The Best Lyrics From 1989 by Taylor Swift (Getting Reacy For Taylor’s Version)

. QUICK NOTE: I am running incredibly late with this post, so a lot of the phrasing may be in past tense now that the album is actually out. I refused to edit that out because I wanted to keep the enthusiastic writing, which trust me, is still the case. I’m still processing this re-recording. It’s amazing. Okay now on to the post!

Hey everyone! With 1989 Taylor’s Version right around the corner, the tradition must continue! 1989 holds a very special place in my heart, because it came at a time where I needed an upbeat pop album. At the darkest time, this album brought a little bit of light. I’m so excited for the new version, and can’t wait to hear the vault tracks. Here’s my favorite lyric from each song, hope you enjoy!

FAVE LYRICS ON EACH TRACK

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

“Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats”

It’s a fun song that helps set the scene for the rest of the album. This lyric feels like the best way to introduce it, because the album is a kaleidoscope, showing all of the different facets of the person, the love they had, and the journey of finding themself.

BLANK SPACE

“Cause darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream”

The best song, no questions asked. I love the whole premise of the song. Taylor was always needlessly critized for dating several men, and then going and writing songs about them. It’s such a sexist take, because no one would act this way and be critical if it was a male artist. But instead of becoming bitter, she took these comments and made them into art. Instead of looking at it as an attack, she instead was curious, and even amused, by this character. She’s pretty interesting, so why not write a song from that character’s perspective? And it ended up being one of her biggest hits to date.

I also love the process of how the song came to be, all of those unused ideas and lyrics that she didn’t know what to do with, ending up in this masterpiece. The lyric I chose was one of those, and it’s just perfect. I love the juxtaposition of the sweet girl next door having this psycho side to her that you don’t see until you’re too deep in it.

Honerable mention: GREENSBORO! (SYDNEY!)

If you know, you know.

STYLE

“You’ve got that James Dean daydream look in your eye”

This song never fails to make me feel confident and get me pumped. It’s such a vibe. The production on this one is fantastic, and the lyrics just go hand in hand with it. The chorus has to be my favorite part, with all of the references to classics, such as James Dean, red lips, all those things that will never go out of Style. I never would’ve thought to compare a relationship to those things, but of course, Taylor Swift did.

And who doesn’t love James Dean and those eyes?

OUT OF THE WOODS

“We were built to fall apart and fall back together”

I’d say this is in my top three favorites off of this album. Everything about this song is amazing. I have a hard time picking a favorite line, because there are so many good ones to choose from. It’s also my favorite song she’s performed.

THe idea of this love that is both beautiful but unstable can make you anxious, which is what she was trying to convey with this song, especially in the chorus. That it keeps falling apart only to fall back together, or how they move the furniture so they can dance as if they stood a chance. Uncertainty is the main emotion.

Plus it’s in my top five bridges of hers.

ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS STAY

“You were all I wanted, but not like this”

I’m still mad I didn’t get to see the set for this one at my show lol. But it was worth it to have Miranda Lambert come out and sing Little Red Wagon.

This is the simplest song in my opinion, but it doesn’t make it worse by any means. I think the lyrics are simplistic on purpose; the song is stating the obvious, but that’s the point. You should’ve known all of this, and you knew that all you had to do was stay. At this point I’m done with this, and just wanted to make it clear. That’s what she’s doing. This line at the end of the bridge sums up the song perfectly.

SHAKE IT OFF

“HEY HEY HEY, just think while you’ve been getting down ‘bout all the liars and the dirty dirty cheats of the world, you could’ve been getting down to THIS. SICK. BEAT.”

I remember the day this song came out. I was in my mom’s office, and we sat and watched the Yahoo! live event, waiting for the countdown timer to go off and see what she had in store. The announcements that followed made my day: a new single, a new music video, and a new album coming out on October 27th of that year. It’s one of my favorites to cover (you’ll be seeing that soon), and never fails to make me smile. I also love that Tyce Diorio, one of my all time favorite choreographers, did all of the choreography for this music video.

I’m so happy she finally owns it, and can’t wait to hear her version. I think the lyric choice speaks for itself.

I WISH YOU WOULD

“We’re a crooked love in a straight line down, makes you want to run and hide but it made us turn right back around”

This is my misheard lyric story: I always thought she sang “stand back wasted” but instead it’s “stand back where you stood”. Which makes WAY more sense.

Anyways, this is one of the tracks that at first I didn’t love, but of course, it grew on me. I like this line because it paints a clear picture in your head of the situation. Plus this adds the most fuel to the fact the 1989 guy can’t drive lol.

BAD BLOOD

“Band aids don’t fix bulletholes, you say sorry just for show”

So… I like the original version, but the Kendrick Lamar version is better. I did a lyric for that one too. The lyrics in this song are poignant and sharp. The constant use of metaphors to describe what it feels like to have a friend betray you is fitting, it’s trying to make sense of what happened.

But this line is just… ouch, but true. The idea of a fake apology being the “band aid” to try and make it all fine is brilliant.

WILDEST DREAMS

“Say you’ll see me again even if it’s just pretend”

This is still one of my all time favorite music videos of hers. Scott Eastwood. Enough said.

But seriously, this song is beautiful, and feels the most 80s inspired; the breathy, dreamy vocals, and the lighter production that subtly builds. It’s heartwrenching as well, especially when you watch the video.

This line is my favorite not only because of the wording, and how it departs from the chorus to be a subtle break down, but how the production and everything around it stops as well, as if it was all pretend. But that moment, the feelings and all, will still linger and be there in your wildest dreams.

HOW YOU GET THE GIRL

“Remind me how it used to be, with pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks”

This track will always have a special place in my heart. I remember being so excited to go to the concert, and I was still a beginner in guitar. But I really wanted to learn this song on guitar, so I did on the day of the show. It’s the first song I learned to play and sing at the same time, and so I’ll always smile when I hear it. It’s also my favorite set from the concert, with all of the umbrellas and the glow in the dark dress.

The song is literally a how to article on getting a girl back, and the lyrics are very informative lol.

THIS LOVE

“Lantern burning, flickered in my mind for only you”

This is my mom’s favorite song on the album, and she’s got great taste. The song was originally a poem Taylor wrote, and it still feels like one. The structure of the lyrics and melody feel like poetry, especially if you look at it on a lyric site. The verses are clear stanzas, with the chorus being the repeating element that can often be found in a sonnet or even more narrative poems. The lines match up nicely, and the metaphors follow the same themes.

I honestly think the song should be used as an example of good poem structure, which I can say because I am a poet. It’s hard picking a favorite line, but I like this one because it paints the most vivid picture to me.

I KNOW PLACES

“They are the hunters, we are the foxes, and we run”

AND WE FINALLY REACH MY FAVORITE TRACK. I have to hold back my rant on this song for now, because it deserves (and is getting) a whole post of it’s own.

This is my favorite line, and it takes a whole post to delve into it. Let’s just say it’s the most important lyric of all time to me, because of what it helped to create. That creation may or may not have blue hair and be named Gwen…

No but in all seriousness, I love that she wrote this with the legendary Ryan Tedder, and that you can hear his vocals in the background. Everything about this song is amazing, the lyrics, production, chord arrangement, and Ryan Tedder. Okay I’ll move on for now lol.

CLEAN

“Let the flood carry away all my pictures of you”

“The water filled my lungs I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing”

I couldn’t pick just one okay?!? This one feels more like a track five to me, but it’s also the perfect way to close the original album. “She lost him, but found herself, and somehow that was everything.”

I cried the first time I heard this song, because this album came out when I was at the worst with my depression. The lyrics may be about a relationship, but they can honestly be applied to anything. I think this song fits perfectly for the themes of mental health, the fact that even in the toughest of storms, a metaphor I use constantly to represent my depression, you can find dry land and become clean.

And the speech she gave on the 1989 tour every night is beautiful, and something I often go back and look at. And if you think of where she was mentally and physically at that point, it becomes even more impactful.

WONDERLAND

“Didn’t you calm my fears with a chesher cat smile?”

This is another one that grew on me over time. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite tales, because of how absurd and fantastical it is. I never would’ve thought to compare a chaotic relationship to it, but it works. You can get so lost in something that you end up losing your mind. Love can make you do crazy things, right? And wonderland can be fantastical and amazing, until you start to see the darkness within it, or the problems under the surface.

YOU ARE IN LOVE

“Pauses then says, you’re my best frined, and you knew what it was, he is in love”

This song is just adorable. It chronicles a love from the first meeting, to being friends, to dating, to getting closer, and then the realisation of what it is, love, and proposing. I love the clear arc that is seen, and how it grows at a healthy place. And how witnessing such a love can help you understand what it should look like, and finally put it into words. I’ve been incrediblly fortunate to have this, to see what real, true love looks like, and how it helps you write about it. That true love is an equal partnership, that continues to grow, is healthy, and starts with friendship. It’s a true partner. And this song showcases such a love.

NEW ROMANTICS

“Heartbreak is the national anthem, we sing it proudly”

“We’re too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet”

“We team up and switch sides just like a record changer”

THE ENFP ANTHEM. AND YEAH I CAN’T SEEM TO PICK JUST ONE LYRIC.

Other than I Know Places, this is my favorite song. It is LITERALLY the ENFP’s anthem. We are a constant paradox, turning the darkness into something lighter. We dance in the face of tragedy, and find a way to keep smiling. That doesn’t mean we can’t be serious, or even manipulative. I’ve definitely got a few aces up my sleeve, and know how to switch up on you. We love the fun, the thrill, and look for that dopamine high that danger gives.

I love that she chose this for the tour video, because it’s so much fun. When I think of this album, this is the first song that comes to my mind. It perfectly sums up the album, the vibe, the 80s influence, and how she found herself along the way.

I KNOW PLACES VOICE MEMO

“Now I’m just making weird sounds”

I had to include these, they’’re a part of the deluxe album. My dad constantly quotes the line above by the way.

I love that she included these, because I can concur. Songwriting, and writing in general, is a different process every time. And OF COURSE I love that she did a break down of this song, since it’s my favorite.

Plus i use voice memos for all of my songs too, and am constantly making weird noises to get the ideas for the production down.

I WISH YOU WOULD VOICE MEMO

“Do you like ittt?”

She was so excited about this one, I love it. This album started one of the greatest songwriting duos of all time. Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift. I hope they never stop working together.

BLANK SPACE VOICE MEMO

“Oh my god, everyone’s going to kill you lol”

This one is by far my favorite of these, because it’s incredibly relatable. This is what it would sound like when me and my guitar teacher Matt would write songs together, I would share an idea, and we’d work on it. But once we get into the chorus or the actual song, it sounds exactly like this, us just shouting out random ideas and laughing.

Songwriting is different every time, and these show that in a really cool way. If only she rerecorded these…

BAD BLOOD FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR

“These beats of a dark heart, use baselines to replace you”

And now we ger to the superior version of Bad Blood. I think that Kendrick’s verses, along with the heavier production, elevate the song. I really hope this version is released, because it’s one of my favorite collabs she’s done. And I would really love to have the ethically sourced version for my graphic novel playlist. It’s kind of an important track in the list, so I really hope we get it.

UPDATE: SHE RELEASED IT ON THE DELUXE VERSION!!! YESSS 1989 IS COMPLETE NOW!!!

And that’s every track! I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, and are now prepared for Taylor’s Version coming out on Friday, October 27th! I have A LOT of 1989 centered content coming, including a cover of Shake It Off, a more in depth post on I Know Places, and a Sims 4 Create A Sim video inspired by 1989. Make sure you are following me on social media, and if you want some bonus content, go check out my Ko-Fi page!

What’s your favorite song on 1989?

Untl next time 🙂

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