YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN KID| Taylor Swift’s Best Song and Eras Tour Anthem? Swiftie Examines Lyrics Lore

[@LucijaC24]

I keep thinking this song is actually the one reminiscing on her deep past - like, from highschool back. She didn't choose the town she grew up in. She was just born there. She dreamed of getting out - to Nashville. But this boy she was really into from school could make her stay. The waiting patiently to notice her also sounds similar to her highschool love stories (You Belong With Me f.e.) And NOW friends from home (who were her friends at that time) don't know what to say. It's her finding out how very much she has changed, but some things stayed the same (her writing in her room and being on her own). Thanks for your great work, by the way, I really like your channel!

[@cniddy7228]

I agree! I never saw it as a Joe/Matty song, but more her longitudinal experience of love throughout her life and building her career

[@NinasNook]

Totally possible! Lyrics are nothing but poetry deciphered by your own life experience as to their meaning. ❤️❤️

[@notnicci3689]

This is what I thought too! The beginning of the song describes the initial rise to fame so well.

[@AndromacheNY]

I think this works as a cycle. There have always been love interests. There have always been parties that made her feel inferior. There have always been reasons to settle down or compromise or shrink herself to fot someone else's mold. But Taylor always had herself, her art, her passion, her goals. Summers and Winters, friends old and new, enemies and people who betrayed her, but she was true to herself, her artistry, and her sense of self which has always been documented in her diaristic writing. She can trace her path through her songs, and she can reclaim them because no one can steal her self.

[@sonnymc4677]

I totally agree with you about the second half of the song. I think the first stanza is about Taylor in high school, and the boy she had a crush on (dreams of a bigger life), but for him she would stay. The sprinkler slashes to fireplace ashes to me denotes the changing of seasons (summer to winter). The second stanza she realizes the boy she likes doesn't like her and she relies on her songwriting to get her through her disappointment. Then a new dream emerges, she wants to go to Nashville and pursue a music career. When she sings about playing her songs in parking lots, there was an article in the Detroit Free Press, by someone who had dinner with Taylor in 2006 when she was 16. The dinner was with the all the main radio guys in Detroit. This is a quote : "After dinner in P.F. Chang’s, they headed out to the parking lot. There, on the spur of the moment, Swift fetched an acoustic guitar to perform a personal, impromptu set for the WYCD exec. “I got in the car later with my wife,” Roberts recounted. “And I said, ‘Is it just me, or did those all sound like monster hits?’" Plus that parking lot line always makes me think of that picture of her as a teenager on a barge that has a Taylor Swift sign, playing to this small crowd. I agree with you that this is one of her best songs. I don't want it to be ruined with thoughts of Joe or Matty lol!

[@cindywhite3527]

This song is so wonderful because, in reality, aren’t we all “on our own kid” ? Taylor has a way of knowing what to sing about to make us love her and feel like she’s our best friend next door. She experiences the same emotions and situations she does. This helps empower us…to know, we are not alone in the world and anytime we need support, she’s as close as our CD player and You tube on our phone. How comforting that is to me. Thanks for breaking down and analyzing this song. It is definitely one of her greatest! My favorite of her songs is and may always be “The Smallest Man” because of my most horrible life experience. I hope Travis is the love of her life. I long for her happiness. Thanks for your hard work, Nina. I am enjoying these so much! You are amazing! This is a great support group! ♥️🦋❤️🌸🌈👍😍

[@Gosgos666]

I really like how she went from "I picked the petals - he loves me not" to "something different bloomed" one flower was dead and petal-less, but another grew 🌼 I think Matty really gave her hope, which tbh I'm thankful for, at least she left what wasn't working for her

[@NinasNook]

I agree completely! I think she wanted to have hope that “the one” was out there when she started to question.

[@liviabubholz2823]

I looove these! Keep them going! Go girlllll

[@NinasNook]

Awww thank you so much 🥰🥰

[@mikedebruyn]

For me this song always has been about the journey and all the ups and downs that she had to go trough and grow from to get to where she is now. It's a song about perseverance. The first verse to me is Debut, she is part of a bigger group and afaik the last time she has been that was in High School, after that she was the star. To me this is Teardrops on my Guitar. The other verses have scattered references as well but then the bridge is the period of 1989 and snake gate and how she got out of it with Reputation. Again she persevered. If there is a reference to a relation in the song then it is as part of the journey not as the subject. For me this is track 5 for the same reason as why So Long, London is track 5 over loml or how did it end. It is because of the timeframe, the long struggle to understand that obstacles will be overcome but that you should not forget to live life. Btw that small line about the friendship bracers, imagine if she had not included that, would she have met Travis then? If over 50 years we look back and they are still happy and together that small line might have been the most important line she ever wrote.

[@romancereadingfrenzy]

I have thought of this song as more of a retrospective, starting from her earlier life reflecting upon the theme of times she was "on her own" and overcame circumstances every time, and reminding herself it's ok she will make it through this time in her life like she always has every other time before (the decision to leave Joe and embrace the new unknown).

[@karinrommel5925]

I am really enjoying your breakdowns of the lyrics! Thank you so much. I can't wait for more!!

[@NinasNook]

Thank you so much! ❤️❤️

[@Kayla-Is-Down-Bad]

I like your thoughts on this song. There’s 3 things I had a little different outlook on 1) the searched the party of better bodies made me think it was a long time ago feeling and is giving 1985/red eras so my first thought is ATW 10min (in a party bathroom some actress asking me what happened) but a tiny maybe Harry 2) So long Daisy Mae to me is when she said “so long” to country and reinvented herself as a pop singer. People use Daisy Mae as a dig to country girls. 3) Blood soaked gown immediately makes me think Carrie! She felt like she was Carrie at the prom with the pigs blood all over her when the whole snake thing was going on

[@BeachyVibes-SunnySkies]

Thanks so much for this, it was delightful and emotional! I enjoyed hearing how your perspective shifted from thinking the lyrics were about Joe to Matty. YOYOK is one of my favourite songs (top 5 like you). I hadn't envisioned T FaceTiming with Matty, but now I can't unsee her touching her phone! Yes, I think there's a strong possibility it's about him. Looking forward to your next deep dive!! I'll have to check your other videos, but if you haven't already done invisible string I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially her use of colours :)

[@AnjeannetteMarie-Swifie4Ever]

Taylor has become the master of the composite sketch. We know the timeline of when she wrote YOYOK and we can see where she was in her life and she’s taking the uncertainty of her relationship/ situationship with her love interests at that time in her life (Joe / MH and even her career/ fame) and using her journey in life of overcoming obstacles as reassurance to tell herself that no matter what, this too shall pass and she will continue to make her art and celebrate her journey with her fans who will continue to make the friendship bracelets and reciprocate the mutual love of her and her art 🫶

[@NinasNook]

Yes! This is how I see it too! 🥰

[@bigfelter88]

recently found your channel, and I love your videos so much! you’re more than ~just~ a Swiftie with an English degree 🙌🙌

[@NinasNook]

Awww thank you so much! English Major is one of my best descriptors though, so I’ve been told. 😂😂😂😂

[@denizdawson404]

I love 💕 your content! ❤ I just wanted to add… I believe, “Summer went away…” could refer to the season of life…that time in everyone’s life of early adulthood when we are still filled with youthful dreams, aspirations and optimism. And, …”still, the yearning stays” just means that she still feels young even though that time has passed.

[@cniddy7228]

You make an interesting point about the Daisy May lyric, I didn’t know about the comic, it’s super intriguing! I always thought she was just talking about saying bidding farewell to girls at school before moving to Nashville 😅

[@missydemeanors1760]

The 'summer' to me is also referencing "August'...I think there was a tryst or moment in there (with MH) that was significant that she has to 'code' in her lyrics. I still hold that 'Midnights" was her "mid - knights" moment...where two men fighting for her (like knights) or her mind battling between the choice of two men she loved.

[@NinasNook]

Exactly! Meet me behind the mall…

[@missydemeanors1760]

@@NinasNook Yes. I really believe she pined for MH those 10 years, that they talked and emailed and perhaps he was her prize and safety net so when things with JA soured or went stale, she may have run to MH or clung to the idea of him to escape relationships that were not working. I also think the 'fame' issue was what killed both relationships.

[@NinasNook]

@@missydemeanors1760 I agree! The fame killed both but for oddly somewhat different reasons? I agree also that midnights was her in between moment. Her and Joe were either on the outs or in an in again out again relationship and she didn’t know whether to stay and hope or run and start again even if it crashes and burns. Lol

[@MissRoxanneRed]

I’m looking at this song in a whole different way now, you’ve opened my mind to it more. I think it’s a very diverse song which could mean so many different things, which is the beauty of Taylor’s writing, I’m sure you’ll agree. “Blood soaked gown” when I first heard it, it made me think of the film Carrie! But I love your take on it and it’s broadened my thoughts! Can’t wait for the next! 🙌🏼❤

[@NinasNook]

Yes!! I never want to make anyone think my viewpoint is the “right” view as art is for deciphering, but I’m so glad your enjoyed my view of it! ❤️ I also can 100% see a Carrie reference! Haha

[@jprinceoo]

I really just considered this another inspirational Taylor song until you opened my eyes to maybe a deeper meaning. I almost didn't watch the video because its not 1 of my favorite songs, but I'm glad I did.

[@NinasNook]

Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@andreachumley2247]

This is definitely a Swiftie staple! ❤ I am wanting to hear your take on Maroon. I also would love for you to discuss Timeless and Would've Could've Should've.

[@NinasNook]

I’m hoping to have Maroon up soon! Very soon…

[@AllyGirl-hg2sb]

Hearing the I took the money part in this video reminded me of, "Put the money in the bag and I stole the keys, from Getaway Car but that line's probably not referring to that.😂

[@NinasNook]

😂😂😂 Who’s to say with her? 🤣

[@elenam6335]

"one could make me stay" = "the One"

[@NinasNook]

Omgg yessss! I love this!

[@lynnfish3653]

Do you think the sprinkler spaces fire place ashes is another version of time passing?

[@NinasNook]

It absolutely could be! Sprinkler splashes and fireplace ashes are two opposites essentially in my view, even down to water and fire. It could represent time, the cycle of things for sure!

[@Chegirl]

Thats how I have always read this line 24:22 . The passing of seasons / time

[@laura3951]

I think that blood soaked qown is from the movie Carrie. She was embarresed by Kanye and others and how she survived it. I don’t believe this is about Matty or Joe. It’s her life story from teenager to this day.

[@klmjtr]

👍🙏🏼❤️

[@cosmoslady]

I don't think of Joe or Matty when listening to this song. I think of her far past

[@NinasNook]

I think she’s definitely reflecting on her past as well, but also is trying to understand where she was in her current day too.

[@MissteriousMisstress]

Please tell me why yoyok wasnt on the setlist. Anyone have any ideas?

[@jacinthelamontagne5942]

It wasn't on the set list, but she sang more often than any other "surprise songs".

[@ixfindxhope]

I think the beginning interpretation of her relationship with Joe and maybe Matty is interesting… but to me it doesn’t make as much sense given that the second half of the song is pretty clearly about the past.

[@NinasNook]

We can all interpret in whatever way best fits our own views and life experience! I do think that she was really examining where she was at in her currently life in this period and she had to make a choice that led her to this inward turmoil, at least how I see it. I think that due to the turmoil in her life at the time being directly due to the fame and the celebrity, she was thinking about it a lot. She’s looking back because all of her choices have led here, but she’s reaffirming for herself that it’s okay because she’s always had herself and she chose this life.

[@NinasNook]

@@ixfindxhope really to some degree, I think Taylor is the best in the world at referencing so many things all at once. ❤️

[@imnevergonnaloveagain]

Super unrelated but please listen to "Happiness" by The 1975, for the cowboy like me🥹

[@NinasNook]

Yes, I’ve been seeing this! I think I’ll have to do a “1975 songs that are maybe about Tswift?” Vid one day. 😂😂

[@nesirosern8596]

​@@NinasNook OMG, YESS! That would be amazing!

[@lenubfiattp813]

Thanks! Although I have some different opinions but your analysis is quite interesting 😊btw you may have heard of About You (by the 1975) and I recommend you could listen to one amazing mashup of YOYOK x About You 🥹(I guess it’s Jack’s credit LOL)