10. Cruel Summer

Favorite Lyric: “He looks up, grinning like a devil” 

“He looks up grinning like a devil”–that line gets me every time. When Taylor sings the lyric, I have to sing (or scream) along. That verse alone (I’m drunk in the back of the car/ And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar) is primarily why “Cruel Summer” makes my top ten; add in the song’s catchy melody and it’s a clear favorite.

9. Enchanted

Favorite Lyric: “This is me praying that / This was the very first page / Not where the storyline ends”

The book lover in me loves this song because of the story throughout it’s lyrics–Swift’s storytelling is something I admire overall about her. The emotion in this song–the yearning in it–really strikes a chord with me (no pun intended). 

8. Nothing New (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)

Favorite Lyric: “How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22? / Will you still want me when I’m nothing new?”

This song hits so hard. I have a playlist titled “when i’m in my feels,” and this is one of the songs I put on repeat when I listen to it.

I’m also a crazy Phoebe Bridgers fan, so this song gets extra points for featuring Bridgers.

7. Mastermind

Favorite Lyric: “And the touch of a hand lit the fuse / Of a chain reaction of countermoves / To assess the equation of you”

“Mastermind” scratches the itch in my brain that I didn’t know needed scratching. There is something about the writing and the story that just feels right.

The tempo, the lyrics, everything is a masterpiece written by a mastermind.

6. Love Story (Taylor’s Version)

Favorite Lyric: “’Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter”

This is the song that made me realize deep down I may actually be a hopeless romantic. The narrative in the lyrics makes me feel invested in a love story that only lasts three minutes and 56 seconds. The plot twist at the end only adds to the satisfaction of that storyline.

5. The Archer

Favorite Lyric: “All the king’s horses, all the king’s men / Couldn’t put me together again / ’cause all of my enemies started out friends”

I’m more in love with the instrumentals of this song than anything else–the lyrics are sweet, but the background instrumentals complement Swift’s singing, elevating her voice to another level.

4. Anti-Hero

Favorite Lyric: “…then someone screams out / “She’s laughing up at us from hell”

After my first listen of “Midnights,” this song stuck out to me. The way Swift carves out her insecurity and puts in on show for the whole world to see is a true tribute to her amazing song writing skills and her willingness to be vulnerable. 

3. Back to December (Acoustic)

Favorite Lyric: “You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye”

There’s a difference between the acoustic and the original album version of this song–the acoustic is far superior. It’s more raw. The story feels that much more real, more authentic, with the stripped-down version, highlighting the acoustic guitar in the background. 

2. Don’t Blame Me

Favorite Lyric: “I once was poison ivy, but now I’m your daisy”

“Don’t Blame Me” is one of the best songs on “reputation”–my favorite Swift album. The contrast of sounds–the reverb, the distortion, the synthesizers, the layers of Swift’s vocals– are a recipe for success. The production of this song is what makes it stand out from Swift’s other work.

1. I Did Something Bad

Favorite Lyric: “This is how the world works / You gotta leave before you get left”

Before I die, I want to see Swift perform this song live. I don’t necessarily care if I have to sell my liver or a lung in the process. This song has quickly become my anthem, and if I a person could have a theme song, I might wish this was mine.