These songs all simultaneously delight and concern me... | 1989 (Taylor's Version) the VAULT

To see the extended, uncut version of this video, join me at / onwriting
It was so fun to do a 1989 Taylor's Version reaction to the 1989 Taylor's Version vault songs. How many are about Harry Styles?? There are quite a few writing tips from Taylor Swift songs that we can apply to our own projects, whether we're learning how to write a song or are working on a novel or short story.
Which vault song was your favorite?
*TIMESTAMPS*
00:44 - Slut!
01:57 - onomatopoeia
06:06 - the first analogy (in Slut!)
08:22 - Taylor's signature
11:33 - the great thing about analogies
12:10 - Say Don't Go
12:50 - hyperbole
13:59 - choosing verbs
20:34 - unreliable narrators
21:40 - Now That We Don't Talk
22:30 - Red Sea allusion
23:12 - WANEGBT reference?
24:47 - tying narrative threads together
28:55 - Suburban Legends
30:40 - more connected analogies
35:03 - more onomatopoeia
35:31 - more hyperbole
36:29 - Is It Over Now?
39:09 - classic Taylor
40:14 - showing vs. telling
43:16 - recap
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Listen to the full songs here:
*Slut!* • Taylor Swift - "Slut!"...
*Say Don't Go* • Taylor Swift - Say Don...
*Now That We Don't Talk* • Taylor Swift - Now Tha...
*Suburban Legends* • Taylor Swift - Suburba...
*Is It Over Now?* • Taylor Swift - Is It O...
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1989 taylors version | writer reacts to 1989 taylors version | 1989 taylors version lyrics analysis | taylor swift on writing | time person of the year taylor swift

[@QuestionableLifeChoices]

taylor out here making sure no one ever forgets that harry is a bad driver with that snowmobile reminder 😂

[@LP1029LP]

"I'll pay the price, you won't" she'll get called a slut for the same behavior he'll get praised for :/

[@MaiOnYoutube]

On Taylor's voice note about "Slut!", she said she decided not to include the song in the original release because it has California vibes and she felt like it did not fit the original track list which sounded more like New York vibes. Also, the lyrics "When you lost control. Red blood, white snow." reference the bridge of Out of the Woods "Remember when you hit the brakes too soon? Twenty stitches in the hospital room." Both lyrics talk about the snowmobile accident that she and Harry had. Always love it when she references another lyric from her other songs.

[@jacinthelamontagne5942]

I think the also ties in with Blank Space "it will leave you breathless or with a nasty scar".

[@narbuka]

About the "red blood, white snow" line: She and her then boyfriend got into a snowmobile accident where he was injured and had to get stitches so she's probably referring to that.

[@OnWriting.]

Oooooooh that makes sense!

[@isabellezversion]

@@OnWriting.she talks about that in out of the woods too! is about hs

[@coffeeandasewingmachine]

300 coffees is 10 months…. and in Clean (also on this album) she talks about getting over a guy in 10 months. I can super recommend the song Clean. Metaphors on metaphors!

[@DoubleBlack2.0]

YES!! I *NEED* her to do Clean! One of the best songs of all time!

[@OnWriting.]

This totally makes sense! I didn't even think about it as referring to days....

[@swiftie80]

As a swiftie I really enjoy these videos. I feel like I always learn something. I hope you’ll do the song Evermore featuring Bon Iver. Would love to see what you think about that one.

[@isabellezversion]

yes pleaseeeeeeee my favorite of all times by taylor! saddest song she’s ever written

[@pastramicheesemonster4873]

Absolutely!!!! Also Maroon and Mirrorball 🙏

[@OnWriting.]

This makes me so happy to hear! ^.^ And yes, Evermore is high on the list...thought it would be an appropriate pick for November ;););)

[@ziii6484]

For suburban legends the line “we were born to be national treasures” actually makes me think of “we never go out of style” and him promising them getting back together gives “how you get the girl” and “this love”I feel like all vault for 1989 are about the same person. But diff timeline of the relationship.

[@OnWriting.]

Could definitely be! This man be over there getting like 10 songs written about him...goodness

[@coryharbour57]

⁠@@OnWriting.my rough count is 25 speculative songs about this man. Hahaha but hey, a good muse is a good muse.

[@OnWriting.]

Oh my gosh 😆🙈. True, though@@coryharbour57

[@gothandwhimsy]

Gives Peter a new potential subject, too.

[@zontzooit2415]

I didn’t even realize how common Taylor uses physical injuries to describe emotions and how she feels, just like her song “death by a thousand cuts”

[@shkh1418]

This theme always goes with Taylor cause she is such a hopeless romantic, she always fell fast and hard.

[@francesco2102]

I really appreciate what you said about 'unreliable narrators'. I think Taylor fans often take these lyrics as almost faithful reconstructions of 'what really happened' ("omg he manipulated her", "he gaslighted her..."), and then go on and trash the guys they think she wrote them about, which is really toxic. Just imagine how you'd feel if your ex were able to control the entire narrative of your past relationship and have millions of people super invested in it and learn it by heart 😅

[@OnWriting.]

For real!

[@laurenmccann8646]

you calling him that “other guy” and him being the harry styles is so funny 😭

[@OnWriting.]

hahaha true XD

[@ShannonThinks]

You are so good at breaking down her lyrics. Thank you so much for making these videos!

[@OnWriting.]

Thank YOU for watching

[@MAY_sharma.]

1."Blue dress on a boat ". I heard a theory about this line - that it seems to reference a viral pic from January 2013 which sees Taylor sitting alone on a boat wearing a blue dress, sunglasses and a glum look. The pic was allegedly taken after her breakup with Harry during a trip to the Virgin Islands. Also she later wore the same blue dress in the music video for "Out of the Woods." 2. Is it over now? : You search in every model’s bed for something greater.” Style: I heard, oh That you’ve been out and about with some other girl.” ( 🕯️ Jenner reference)

[@MAY_sharma.]

Red blood , white snow can also be reference to Red lip and white t-shirt ( Style song)

[@Rightwhereuleftme03]

@@MAY_sharma.red blood white snow its bc of the snowmobile accident taylor and harry had, its also referenced on ootw in “remember when u hit the brakes too soon 20 stitches in a hospital room”

[@OnWriting.]

Not the candle emoji XD. Love these connections, though!

[@OnWriting.]

Another thought that I had: "strike a match, then you blow it out" reminded me of "so watch me strike a match on all my wasted time" - she wants to end it like that, but he blows the match out, so she can't 👀

[@Veronik_23]

The currency line left me SPEECHLESS when you explained it. I didn’t understand it. But wow blondie can’t just say “I didn’t feel cool” 😭😭😭 she really puts us through it.

[@OnWriting.]

Hahaha so true 😅@@Veronik_23

[@WaltMossberg]

As a huge fan of Taylor Swift’s lyrics and melodies, I’ve really been enjoying your analyses. I just finished recommending your channel to my followers on FB, in fact. Please keep it up. I am old enough to remember the giants of the 1960s and 1970’s, and I regard Taylor as the best to come along since then.

[@OnWriting.]

Thanks so much, Walt! I really appreciate the support :')

[@yiyitolloron]

1989 its my favourite album, I LOOOVE the vault tracks and i love ur reviews!!

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you!!

[@Gwen-kv3ef]

You mentioning the first person narration makes me think you would really love to react to Exile by Taylor Swift from Folklore, if you haven't reacted to that. There'll be a POV exchange from that song so I think you'll be interested on that. Really loved your reaction to the vault tracks!!! At this time, my fave tracks are Say Don't Go and Is It Over Now but it might change 🤣🤣

[@MAY_sharma.]

Yes exile 👍

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you thank you! I think my favs rn are Now That We Don't Talk and Say Don't Go too

[@Veronik_23]

I LOVE YOUR ANALYSIS. Just wanna point out the “you search in every maiden’s bed for something greater” line. I looked up “Maiden” meaning and it states “adjective. (Of a woman, especially an OLDER one) After Taylor and Harry broke up, he went on to date 2 OLDER women. One was 33 and the other one 35. He was 19! After that, he dated a bunch of models. That’s why she uses Maiden first and Models last.

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you, I'm so glad to hear that :') And ooh, I see where you're coming from. Yes a "maiden aunt," for example is an older woman/spinster. In this song, though, it's used as a noun, so he must've also dated some youngins haha... goodness, Harry!

[@stephane1623]

The 300 coffee later refers to October 27 which is the day she originally released 1989 and again in 2023 October 27. Of course, these songs are about Harry Styles.

[@caleidoscopecara]

I took handprints in wet cement to mean they are forming these memories/this relationship that she thinks will last forever but they’re still at the beginning to the cement is wet and their love is not yet solidified

[@OnWriting.]

Oooooh I like this

[@lashaundrawolf634]

Red blood white snow, is in reference to harry styles snowmobile accident and blue dress on a boat is when she left a vacation with him in a blue dresss on a boat

[@enixontejeda6142]

YAYYY 40 minutes videoooo!!! I love your video so much, and when she said, ‘When you lost control, red blood, white snow,’ she was referencing when she and Harry Styles famously got into a snowmobile accident, also referenced in ‘Out of the Woods’ with the lyrics, ‘Remember when you hit the brakes too soon? Twenty stitches in the hospital room.’ The blue dress on a boat (there’s actually a photo of her in a blue dress on a boat from this time) was when she was rumored to be leaving the Virgin Islands because Harry decided to go to a party instead of leaving alone; apparently, that’s when they broke up. This makes me think of ‘Now that we don’t talk,’ where she says, ‘Did you get anxious though on the way home?’ because she’s wondering if he got anxious when he left the party due to what happened between them. But she’ll never know because they broke up. Also, she was wearing a blue dress in the ‘Out of the Woods’ music video and in the ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ music video, but she was a zombie in it . Honestly, I just love Taylor and her lyricism, and I appreciate how she references her past songs and includes these little Easter eggs, it just makes it so much fun and btw your look is giving very 1989!!!

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you, I tried with my blue shirt and red lip ;);). But yes - gotta love a good Easter egg. So much fun :)

[@isabellezversion]

i love that with your videos i feel validated as a non writer to think she’s just so smart at writing hahahahaahha ❤

[@Muton230]

You definitely need to listen to some of her happier songs, Paper Rings, Daylight, and Timeless are all really good. I would also recommend Hits Different, this is so well written, so worth the listen!

[@OnWriting.]

Haha I really do. I like Paper Rings a lot! So fun ^.^

[@TomMoore-ny5qn]

I know everyone is saying "SLUT!" gives them a California vibe. Howe as a 80's and 90's kid, for some reason, I get a Southern Florida Vibe. The colors and the video is self seems for Florida based. Very Miami Vice Colors. Flamingo Pink (If anything describe FL better??), Aquamarine, Tangerine, And if you google Sunrise Blvd it shows street ending in place similar to video.

[@ROZIEEEE]

Yes! Major 80's/early 90's Miami Vice vibes for me too.

[@OnWriting.]

Yesssss I can totally see this. “Flamingo pink” sent me right back to Florida in the 90s haha 😆

[@zontzooit2415]

I personally did not really understand the relationship between Harry and Taylor that much until she dropped these unreleased songs. It makes “style”and “out of the woods” make so much more sense… it’s like a relationship that has a rough start and a rough ending as well… was it evens. Real relationship to? To me it sounds like it’s like a light switch being turned on and off (their relationship)

[@OnWriting.]

A light switch for sure, oh man

[@robertellis1009]

You have such a talent for dissecting her lyrics!!

[@OnWriting.]

Well thank you :)

[@elizabethjulia20]

Love hearing your interpretation, so interesting because my idea of the narrative is so much more romanticised LOL. I feel like 1989 as an album plays out like the perfect iconic early 20s epic Y/A starcrossed will-they-won't-they romance story lol. Songs like "style" "out of the woods" "I wish you would" "this love" and "wildest dreams" are all about a tumultuous right person wrong situation and never quite on the same page to commit despite both feeling so intensely type of relationship. More like *slow down and look first* yellow flags instead of red lol. And the vaults just support that vibe to me? They were never ready at the same time, and "is it over now" is a "style" 2.0 to me, they're kind of never over even when they've ended before... because they're hung up on each other but no replacement is the same, she's not just another blonde she's the one that got away 'you search in every model's bed for something greater' 'your new girl is my clone'... 'I say "I heard, oh, that you've been out and about with some other girl, some other girl" He says, "what you heard is true, but I can't stop thinkin' 'bout you and I" I said, "I've been there too a few times" ha'.... 'was it over when she laid down on your couch? was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse?' 'was it over then? and is it over now?' 'are we out of the woods yet?' .... 'cause we never go out of style'.

[@OnWriting.]

I like this a lot! Yeah, that makes sense haha. Makes me wonder how I would've interpreted the songs in my early 20s :) (I do know I always liked Wildest Dreams and Style, but I didn't know much about the backstory back then)

[@gaceofspades]

About the "your new girl is my clone". You said "it may not be his pov" ... it is. Harry wrote a song and said "she looks just like you, i almost said your name"

[@F1Swiftie]

“From the Dining Table”

[@gaceofspades]

@@F1Swiftie thank you, couldn't think of the title

[@F1Swiftie]

@@gaceofspades You're welcome!

[@OnWriting.]

Ewwww 😝

[@gaceofspades]

@@OnWriting. these vault songs have soo much tea. Like the "blue dress on a boat" like referes to taylor sitting on a boat after her and Harry broke up. If you Google "taylor swift boat" you'll see it haha

[@cosmicspark6772]

i love these videos so much i always watch them 🖤🖤

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you :')

[@DoubleBlack2.0]

Absolutely LOVE that you did this video, thank you!! These vault tracks are absolutely amazing and I loved your breakdowns! 🫶🏼

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you!!

[@isabellezversion]

also thanks for doing this so fast!!

[@OnWriting.]

My pleasure ^.^

[@favorravin7153]

Love that she incorporates the variants in this track

[@AquamarineWays]

I was soooo happy to get the notification about this video 😍 About the “blue dress on a boat”, you can actually find the picture of it online. It went viral at the time because it’s when Taylor&Harry broke up. They went on vacation and Taylor came back early, alone on a different boat while he stayed. It’s amazing how autobiographical her lyrics are. I have been listening to these songs continuously for the past week and LOVE that you posted about it and the video/analysis you did! You did an amazing job! ❤ Since english is not my first language, your notes really bring additional understanding to me which I absolutely ADORE. I am such a lyrics-centered girl.. Can’t wait for the next video ❤

[@OnWriting.]

That pic is so sad lol. And thank you tons! I'm so glad you've been enjoying them :')

[@chloecheng5766]

just wanna say I love your content so much! Thank you for posting all these AMAZING content for us all to learn together.

[@OnWriting.]

You're so welcome! Glad you're enjoying them :)

[@LiamHarel]

As a swiftie”is it over now” is so clear like you can actually connect the dots by previous songs or photos “red blood ,white snow” is so clear the red blood in the accident that happened to her and Harry and the white snow is the picture they have together on the snow AND the blue dress on a bout was the end of fr (it’s a photo of her and in that moment he left her there ) 😀👍

[@bobbyli5022]

One of the best reactions I’ve watched. Thank you for sharing!

[@OnWriting.]

Thank YOU! ☺️

[@justforfunbp]

This was soooo good! Honestly when I heard surmise I thought of you reacting to it!😂

[@OnWriting.]

Did you really?? XD That's too funny. Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@katiiesantos]

I love your videos about Taylor's songs. English is not my first language and your videos help me understand more and more about the writing in these songs. Thank you!

[@OnWriting.]

I love to hear this!! So glad they've been helpful

[@livelurklaugh]

you are so attentive and analytical, it's fun to watch you dissecting song lyrics.

[@OnWriting.]

Aw thank you! Glad you enjoy it ^.^

[@char4980]

Taylor refers to paparazzi as "flashing lights" in a different song too (wonderland) !! and another time in an interview. also, the red blood white snow thing is about a skiing accident she had with harry and she also mentions it in "out of the woods".. the blue dress on a boat line is about the iconic picture of her alone on a boat allegedly after the breakup. i love that at this point we (longtime fans) instantly know what she means in her lyrics even if they sound cryptic and random to non-fans💀 i love your taylor videos. you've been my favorite channel lately!! hope you continue :)💞

[@ryanswiftwhisper23]

youre a QUEEN for this giving the swifties what we want

[@OnWriting.]

hahaha how can I not :')

[@loverhouse13]

omg almost 40 minutes video WE WON. btw, a fun thing: you said in "slut!" that the song was "very california vibes" and taylor said in a event that she decided to NOT include "slut!" on the album for that exact reason since the album was more New York than L.A so you got it right 😅😂

[@OnWriting.]

Hahaha you stop XD. And woah that's so cool! I'm glad I wasn't super off haha

[@edwinjr.castilloe.4670]

I love this 💕

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

[@adrianneziri4522]

I just Found your Channel and I‘m in love. It takes my love for Taylor’s songwriting to the next level. If you like stories I’d recommend listening to You All Over Me first and then Clean. She talks about the feeling having her ex all over her and not being able to get clean until she finally does and I think it’s so beautiful 😍

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you tons!

[@roiaknin]

I just love your reactions to Taylor Swift! Always so good and makes me understand songs I already know a little bit better. A random question, I'm a songwriter and I was wondering if there's a chance you would make this kind of reaction video to one of my songs? I would love to see your thoughts on them! Is it something possible?

[@jenniferthecloud1475]

I absolutely adore these videos. I always learn so much and I love hearing what you have to say. You explain everything so well ❤ never stop

[@OnWriting.]

Aw, I'm so glad! Thank you for saying so :')

[@jenniferthecloud1475]

@@OnWriting. ❤️❤️❤️

[@mirandachandler3300]

I love these.

[@OnWriting.]

I'm so glad! :')

[@icarocaua6005]

As a swiftie and a writer I'm obsessed with this videos ❤

[@OnWriting.]

Yayyy I'm so glad you're here! ^.^

[@MAY_sharma.]

You were so enjoying the lyrics 😂 And I'll look back and regret how I ignored when they said "Run as fast as you can". ( You did dear john reference 👏👏👏) Now we don't Talk because he didn't say Don't go🤭 Onamatopoeia, Analogy, Similie, hyperbole ✅

[@OnWriting.]

Haha I had no idea I was referencing another song. SHE HAS INFILTRATED MY BRAIN, MAY XD

[@vivibify]

blood red white snow is connected to out of the wood about the accident that she and harry were involve in the snow

[@Aldz__]

Yes!! Her low notes are really oomphy and bassy and I'm sooo here for it. Finally, someone acknowledged that. Everyone's just raving on for the high notes, but we love a versatile singer who can navigate towards the different facets of the human voice. I knew you're gonna talk about hyperbole on Say Don't Go. I was just wrong on where the hyperbole is. I thought that it was in the chorus part when she sang _“Why’d you have to twist the knife? Walk away and leave me bleeding, bleeding?”_ But I was so wrong. It's actually the _“We're a shot in the darkest dark”_ part. It seems like I need to rereview my figures of speech. In 13:42, I'm thinking of sadness as a different emotion compared to madness. I was confused by the choice of verbs at first as well, but I realized that sadness grows to sorrow and anger grows to madness. So, it felt like her sadness was _fading_ or alleviated, on the other hand, her anger intensified instead. But when I heard the use of "fading" on the next song, I realized why she made the choice to use that verb. She's good with weaving threads on different songs and alluding to her own songs just like concept of young people not knowing anything in _cardigan_ and _betty_ from the folklore album that shows their connection to each other. I like Say Don't Go quite a lot. The lyrics are pretty dark, yet it is shrouded with an upbeat sound. I'm adding those in my *tragic bops* playlist. That song really reminded me of You're Losing Me (from the vault) from Midnights album because of the silence in the chorus and the talking cadence on her delivery. I have a feeling that Taylor is able to write more concisely and logically when constraints are placed on her. For instance, these songs (with the exception of the first one) doesn't have profanity in them at all. This was the time when her label was marketing her with the good girl next door image. Now that she's free from them, it feels lackluster when she uses profanity, but the clean version of most of her explicit songs sounds more creative and clever. 17:36 she also works really well with co-writers, because most of them are just editors that keeps her writing concise (just like how her co-writers Liz Rose mostly did revisions and editing in All Too Well), because she loves to wander around her thoughts. Even though she has a profound vision, she still needs someone to tap her shoulder to snap back to reality. Speaking of tragic bops, the saddest one for me is Forever Winter (from the vault) from the Red (Taylor's Version) album. It is about a mentally unstable dear friend who is going through a 'phase' and the lyrics are quite sad and dark. But it was shrouded with a beautiful sound and trumpets that her friend loves. That song probably calmed him down...

[@Aldrin_]

I'll start calling those songs tragic bops from now on as well. Forever Winter probably calmed her friend down indeed. **SPOILER ALERT** ...if he had the chance to hear it.

[@OnWriting.]

"Tragic bops" hahaha too funny XD. Thank you for this!

[@val3kyria]

I got here because you were doing TS lyric analysis, and I would loooove to see you doing more Evermore/Folklore analysis ♥ But also, as an aspiring writer I'd love to watch writing advice (which I think you have done in the past), which video on that topic from your channel would you recommend to start with? :D

[@OnWriting.]

Aww yay I love this!! Honestly it depends on where you’re at with your writing (if you’re in the middle of a novel, haven’t started anything yet, etc). People seem to like the “How to Find Your Story’s Premise” one if you’re just getting started. The more recent they are, the better quality they’ll probably be 🤣 I hope they help!! 🥰🥲

[@val3kyria]

@@OnWriting. Funny enough my problem is never to find ideas or premises, but follow through...I just get stuck in the mapping and planning the structure. I do my best work when a scene just comes to me spontaneously, but a book needs structure yk? haha

[@OnWriting.]

Ahh yes so maybe the outlining vids. Discovery writing is the most fun imo but yes turning it into an actual, publishable work requires more planning and process 🥴

[@Ax-qy3jz]

16:50 dear john reference!!!

[@OnWriting.]

OMG that's so funny - completely unintentional I've never heard that one hahaha

[@OnWriting.]

IS SHE TAKING OVER MY BRAIN

[@Ax-qy3jz]

@@OnWriting. A classic track 5 from taylor.... I'm sure you'll like it

[@carolann500]

@@OnWriting. Yes, she is, join the crowd! There is no doubt about it there is no one else currently who can write lyrics, and wonderful melodies consistently, and then perform them on stage with 70,000 people watching while dancing or playing the piano or guitar. Just so much to love and respect about her! Thank you for doing these videos, we really enjoy your prospective!

[@OnWriting.]

Haha thank you tons! I'm glad you enjoy them :')

[@bluaurora8635]

“Red blood white snow” relates to the Out of the Woods lyric “remember when you hit the brakes too soon / 20 stitches in the hospital room” which is all referencing when her and Harry were on a ski trip and Harry got into a snow mobile accident. Blue dress on a boat is referencing when Taylor went on a vacation with Harry and on a yacht but they ended up breaking up and she left on a little boat by herself in a blue dress, it’s a famous picture

[@user-nf5js7ho2p]

Hiiii! I'm a writer as well and I love watching your videos. Can you do a deep dive into the song When Emma Falls In Love? I've been meaning to write something like it since it's different from Taylor's other music

[@iteachlit]

I think it’s “Sunrise Boulevard” because NYC is on the East coast.

[@jacobvommaro7937]

1989 is the diss Harry Styles album! "Is It Over Now?" lyrics "red blood, white snow" is because Harry and Taylor got into a snowmobile accident and Harry needed stiches on his chin, hence why the lyrics talk about blood in the snow. Also, "blue dress, on a boat" (you can find a picture of Taylor all by herself on a boat) is when Harry left Taylor all alone, pretty much ending the relationship

[@THOMASC516]

As a student of human behavior (with a double Minor in English and Psychology,) I always enjoy when someone breaks down things as you did. Very cool.

[@OnWriting.]

Thank you tons! So glad you enjoyed it

[@jujuka488]

Hii! So, the "handprints in wet cement" lyric follows the "love to think you'll never forget" lyric. It may mean that they'll never forget each other's touch, it's permanent. Like the marks made in wet cement.

[@OnWriting.]

Ooooh yesss I like this!

[@SGNITTEZ]

Such clever interpretation, makes more sense than actual cement

[@zoemoniquewells1434]

Love your videos! I always feel like I learn something new after each one, and your interpretations are so spot on. It makes the songs even more impactful to fully understand each line Taylor wrote. Would love to hear you unpack Olivia Rodrigo's new song "You Can't Catch Me Now" for the new Hunger Games movie. It was released this week, and I'm already obsessed. It might be one of her best songs yet! 😍

[@OnWriting.]

I'm so glad you've been enjoying them! And oooh thanks for this recommendation - I'm on it :)

[@zoemoniquewells1434]

@@OnWriting. Amazing!! Can't wait to hear your thoughts. 🤗

[@xoanna08]

You need to do the Speak Now vault next!!

[@musicfangirl7403]

I cannot figure out why people are saying Suburban Legends is about Conor Kennedy when it pretty clearly fits into the HS story arc of the 5 vault tracks. She’s still dating the magnetic guy who’s flush with cool while she has never felt cool. She fantasizes about bringing him to her high school reunion and walking back in as the “it” couple. But she’s already says that she’s seen he’s got people calling on the side and he’s not as committed as she. Same vibe as Slut! and Say Don’t Go. I think the suburban vibe is the old high school (a building likely built back in the birth of the suburbs in the 50’s). She says earlier on the album that they “never go out of style”. She’s aware that she and HS being a couple is big news but in a pop culture, teenagery sort of way. Nothing that heavy or important.

[@OnWriting.]

I could see it! I just heard about the CK theory as I looked up these songs ahead of time, so idk. Would be cool if they all connected, but also....dang, she wrote a lot of songs about HS haha

[@musicfangirl7403]

Yeah the whole of 1989 is a nod to their on and off relationship. She’s spoken repeatedly about the songs and therefore H (without naming names but with naming him, if you know what I mean 😉) I find in all her vault tracks she goes harder for the kill, which I imagine she didn’t feel she could do at the time…or her team wouldn’t allow her. She got so much hate about dating H from his fandom and I’m sure his camp wanted him to remain boyband “available” looking. There was probably so much pressure all around and it was clearly so impactful to both. These songs are pointing right back to H’s first album….

[@taylorpeterson2890]

Wow this was really interesting

[@devina.waddellbabcock9876]

Adorned with smoke on my clothes makes me think of campfires or bonfires on the beach.

[@OnWriting.]

Ooooooh yes! That smoky smell from campfires always lingers

[@_fedecardozo]

OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

[@OnWriting.]

XD

[@Ecabezas]

All of bonus tracks are about HS from what I can tell. I interpret “Suburban Legends” to be a play on “Urban Legends”…not “real” stories…mythical, fantastical….but for “Suburban” would be “fairytales.” As in, they weren’t the “happily ever after” of the suburbs. And “National Treasures” is for her as the American pop star and him as the British pop star. For “Is It Over Now,” the “300 takeout coffees later” to me is 300 days which is 10 months. And tie it into “Clean”…”10 months sober” and “10 months older.” So she’s looking back at their relationship 10mo after it ended and realizing that it is really over “now.” Love all your videos btw…it’s like going back to school for English class but better 📝😂

[@OnWriting.]

"They weren't the 'happily ever after' of the suburbs. Yessss - I like that! I can totally see how it could be about her and HS too. And thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying the vids :)

[@simplymatt13]

FINALLY

[@xoanna08]

I will love you forever if you do The Lucky One and Sweeter than Fiction in the same video and compare the two (I’d say do Sweeter than Fiction first) (I’d settle for two separate videos but I really think doing them together would just be so perfect)

[@nafi2381]

40:42 I think that's a Twillight - New Moon reverence. Bella jumped off the cliffs to see visions of Edward. These lines totally remind of this.

[@SGNITTEZ]

When I first heard it I was like calm down bella swan

[@demynee1679]

I always took the 300 thing as one year later.

[@henjik820]

in is it over now? “red blood, and white snow” is about a hairy styles snowboarding accident and “blue dress on a boat” is from an infamous photo of her alone in a yacht looking very sad!

[@JRay.R]

Interesting. I always (well…for nearly a week haha) heard, or read, the line in “Slut!” as, “What if…? All I need is you”. Rather than, “What if all I need is you?” But as soon as you spoke about it, I was like, oh yea duh, actually…that makes way more sense lol. Lovin’ the red lip today btw.

[@OnWriting.]

Oh that's so funny! And thank youu ^.^

[@legzzzzz]

It'd be an interesting video to tackle Getaway Car!

[@user-yd1mq5yk9w]

"red blood, white snow" made me think of apple ref in blank space- snow white tale. Strike a match- blow it out- birthday ref for wishes? Play on words Suburban Legends - Urban legend, Doordash (modern nod) 1950s gymnasium- Grease ref that she tends to use that era quite a bit.

[@user-yd1mq5yk9w]

Periphery - Blank space mv ref, Snow on the beach Pockets- song ref Tied Together with a Smile "I guess it's true that love was all you wanted 'Cause you're givin' it away like it's extra change Hoping it will end up in his pocket But he leaves you out like a penny in the rain Oh, 'cause it's not his price to pay It's not his price to pay"

[@user-yd1mq5yk9w]

Public kisses happened with both Kennedy (rumored w/ cousin also) & Styles Probably the most criticized eras because her profile reached more global attention National US media attention (Kennedy) & International rabid fanbase attack (1D) Kennedy era (1950s) Red, white & blue ties w/ both romances- 4th of July and HS background story (snow & boat).

[@patrickhandog5974]

You are so brilliant with your thoughts about how the song Now That We Don't Talk ended just like that. The relationship ended just like THAT. Same with the song; you can't get over it, and you are left wanting more. But that's all we have left to deal with. Ugh! I clicked the video the moment I saw it because I knew I would love it, and I do! P.S. I interpret 300 takeout coffees and blind dates later as a year after their breakup. You know, 365 has five syllables, so maybe she cut that down to 300 for ease.

[@OnWriting.]

Well thanks! And aw, I'm so glad you enjoyed it :'). I could totally see that about the 300 coffees. I didn't even think about it as referring to days/one coffee per day/etc. Makes sense!

[@themusiqfreak]

It's was interesting when you brought up the connotation for 'surburban' as yours was much more positive than mine. For me, it's boring, uneventful, mundane, repetitive/samey etc. I'm sure I've heard it used it in that context before too, when commenting about being cheated on saying it's so common that it's almost surburban/pedestrian.

[@OnWriting.]

Ah yes, very true. That's definitely part of the connotation - thanks for adding this!

[@OnWriting.]

First - confirm or deny: was she referencing WANEGBT at 23:12? Second - what's your favorite vault track off of 1989 (Taylor's Version)? :)

[@ilikemario6965]

its def say dont go and is it over now

[@clarkbarrett6274]

"Is it Over Now" leapfrogs many of the original tracks. I place it #2 after "Clean" as the best songs on 1989.

[@isabellezversion]

is it over now BY FAR that bridge is just… when she repeats a bridge you know is good

[@isabellezversion]

@@clarkbarrett6274for me only behind wildest dreams!

[@F1Swiftie]

WENEGBT is about JG “indie record that’s much cooler than mine”

[@angeseest]

can you break down call it what you want from her reputation album?

[@laylazatar9059]

you must react to the lakes! you will adore it

[@OnWriting.]

Sooooooon ^.^

[@unicornthatdrinkscoffee]

i love her brain

[@OnWriting.]

Why thank you 😉 oh wait, you meant Taylor didn’t you… 🤭

[@SireneAtlis]

For Is It Over Now?, when you lost control, red blood white snow refreneces when he got into a skiing accident. Blue dress on a boat is whenever they were on a cruise, he abandoned her and left her on the boat in a blue dress. The line at least I had the decency to keep my night out of sight only rumors about my hips and thighs most likely him being reckless and caught cheating and that if she was that they had no proof and could only make rumors. A lot of it is just small references to events from the relationship that can be difficult to catch onto.

[@xoanna08]

I see “handprints in wet cements” as referring to memories that are permanent “I love to think you’ll never forget handprints in wet cement”

[@OnWriting.]

Definitely!

[@jepros]

After your breakdown of Suburban Legends, I entirely understand how and why she wrote Wildest Dreams in that same time period.

[@gutsed]

onomatopoeia

[@cheysi_desu]

Talk about weaving, you should listen to the trilogy on folklore they're standalones but with all the details, you can really weave the story.

[@OnWriting.]

Yesss, I'm excited to get into those :)

[@IanHillan]

Harry Styles sang a song called "Something Great." Context for the "you searched ... for something greater" lines.

[@biasampaio5899]

Okay, so most of the vault tracks are about Harry Styles, specially Is It Over Now? So the “red blood, white snow” is about when they both got on a snowmobile accident and he had to get stitches for it which she references in the song Style when she sings “Remember when you hit the breaks too soon, 20 stitches in a hospital room”. Then the line about “blue dress on a boat”, they both went to an island together but she left on the boat alone after they had a fight, there’s a picture of her sitting on the boat by herself in this blue dress. After that he started going out with quite a few different girls and they were mostly all models, one of them was Kendall Jenner. A lot of them were blonde with blue eyes, which is why Taylor called out how his new girl was her clone. Taylor talked a little about three of the vault tracks and explained a bit about them. And it reminded me of what you said when listening to slut. She said that slut and Blank Space are very similar, but the album’s aesthetic is more New York and slut felt way more California (as you also mentioned) and that is why it wasn’t on the original release in 2014, because she wanted to keep the New York vibe in the album. About Is It Over Now? Taylor said that she thinks of it as the sister song to I Wish You Would and I Know Places, which are also two songs about her rocky relationship with Harry Styles and how at that time, the media was all over them and it basically ruined what they had cause all eyes were on them. So maybe it would be nice to analyze those two so you can also find the similarities in them (I’m sure you will, there’s like a ton really 😂). Also from this album, I think you would really enjoy Wonderland and You Are In Love (if you hadn’t heard them before), the second one she wrote about and for, Jack Antonoff and his then girlfriend and her good friend Lena Dunham (they were together for years and Taylor said that the way Lena talked about their relationship inspired her to write this song). Also Clean is very beautifully heartbreaking song that I think you’ll love, there’s a lot to unpack in there but I’ll give you a hint to not go the obvious route and think it’s about what your mind thinks about first (there’s a pretty painful story behind it but it can be interpreted differently by anyone depending on their experience, which I think it’s what makes it more beautiful). I’m rambling now, I’m gonna go.

[@aasthasharma8392]

There is a picture odf Taylor in a blue dress sitting alone on a boat and looking very sad. It was speculated that it was immediately after Harry and her broke up. They had gone together but she came back alone. After the breakup there were pictures of Harry with someone else who looked very similar to Taylor, and there are a couple songs of Harry Styles that also basically confirm this There’s also a picture of Harry partying with Richard Branson on his yacht, which ties to the line I don’t have to pretend I want to be on a mega yacht with important men! 1989 era was very messy and there’s actual photographic proof of some of these specific things mentioned in the vault tracks.

[@happyaccident13]

Clicked faster than you could say don't go

[@OnWriting.]

YOU STOP haha - thank you! ^.^

[@sal7777777]

A great video. A bit long though, I had to break it into two chunks. Is there a reward for making it through the marathon?, besides ending with a better taste in music.

[@OnWriting.]

Haha my undying gratitude T.T. It was very long to film and edit, but so fun to look at all five together. Thanks so much for pushing through and for your continual support!!

[@sal7777777]

@@OnWriting. I know video is so time consuming. I took up photography many years ago, then tried to get into video a few years later. But it used to take me so long to only edit a 10 minute video that I had to give it up. And thank you for your eternal gratitude, I’ll gladly take it. I’m not a 100% sure, but I think I’m only short two eternal gratitudes from getting to spending the first thousand years of afterlife in heaven. I’ll have to double check on that. PS: I know what you’re thinking: “I’ll be delighted to give you the two additional eternal gratitudes” and I wish it was that easy but it doesn’t work that way, they have to be from different people.

[@SireneAtlis]

I see born to be suburban legends as like they were born to be like seperate stories people tell. Like urban is a big city, suburban is a little smaller like a neighborhood. So an urban legend is a well known and shared story while suburban legends would be like less known, more for specific people. And the fact she says suburban legends as in two or more stories so there we’re meant to belong to different stories instead of a suburban legend where they are tied together and told as one story.

[@SireneAtlis]

Aslo the national treasures line is most likely a reference to him being British and her being American because they were the prized pieces of their countries.

[@judemanning]

I think her song “betty” off of folklore is a great example of unreliable narrator. It’s apart of the folklore love triangle which I’m sure somebody has explained in the comments

[@markisagani1220]

Hello 👋. Will you please dissect and react to Taylor Swift's Carolina? She wrote and sang it for Where The Crawdad Sings. Thank you!

[@mattg4538]

"The waiting is a sadness... fading into madness." It's not intensifying because the relationship is falling apart, that's the point of the song. They both want that shot in the dark to work. And then it decays. That's why it's fading.

[@mattg4538]

I also don't think going from stable to madness would ever be seen as a strengthening.

[@OnWriting.]

Strengthening as in getting worse (like when a storm gains strength, for instance). Yes I totally get the fading aspect referring to things falling apart, I just thought it was a really cool choice! The concept of “madness” feels more chaotic and intense to me than sadness, so it stood out :)

[@monicaherrera2224]

The first time I heard“at least I had the decency to keep my nights out of sight” I thought she said “knights”, which could tie back to the “maidens” and lean into the fairytale imagery

[@OnWriting.]

Ohhhh interesting! Yeah I like how that could go either way

[@LiamHarel]

Oh and if you want to understand is it over now you should listen to out of the woods

[@juliette6035]

could you make one of these for maroon or evermore soon?

[@OnWriting.]

Evermore is on its wayyyyy ^.^

[@ours.good.worth-the-fight]

It's crazy that she had to choose between Blank Space and "Slut!" and you compared and notice the similarity of the two, haha

[@myname-uc6gr]

Thank you for breaking down lyrics and not discussing “ this must be about….”

[@OnWriting.]

My pleasure 🥰