Writers React to the Red (Taylor's Version) Vault Tracks

[@riley1312]

Forever winter is about her best friend a guy friend who committed suicide. This was back when she was Country artist.

[@hhtahir]

Wow, we had no idea. Definitely makes me appreciate the song even more. Thanks for sharing!

[@hhtahir]

If anyone reading this is in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the U.S., call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

[@victoriazornes9937]

I feel the line "He says, 'Its supposed to be fun turning 21'" is actually full of compassion. Taylor has a GREAT relationship with her parents. Her father had to literally WATCH Taylor's heart break at her 21st birthday party (discussed in the song "The Moment I Knew"). He's saddened that her special 21st birthday was crushed by this guy's awful actions and her dad's heart is breaking WITH hers and FOR her. 💔💔💔💔

[@zontzooit2415]

Fr I didn’t understand the complaint at all… I never interpreted that as him saying “cheer up it’s your birthday” it seemed more like “damn this was supposed be fun but thanks to him it’s not” and I didn’t like the infantilization of expecting her parents to to “not let” Taylor date someone. Yeah it’s gross and weird that a grown man dated her but at the same time you shouldn’t need permission to date who u want esp at 20/21.

[@lowwfeh]

Plus, in Dear John we see how her mother and family tried to warn her about dating an older guy and how she didnt obey it "My mother accused me of losing my mind but I swore I was fine". So this time when the guy was older but she was in her 20s and the guy was super charming and stuff they thought to not interfere. @@zontzooit2415

[@DreaAnnTW]

For Better Man, she actually allowed another band to have this song once it wasn’t going to be on the album. Little Big Town. This is the first time we heard her version of it

[@hhtahir]

Thanks for that insight! I'm curious to hear their version. I'm also curious to hear Sugarland's version of "Babe."

[@alohasargent]

@@hhtahir You should watch the music video for Sugarland's Babe. Taylor's in it, as she sang on the track with them. It's an iconic video.

[@victoriazornes9937]

The song actually IS the "Messge in a Bottle." That's why she changes the lyric at the end to say, "hoping THIS gets to you." 😊😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@zontzooit2415]

I can’t wait for u guys to do 1989 I’m so excited for the vualt in October

[@hhtahir]

We’re very excited too! The news dropped just a few hours after we posted this video 😊

[@raelalaful]

For the criticism in I Bet You Think About Me: she did grow up on a Christmas tree farm when she was a child until they moved to Tennessee, but it is true that they were hardly struggling. I think at the time she wrote this she was trying to analyze the divide she felt from Jake who was all ~Hollywood and she was ~country (still at this time). This is definitely from her POV. Also, she references the indie music concert/record in We Are Never Getting Back Together, so we can assume that it's about the same person. (There's also a scarf in that video)

[@hhtahir]

I forgot about that line in “We Are Never Getting Back Together.” Good catch, thank you!

[@raelalaful]

@hhtahir Also the line "I was never good at telling jokes" in ATW mirrors I Bet You Think About Me: "You laughed at my dreams, rolled your eyes at my jokes."

[@zontzooit2415]

@@raelalafuldon’t forget about “I think it’s strange that u think I’m funny cuz he never did” and I’m pretty sure the song is about the same guy 1989 is written about and “he” is the same guy all to well is written about

[@lkcough]

Remember she was only 22 when she wrote Nothing New, worrying about what will happen when she's nothing new. She's now 33, and on top of the world.

[@TheNraveles]

RIP Jeff Lang. He was her best friend for years throughout high school and adolescence but was addicted. He overdosed and it was pretty clear to be a suicide from those who were close but it was just officially cased as an OD. She actually won an award and dedicated it to him the night before his funeral. She went the next day and sang in remembrance. She used to play him all her music and writings and such before it was released to get his opinion on it as he really meant a lot to her. I assume she wrote part of this while he was still alive at some point finished it later after he had passed and it meant/hurt too much for her to add it onto the album.

[@hhtahir]

That's incredibly sad. Thank you for the insight! And because it's important to include with any mention of this topic: if anyone reading this is in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the U.S., call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

[@alohasargent]

Taylor uses the phrase "message in a bottle" as a synonym for her songs. Here is her explanation (from an NPR interview): "You can put this message in a bottle, throw it out into the ocean, and maybe someday, the person that you wrote that song about is going to hear it and understand exactly how you felt. I think that's what keeps drawing me to songwriting: the spontaneity of how you can get an idea at 4 in the morning or while walking through the airport, and also the fact that it's conveying a message to someone that's more real than what you had the courage to say in person."

[@asnajamal]

To add to the discussion around nothing new - I think it might not have been included in the original album because of the song 'Lucky One' being on it. That song also talks about themes of fame, how new names in the industry take up the limelight. However in 'Lucky One' she talks about (eventually) running away from it all whereas here she talks about being driven away. Its interesting how that song is almost from a viewpoint of someone who is looking back at their days of fame and here she's in the midst of those days, anxious about when it might all end. To me, Lucky One delves into the ideas that are touched upon in the bridge i.e ageing amidst fame.

[@hhtahir]

Honestly, I’d completely forgotten about “Lucky One,” but that’s a great point! Thanks for sharing!

[@ana_lynn_w2959]

If you ever watch Titanic, there are a lot of references to old money and new money. New money is not only a lower class but indicates less financial security for the generations to come. New money you are the first generation to have any sort of wealth or status and it is unknown how you will carry yourself or your wealth into further generations. So when you were talking about the difference between Taylor Swift’s upbringing and Jake Gyllenhaal‘s upbringing, that’s what I think of. Also the Gyllemhaal are of Swedish nobility descent. Jake is worth way less than Taylor but you know, class status, is what matters somewhat more in the “upper crest circles”.

[@hhtahir]

This makes so much sense, especially given her propensity to reference The Great Gatsby in so many songs. Thanks for sharing with us, Ana!

[@almeida5823]

About the dancing in the kitchen and down the stairs is two different important moments the she references in the song. Moments that she remembers too well.

[@grlqtee]

I feel the same. She leaves out the word “and” between dancing in the refrigerator light down the stairs because it’s a fluid memory of moments they shared all running together.

[@almeida5823]

@@grlqtee Yes, thats how i understant it

[@conniecenters8482]

Pretty much all the songs on red is about Jake. The video even has the red scarf in it like all to well.

[@biblioholic7139]

Ed co-wrote Run, so I don't think anyone else could feature on it without starting friend breakup rumors.

[@hhtahir]

Not surprised by that in the slightest. It’s such an Ed song. Thanks for sharing!

[@conniecenters8482]

Have you watched the video for I bet you think about me? It’s so funny.

[@jessicawhittemoore7829]

I would watch the Christmas Tree Farm music video it’s home videos of her growing up on it

[@almeida5823]

Her parents cant stop a 21 old girl from dating whoever she wants. So we dont know what they thing about it. In Dear John she even sings: "My mother acussed me from loosing my mind". I dont think they saw these relationships the best way, but what to do?

[@RobGamesOn]

Taylor grew up on a Christmas tree farm, so yes, she's telling the truth about growing up on a farm.