I finished Evermore last night. And I can absolutely see how it’s a continuation of folklore. I liked it, as usual, but there was one song on this one that I think sealed in my fate as a Swiftie. Seriously, it was the song that made me realize that Taylor Swift has a song for just about every emotion. Every situation in life that can have an impact on you. Today was a cool, grey, rainy day and I’m not feeling 100%, but putting on this album in my car driving my stupidly short commute to and from work was very comforting. It matched the weather and it soothed my mind. I’m not particularly upset or feeling something negative today, but it just felt good to listen. I’d like to listen to it again, but later tonight I’m going to try and power through all of Midnights. Plenty of time to leisurely stroll back through all these albums once I’m caught up.
Here are my thoughts and lyrics that stood out to me:
1: willow— Oh I see. Willows bend. “The more that you say, the less I know”, “But I come back stronger than a 90s trend”. A manipulative man? Following him anyway? Still wanting to be with him.
2: champagne problems—She broke his heart. I get it—champagne was to celebrate an engagement, but she broke up with him before he could propose (**I didn’t initially catch that he did propose and she said no). “She’s fucked in the head”. This is telling quite a story. “You won’t remember.” He’ll get over her.
3: gold rush—Hero worship. “Contrarian shit”. People love and swoon over this person, she has him but doesn’t feel the same way they do. The end is the same as the beginning. Abrupt end.
**These songs are all very mellow.
4: tis the damn season—intro sounds similar, but slower version of “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers. “And the road not taken looks real good now.” A Christmas song, but not. On the verge of leaving and doing something big and life changing, leaving a love behind, gotta take the chance
5: tolerate it—Song #5 has an E! Trying to do her best for him, she loves him hard, yikes! He only tolerates it. Ouch! I feel like this could be based on her own experience…Jake again? This is harsh! Oh! But what if she left? Don’t know if she does though. (**O.k. So it was based on a book she read that she related to).
6: no body no crime (feat. HAIM)— Oh…is this going to be a political song? O.k., never mind. Gasp! Did he kill her?! Good twist on what he did. Feels like one of those country songs, like “Goodbye Earl”. Oh my goodness…another twist! Oh this is good! I love this! She almost sounds happy about it at the end.
7: happiness—“I haven’t met the new me yet”, very soulful, sad song. Look back wistfully at a relationship and what’s coming, they’re both hurt. “My eyes leak acid rain”, “You haven’t met the new me yet.” (**As someone currently discovering the new “me”, I really like the lyrics of not meeting the new “me” yet).
8: dorothea—More upbeat, someone went off and made it big, friend left behind, kind of whimsical, days gone by, but there’s still a place at home, I like that, what happens to those people we adored in high school?
9: coney island (feat. The National)—The man admitting fault, duet, both acknowledging defeat in the relationship. The accident? She didn’t thank him in an acceptance speech, kind of sad feeling.
10: ivy—“Where the spirit meets the bones”, a graveyard? The most beautifully sung “goddamn”, lol! A lot of metaphorical lyrics. An affair? She’s obviously not happy, but falls hard for this person.
11: cowboy like me—At an event? Guarding her heart? “Only if they pay for it”, “hustling”. So tricking people out of money, both of them do that, they fall for each other. Interesting story.
12: long story short—much more upbeat, bad past, giving up her bad past to be with new guy and focus on him, devoted.
13: marjorie—lost someone, remembering that person, their advice, words of wisdom, keeping their memory alive, didn’t appreciate her when she was alive, or took her for granted (**book says it was her grandma who died when she was 13).
14: closure—“It wasn’t right the way it all went down”, “I’m fine with my spite.” Me too, girl! Me too! “It cut deep to know ya”, “I don’t need your closure”, very snarky with the message, attitude all throughout, I really like it.
15: evermore (feat. Bon Iver)—Reflective. Ah! I see “evermore” in context now, kind of a defeated feeling, very painful, quite a change when Bon Iver comes in. He has hope, wants to work it out, sounds/feels chaotic with the two of them.
16: right where you left me—Does she want to go somewhere else? Not moving on, not changing, wallowing? Unable/incapable, doesn’t know what to do, reminiscing, oh…he admits to finding someone else, frozen in shock, this is really sad, but weirdly upbeat.
And here’s the song that almost made me cry because I’m convinced she was talking to me specifically…
17: it’s time to go—He’s defending himself, trying to convince her he’s not cheating, time to go, literally from the restaurant, also time to leave the relationship. Other scenarios… “20 years at your job” OMG! That whole part in the middle! I walked out! I swear to god this is like her soothing me and telling me it’s ok, I did the right thing. I know I did, but damn she has a song for that too! Straight to the inspirational playlist.
(For my new followers…last year I quit a job that had consumed my life for 19 years. Seriously, the job was practically my identity. And I walked away from it. I got to a point where I just had to. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made because it really was more than just a job. I’ve been much much happier and all around physically and mentally more healthy since I left, and yet, sometimes I wonder what if…but not now. Here’s my new bestie telling me that I did the right thing. It was time for me to go).
No reaction selfies for this album, but at the very least, here’s a behind the scenes picture of the situation I found myself in while writing this post:
Apple Music says Midnights is one hour and 21 minutes. I can probably get it done tonight if I don’t lose focus. Getting started in 3…2…1…
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