Story of my Life

1989 Songs!

Because I am obsessed with this album right now, and because Taylor's songs always have some secret meaning to them, I thought I'd make a chapter telling you three things about each song: 1, the meaning behind it; 2, my lyric of choice; and 3, the secret message. 

In the album booklet, some letters are lowercase while the rest are capitals. Put those letters together, and BOOM! You have a message! Which also helps to figure out the meaning for the song. 

Anyway, here we go!

1. Welcome To New York

Meaning-- Taylor wrote this song about her move to New York. When she moved into the Big Apple, she said that it intimidated her, but she also felt this "wide-eyed optimism", like anything could happen and there was endless potential and how she felt so much inspiration from the city. This song is about her love for New York.

Choice Lyric-- It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat/Forevermore, the lights are so bright, but they never blind me.

Secret Message-- WE BEGIN OUR STORY IN NEW YORK

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2. Blank Space

Meaning-- This song is all about how the media portrays Taylor. They see her as this serial-dater, I-only-date-you-to-make-money-from-songs kind of person. Taylor says that she realized how interesting and complex of a character that was, and so she took that image and made her own over-the-top character from it. Basically, Taylor is showing the media that she doesn't care what they say anymore.

Choice Lyrics-- All the lyrics are perfection. But if I had to choose one...

Got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane/'Cause you know I love the players, and you love the game.

Secret Message-- THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL KNOWN BY EVERYONE AND NO ONE

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3. Style

Meaning-- This song is about Taylor's uneasiness in this romance. She knows that a guy "coming to pick her up at midnight" didn't end well last time, but she doesn't care because their love is just that good. She says that she knows some trends never go out of style, and there are also feelings that never go out of style. This song is about Harry Styles, thus the name of the song.

Choice Lyrics-- You've got that James Dean daydream look in your eyes/And I've got that red lip classic thing thing that you like.

Secret Message-- HER HEART BELONGED TO SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T STAY (maybe referencing another song from the record, All You Had To Do Was Stay?)

* * * * *

4. Out Of The Woods

Meaning-- Taylor says that this song is about "the fragile and breakable nature of some relationships". It was the kind of relationship where you weren't quite sure if it was going to end the next day or whether it was going to last. Taylor explains that 'the feeling of not being on solid ground brought excitement, but also anxiety.' Once again, this song is about Harry Styles. In this song, she also brings up some things that the media didn't know about their relationship--polaroid pictures, and the matching paper airplane necklaces they both wore.

Choice Lyrics-- Looking at it now, last December/We were built to fall apart, and fall back together.

Secret Message-- THEY LOVED EACH OTHER RECKLESSLY

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5. All You Had To Do Was Stay

Meaning-- This song Taylor wrote about a guy who kept wanting to get back together with her, and she kept believing him. After they break up again, he wants her back but she says no, because she is "gone forever when you say goodbye". For a third time, she wrote this song about Harry Styles. They dated twice, and this is about when they broke up the second time and Harry tried to get back together. He was all Taylor wanted, but he just couldn't stay. (Like I said earlier, the secret message to Style could be referencing this song. They are both about Harry, after all. And this one clearly says that he couldn't stay.)