Behind every millennial mom dancing in her kitchen is a Spotify account blasting the latest Taylor Swift tunes. Without a doubt, Taylor Swift lyrics give us all the feels, and she has a special way of relating to all of us no matter our unique circumstances. This is true even for moms.
Taylor Swift has become an inspiration for millions of women around the world – from her candid and power-filled lyrics to her unwavering loyalty to her fans. From taking a break from the public eye to making music that speaks to millions, Taylor Swift has evolved in an inspiring way since her debut in 2006. Her music is filled with thoughtful and honest lyrics that have inspired many women in a their careers and relationships, and even in motherhood.
While she is not a mother herself, Taylor Swift has created songs that perfectly express the joys and struggles of motherhood. In this blog post, we will be exploring several Taylor Swift lyrics and their application to parenting. Some are about Taylor’s own mother, Andrea. Some are based on speculation about Taylor’s life. But all have a connection to motherhood that can give us moms a little comfort, guidance, strength, and inspiration. Whether you’re an expecting mother, a new mother, or an experienced mom, Taylor Swift’s lyrics can help you find strength in your journey.
Here are twelve Taylor Swift lyrics that will inspire you to embrace motherhood.
READ MORE: Music By Mood: The Science Behind Why Music Makes Us Feel So Good
Connecting Taylor Swift’s Lyrics to Motherhood
Taylor Swift’s songs have been lauded for their inspiring lyrics, and her works can also be a great source of encouragement for new mothers. The themes of Taylor Swift’s songs are wide-ranging, but many of them offer up valuable lessons for mothers. Let’s take a closer look at the words of twelve songs every Swiftie will know.
Mine
Taylor sums up how we feel about our children in one line from the Speak Now era.
You are the best thing, that’s ever been mine.
While the lyric is part of a story about a love interest, it’s also about holding our loved ones close and having trust and faith in those we love. The music video adds to the sentimentality by showing Taylor first as single, then dating, and then engaged and married to her sweetheart, and together they go on to have two little boys. The video highlights shots of kid’s birthday parties, family time at the beach, and other sweet moments. It’s enough to melt a mama’s heart. Other songs from Miss Swift give similar vibes, like “Ours” and “Our Song.”
This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
This one is self-explanatory simply based on the title. Every mom is well acquainted with mess and chaos, and this song from the Reputation album is an anthem for everyone in the know. It’s speculated to be about Kanye West, and her attempts to forgive and befriend him after his rude interruption at an award show. But, the friendship couldn’t last when West then used Taylor’s name in lyrics she did not fully approve of and set her up to look like the bad guy. This might not sound like motherhood, but just read this line and let it sink into the physical, mental, and emotional messes moms work to clean up every day.
This is why we can’t have nice things, darling
Because you break them, I had to take them away
Bigger Than the Whole Sky
Trigger warning: miscarriage and loss
This song from the latest Midnights 3 a.m. Edition album is rumored to be about a miscarriage, possibly Taylor’s or one of her friends. No story has been corroborated publicly. Still, the lyrics are hauntingly relatable for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
You were bigger than the whole sky
You were more than just a short time
And I’ve got a lot to pine about
I’ve got a lot to live without
I’m never gonna meet
What could’ve been, would’ve been
What should’ve been you
Never Grow Up
This is a great example of Taylor writing for herself. It’s about growing up (obviously) and looking back to cherish special memories. It’s about not taking anything for granted, even small, seemingly insignificant moments of peace, simplicity, and innocence. This song, from the Speak Now album, has been a popular audio on Instagram for years, with moms everywhere using it on posts of their precious little ones. It’s incredibly sweet.
Oh, darlin’, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darlin’, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won’t let nobody hurt you
Won’t let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up
Innocent
These Taylor Swift lyrics are also from the Speak Now album, and they are also rumored to be about Kanye West. The song is about forgiveness and grace, even when one messes up. While Taylor and Kanye couldn’t remain friends, the words of this song ring true for mothers who want to teach their children about honesty and resilience, and unconditional love.
It’s alright, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you’ve been
You’re still an innocent
We all want our kids to know we love them after they make a mistake. Sometimes, reminders like this are helpful. We’re all trying our best, and our kids especially need to feel loved and supported, even when they mess up.
The Best Day
If you want to hear a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to a mother, this is it. “The Best Day” is from the Fearless album, and it catalogs moments and memories from Taylor’s life when her mom loved her, supported her, and made her day better. Andrea and Taylor have always been close. This song gives listeners a glimpse into their special bond.
And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side
Even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine and
I didn’t know if you knew
So I’m taking this chance to say
That I had the best day with you today
Hopefully, our kids will write amazing songs like this about us in the future!
Soon You’ll Get Better
Trigger warning: cancer
This one is heart-wrenching. This song was released on the Lover album, and it’s one that Taylor struggles to sing in public. It’s also about the love she has for her mother, but this time through the lens of someone who might lose a loved one to cancer. Taylor Swift’s words paint a sad, detailed picture of fear and hope. Andrea has privately battled a few rounds of cancer, and Swifties everywhere hope she can beat the disease.
The buttons of my coat were tangled in my hair
In doctor’s-office-lighting, I didn’t tell you I was scared
That was the first time we were there
Holy orange bottles, each night I pray to you
Desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus too
And I say to you
Ooh-ah, soon you’ll get better
Shake It Off
I stay out too late
Got nothing in my brain
That’s what people say
We all love this tune from the 1989 album, but why? Is it because we can relate? In many ways, yes. We are all exhausted and dealing with mom brain. And, we’re all dealing with negative comments, unsolicited advice, annoying prying, and unwanted interferences from both family and friends (who often mean well) and trolls on the internet (who don’t have good intentions at all)! In times like this, the best thing we can do is take Taylor’s advice and “shake it off.” There’s no use in getting too upset; instead, practice patience, mindfulness, self-confidence, grace, and healthy boundary-setting.
Of course, if you have some true haters, you can always check out “Mean” or “Look What You Made Me Do” to work through your angst.
It’s Nice to Have a Friend
This one may seem like a stretch, but hear us out. “It’s Nice to Have a Friend,” tells the story of children who become best friends and grow up together to get married. It’s a sweet, simple story, and there is something so wholesome about it that makes us think other moms can feel something, too, when listening to this song. In a world full of bullying and hate, we can hope for and seek our true, pure friendships. We can grow healthy relationships. It’s what we want for our kids because it’s what we long for in our own lives.
School bell rings, walk me home
Sidewalk chalk covered in snow
Lost my gloves, you give me one
“Wanna hang out?”
Yeah, sounds like fun
Mary’s Song
This is from Taylor’s debut album, and it’s one of the first times she told someone else’s story through song (which she has gone on to do in several other instances, specifically her folklore and evermore albums). The lyrics tell the story of children who grow up to fall in love, building their own family in a home and a town they love. The words are full of sweetness and evoke almost tangible, nostalgic memories for listeners. This song paints a picture of a lifetime of love, a picture that many of us hope to have when we bring our kids home from the hospital and watch them grow up.
Take me home where we met so many years before
We’ll rock our babies on that very front porch
After all this time, you and I
We all want a loving home where we can nurture and grow a happy, healthy family. Doesn’t that sound idyllic?
Ronan
Trigger warning: loss
This song wasn’t released until Taylor started rerecording her older work after all the drama with her former label. But, fans heard it live years ago. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a grieving mother who lost her young son to cancer. The lyrics are heartbreaking and bittersweet, journaling the special life of a child who enjoyed normal things like Halloween and dinosaurs and racecars, but also dealt with a horrific illness.
Come on, baby, with me
We’re gonna fly away from here
You were my best four years
You can hear the full studio version of “Ronan” on Red (Taylor’s Version). You can learn more about the Ronan Thompson Foundation, named for the little boy who passed away, here.
Long Live
After some long days running errands, cleaning up messes, helping with chores and homework, and doing all we need to do for our families, we just need a reminder that we are doing amazing work in our homes!
Long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming, “Long live all the magic we made”
And bring on all the pretenders
One day, we will be remembered
Our homes are our kingdoms, and each day we put in the effort to conquer our challenges and create magic for our kiddos. It’s exhausting and a lot of work, but one day, our kids will be healthy, mature, responsible adults. If we do what’s right, they will love us and cherish their memories, and they will go forward doing good in the world around them. That is true success. Thanks for the reminder, Taylor.
READ MORE: 6 Ways to Get Your Kids More into Music
Inspiration in Every Era
The journey of motherhood is one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences in life. Taylor Swift’s powerful words throughout her career remind us to embrace every second of it and to never forget why we started it in the first place. By embracing the Taylor Swift lyrics we highlighted, we are able to find strength, joy, and beauty in motherhood.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out The Correlation Between Music and Learning for more tips and tricks!
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