Taylor Swift continues to delight her fans with grandiose pop songs laced with allusions to past relationships and those who crossed her. So far this year she's released two sets of music - Folklore and Evermore. Now comes Midnights.
This album details thirteen sleepless nights in Taylor's life. She succumbs to intrusive thoughts as her exes, public image and adversaries attempt to destroy or redeem her reputation.
1. You’re On Your Own
1989 begins with this country-tinged romantic fantasy as the opening vault track, providing us with our first glimpse of teenage Swift. Free from her official pop rock songs, her vocals paint in unexpected corners and sound especially raw on this track - she even breaks out her southern accent!
Red's breezy guy-standing-on-a-doorstep song finds Taylor longing for the rush of their earlier dates' passions again. Co-written with Imogen Heap, its drip-drip production and water imagery create an aura of cleansing catharsis.
Swift showcased her signature voice at its peak, while writing some of the most intimate lyrics she had ever penned. The sensual ballad gave listeners hope that their soul mate was out there waiting just for them; its impact would recur on later albums such as Reputation.
2. Maroon
No doubt about it; Swift experienced her fair share of heartbreak in 2016. From her public split from Scottish DJ Calvin Harris to her subsequent romance with English actor Joe Alwyn, Midnights offers up some of Swift's darkest, most mature writing yet.
The opener of her latest album captures an atmosphere of quiet and isolation with lyrics such as "we're in the kitchen humming," which references past references to cooking together with an intimate partner (as seen with visuals from "All Too Well" and sacred new beginnings on "Cornelia Street"). Fans speculate this track may even refer to Alwyn.
3. Midnight Rain
Swift's often obscure lyrics make it hard to pinpoint exactly what this song is about, with fans suggesting its subject is Taylor Lautner whom she briefly dated during her pop star rise in 2008. Other think it could refer to their relationship in 2021 via its lines "He was sunshine, I was midnight rain".
But given the rest of her album, Midnight Rain seems more likely to be about fate. While her previous pandemic indie albums Folklore and Evermore were fictional stories about love affairs that took place somewhere other than her life, Midnight Rain is intensely autobiographical; showing Swift as someone who feels fate has put someone like Alwyn in her path despite feeling she may now have another partner; no doubt Alwyn remains at the back of her mind even as new relationships entwine themselves around hers.
4. I Don’t Know
Swift's vault tracks often feel like drafts that would later be more fully realized on her official albums, yet this emotional tribute to an old friend who died too soon is a powerful and moving reminder that grief can fracture even the strongest relationships.
As in "Starlight," this early ballad paints an idyllic image of lifelong love without romantic proposals and going straight to old age. Co-written by Nathan Chapman, its production was an instantaneous Nashville success.
Swift's collaboration with folk duo the Civil Wars stands out among her soundtrack cuts as one of her finest. Free from her usual mode, she showcases an unexpected high-pitched vibrato that paints corners you didn't expect her to reach and blends harmoniously with Joy Williams and John Paul White's soothing harmonies.
5. Anti-Hero
This heartbreaking track about love lost is an emotional listen. Although it remains unknown who Taylor is singing about, some fans speculate it could be her former flame. Her lyrics refer to feeling "too big to hang out" and being too much for anyone else to deal with - both issues which she has experienced due to negative comments about her body size and shape.
Midnights is Taylor Swift's tenth studio album and was released on October 21, 2022. Following 2019 album Lover and 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore, as well as re-recordings of 2012 albums Red (Taylor's Version) and Fearless from 2012. Additionally, Midnights includes a 10-minute version of All Too Well featuring Jack Antonoff production with extended lyrics - available exclusively to this album.
6. Peace
Joe may be the inspiration behind this song, but its message is more about Taylor's experience discovering love for herself. Her relationship is an ode to finding truth and purpose away from prying eyes and critics.
Set to an unassuming arrangement, Taylor pleads with her lover not to allow fame and attention of the paparazzi to compromise their private relationship. She wonders whether she can ever give him peace and normalcy in such an unnerved world of "smear campaigns" and paparazzi.
Though she doesn't name him explicitly, fans have linked this song with her relationship with actor Joe Alwyn as it sings about being an object of constant attention. One of the most emotionally engaging tracks on the album and an absolute must listen! The lyrics serve as a heart-wrenching reminder that love shouldn't always be taken lightly and can have serious repercussions.
7. Nothing New
Folklore was Taylor Swift's debut album of mostly fictional tales, marking a break from her signature autobiographical tunes. Production on this record is also more subdued than her typical pop fare, with gentle acoustics and layers of vocals helping bring Swift's lyrics alive.
This song is an introspective exploration of love's power to shatter hearts, written by Taylor Swift as part of Dear John and reflecting her own heartbreak at an abusive relationship. While Swift often writes about such topics (see Dear John for instance), this track feels particularly gut-wrenching and cruel - it could possibly reference her romance with Joe Alwyn (whose name appears on its lyrics credits)! Swift's lyrics continue to evolve along with her as she emerges as one of music's finest emerging artisans of deep music that stands apart.
8. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
Taylor Swift songs of old often focused on specific exes or relationships and what went wrong, such as cheating or mistreating her in breakup songs. But in this track, Swift blames herself rather than their former flames for any problems in the relationship.
Fans have speculated that this "vault track" may have been composed during Midnights writing sessions; however, its style or theme do not align with that album.
The lyrics in "Delicate Balance" refer to a love that's both "sweet nothing" and "labyrinthine," and many fans have taken this to be an allusion to Joe Alwyn, whom Taylor Swift began dating since June of 2022. Additionally, its use of royalty references may allude to Joe Alwyn's English roots.
9. Counting Stars
Swift's tribute to an old friend who succumbed to leukemia is an emotionally potent yet straightforward song, showing her unrivalled talent at writing emotively about heartbreak. Although two iconic lines from its lyrics were lost due to editing constraints, this remains one of 1989's finest moments.
This soothing R&B track features Swift's confident vocal performance and an outstanding saxophonist who shines. Nathan Chapman's production serves as an early glimpse at what would come later with Red, pulling out all the tricks in Nashville playbook for this track.
This self-aware ballad serves as a testament to Swift's changing priorities as she began distancing herself from her image as a woman who devoured men. While some of its references to Trump may be misplaced, its anxiety about losing youth currency rings true.
10. If I Ever Lose My Faith
Fearless' opening track, this heartfelt ballad from Taylor shows her at her dramatic best. Though later songs from Fearless would focus more closely on real-life relationships, this song's core message is about finding your own self-worth.
Fun fact: Taylor Swift references all shades of red in this powerful piano ballad from her Red album. Rose, wine, burgundy, blood and scarlet all make appearances here!
Though never explicitly mentioned in the song, many fans believe this track may allude to Taylor Swift's miscarriage in 2013. She even performed it alongside Joe Alwyn during their Fearless tour in 2023 - making this track an integral part of Swift's career and Reputation album closing act.
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