The Soundtrack of My Life (Taylor's Version)
A celebration of music, memories, and the lyrics that stay with me
In honor of my girl, Taylor Swift, buying back her masters and officially owning all her work, I felt inspired to write a fun and fluffy post about her music.
Yes, Taylor is the biggest popstar in the world. But once upon a time (2006, to be exact), she had just debuted. Middle-school-me was hooked the moment I heard ‘Teardrops of My Guitar’ on the radio and excitedly bought her first album.
I know I can’t gatekeep Taylor Swift, but let me emphasize: I am an OG fan - and I stuck with her through the 2017-hate-train. The truth is her music played a huge role in helping hard moments in my life feel not-so-hard. She wasn’t this cool, glamorous popstar (okay, she kinda is now…) - but she felt normal, slightly nerdy, genuinely relatable. I saw myself in her words - so I gladly celebrate her ownership of them!
Here are 10 of her songs that I personally love, deeply resonate with, or simply associate specific moments of my life with. My mini-life-soundtrack (Taylor’s Version).
Daylight
The spoken outro to this song became my life mantra.
“I wanna be defined by the things that I love - not the things I hate, not the things I’m afraid of or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night. I just think that you are what you love.”
Love Story
This song was the last song that played at our wedding reception, and it is genuinely one of the happiest memories of my life - being surrounded by love and celebration as we began the rest of our lives together. It’s fun. It’s nostalgic. It’s a hit.
You’re On Your Own, Kid
My relationship to independence is complicated. As a child, I was terrified of ending up all alone. But as I grew, worked hard through school, and entered adulthood…the pendulum swung. I clung to independence like a badge of honor, convincing myself I needed no one.
Now, I exist somewhere in the middle. The concept of being ‘on your own’ is both scary and empowering, and I constantly live in both of those truths. This song resonates with me deeply.
Particularly the lyrics that reflect on using writing as an escape during teen years (“Something different bloomed, I’m writing in my room…I’ll run away.”)
And the insanely good bridge that makes me think of my becoming a mother and creating the family I always dream of.
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
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
The jokes weren't funny, I took the money
My friends from home don't know what to say
I looked around in a blood-soaked gown
And I saw something they can't take away
'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
Style
A song that reminds me of what an insanely fun college experience I had. 1989 was the album that fueled late night drives, walks to class, pre-games (we’re being honest here, right?). Style in particular was always my favorite.
Peace
A beautiful love song about accepting each other, in spite of fears you and your baggage might be ‘too much’ for someone. It reminds me of how I felt when I was falling in love with my husband.
“Give you my wild, give you a child. The kind of silence that only comes when two people understand each other. Family that I chose now that I see your brother as my brother.”
Fifteen
What a wonderful and wise song about coming-of-age. I consider myself lucky that I had this song to actually listen to while I was fifteen. With each passing year, I only appreciate the lyrics more. The Fearless album as a whole captures that pivotal time in my life, and it’s this song that is at the heart of it.
Breathe
A song that soothed me during a particularly hard friendship fall out.
All Too Well
Simply said, this is my favorite Taylor Swift song and has been ever since Red came out in 2012. The lyrics? TOP. NOTCH.
“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.
Plaid shirt days and nights when you made your own. Now you mail back my things and I walk home alone.
But you keep my old scarf from that very first week. Because it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me.”
Mirrorball
A dreamy, people-pleaser anthem. Deep down, we all just want to be seen, accepted, and loved. And sometimes that means being different versions of ourselves for different people - becoming different pieces of yourself in order to reflect light for others (just like a, you guessed it, mirrorball!) But what happens to the mirrorball when the lights shut off and the people go home? And there is no one left to ‘perform for’ and it’s just you with your true self? I find myself navigating this feeling often.
Clean
The hidden gem that closes 1989, and one of my all-time favorite lyrics, ever. It’s about the clarity and hope that come from leaving something (or someone) toxic behind. And realizing, with full certainty, that you made it through.
“The water filled my lungs I screamed so loud, but no one heard a thing.
Rain came pouring down. When I was drowning, that’s when I could finally breathe.”
There you have it, friends!
Do you have an artist of your lifetime? Music that has shaped and carried you through?
Alongside Taylor, Maren Morris has an incredible amount of songs that have becoming deeply meaningful and relatable to my life. Maybe I’ll share a post on her like that someday - especially since we are seeing her on tour in September and I can’t wait!
Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead. Listen to some songs you love!
See you next Sunday!
Love, Cass