on each other. Just like the opposition, it can be a bit of a love-hate relationship.

Pluto conjunct jupiter: This relationship challenges you to grow, transform, improve, and develop. It doesn't accept a standstill! This aspect may bring out the risk-taker or ambitious nature in one or both of you

Venus sextile pluto: tendency to be consumed by one another and by the relationship is here

Wow. I feel this explains their tf dynamic

i keep watching videos of people going to the eras tour, girls dressing up with their friends, trading friendship bracelets with strangers, crying to surprise songs, holding each other during their favorite set. singing, and dancing, and screaming, and crying and all of it just feels like pure happiness. there's something so special about the unapologetic way girls get to just purely be themselves at the eras tour and it makes my heart so warm inside.

and it's not a gender thing, but the way teenage girls have constantly seen their interests diminished and overlooked makes this sense of community so much more special.

for so long i felt like there was something wrong with being stereotypically girly. god forbid pink is your favorite color, or you listen to pop music, or you have a stan account and posters of a boyband on your bedroom wall. god forbid you're still strong, and smart, and interesting.

and maybe it's because i'm in my twenties now, and i'm finally figuring out who i am, because fuck, being a teenager sucks, but i can look at the girls crying from their nosebleeds seats at the eras tour, or the girls dancing in line for a harry styles concert, or the group of friends that yelled "hi barbie" to me from their pink dresses on the other side of the street, and feel like there is a part of current pop culture, of mainstream media, that is finally, finally, allowing girls to experience girlhood without shame.

we love taylor. we love each other. look at us and the cute bracelets we trade with strangers. look at our pink outfits to go watch barbie at the theatre and our feathery boas at harry concerts and our kindles full of romance books. look. it's all so pretty.

i spent all my money on concert tickets, i'm going to the eras tour next year. i already warned everyone i'll cry during long live.

i'm making bracelets. i have a pinterest board for my outfit. i'm sharing ideas, because everyone else is doing the same. i made a playlist of my favorite songs and named it after taylor swift. i found an old one direction poster and put it back up on my wall. i learned how to crochet, and the first thing i made was a flower. the yard is pink. it's my favorite color.

i did my makeup. i read my favorite sally rooney novel on the train, with my headphones in. i'm twenty and i'm thirteen, and i'm nine, when pink was still my favorite color. i'm all of those girls, and all of them are me.

it really is the girlhood no one can't take away. it was ours first. we're taking it back.

did you guys see the new pics that just came out? it definitely looks like they’re dating by their body language.. what do you all think?

harry is apparently in london.. even tho i knew the chances were small why am i still kinda upset he’s really not at the eras tour closing night 😭🫠