Everyone has thought about what would happen if every person on earth jumped at the same time, and while the effects would likely be miniscule, there is one person who can make the entire world rattle: Taylor Swift. On June 18, 2021, she announced the release date for Red: Taylor’s Version. On August 6, she released the track list, which included 9 Vault Tracks, never produced by her. Finally, after an agonizing 4 months or so, my ears have been blessed.
I was blown away by the success of the album and wanted to share the best lyrics in each Vault track.
“I hold onto this pride because these days it’s all I have, and I gave to you my best, and we both know you can’t say that.” – Better Man
This section of the bridge is a summation of the entire song: hoping, praying that someone could be better than they are or were. It really captures the hopelessness of the song and the album overall.
“I know I’m probably better off on my own than loving a man who didn’t know what he had when he had it.” – Better Man
Truthfully, this is a perfect preface to the entire album: while it is trademarked as her “pure, to the core heartbreak album,” it’s also recurring theme of knowing her worth within the relationship she’s reflecting on.
“Criticize the way you fly when you’re soaring through the sky.” – Nothing New (Feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
The introduction of this song talks about the criticism women receive, specifically in the music industry, but among others as well. It’s an impressive commentary on the idea that women can do everything right and people will still complain about something, especially in light of success.
“How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22?” – Nothing New (Feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
In the same breath, this lyric encompasses how adolescence feels like you’re getting the hang of things, but your early 20s is when you start to take steps back and are overwhelmed by just how much you don’t know. It’s something that’s not talked about often, especially in music, and it’s a beautiful lyric to describe such circumstances.
“What about your promises?” – Babe
Originally recorded by Sugarland, this line was not included in the original version of the song but it definitely adds depth and dimension. More specifically, it contributes to the “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” parallels, where she is more consumed by frustration than grief, sadness, or anger.
“I break down every time you call; we’re a wreck, you’re the wrecking ball.” – Babe
Though this is her canon heartbreak album, these lyrics focus more on justifiably blaming her ex-lover than having time to be upset, which is entirely valid.
“You could be the one that I keep, and I could be the reason you can’t sleep at night.” – Message in a Bottle
A bittersweet, yet refreshing twist on the ache from the rest of the album, Message in a Bottle talks about the reality of long-distance, right there with “Come Back, Be Here.”
“I bet you couldn’t believe when you realized I’m harder to forget than I was to leave.” – I Bet You Think About Me (Feat. Chris Stapleton)
My bias is definitely showing for this song, but the lyricism within her expressive presentation is immaculate. While the heartbreaker is rumored to be Jake Gyllenhaal, nothing can be confirmed, but these lyrics are allegedly about Swift’s past partner who infamously ghosted her on her 21st birthday. Conveniently, this is the same time Swift and Gyllenhaal were speculated to be together by… the paparazzi and every devoted Swiftie ever.
“Oh, block it all out: the voices so loud, saying ‘Why did you let her go?’ Does it make you feel sad that the love that you’re looking for is the love that you had?” – I Bet You Think About Me (Feat. Chris Stapleton)
Right along the theme of knowing her worth and being confident in her role in the relationship, these lines perfectly express the frustration and sadness that she feels. It’s almost like a silent plea for him to understand that he’s searching for something he willingly let go, but according to “I Almost Do,” those pleas wouldn’t be heard…
“Now you’re out in the world, searchin’ for your soul. Scared not to be hip, scared to get old, chasing make-believe status. Last time you felt free was when none of that shit mattered ’cause you were with me.” – I Bet You Think About Me (Feat. Chris Stapleton)
This is overtly confident, and appropriately so. She’s reminding him of how good she was to him: distracting him from everything that he was previously worried about.
“He says, ‘Why fall in love, just so you can watch it go away?’ He spends most of his nights wishing it was how it used to be.” – Forever Winter
In the days since its release, “Forever Winter” has been a vastly underrated track with underrated lyrics. For a story about loving someone with mental illness, it’s a great image of the hopelessness the lover will feel while watching their partner suffer.
“I’d fall to pieces on the floor if you weren’t around – too young to know it gets better. I’ll be summer sun for you forever, forever winter if you go.” – Forever Winter
The beauty of the last part of the chorus is the reassurance the narrator is giving their partner, begging them to understand that they’re not a burden to those around them.
“This thing was a shot in the dark; say you’ll never let ’em tear us apart, and I’ll hold onto you while we run like we’d run from the law.” – Run (Feat. Ed Sheeran)
Reminiscent of “Ours” from Speak Now, this song is all about ignoring the world around you and pursuing what you want when it comes to a partnership. It almost offers a different ending to “Treacherous” (with “I Knew You Were Trouble” being the original), where it works out between the narrator and her bad decision.
“My friends all say they know everything I’m going through. I drive down different roads, but they all lead back to you.” – The Very First Night
Oh, this hits hard in a small town, doesn’t it? This lyric is a perfect depiction of always having feelings for the same person, no matter how many people you go through or what circumstances change.
“And so it was, we never saw it comin’. Not tryin’ to fall in love, but we did like children runnin’.” – The Very First Night
This one is important! It directly references lyrics in “Treacherous,” where she says “I never saw you coming, and I’ll never be the same.” These parallels to the original songs from the album are just another example of how nothing is a coincidence when it comes to Taylor Swift.
“I was thinking on the drive down, ‘any time now, he’s gonna say it’s love,’ you never called it what it was – until we were dead and gone and buried.” – All Too Well (Ten Minute Version)
This point is a nod to the line in “State of Grace” where the subject is called out for not saying he loved her until they were broken up. Truthfully, there are so many call-outs in the Vault tracks that couldn’t be covered, but were justifiably included in the album.
“And there we are again when nobody had to know. You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath.” – All Too Well (Ten Minute Version)
One of the most legendary lyrics from the entire album has to be this one, solely because it’s a point where Swift summarizes the entire relationship into one line – how he was never as invested in the relationship as she was, and how he was likely embarrassed to be with her.
The Red re-release was undoubtedly successful with multiple merch drops, sell-outs, obligatory Easter eggs hidden everywhere, and multiple developing trends that feature re-recorded songs or Vault tracks. Do we think Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is the next re-recording? Or are you a 1989 dreamer? Stay tuned…
Image credits: Eva Rinaldi and jazills
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